Renowned Saint Gaur Das Ji

Hoshiarpur/Daljeet Ajnoha/July 24 :  The Shrimad Bhagavat Katha at Dera Bapu Ganga das Ji in Mahilpur continued this evening under the aegis of Bapu Gangadas Ji Welfare Society. National saint Param Shraddhey Shri Gaur Das Ji Maharaj, who arrived from Vrindavan, delivered a poignant and illuminating account of the episode of Gajendra Moksha.
Addressing the congregation at 6:00 p.m., Shri Gaur Das Ji described how Gajendra, the elephant, went to bathe in the water when a crocodile seized his leg. Initially proud of his strength — thinking himself as powerful as ten thousand elephants — Gajendra engaged in play with his family and did not immediately seek help. Gradually the crocodile began to suck his blood, and even his family members began to abandon him, believing the beast would not release him and might later attack them as well.
It was then that Gajendra remembered God. As the crocodile dragged him further into the water and he began to drown, a part of his trunk remained above water. In that desperate moment he invoked the mantra and shlokas given by his guru in a previous life. In response to his heartfelt prayer, the Lord appeared, freed Gajendra from the crocodile’s grip, and embraced him at His feet.
Drawing a lesson for listeners, the saint said that time — like Kala — seizes us when we take birth. While it is good to celebrate birthdays every year, people often fail to realize that age is diminishing with each passing year. Childhood and youth pass by quickly, and people tend to remember God only in old age. If one takes guru initiation early in life from a saint whose story resonates with them, and then lives a life balancing career, family duties and devotion, one can attain divine vision in this very birth.
Continuing the discourse, Maharaj Shri elaborated on other incarnations of the Lord and offered an evocative explanation of Lord Krishna’s advent. He narrated how Lord Krishna was born to Devaki and Vasudev, and asked Vasudev to take him to Nanda and Yashoda. Despite the heavy chains and prison doors, divine grace caused the shackles to break and the jail gates to open. Vasudev carried baby Krishna across the Yamuna to Nanda’s home. When Yashoda awoke that morning, she found the smiling baby beside her, and a grand celebration of Krishna’s birth followed.
At the Katha venue, an impressive procession honoring Lord Krishna was taken out with musical bands and drums, accompanied by distribution of toys, sweets and prasad. Maharaj ji led the crowd in bhajans including “Kanhaiya Aaja Re,” “Nand Ghar Anand Bhayo,” and “Jai Kanhaiya Lal Ki.”
Prominent volunteers and officials present included chief sevadar Mandeep Singh Bains; Inspector Gagandeep Singh Sekhon; Gharshankar Station House Officer Anil Kumar Kala; Joginder Pal (Pinky); Vicky; Paramjit Singh Bains (Inspector); Ravi; Deepak; Manish; Isha Garg; and members of the organizing committee. Devotees listened with rapt attention and devotion to the narration of the Lord’s glories.
The Katha committee invited all residents and devotees of the town to attend the daily discourse, which begins at 6:00 p.m. A communal langar (free meal) is provided for attendees after each session.