Auspicious Shravan at Sandipani – Day 8
Who should we listen to a katha from?
‘Pratham bhagati santan kar sangaa, dusari rati mama katha prasangaa’
(This verse from Shri Ram Charit Manas means: the first form of devotion is the company of saints, the second form of devotion is love for my katha).
Love for Katha is the second bhakti (devotion) from the nine forms of devotion narrated by Shri Ram ji to Shri Shabri ji. Tulsidasji says that listen to a katha from the mouth of a saint. He has not said to listen to a katha from a scholar. Note that this does not mean that a scholar is less significant, but love for katha develops when we listen to a katha from a saint who lives and follows what the holy books say. A saint is one who makes a person develop love for katha.
Many people have said to me that Bhaishri, we have had the holy book Ramayan in our houses for a long time. Our grandfather used to recite verses from it, but we never used to open it. Once we went to a saint’s katha and since then developed devotion for katha. Now we have a routine, we do not sleep until we recite at least four verses from the Ramayan. The life of saint is a role model, it inspires others in life.