Barsana: With Navratras starting on 15th October, spiritual leader Morari Bapu started Ram Katha in the holy town of Barsana in Vraj Bhoomi to celebrate the divine feminine – Radha.
Opening his discourse, Bapu said that Radha, an Adi Shakti i.e. primordial energy of God is Akathaniya, Nitant Avarniya (completely indescribable), such is her enigma. He said that she could only be understood through the tears in one’s eyes.
Describing her life, Bapu explained that both Yog (meeting) and Viyog (separation) are part of her life and that she has fully felt both states of emotional being. This was not a land of intellect but Bhav (devotional feeling).
He picked two lines from Bal Kaand – 148 and 152 – as the central theme for this Katha and will be explaining the meaning of these over the next nine days.
Baam Bhag Sobhati Anukula, Adi sakti Chhabi Nidhi Jagmoola
Adi Shakti jehi jaga upjaya, so avtarahi mori yeh maya
Explaining further, Bapu said Krishna is Ras (nectar) and Radha is Dhara (flow) and that is why Krishna itna Barsa hai Barsana me (showered his divinity upon the land of Barsana). About the attraction between the two, the spiritual leader said that Krishna was particularly mesmerized by Radha’s Sur and Swar (voice and intonation) and in turn, Radha and the Gopis were drawn by his Vanshi (flute).
Bapu also revealed his conversation with a young boy a few days back about how and when a Guru leaves his imprint on a disciple. Bapu said that a Guru leaves his signature on a devotee’s inner slate when it becomes totally clean and empty. On a second question about how a Guru communicated in multiple ways with a disciple, Bapu said that a Guru has to speak because the disciple is unable to understand his silence.
When someone asked Bapu if it had been two months since he had observed Maun (silence), Bapu said he was speaking more than ever before. A Guru communicates through gestures, especially the eyes. And for an elevated soul who speaks very little, his each pore chants the name of God.
Morari Bapu has returned to Barsana for a Katha after 24 years though he had once also spoken on Radha at Senjal, a town in Saurashtra.
Barsana Katha, which started today, will continue till the coming Sunday which is October 22. For Bapu, who has been reciting Kathas for the last 65 years, this will be his 925th Katha. Bapu also joked that listeners should carry earbuds, indicating that his words should be fully understood and not taken out of context or misquoted like they often are.