‘Shrimad Bhagavat begins and rests in salutation’: Sant Gaur Das on Krishna Leela, Janmashtami fervour and Kal Yuga

Hoshiarpur/September 4/Daljeet Ajnoha— On the Vishram (rest) day of the ongoing Shrimad Bhagavat Katha at the Radha Krishna Mandir here, visiting saint Sri Gaur Das Ji Maharaj from Vrindavan captivated devotees with a vivid narration of Lord Krishna’s Mathura and Dwarka leelas, while linking the day’s celebrations to the wider Janmashtami fervour across the Sanatani world.

Festival of song and devotion

Maharaj described the occasion as “a day for singing and dancing”, noting that Janmashtami is being celebrated with great enthusiasm in homes and temples worldwide, with daytime and night-time festivities, fasting, and all-night kirtan and path by Vaishnav devotees.

Krishna’s leelas and the essence of Bhagavat

During the discourse, Gaur Das Ji elaborately recounted Krishna’s divine pastimes in Mathura and Dwarka, underscoring the devotional spirit that defines the Shrimad Bhagavat tradition. He reiterated a key theological point often highlighted in his katha sessions: “Shrimad Bhagavat begins with pranam (salutation) and also rests/concludes on pranam,” echoing the opening and closing invocations found in the text.

Warning and hope for Kali Yuga

Towards the conclusion of the katha, Maharaj offered a stark depiction of Kali Yuga: falling water tables, young girls becoming pregnant, and conflicts over air and water, painting a picture of widespread hardship. Yet, he offered a clear path of resilience: those who take initiation from genuine gurus, observe bhajan niyam (regular devotional discipline), and serve the Lord and His dear ones will remain unshaken by the trials of Kal Yuga.

Event context

The Shrimad Bhagavat Katha at Radha Krishna Mandir in Hoshiarpur has drawn large gatherings, with daily sessions featuring scriptural exposition, kirtan, and community participation. Gaur Das Ji, a well-known Vrindavan-based saint whose discourses are widely circulated online, has previously held multi-day katha programmes in Hoshiarpur, including “Shri Gaurang Katha Amrit” and other Bhagavat