EVENTS OF THE MONTH MAY 2009

I RADHA KALYANA UTSAVAM ,BRINDAVANAM

“ Brundavanam sakhi bhuvo vithanothi keerthim”- thus the Gopis extol the glory of Brundavanam.Just as the other forests Brundavanam too has rivers, mountains, bushes, flowers, birds and animals.But Brundavanam is a vanam with a difference. It is the place where the Lord has placed his feet. It is abound with the dust of the feet of the Lord. Brundavam is a premabhoomi. Even today Brundavanam is filled with the sanctity of Lord Krushna. It is filled with temples of Bankevihari, Radhavallabha, Radharamanan worshipped by great saints. It is full of ashramas and sadhus, the air filled with the sankeerthana of vrajavasis. The Yamuna river surrounds Brundavanam with her beauty and charm. All along there are Krushna leela sthalas like Cheer ghat, Vamshivat, Keshi ghta, srungaravat. All these are a sight indeed to cherish.

Sri Sri Anna holds Brundavanam the most to His heart. He hence built a beautiful temple for vamshidhar at Goranagar colony, Radhanivas. Here he conducts Holi uthsavam, Radhakalyana uthsavam, Radhashtami uthsavam and Rasothsavam. This year he sent Sri Hari Anna to conduct the Radhakalyana uthsavam. From May 2^nd to 8^th the uthsavam went on in full swing. Sri Hari Anna delivered lectures on Ekadasa Skandam. He did the nithyothsava on all days right from Prabodanam to Dolothsavam. He also sang the radhika shathakam beautifully. On the day of Bharathi a grand procession was conducted for Lord Jaganmohan. The vrajavasis were filled with joy and danced merrily to many namavalis. The sankeerthana reached the skies. On that day hundreds of Vrajavasis were fed with grand dinner.. That night there was Divyanamasankeeerthanam.. On May 6 and 7^th there was ashtapadhi bhajan. On 8^th morning there was a grand Radhakalyanam. Sri hari anna gave a discourse on radhakalyanam from Brundavanamahathmyam. The devotees were unable to depart from Brundavanam but consoled themselves that Radhastami will soon approach.

II DELHI PROGRAM

April 10^th, 11^th and 12^th witnessed a huge gathering at Tamil Sangam Hall, R.K Puram, Delhi. It was the series of Smt Vishakha Hari arranged by the Akhila Bharatha Sadhu Samajam, Delhi. On April 10^th she gave a scintillating concert with Ragam Tanam Pallavi in Mohanam and Ranjani. It was a Dwi Ragam Tanam Pallavi with words on Sri Rnaganatha. The concert began with Karunimpa sahana varnam. There were several pieces of Sri Thyagaraja swami and Purandaradas. She concluded the concert with Meera bhajans and tukkadas. She also sang Sri Anna’s abhang, Chandrabhage snanakarave. The whole audience sang Vittala along with her and one person began dancing and jumping with hands on his hips like Vittal. The audience went in ectasy and wanted for more which was given in the next two days. On April 11^th the topic of harikatha was “ Thyagaraja Pancharatna Vaibhavam”. She emphasized on Panduranga Bhakthas, gave several examples and illustrated the 5 ratnas. On April 12^th she concluded with Padmavathy kalyanam with Annamaiya’s songs, Dikshitar and Sri Anna interspersed in the middle. All the devotees were given laddu prasadam at the end. It was as if the devotees saw the Divyadampathi’s wedding in person. Glory to Srinivasa and to Goddess Padmavathy.