Katha: The Bedrock of Satsang
Bhagwan Swaminarayan described satsang as a haveli — an ornate wooden building — and katha-varta as its foundations. He emphasized katha-varta — spiritual discourses and discussions — as the foundation upon which one’s personal satsang is built. The more robust one’s engagement in katha, the higher and sturdier will one’s satsang rise.
Such affinity for katha is evident in the lives of the Gunatit gurus. Gunatitanand Swami ensured that constant discourses echoed throughout Junagadh mandir, where he was mahant for over 40 years. Bhagatji Maharaj conducted discourses even after performing arduous physical seva for many hours during the day. Shastriji Maharaj often discoursed late into the night to the devotees. Yogiji Maharaj discoursed early every morning (mangal pravachan), established regular satsang assemblies in all mandirs and centers, and especially encouraged youths to discuss spiritual teachings. Pramukh Swami Maharaj also emphasized the importance of spiritual discourses as a necessity for spiritual growth.
Today, Mahant Swami Maharaj continues this tradition by discoursing and listening to discourses daily. The following gives an insight into Mahant Swami Maharaj’s inclination for spiritual discourses.
After Yogiji Maharaj had initiated 51 youths during the Kalash Mahotsav of Gadhada Mandir, he instructed them to stay in Mumbai, under the leadership of Mahant Swami. Subsequently, for almost two decades, Mahant Swami Maharaj served there as per the wish of Yogiji Maharaj, and later Pramukh Swami Maharaj. During this time, he presided over the daily kathas — both to discourse and listen: at 5:30 AM, he himself discoursed on the Nishkulanand Kavya; at 8:00 AM — after the shangar arti — the morning katha took place; at 1:00 PM, the post-lunch discourse took place; at 3:45 PM, the afternoon discourse was held; after the sandhya arti at around 7:00 PM the evening discourse took place; and the day’s final katha was in the nightly assembly at 9:00 PM Mahant Swami never tired in delivering and listening to spiritual discourses.
In 1982, Mahant Swami was in Bamaniya village on the day of Bhagwan Swaminarayan’s birthday — Shri Hari Jayanti. As per Shastriji Maharaj’s directive, everyone was observing a nirjala (waterless) fast — including Mahant Swami. That day, Mahant Swami completed his morning routine and puja by 6:00 AM. Then, he sat with Vallabhbhai and several other devotees and became immersed in discussions on numerous spiritual topics. Mahant Swami became so engrossed in the discussions that morning became afternoon and then night. Losing all track of time, the discussions concluded at 12 midnight.
Years later, Mahant Swami was asked, “What topics did you discuss?” He replied, “We discussed on the first two parts of Haricharitramut-Sagar. I still remember one very important point from that day: Honor and insult are both fleeting. So do not let them affect you.”
For over four decades, as per the wish of Pramukh Swami Maharaj, he traveled continuously to villages, towns and cities throughout India and abroad to spread the teachings of satsang. Everywhere, he graced the daily assemblies — whether in the heat of summer, cold of winter or the rains of the monsoon — the weather never disrupted his daily discourses.
The following incidents demonstrate Mahant Swami Maharaj’s affinity for spiritual discourses.
In 2011, Mahant Swami was in Antarsuba, a town near Godhra, to perform the murti-pratishtha of the new mandir there. It was peak summertime. In the assembly, a cooler was set up to give some relief from the sweltering heat, but the cool air did not reach him. When Swamishri began to speak, the wind blew so strongly that the temporary canopy was blown away, and he was exposed directly to the heat. Still, Swamishri continued his discourse undisturbed.
In 2014, Mahant Swami performed the patotsav rituals of Atladara mandir and then went for darshan in the parikrama. Here, to cool the floor from the hot summer sun, water had been sprayed. But Swamishri was unaware of this and as he walked, he slipped and injured his back. The doctors assessed him and requested him to rest, but Swamishri refused and still attended the patotsav assembly, where he discoursed to the devotees.
In September 2017, Mahant Swami Maharaj was in London, where he expressed his wish that a day-long chhavni (a traditional seminar or conference that includes extensive and detailed presentations) to expound on the Akshar Purushottam Darshan be held.
As per the day’s schedule, Swamishri was due to attend at a designated time to bless the gathering. But, totally unexpectedly, Swamishri sat in the chhavni sessions for a total of 7 ½ hours. In particular, he arrived in the evening session, five minutes early — when preparations were still ongoing and the first speaker had not yet arrived. Then, he sat attentively and continuously for 4 hours and 10 minutes throughout the entire session, without even taking a bathroom break or drinking water.
Later that night, as Swamishri prepared to sleep, Bhadresh Swami asked, “How much longer can you sit to listen to katha?” Swamishri replied, “For about another 2½ hours.” Even at the age of 85, Swamishri was able to sit for around 10 hours to listen to katha.
July 4, 2018, Sarangpur: “Bhagwan and katha are one. One who does not have an affinity for katha will not develop affection for Bhagwan.”
July 2, 2019, Ahmedabad: “One must apply the contents of katha to oneself. If one assumes it applies only to others, one will never benefit. But if one believes ‘the katha is for me, and I have to live according to it’ then one progresses. As satsangis, one must listen to katha daily.”
August 22, 2019, Atladara: “Just as when one chews one’s food properly one enjoys its taste more, if one analyzes and imbibes katha one will really enjoy it. So, listen attentively to katha and you will learn a lot. If some junior sadhu or a child is doing katha and one does not listen to it, that is disrespectful to God. Who is the katha about? Bhagwan. Would you not take prasad served by children or juniors? So, consider katha as prasad in the form of Bhagwan’s wisdom.”
July 20, 2021, Ahmedabad: From 8:23 AM to 8:48 AM Swamishri underwent a prostate procedure at the Yogiji Maharaj Hospital. Later, in his room, Swamishri was lying in bed and said, “I want to listen to katha.” Even in such circumstances this was Swamishri’s first thought. So, an attendant sadhu read from Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s jivan charitra for over 35 minutes. Then, Swamishri rested.
Swamishri has always placed a sustained emphasis on katha. For decades he daily held an impromptu morning katha after the mangala arti at whichever mandir he was present in. Sadhus eagerly crowded into his room to listen to his soft soothing voice that provided deep and experienced insights into enigmatic and practical spiritual topics. In this approximately 20-minute session he served merely a few drops from the vast reservoir of knowledge he possesses. His astute ability to pinpoint and convey essential spiritual ideas is outstanding.
In addition to the routine daily discourses, over the years, Swamishri has also presented speeches at innumerable seminars, shibirs and other events. His sincerity for such events is reflected in the way he often spent several days amid his busy schedule researching and preparing for the topics he was assigned to speak on.
Mahant Swami Maharaj has frequently described the importance and necessity of katha in his discourses.
December 16, 2021, Atladara: “Katha molds a person. It informs one about the true teachings and glory of Maharaj, satsang and devotees. Katha is the core, but we tend to ignore it. Without katha the teachings of satsang do not take root in a person. If the roots are strong then a robust and healthly tree develops.”
January 23, 2022, Atladara: Today was the date in 1971 that Yogiji Maharaj returned to Akshardham. Swamishri wished to listen to the details of Yogiji Maharaj’s last few days from Pujya Viveksagar Swami. So, by phone, Viveksagar Swami narrated the events in detail for over one hour. Swamishri listened with intense attention. Such is his affection for and devotion to his guru.
February 8, 2022, Atladara: “If one has a special inclination for katha-varta, then one can progress. Otherwise one does not improve. One may be in satsang, perform seva, offer devotion, but without katha-varta, one does not progress.”
Sadhu Amrutvijaydas
Swaminarayan Bliss | Sep — Oct 2022
