ANANDOTSAV
An effort to describe the 23rd day of Feb, 2003.
It was the divine land of Guwahati (Amingaon Ashram) along with those few fortunate devotees of Bhagavan who stand as witness to Bhagavan's most eventful divine sport of playing Holi with them. As the news of Bhagavan's consent to play Holi with His devotees reached them, devotees from all corners of the country started to congregate at the auspicious place to witness this celestial bliss.
In the morning Bhagavan took all the devotees for a boat ride in the hilly river Brahmaputra. He was very normal while He was riding. At 8 o’clock Bhagavan along with all the devotees returned to the Ashram. He asked Sujata Chakraborty, one of His ardent devotees to sing a song. Sujata poured out her heart and sang with all her devotion --- "O Krishna, the enchanter of mind, the stealer of Radha's mind. Thou art the life line of Vrindavan, the holder of the mountain Goverdhana, Thou rules the heart O Hari ! O Narayana !" Bhagavan said, “I am entering into Samadhi”. Sing till I return. As Bhagavan entered into Samadhi things started to take a turn. The bliss of boat riding with Bhagavan still prevailing in the mind of the devotees started weaning away. The sweet voice of Sujata amalgamated with her utmost devotion was attuned with the eternal environment .A strong silence started to creep up within every soul. They were as it were, gradually lulled into a state of calmness. The atmosphere was gripped by a grave stillness. Sujata could continue no more. She ceased to sing unnoticed by the senses of all. She sank into the depths of Samadhi.
After a while Bhagavan came out of the room and sat on a chair under the sun which was pouring down its sweet warmth. Bhagavan was in a tremendous state. The solemnity and the seriousness of an unbounded ocean reflected from His countenance. It so seemed that even time forgot to pass on and stood still towards Him, as if like mechanical beings, and they sat encircling Him in the form of an arc. Bhagavan was looking at the infinite with the vision of voidness. He said, "There's no Bhava (feelings) here. This world is not real. Neither does that Rama exist, nor does that Ayodhya. How will there be Holi."
By then all the devotees were indomitably attracted towards Bhagavan. They began offering their obeisance by lying prostrate at His lotus feet. None could regain the strength of standing on their feet after this act of reverence. Some few moments made their way. All of a sudden Bhagavan said, to Pankaj (Swami Premananda) - "Pankaj, Sing a song of Holi." Along with a few other devotees Pankaj carried out the order of the Lord. He made a Herculean effort to give form to the formless and infinite. It so seemed that a vibration appeared to the one beyond Vibration. As if the formless Knowledge and consciousness was the threshold, taking a form of Divine Love. Bhagavan said, "Krishna is not yet born."
Some more moments passed. Bhagavan said, “Krishna is born”. Things were changing in Him. “Now He is of one month, Now he is two months ... now three”. His state was changing rapidly. His body started to move a little. An unknown secret smile was playing on His countenance. After a few moments He said, “Now Krishna is of nine years, come on, let's play Holi”. He first offered colours at His own Portrait established in the Ashram. Thereafter He started playing Holi with the devotees present. Whomsoever He touched like love like colours, sank into the depths of Samadhi and fell on the earth like a tree cut down from its trunk. The devotees also played Holi with Bhagavan intoxicated with divine love. Bhagavan was enjoying bliss with everyone. He was dancing with all the devotees. Nobody was anymore aware of the external world or even about their own self. Bhagavan was dancing amidst all the devotees but each found Bhagavan to be dancing with Him. As Bhagavan witnessed the birth and manifestation of Krishna , Hence all the devotees saw Krishna all around them. The Ashram was transformed into Vrindavan. His devotees, who never had never seen Vrindavan but nevertheless had a desire to see it, couldn't find the desire anymore from that instant. Even those who desired to have the divine glimpse of Lord Krishna couldn't find the existence of the desire anymore as they saw the living Krishna - Krishna who was living, smiling, crying, sporting, sleeping, speaking and dancing with them.
This was the 23rd February 2003. Thereafter this day began to be celebrated as ""ANANDOTSAV" -- The celebration of bliss. Bhagavan gifted another day when men could forget their woes and agonies and immerse themselves in pure and selfless bliss. This divine event proves that Bhagavan is rooted in Godhood. Even before the devotees could prove themselves Bhagavan proved that He is God -- the supreme person. He is His own witness -- One who is beyond all witnesses. This event is also a proclamation unto the future that if one would come in contact with Bhagavan, he or she would achieve the supreme without any austerity whatsoever. This may sound strange but yet true. One is freed from all bondage on having the divine Darshan of Bhagavan. Civilisation would cross the barriers of time if it can know Bhagavan. It would go beyond the jaws of destruction.
(As Sung At The I.V.S Centres During The Evening Prayer)
