Congregational Preaching

His Holiness Bhakti Charu Swami His Holiness Bhakti Charu Swami Maharaja started the congregational preaching in Ujjain with 5 preachers. He told them to start a weekly program in each of their homes with 4 or 5 members in each group. The 5 grihastha couples who initiated the preaching are:

1)      Raghav Pandit Prabhu and Syamali Mataji

2)      Mohan Rupa Prabhu and Aparajita Mataji

3)      Vraja Kishora Prabhu and Vraja Kishori Mataji

4)      Parasurama Prabhu and Syamangi Radhika Mataji

5)      Srinath Krishna Prabhu and Rangini Radha Mataji

These 5 couples conduct programs every Saturday evening in their homes for local Grihastha families. They have been conducting these programs since 8 months beginning with 4 to 6 members every weekend. The program includes kirtans, lecture, a question and answer session and dinner.

The details of the program in each of the couples’ homes are as follows:

Raghav Pandit Prabhu and Syamali mataji:-

Ø      Timing: 7:00 pm to 9:30 pm (Dinner at 8:30 pm)

Ø      Venue: their own home

Ø      No. of people attending: 50

Ø      Subject of discussion: ‘Divya Jnan’ or Bhagavad Gita

Ø      Menu for dinner: Puri, subji, kheer and occasionally rice and dal.

Mohan Rupa Prabhu and Aparajita Mataji:-

Ø      Timing: 7:30 pm to 9:30 pm (Dinner at 9:00 pm)

Ø      Venue: Homes of the members in turns including their own home

Ø      No. of people attending: 17 regular plus 5 to 7 guests

Ø      Subject of discussion: Vaishnava etiquette and Bhakti Vriksha Manual

Ø      No. of people chanting 16 rounds: 10 (7 children attending the program all chant 8 rounds)

Ø      No. of people attending Mangala Arati in temple daily: 2

Ø      Menu for dinner: Puri, subji, sweet and occasionally rice and dal.

Vraja Kishor Prabhu and Vraja Kishori Mataji:-

Ø      Timing: 7:00 pm to 9:30 pm (Dinner at 9:00 pm)

Ø      Venue: their own home

Ø      No. of people attending: 30

Ø      Subject of discussion: Bhagavad Gita

Ø      No. of people chanting 16 rounds: 4

Ø      No. of people visiting temple daily: 12 to 14

Ø      Menu for dinner: Different items each week including a sweet item.

Ø      90% of the members are teachers

Parasurama Prabhu and Syamangi Radhika Mataji:-

Ø      Timing: 7:00 pm to 9:30 pm (Dinner at 8:45 pm)

Ø      Venue: their own home

Ø      No. of people attending: 30

Ø      Subject of discussion: Bhagavad Gita

Ø      No. of people chanting 16 rounds: 10 (5 families)

Ø      Format of the program: Kirtan – 10 minutes, Vaishnava song and discussion – 20 minutes, ice breaker involving everyone – 10 minutes, mangalacharana, discussion on 1 verse of Bhagavad Gita – 1 hour

Ø      Menu for dinner: Different items each week including a sweet item.

Ø      Visiting senior devotees like Ramananda Raya Prabhu, Radha Charan Prabhu and Rajasuya Prabhu give class occasionally.

Srinath Krishna Prabhu and Rangini Radha Mataji:-

Ø      Timing: 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm (Dinner at 8:45 pm)

Ø      Venue: their own home

Ø      No. of people attending: 20

Ø      Subject of discussion: Bhagavad Gita

Ø      No. of people chanting 16 rounds: 2

Ø      Prasadam: fruits

Ø      Every Sunday another program is conducted in another place for matajis only. About 12 to 15 matajis attend.

Apart from the weekly programs, all the congregational members of Ujjain attend a monthly meeting. The lecture is given by His Holiness Bhakti Charu Swami Maharaja or Ganganarayana Prabhu in His Holiness Bhakti Charu Swami Maharaja’s absence. About 125 to 150 devotees attend this program, which also ends with a sumptuous feast.

About 2 months back, a 3 day camp was conducted for the grihasthas in the temple. Each family was given a separate room in the guest house and beginning with the morning program, the whole camp was packed with programs one after another including kirtans, lectures, video shows and group discussions. About 22 families attended the camp and they all had a blissful experience.