The famed Bhadrachalam shrine in Andhra Pradesh alongside the holy Godavari river was witness to four days of deep meditations, silence and blissful satsangs of participants at the first ever Part II residential Course. It began with an expression of gratitude to our beloved Gurudev and honoring the presiding deity of the town - Vaikunta Rama. The garlands adorning the tall handsome deities at the campus Garden didn't fade one bit till the end and so our fond memories. We felt transported to Visalakshi mantap with the morning chants of the young pundits in- the -making at the Campus shrine Veda patashala, the presence of eminent Temple scholars at satsangs, not forgetting the flutter of pigeons atop the ceiling! The intervening solar eclipse gave many an opportunity for noble austerities and holy dip in the quiet flowing river just a stone throw away from the Meditation Hall.
Satsangs were very elevating with newly composed bhajans in Telugu and Tamil by the Course Director Shri.Arunji. Here is something very interesting.
On the evening of Day one, the vibrations of some of the new bhajans by Shri.Arunji reached the temple precincts some distance away and allured the Chief priest of the Temple to the AMC venue and enjoy the Satsang. The participants were not aware of this until the last day, when the Chief Priest revealed this and began sharing his unique experience.
He said to even to enter Bhadrachalam one needs to get the blessings of Lord Rama and anyone who stays in this holy place continuously for three days, will attain "Moksha". One should be very fortunate to have Darshan of Lord Vaikunta Rama and take bath in the holy Godavari River. The Temple was built by Shri. Kancharla Gopanna, a devotee of Lord Rama. He is infact hailed as Ramadasu. So far Ramadasu was the only person who had drunk the nectar of grace from the lotus called Bhadrachala Rama and today, he said "through your devotion filled Bhajans, you have been able to drink the same nectar of divine grace. We sit here and envy you!"
After the Suprabatham at the temple at 4.00 am, Shri.Arunji asked us to sit with our eyes closed and from the next moment to nearly an hour, we were elevated into a deep trance of meditation. The experience was something very amazing and beyond words. We then recalled Gurudev's inspiration to holding such programmes at such Holy places.
Morning yoga sessions with Sri.Asokanji were thoroughly appreciated by everybody. Participants were blown over by a mini ballet on Krishna by singer-dancer Smt.Gita at the finale. The experience will remain etched in our memory for ever.
Kudos for the extraordinary team work of teachers from Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh.
For those who had missed Bhadrachalam, we are happy to announce the next part-II Advanced Meditation course at Thennangur, near Chennai with Shri. Arunji.
Course Dates: 5, 6, 7, & 8th March 2009
Venue : Satguru Gnananandhagiri Ashram, Thennangur.
Govindaraju
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