“It is easy to give up something but not so easy to forget what we have given ,” said Pujya Bhaishri during Bhagwat katha at Varanasi

“Though people often renounce things in their gross form but later on the thought of having renounced that object continues to haunt them. They feel they are superior to others because of their having given up that object. This feeling of superiority feeds their ego and causes their downfall.” So said Pujya Bhaishri while speaking at the Bhagwat Katha held in Varanasi from 3rd Sept. to 12th Sept. 2004 organized by the joint efforts of Shri Dinanathji Jhunjhunwala and Deendayalji Jalan of Marwari trust.

Explaining his point mentioned above Pujya Bhaishri narrated the episode of Lord Shiva and Goddesss Parvati’s testing of Sage Bhartrihari. On one of their flights through the skies Goddess Parvati saw Sage Bhartrihari meditating at a place and praised his austerities and renunciation. In reply Lord Shiva said that it is not good to certify someone’s qualities without testing him. Hence they went to Sage Bhartrihari and asked him to give them his food. Though Bhartrihari had gone without food, he gave them his food. After that Lord Shiva also asked him to give them his water and drunk all the water that Bhartrihari had with him. Hence Lord Shiva who was in the guise of an alms seeker started praising Sage Bhartrihari for giving up his food and water though he himself had abstained from food and water for many days. To this Bhartrihari replied that giving up food and water was no great deal for him, for he had renounced his kingdom to practice austerities. Compared to that renunciation what was the importance of giving up food and water? he asked. Thereupon Lord Shiva announced that Bhartrihari had failed his test since the thought of having renounced his kingdom had not yet gone away from his mind. The real renunciation was renouncing the thought of having renounced anything, said Lord Shiva.

Other sutras Pujya Bhaishri gave during this katha were

I sow the seeds of Satsang in this katha with an expectation of receiving them back multiplied manifold in the form of the ideas being discussed over here having been put into practice by the people in the audience.

Love is not the way of attaining God. On the contrary Love for God is the goal that has to be attained by us because God is already present in our heart. We only need to manifest or bring out our love for him.

People do oppose falsehood but often believe in false talks of people who swear by having said only the truth. Though such falsehood may appear to be succeeding for some time ultimately other people do realize it as being false. Therefore people should develop Vivek buddhi that discriminates between the truth and the falsehood appearing in the guise of truth.

Following cultural programs were held in the evenings during the period of katha.

1). Poetry reading by Shri Suresh Avasthi on 3rd Sept. 2004.
2). Bhajan Sandhya by Shri Manoj Tiwari on 4th Sept. 2004.
3). Bhojpuri cultural program by Ms. Tijanbai on 5th Sept. 2004.
4). Shiva Pujan (Laghu Rudra) on 6th Sept. 2004.
5). Program of Shri Kailash Gautam on 7th sept. 2004.
6). Classical Music by Shri Chhannu Maharaj on 8th sept. 2004.
7). Mushaira of poets in Benaras on 9th Sept. 2004.
8). Mehfil of Shairi by Shri Rahat Indori on 10th Sept. 2004.
9). Program of Smt. Ragini Chaturvedi and Shri Sangya Tiwari on 11th Sept. 2004.