https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=ZUzZSNc2nUM<\/a><\/p>\nI look forward to hearing from you soon!<\/p>\n
YS. Madhucchanda das<\/p>\n
Madhucchanda das ( Croatia )ISKCON – International society
\nfor Krishna consciousness
\nMob: 00385 91 791 2805
\nSkype: madu108
\nEmail: bhagavatam.katha@gmail.com
\nWeb: www.bhagavatam-katha.com
\nFacebook page: Krishna story – every day
\nYoutube: Krishna story – every day by Madhucchanda day <\/p>\n
Subject: Preaching project – performance of Bhagavatam festivals ( Bhagavatam – saptaha ) <\/p>\n
Dear devotees, <\/p>\n
Please accept my humble obeisances
\nAll glories to Srila Prabhupada <\/p>\n
The purpose of this text and offering is a special preaching project – the performance of Bhagavatam festivals or popularly known as the performance of Bhagavatam – saptaha. <\/p>\n
Using tradition for preaching – Bhagavatam saptaha is an important part of the Hindu
\nreligion <\/p>\n
We all know that performing Bhagvatam saptaha is a part of the Hindu tradition. Every Hindu
\nknows that by hearing Bhagavatam katha will get many blessings. By organizing such events
\npeople can be influenced and engaged in the 5 most powerful methods of bhakti as given by Rupa
\nGoswami: <\/p>\n
*\tHearing and chanting the Holy Names ( Nama – sankirtan )
\n*\tListening to the Srimad Bhagavatam, ( Bhagavatam – sravana )
\n*\tService to deities( Murti – seva )
\n*\tAssociation with devotees ( Sadhu – sanga )
\n*\tLiving in the holy dhama by hearing Krishnas lilas performed there. ( Dhama – vasa ) <\/p>\n
Preaching project in Iskcon <\/p>\n
Many devotees and Iskcon Gurus such as Lokanath Goswami and Radha Govinda Swami are
\npreaching this way in India and it has had great effects. People are encouraged after katha to take Srimad Bhagavatam sets to their homes and to study. In this way devotees distribute many books. So this project has proved to be highly successful. <\/p>\n
Srila Prabhupada opinion on Bhagavatam saptaha <\/p>\n
At the beginning, Srila Prabhupada was not so enthusiastic about Bhagavatam saptaha. We find
\nsome quotes in Srimad Bhagavatam where he is strongly condemning modern professional
\nbhagavatam speakers who do this only for money. These speakers are usually materially motivated
\nand contaminated with mayavadi philosophy. Therefore they are not able to give people any real benefit from hearing about Krishna. But when Srila Prabhupada saw how so many people were going to such events he said to some of his disciples: Why we do not organize such events and
\nexplain to people what is real philosophy!
\nPreaching opportunity <\/p>\n
Organizing bhagavatam saptaha is a great preaching opportunity for your local ISKCON temple and
\nit can bring many benefits such as: <\/p>\n
*\tPeople can connect more with ISKCON temple
\n*\tPeople are encouraged to take part in temple activities
\n*\tWe can distribute Srila Prabhupada books
\n*\tEveryone gets the association of devotees
\n*\tPeople are encouraged to contribute to the temple with donations <\/p>\n
Structure of our unique katha presentation consist of: <\/p>\n
Our way of presentation of bhagavatam saptaha is a unique in the world. It’s done throug the
\nperformance of many different tools and media connected to Bhagavatam such as: <\/p>\n
*\tSinging Bhagavatam shlokas
\n*\tNarrating stories
\n*\tMagic tricks
\n*\tExplanation of verses according to previous acaryas and our own experience
\n*\tBhajans
\n*\tSlide show presentation
\n*\tVideos about katha performed
\n*\tVideos from holy places
\n*\tDiferent sound effects conected to naration of katha
\n*\tDrama
\n*\tBharat natyam dance <\/p>\n
Partners in organizing Bhagavatam katha <\/p>\n
Such bhakti events can be organized in ISKCON temples or in cooperation with local Hindu
\ncommunities and organizations , Hindu embassies and important people in the community who can
\nbe sponsors of such bhakti festivals. In the west, Bhagavatam saptahas are not so often organized, so they could be nice way to attract many people to Krishna. When katha is organized I prefer the
\npresence of ISKCON devotees, who should have there tables, whereby they can sell Srila Prabhupada books, paraphernalia, prasadam, etc. <\/p>\n
Bhagavatam katha can be performed at places such us: <\/p>\n
*\tIskcon Temples *\tHindu temples
\n*\tAuditoriums
\n*\tCommunity centers
\n*\tPandals
\n*\tPrivate houses
\n*\tSpiritual festivals
\n*\tYoga studios
\nList of Bhagavatam katha subject matters that we perform ( from 1st to 12th canto ) <\/p>\n
*\tNarada Muni katha
\n*\tMaharaj Parikshit katha
\n*\tKunti stuti – Maharani kunti ki prathana
\n*\tBhisma stuti – Pitamaha Bishma *\tVar\u0101ha deva katha
\n*\tKapila Devahuti samvad
\n*\tDak\u1e63a yagja
\n*\tBhakta Dhruva katha – Charita katha
\n*\tP\u1e5bthu Maharaj katha
\n*\tPura\u00f1jana katha
\n*\tPracet\u0101s katha
\n*\t\u1e5a\u1e63abhadeva katha
\n*\tMaharaja Bharata Katha
\n*\tAjamila katha
\n*\tV\u1e5btr\u0101sura katha
\n*\tCitraketu katha
\n*\tBhakta Prahl\u0101da katha – Prahlada charita
\n*\tGajendra Moksha katha
\n*\tSamudra Mantan katha *\tBali Maharaja katha
\n*\tMatsya avatara katha
\n*\tAmbarish carita katha
\n*\tRama Lila katha
\n*\tPara\u015bur\u0101ma katha
\n*\tYayati gita katha
\n*\t24 gurus
\n*\tUddhava gita
\n*\tMarkandeya rishi charita *\tDashavatara katha
\n*\tSampurna Bhagavat Katha
\n*\tSrimad Bhagavatam Mahatmya <\/p>\n
List of subject of Bhagavatam kathas that we perform ( from 10th canto ) <\/p>\n
*\tKrishna janma lila
\n*\tKrishna bala lila
\n*\tPutana vadha
\n*\tDamodar lila
\n*\tBrahma vimohana lila
\n*\tKaliya mardan
\n*\tGopi gita
\n*\tRasa lila
\n*\tRasa panca adyaya
\n*\tVenu gita
\n*\tGovardhana lila
\n*\tGopi vastra harana lila
\n*\tAkrura Milan
\n*\tMathura Lila
\n*\tDwaraka Lila
\n*\tKurukshetra Lila <\/p>\n
We also perform seminars and lectures on difertent subjects such as: <\/p>\n
*\tThe art of storytelling *\tVraja – Land of God
\n*\t5 limbs of Bhakti
\n*\tDeath – gate to immortality *\t64 qualitis of krishna
\n*\tEnemies of the soul
\n*\t6 steps to real love
\n*\tJourney of Gop Kumar
\n*\tShikshastaka
\n*\tThe temple of the hearth
\n*\tMy relationship to Krishna
\n*\tSmaranam
\n*\tThe art of transformation
\n*\tSeing Krishna everywhere
\n*\tThe power of blessings
\n*\tEmotions – essense of soul
\n*\tHospitality in Vedic culture
\n*\tVandanam – underszanding hearth of Krishna
\n*\tKirtan – singing for conection <\/p>\n
(Subject-matter of katha to be performed is chosen by you or left to our inspiration) <\/p>\n
Bhagavatam katha for children: <\/p>\n
Children are the future of human society. Creating samskaras or spiritual impression in their minds should be started early, from childhood. <\/p>\n
Following this instruction of Prahlad Maharaj, we have created a program to present Srimad
\nBhagavatam to kids in a very unique way and, at the same time, very easy for them to understand. <\/p>\n
Usually children are often seen as a disturbing element during katha due to an insufficient program for engaging them. But we want to give children a feeling that they are cared for. <\/p>\n
Programs for kids can be performed during the katha in a separate room. This program can be performed at the weekend when children are free from school and other obligations.
\nMagic show <\/p>\n
*\tMagic show illustrating stories from the Srimad Bhagavatam. <\/p>\n
Aratik <\/p>\n
*\tEach child learns to offer incense, lamp, flower. After aratik, kirtan is sung by the children. <\/p>\n
Search for Sita <\/p>\n
*\tChildren become monkeys (imitating), get balloon swords, face-painting of their faces,
\nchildren make a bridge to cross the ocean. <\/p>\n
Games <\/p>\n
There are different spiritual games which we perform with kids such as: <\/p>\n
Demons in Vrindavana, imitating animals of Vraja, imitating activities of different avatars, churning the ocean of milk, steps to Vaikuntha, imitating Krishna’s games as a child, Hanuman hops. <\/p>\n
Following the example of Krishna and his great devotees: <\/p>\n
In all the games, children follow the example of how Krishna plays with his cowherd friends in the
\nforest of Vrindavana. It is said that Krishna would play all possible games in creation with his friends… <\/p>\n
In the past great devotees of Lord Krishna have also played as children in a bhakti way.
\nIn the Srimad Bhagavatam, we find how many great devotees of Krishna such as Uddhava and
\nMaharaja Parikshit started their lives playing not as ordinary children but playing with
\ndolls of Krishna, performing deity worship and performing spiritual festivals even as children. As a result of this early bhakti samskaras being implanted into their minds, they became great saints and devotees. <\/p>\n
Extra programs: <\/p>\n
We also have wonderful spiritual programs for schools and other child organizations where with our
\nprogram we cover different important topics for community such as nonviolence, spirituality, child education, healthy life style etc. By organizing such programs where we can have our presentations you can also have the activities of your organization promoted. <\/p>\n
Western people doing Bhagavatam saptaha <\/p>\n
We ( Madhucchanda das and Ojasvi das ) are one of the few western born people who perform Bhagavatam saptaha in the world. In these modern times when people are going away from their own Vedic tradition and culture, our presence is very encouraging. We are western devotees born
\ninto a Christian religion and culture but we have accepted the Vedic culture and religion as our life
\nand soul, and have spent many years in India. To every Indian and Hindu, this should be an example
\nand inspiration to search for gems of spiritual wealth in their own religion and culture. Srila
\nPrabhupada addressed his western born devotees as white dancing elephants. In this way we can
\nattract people back to their original Vedic way of life and at the same time connect them to the organization of Iskcon.
\nProfile of the katha speaker – Madhucchanda das <\/p>\n
Birth and childhood <\/p>\n
Madhucchanda das is born in ancient land of Macedonia. (a country where many famous
\npersonalities such as mother Teresa and Alexander the Great were born). As a child he was not really interested in playing normally as other children did. He was on spiritual search. He was
\ndreaming of traveling to India\uf0bc Born into the Christian Orthodox religion he tried to find answers to life’s questions such as: Who is God? Who am I? Is life eternal? Is there life after death? But he
\ncould not find the answers. So he turned his studies to other world religions but nowhere was his thirst satisfied. <\/p>\n
Srimad Bhagavatam <\/p>\n
At the age of 16 he come across the Srimad Bhagavatam and the Bhagavad- Gita and they would
\nbecome his life’s guidance. They were the answers to all his questions. His thirst for God and bhakti had finally been fullfiled. So, at the age of 16, he started learning and studying Srimad Bhagavatam and Bhagavad Gita. <\/p>\n
Study and life in India <\/p>\n
He traveled in India where he lived for many years and studied under many saints and pandits. He
\nstudied subjects on the Indian culture such as sanskrit, yoga, jyotish and finally Srimad
\nBhagavatam. He traveled across India where he visited hundreds of holy places, met many sadhus and also spread glory of Bhagavatam Dharma.
\nFinally he arrived at the Holy Sri Vrindava Dham, the place of Krishnas eternal pastimes. His heart
\nbecame so very attracted to Vraja that he didnt wanted to go anywhere else in the world. In his search for Krishna, he wandered all over the holy places of Vraja Mandala parikrama. <\/p>\n
Iskcon and his Guru <\/p>\n
His Search brought him to the Hare Krishna movement, formally known as The International
\nSociety for Krishna Consciousness ( Iskcon ) and its founder-acarya Sri Srimad A.C. Bhaktivedanta
\nSwami Prabhupada. He became an Iskcon member. By divine arrangement and guidance he came
\nto meet his divine guru His Holines Srila Sacinandana Swami who has given him many valuable spiritual instructions. From Sacinandana Swami he received diksha initiation and in this way he
\nbecome a member of a glorious guru – sisya parampara known as Brahma – Madhva Gaudiya sampradaya . <\/p>\n
Exceptional story teller <\/p>\n
He is very much dedicated to telling stories about Krishna in very unique way. At his kathas you
\ncan listen to thousands of stories which illustrate spiritual points and teachings of the Srimad Bhagavatam. <\/p>\n
Present life <\/p>\n
At the present time he is based in Croatia where he lives with his wife and his son Manu. His work
\nand service has taken him all over world to many countries such as Austria, Greece, Japan,
\nMalaysia, Hungary, Hong Kong, Germany, Croatia and in many of these places he has lectured on the Srimad Bhagavatam.
\nProfile of Katha bhajan singer – Ojasvi das <\/p>\n
Ojasvi was born in 1975 and from childhood was very attracted with music and its aspect by which it describes intimacy of the soul, but until war in Bosnia that was just a unnoticed thing.
\nThese circumstances in its own way provoked it to come to surface.
\nBy studying ancient Vedas during this time his experience of this phenomena was directed
\npractically to singing of traditional Indian style of music.
\nBy the end of the war he left for India( Bengal, Delhi, Vrndavan ) to come in touch with original
\ndimension of this expression of the heart.
\nIn the next 20 years he studied and explored different depths of singing, especially kirtan style.
\nHe started travelling to many countries sharing the experiences of deepest needs of the heart
\nthrough kirtan and psychology of understanding the needs which every living entity has, in order to awake understanding of Self, Godand the connection between them (yoga).
\nHe is a bhajan singer who with his bhajans take an audience to another spiritual dimension. He is
\nthe only western singer who can so nicely sing even traditional Vrijavasi and Hindi bhajans. <\/p>\n
He has traveled all over the world and has performed his bhajans at kathas and bhakti festivals in
\nplaces such as Germany, Belgium, UK, Slovenia, Belgium, Italy, Russia, Estonia, Malaysia, Serbia, Croatia, India, Delhi, Vrindavan, Mayapur. <\/p>\n
With his beautiful bhajans, he accompanies the kathas performed by Madhucchanda das. <\/p>\n
Steps for organizing Bhagavatam katha: <\/p>\n
Once you have decided to invite us to perform Bhagavatam saptaha at an event you are organizing, there are few things to be managed for the successful realization of the project. <\/p>\n
Here are some guidelines: <\/p>\n
1. Send us the katha registration form that is on our web page: www.bhagavatam-katha.com and give us a more detailed view about the organization of the katha. <\/p>\n
2. We will send you a reply within 7 days. <\/p>\n
3. If you like we can provide you with materials for katha invitation in electronic format so you can print or share information on your web page, facebook or any other media. <\/p>\n
4. Finally katha is to be performed for the pleasure and benefit of all! <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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Madhucchanda das: It is a project created to support Srila Prabhupada’s and Iskcon’s mission to present Srimad Bhagavatam to the world.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[72],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-23888","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-message-board"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23888","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=23888"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23888\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":24343,"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23888\/revisions\/24343"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=23888"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=23888"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=23888"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}