Bhagawat Bhagirathi in Badrinath Dham
A special Katha was recited by Bhaishri on the holy tirtha dham of Shri Badrinath. The 11-day Katha, was hosted by Vaishvik Sanskruti Parivar and incorporated 108 Bhagwat recitations by Rishikumars. The main hosts were Shri Bajranglalji Taparia, Mumbai and Shri Anilbhai Desai of USA.
Significance of Badrinath
Badrinath, which is considered as one of the most sacred centres of pilgrimage, is situated in the lofty Himalayan heights in the Tehri-Garhwal hill tracks (Uttarakhand) at the height of 10,248 feet above sea level.
Lord Vishnu is believed to have carried out extreme penance at this site. Seeing the Lord doing his penance in the open, Goddess Mahalaxmi is believed to have assumed the form of Badri tree to provide him shelter to face the onslaught of the weather conditions.
The image of Badrinarayan here is in the form of a Shaligram. Badrinarayan is seen under the Badri tree, flanked by Kuber and Garuda, Narad, Narayan and Nar. It is believed that Lord Vishnu revealed to Narada Muni that Nar and Narayan forms (which are actually Himalayan Mountains) are his own.
The Journey to Badrinath
All devotees who had registered to attend the Katha met in Rishikesh on Monday 9th September. Yatris from USA, UK, South Africa, Zambia and all parts of India gathered and stayed at Parmarth Niketan Ashram in Rishikesh and enjoyed satsang and Ganga arti in the company of Pujya Muniji.
The next morning, yatris left for Badrinath. 10 buses and 40 cars began the 16-hour journey in the early hours of the morning. The route to Badrinath is one of the most arduous one due to the lofty hilly terrain, curves and cliffs amidst the most scenically beautiful place on the earth.
Throughout the route to Badrinath, numerous pilgrimage sites were seen, such as Deva Prayag, Rudraprayag, Karna Prayag, Nanda Prayag, Vishnuprayag, Joshimath, as well as Pandukeshwar, where the Pandavas are believed to have been born.
Most yatris reached Badrinath on the same day or the next morning. However the yatris from UK and USA were caught between landslides and reached Badrinath on the 4th day of the Katha.
September 11th
The Katha began on September 11th with prayers and remembrance of those whose lives were lost during the attacks in New York and Washington last year.
Bhagwat Amrut
Bhaishri conducted for 11 days discourses based on the Bhagwat Puran. He also spoke of the importance and spiritual significance of Badrinath. Bhaishri described Badrinath as the ‘Vaikuntha’ of earth. He described the story of Nar-Narayan avatar in the Bhagwat.
108 Recitations
The divine experience was enhanced by the daily recitations of the Shrimad Bhagwat Puran by 108 Rishikumars of Sandipani Vidyanikatan, Parmarth Niketan and Bhagwat Vidyapith, Sola.
Badrinath – Heaven on Earth
Apart from the main Badrinath Mandir, there are many other attractions and places of importance. The river Alaknanda, which merges with Bhagirathi at Deva Prayag to form Ganga, flows through Badrinath. Bhaishri, Pujya Muniji and local priests conducted the first ever Ganga Arti on the banks of Alaknanda during the Katha.
At Badrinath one can see the hot water springs of Taptakund on the banks of river Alaknanda. Before visiting the temple the pilgrims take a holy bath in the kund. Close to Badrinath is the historic village of ‘Mana’ which is the original source of river Saraswati and where Veda Vyas wrote many scriptures.
Bhaishri met with many saints and holy men that lived in the holy dham, including Shri Adhikariji, the head priest at Badrinath Mandir.
All who attended agreed the experience was that of once in a lifetime.
In Pujya Bhaishri’s words, “yeh ek bheegee hui katha thi”.
