HOFFMAN ESTATES: Shree Jalaram Mandir in Hoffman Estates, a northwest suburb of Chicago, added one more feather in its cap of achievements by organizing for the first time in USA a Jalaram Charitra Katha on the life of Jalaram Bapa, here.
The Katha, a four day program (July 24-28), was narrated by well known guru Rajendraprasad Bhatt (Shastriji) of Bhavnagar. It was attended by hundreds of devotees every day and was accompanied with singing of melodious bhajans by talented music group.
The Katha explained that God comes down on earth in the form of a human being or some other form of life, whenever evil elements prevail over good in the universe. According to Rajendraprasadji, Jalarambapa was one such angel, born in village Virpur in India on November 14, 1799 and his nirvana was on February 23, 1881. Bapa’s parents, Pradhan and Rajbai Thakkar, were poor but were very religious.
Jalaram was their second child. Lots of signs such as divine lighting and happiness were felt before the birth. Bapa was very religious and God worshipping from childhood. As he grew older, he was married to Virbaima.
Both left their worldly attachments and started feeding and helping the poor and the needy. The free food is still served to everyone visiting Virpur. During his life, Bapa had personal blessings of Lord Rama enabling him to help and perform services impossible for a human being.
During the Katha, Bapa’s birth event was celebrated on July 26; wedding ceremony on July 27 and Sant Samagam on July 28. A stream of donations kept coming from the devotees throughout the Katha, primarily for the expansion of the Mandir.
On Saturday, the concluding day of the Katha, several devotees wearing the traditional dresses worn by Bapa and other saints presented a wonderful scene of holiness, bhakti and service to mankind. Shastriji provided several bhajan recitals in the presence of the sant devotees and a devoted audience.
Mahaprasad was provided by the Mandir every day to all the devotees attending the Katha.
Yogesh Thakkar
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