This year Sadhu Sanga program was organised at Nashik, Maharashtra. Disciples of His Holiness Subhag Swami Maharaja gathered from different parts of India and abroad to get the association of their spiritual master and nurture their devotional lives. They also gathered to celebrate the 84th Vyasa Puja ceremony of their beloved spiritual master His Holiness Subhag Swami Maharaja. Each year a new place is selected by Maharaja for the Sadhu Sanga program and this time it was the Nashik Dham. The event was held from 30th December 2023 to 4th January 2024 at Janardan Swami Ashram, Nashik.
Lord Rama, Lord Laxmana and mother Sita stayed during a part of their exile at Panchavati forest located in Nashik. Panchavati was the most beautiful forest located besides the holy river Godavari. We can read it's description from Ramayana. The Supreme Lord displayed various pastimes at Nashik dham and the devotees got an opportunity to visit some of these pastime places which included the Kalaram temple, the cave where mother Sita lived and the place where Lakshmana cut the nose of Shurpanakha, the sister of Ravana. Devotees also took bath in Godavari. About 1000 devotees participated in this years Sadhu Sanga program.
Organization of an event of such a large scale is always a challenge. Many devotees had been visiting Nashik since many months for preparation. Many guest houses, hotels and dharamshalas were booked to accomodate all the devotees. Buses were hired for taking devotees to the venue from their different accommodations and vice versa. There were different departments of services like the cooking department, decoration and stage setup department, the fund collection department, purchasing department, devotee care department, accommodation department, transportation department etc. Different devotees volunteered to serve in these different sections. All of these services went on smoothly.
The devotees started their day with the mangal arti followed by japa. We were fortunate to daily hear the morning Bhagavatam class from our spiritual master, H H Subhag Swami Maharaja. Maharaja also wanted to check if his disciples are following correctly the regulations of devotional life. He promptly answered all our doubts. During the daytime seminars were delivered by other senior devotees on topics like book distribution, Vaishnava etiquette etc. Programs for children like drawing competition, sloka recitation etc. were also arranged. All the young participants were given special gifts by Maharaja. A wonderful drama performance in the evening on Ramayana stole the show. The devotees immersed themselves in their roles and brought Ramlila alive. Everyone along with Maharaja sat with their eyes glued on to the stage. Their performance had no parallels.
Finally, 4th January 2024 was the day for the Vyasa Puja. Many senior Prabhupada disciples and sannyasis participated in the Vyasa Puja ceremony. HG Jananivas Prabhu, Srila Prabhupada's disciple, Head Pujari, ISKCON Mayapur Chandrodaya Mandir, HG Mahaman Prabhu, Srila Prabhupada's disciple, Zonal Secretary and Temple President ISKCON Indore, HG Bhima Prabhu, Srila Prabhupada's disciple, BBT India in-charge, HG Amiya Vilas Swami, Srila Prabhupada's disciple, presently staying at ISKCON Khargar, Navi Mumbai, HH Bhakti Prema Swami, ISKCON Ujjain, HH Ananta Krishna Das Goswami, ISKCON Juhu, HG Jaydev Prabhu, Director ISKCON Food For Life Program, HG Damodar Prabhu, GEV, HG Krishnadhan Prabhu, Temple President ISKCON Nashik, HG Parthsarthi Prabhu, Temple President ISKCON Pandharpur among others honoured us by their presence. Pisima, dear sister of HH Subhag Swami Maharaja also attended all the programs.
All these speakers glorified Srila Prabhupada and also spoke about the role of the spiritual master in our devotional life. HG Jananivas Prabhu and HG Mahaman Prabhu especially shared nectarean pastimes of Srila Prabhupada in London. HG Bhima Prabhu spoke about the importance of surrendering to the spiritual master and recalled a beautiful pastime of Srila Prabhupada related to HG Brahmananda prabhu. HG Amiya Vilas Swami shared the teachings of the Goswamis of Vrindavan and the teachings of our previous acharyas. HH Subhag Swami Maharaja instructed that we should take the instructions of our spiritual master, Srila Prabhupada and the previous acharyas, the pure devotees paramhamsas in our parampara as our life and soul, like our breathing without which we cannot live and this is our goal and that will bring us all success.
Srila Prabhupada has said, "The bona fide spiritual master is called Vyāsa because he is a representative of Vyāsa. Worshiping the birthday of such a spiritual master is called Vyāsa-pūjā." (CC Antya 20.82p)
The glorification was followed by the Abhishek of Srila Prabhupada and offering of 108 bhoga offerings to the Lordships and the guru parampara which was followed by the artik. In the last HH Subhag Swami Maharaja sang transcendental kirtan and made everyone dance in ecstasy. All the godbrothers, Srila Prabhupada disciples honoured Lords prasadam seperately, remembering intimately their pastimes with Srila Prabhupada. Rest of the devotees also honoured Lords wonderful prasadam. The atmosphere was joyful and everyone had a big smile on their face.
This program gave an opportunity to all the devotees to associate with senior Vaishnavas. It provided them with a chance to personally associate with their spiritual master and free themselves of all their shortcomings to practice their devotional life with a renewed vigor. We humbly thank HH Subhag Swami Maharaja for laying the foundation for such programs and also all the other senior Vaishnavas who spared their precious time and joined the program. We are grateful to all.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
Link for more photos:
https://www.youtube.com/live/xQP12zKBsr8?si=3SgHog0LOWR24f5W
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