Chinmaya Seva Centre Singapore organised Srimad Bhagawat Saptah, conducted by Swami Abhedananda from 12th to 18th August 2017 at the PGP Auditorium in Singapore. After a span of 13 years, this Bhagawat Saptah was organized which in many ways was truly an epic experience for the devotees of Singapore. Resplendent in its divinity, spiritual grandeur and scale, Singapore witnessed seven days of blissful satsangs on complete Shrimad Bhagawatam, which included festive celebrations of various Utsavs and leelas including Shri Ram Janmotsav and Shri Krishna Janmotsav. The pinnacle of the Saptah was the satsang on Krishna Janmotsav which coincided beautifully with Janmashtami and Indian Independence day on 15th August. After Swamiji’s soulful discourse, the audience were delighted with scintillating dance performances by Balvihar children and ladies from the Swaranjali and Devi group.
Aside from this, two traditional Vedic priests performed daily Havans and rituals which were participated by the Mukhya Yajamans of Bhagawat Saptaha. Prior to commencement of the Bhagawat Saptah, the priests conducted the Sankalp Havan and Pooja where all the Yajmaans took sankalp for inculcating divine virtues of Gyana, Bhakti and Vairagya, and prayers for the prosperity and growth of Chinmaya Mission worldwide. On subsequent days, the priests performed different havans to propitiate the various deities. Performing the daily morning Havan and listening to Srimad Bhagawatam discourses by Swamiji in the divine atmosphere of Srinivasa Perumal Temple was an uplifting and divine experience for all.
On the inaugural day of Bhagawat Saptah, a grand procession of Shrimad Bhagawatam was held from the Yagnashala to the Satsang Hall. The procession was led by Swami Abhedanandaji, accompanied by Chairman of Hindu Endowments Board Mr. Jayachandran and followed by all the Mukhya Yajamans who carried the Bhagawatam on their heads. Swamiji was garlanded and welcomed on stage by Anandaji, and offered the Poorna Kumbha by CSC Committee members. The traditional lamp lighting and formal inauguration was performed by Mr.Jayachandran, Trustees Mr.Chandru Bharwani and Mr.Rajan Bharwani along with Swamiji. The Chairman of Hindu Advisory Board Mr.Rajan Krishnan also graced the event.
How should one lead his life? How can one perform his duties and yet be free from the bondages? How can one have a yearning thirst to see, to feel and to unite with the Lord? The answers to these questions and much more was revealed in the daily satsangs by Swami Abhedanandaji, who in his most inimitable style showered the secrets of blissful devotion upon all sincere seekers. While describing the glories of the blue boy Sri Krishna, Swamiji traversed the minds of all devotees to ‘Gokul & Vrindavan’.
Hundreds of devotees thronged each day to revel in Swamiji’s soul stirring discourses and explanation of Shri Krishna’s playful leelas. While Swami Abhedanandaji described the enchanting glories of the Lord, the main priest silently performed the parayana of ‘Shrimad Bhagawatam’. Throughout the saptaha, lunch and dinner bhiksha were lovingly served to all the devotees who were present to hear the Bhagawat Saptah. Every session concluded with the melodious singing of Mangala Aarti for the main altar of Radha Krishna and Pujya Gurudev. The culmination was on 19th August with the auspicious Purnahuti Havan and Samashti breakfast Bhiksha at our ashram “Chinmaya Kesari”. Knowing that it is highly auspicious to listen to a Bhagawat Saptah at least once in a lifetime, the delegates carried with them the feeling of joy, satisfaction and completeness.
Aside from the Bhagawat Saptah event, Swami Abhedanandaji was also invited for two other special programs. On 10th August, the Global Citizen Forum invited Swamiji to inaugurate the premiere screening of an upcoming serial on Bhagawan Adi Shankaracharya. Similarly on 20th August the Gita Jayanti Organization of Singapore invited Swamiji to speak at the “International Gita Forum” event on the topic “Magic of Surrender” based on Gita Chapter XII.