*Katha as fire. * Arranging the Katha vicinity and podium
Shatanand Muni said:-
O King! Now I shall tell you some special rules of hearing this scripture. Listen to it with full attention and reverence. 1.
Katha as fire
At the moment of listening of this sacred story, all the sins of men suffer and cry, ‘Alas, this ‘Katha’ will bring about our complete destruction, now and here.’ 2.
Just like the fire burns out sacrificial sticks dry or wet, small or big; the hearing of this story burns away all kinds of sins – committed by body, mind or speech. 3.
It is said by the deities of great wisdom (like Brahspati) in the assembly of Gods, that - taking birth in this land of Bharat, those who do not listen to this story of the Lord, their life becomes fruitless. 4.
What is the use of this body, fragile, unstable and wrongly taken as ‘I’ and so well protected, nourished and made strong, without listening to this scripture? 5.
True pandit
This human body is described as supported by bones, bound by muscles, smeared by flesh and blood, covered by skin, foul-smelling, storage of urine and excreta, afflicted by suffering due to old age and sorrows, the house of many diseases, ever dissatisfied, ungrateful, full of blemishes, waning away every moment, place of many worms, and at the end (after death) when burnt, it turns to nothing but ashes or if eaten by animal, it turns to excreta full of worms and germs. So an intelligent person who uses such a body for his own good is really a wise one. 6-8.
The food prepared in the morning turns stale in the evening. The body that is nourished on the extract of such food – how can it be a lasting thing? 9.
Like the bubbles on the water and mosquitoes among insects, persons who do not hear this sacred scripture, are born as if only to die. 10.
Appropriate time to commence the katha
The auspicious scripture which removes multitude of sins, should be listened to, in any of these above mentioned months when the mind is well disposed and inclined to read the same. 11.
If this sacred story is to be heard for seven days it should start on the second day of the bright fortnight of a month. If it is to be read for nine days, it should also start on the same day. 12.
If this Katha is to last for a fortnight or a month, it is just the same as before (on the second day of the bright fortnight of a month) and if it is for two months i.e. a season, it should start from the third bright day of a month. 13.
Actually, any day of a month is auspicious to start the discourse on this story of the Lord, except the fourth, eighth and fourteenth day of the bright fortnight of the month. 14.
O King! Ashwini, Rewati, Hasta, Pusshya, Mruga, Punarvasu, Anuradha, Abhijita, Swati, Rohini, three Shravanas, all these constellations are auspicious. So the sacred Katha should begin on the rise of these constellations. 15-16.
Katha invitation
The host should invite his relatives, friends, his kinsmen; those who are staying far and near, and men having faith in listening to such Katha, before the commencement of the day of this Katha. 17.
Vaishnavas, dispassionate and deceitful, from different places, should be specially invited by sending written invitations and they should be welcomed and honoured on their arrival. 18.
Arranging the Katha vicinity and podium
Special arrangements should be made for collecting spreadings or carpets (seats) before five days of the Katha event. A large ground should be selected for the event, and an attractive sitting place (Pendol) should be erected on a specially cleansed place in the ground. The sitting place should be decorated by saplings of banana tree, flowers, fruits and colourful cloth and banners, etc. Sitting arrangement for ladies and gents should be properly done according to the scriptures. The platform (Dias) for the speaker should be designed specially by an expert. 19-21.
The seat of the speaker should be on a higher level than that of the audience and it should be covered by a soft spread. The curtain at the back side of the speaker should be especially attractive and a small desk should be put there on a slightly higher level of the speaker’s level. That small desk is meant for keeping the well-covered and well bound scripture of Lord’s life story. 22- 23.
O King! The speaker possessed of the above said qualities should get up early in the morning and finish his daily routine. Then, requested by the audience, should go to the Pendol prepared for this Katha event. He should wash his hands, feet and mouth and take three Aachamans (sipping of water in his palm) and then enter the Pendol. 24-25.
Then, the speaker, who should be dressed with a clean, white clothe should memorise his preceptor by heart, again show respect to the Brahmans and saints and bow before the Satsangijivan scripture. 26.
Then taking the humble permission of the elderly and worthy persons, he should take his seat, the ‘Vyasapitha’ as it is called, facing eastward or northward. 27.
Then, the listener sitting in front of the audience, who has finished his daily duties, should worship the presiding deity of this scripture, Lord Shri Hari Himself, in the form of this book, by chants (as follows- ). 28.
Praying to Shri Hari in the form of this scripture ‘I contemplate on that Shri Hari, the ocean of mercy, the son of Bhakti Devi and Dharma Dev, in my heart. From the first division (Prakaran) to the last, - the fifth one of the book, form the divine limbs of Shri Hari, as His face, heart, stomach, knees and feet, as it is said.’ 29-30.
Splendour of Lord’s form
(I meditate on) Lord Shri Hari, who is the bliss itself for those who have taken refuse in Him. He who is attended upon by sages and celibates; having the most beautiful, youthful human form. With proportionate limbs, having eyes like petals of newly bloomed lotus, very handsome, calm and soft spoken. 31-32.
Whose palms and soles are like the lustrous fresh red lotus, the wavering rays coming from his shining, round shaped nails looking like the ranges of a crescent moon. 33.
With a gentle smile on His face illumined by the glittering teeth resembling a string of pearls, with His strong arms running knee deep and a broad chest. 34.
With a broad and elevated forehead, rosy cheeks and red lips; bearing kumkum, in the shape of a crescent moon on the forehead besmeared with saffron Pundra mark. 35.
Having complexion like a dark cloud; holding Tulsi string in the right hand and; assuring protection by the other hand; wearing two strings of very minute Tulsi beeds around the neck; wearing a white sacred thread on the left shoulder. 36.
Dressed in delicate white clothes; the lower garment fastened by Kacchaka; and the upper garment looking as white as the wings of a swan; With a delicate white piece of cloth tied on His head; wearing various ornaments at celebration, for the pleasure of devotees; Worshiped by His devotees by wreaths of various flowers, and small strings of flowers dangling on His crest; His body besmeared with sandal paste; attractive due to a sweet smile. Sitting in the midst of devotees and adored by all, looking like a full moon, coming up in the midst of stars. I contemplate on Shri Hari, captivating the hearts of His devotees by the movements of His hands; His eyes full of compassion enlivening like the nectar. 37-41.
Thus I salute and meditate on Lord Shri Hari Krishna the Supreme one, in the form of the scripture ‘Shree Satsangijivan, (At the event of reciting the text and I worship with pooja rites as follows). 42.
Avahanam - Invocation, I respectfully call Lord Shri Hari in the form of Satsangijivan out of mercy who is born to eradicate the blemishes of ‘kali’. 43.
Asanam – Seat; O Shri Hari! I offer this golden throne studded with gems; hope it is a comfortable seat for you, please accept it. 44.
Padyam - Washing the feet; O! The Rescuer of those who come to you, begging protection, with intense devotion, in this worldly ocean. The Chief of Gods! Shri Hari, please accept this water to wash the feet. 45.
Arghyam - A respectful offering or oblation to the God or venerable person. Destroyer of calamities of sages by various incarnations, O Shri Hari! Please accept this water mixed with sandal paste and eight types of perfumes. 46.
Achamanam - Sipping water before religious ceremonies on the right palm; Oh Shri Hari! The delight of the residents of Durgapur, destroyer of the pride of the king of demons! To the hearts of the devotees you are the moon, the cause of the blossom of night-lotuses, please accept this water for a sipping. 47.
Snanam - Bathing: O Lord Shri Hari, you take delight while sporting in crystal clean water of the roaring Ganga, which is worthy of praise by you. Please accept this water for bathing. 48.
Vastram - Clothing; O Krishna! Son of Dharma Dev! This is a fresh new golden (yellow) lower garment (Pitambar) for you. Please accept it as it is worthy of you alone. 49.
Yagnyopavitam -The sacred thread, made of gold; called Brahmasutra, which has knots tied by chants of Gayatri mantra. Please accept this auspicious thread. 50.
Aabhushanaani - Ornaments; O Krishna, the Lord of the good, please accept these celestial ornaments – earrings, etc., that are offered by us with devotion. 51.
Chandanam – Sandal paste; O Lord! The son of Bhakti Devi and Dharma Dev, I offer this divine sandal paste mixed with camphor and kumkum, please accept it. 52.
Pushpani – Flowers; O Shri Krishna, please accept these garlands of various fragrant flowers and Tulsi; and the flower tuft. 53.
Sungandhi-tailam - Fragrant oil; Please accept this medicinal oil, fragranced by various aromatic ingredients; which is desired by all. (Vishnutaila : a kind of medicinal oil). 54.
Dhupam - Fragrant fumigation; O Lord, please accept this fragrant fumigation. It was just a child’s play for you to kill the demon Kalidatta. Because of you female demons flew away just by your glance. 55.
Deep – Lamp; O self-luminous Lord! Lustrous like numerous suns, the remover of darkness! Please accept this (oil) lamp. 56.
Naivedyam - Offering of delicacies; O the supporter of the world! I have prepared a variety of delicious foods of six different tastes, please accept it with love and bestow boon upon me. 57.
Madhyepaniyam - Drinking water while eating food; O Shri Hari, please accept the water for drinking, sacred and clean and the life itself for living beings. It is made from fragrant with aromatic grass and cardamom. 58.
Punarachamaniyam - Again offering water for sipping; O Son of Bhakti Devi, please accept the pure, sacred and fragrant water of Ganga, for sipping (at the end of meals). 59.
Tambulam – Betel leaf; I have prepared for you betel-leaf (Tambul) together with clove, cardamom, nutmeg. O Shri Krishna, please accept this. 60.
Phalam – Fruit; O the foremost among the righteous! Please accept this coconut – favourite of all Gods; divine among all fruits. 61.
Dakshina – Monetary gift; You, the resident of the city of Vruttalay (Vadatal)! I have offered the gift of silver and gold coins according to my capacity. Please accept this. 62.
Niranjanam -Waving the lamp; O the chief of Gods! You are like the Sun among the stars emitting light; You are the favourite amongst sages, I am waving the lamp for You – please accept this. 63.
Pradakshina – Circumambulation; O the God of the Gods; I bow down before you. You, holding your palms in pose giving protection and bestowing boons. O Krishna! The master! While I circumambulate you, it is same as circumambulating all the Gods. 64.
Namaskar – Salutations; O in the form of ‘Satsangijivan’, you have taken birth on this earth for the deliverance of the people, O Shri Hari, I bow down to you. 65.
Prarthana – Prayer; O Lord, the ocean of Mercy, as the result of my deeds, I have fallen in this ocean of worldly life. Please lift me up, and be kind to me. 66.
O the Supreme Person! You are present here in the form of ‘Satsangijivan’! You the Master of the world! Please be merciful to me as I have come to you for shelter. 67.
Thus worshipping Lord Shri Hari in the form of (this book) Satsangijivan in this manner; the leading listener should worship the speaker reverently with sandal paste, wreaths of flowers, etc. and should also offer new cloths, ornaments and his fees; the worshiper saluting the speaker with the aforesaid chants should respectfully pray. 68-69.
We regard you, as sage Suvrata himself - the first speaker of the scripture, the knower of the teaching of the texts, you are learned in the Shastras. Please remove my ignorance by explaining to me the scriptures. 70.
The host, after requesting thus to the speaker, should honour others in the audience according to their position and O King! Observing the code prescribed to the listeners, the members of the audience should sit to hear the sacred Katha. 71.
Thus here ends the third chapter that describes the procedure of the worship of the speaker and the scripture and the story, in the conversation between Shatanand Muni and Hemantsinh regarding the importance of the composition and the other topics. 3