[Nectar] The Bull and the Bhagavata

[Guest guest]

By Madhavananda Das

 

There is a humorous saying in Oriya, s•andha œun•uchi bh•gavata —

“A bull hearing the Bh•gavatam,” that indicates something useless.

If you recite Œr•mad Bh•gavatam before a bull, what will he

understand or appreciate? However, in Bhubaneswar, Orissa recently,

this phrase took on a new meaning.

 

In March 2004, many people had gathered at the ancient Shiva temple

known as Kapileshwar Mahadeva in the Old Town area of Bhubaneswar to

observe the 22-year-old tradition of hearing a nine-day recitation of

Œr•mad Bh•gavatam. Just as the recitation was about to begin, a

large bull entered the compound and sat down next to the devotees. Some

devotees tried to chase him away, but he was a bit, well … bullish,

and patiently ignored their protests. Everyone was surprised to see

that as soon as the talk was finished, the bull got up to leave.

However, they were even more surprised when he showed up on time the

next day, listened, and again left when it was over. This went on for

the duration of the event.

 

By the following year, most everyone had forgotten about the episode.

That is until the first day of the recitation, when the same bull

showed up, right on time, and again took his seat to hear the

Bh•gavatam. Again this went on every day for the duration of the

program. This year, in 2006, everyone was wondering if he would come

again. Sure enough, on the first day, our stubborn bovine friend came

sauntering through the gate and quietly took his place next to the

devotees. Whatever it may mean, this bull hearing the Bh•gavata has

become the biggest attraction of the festival.

 

Bh•gavata-m•h•tmya of Padma Pur•n•a recounts the

Bh•gavata-sapt•ha conducted by the great devotee Gokarna. It is said

there that due to his reciting the Bh•gavatam his brother Dhundhukari

was delivered from his form of a ghost and attained the spiritual

world. The Padma Pur•n•a says that although many others were

listening to that recitation, no one else achieved liberation because,

unlike Dhundhukari, they were not listening attentively. Gokarna later

spoke the Bh•gavatam again. This time everyone in the village attended

and listened attentively, including even the animals. Chapter 197 of

the uttara-khan•d•a of Padma Pur•n•a describes the results:

 

tad-gr•me ye sthit• j•v• •œva-c•n•d••la-j•tayah•

vim•ne sth•pit•ste ‘pi gokarn•a kr•pay• tad•

 

By the mercy of Gokarna, all the living entities in that village,

including even the dogs and dog-eaters, ascended into a transcendental

airship [and attained the abode of the Lord].

 

– By Madhavananda Das

 

 

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