The year 1991 marked the commencement of Pujyashree Bhupendrabhai Pandya's ongoing journey of Bhagavat katha narrations. After this discourse at Bhatia Mahajan Wadi his popularity increased by leaps and bounds and today he is well known as a preacher all over the globe.
Pujyashree Bhupendrabhai Pandya is an enlightened torchbearer of our Sanatan Vedic Culture. This modern age saint specializes in the rational interpretation of eternal principles, which makes his discourses appealing to all ages. He focuses more on the applied aspect of religion rather than mere story telling. With some amount of seriousness and lots of humour, he has touched the right chord in the hearts of people, the world over. His depth of knowledge and clarity of thought makes him especially popular amongst intellectuals and youngsters. They find his principles logical and his messages convincing and seem to connect to them at a deeper level. His preaching is not just theoretical but has a practical aspect to it. In his easy to understand discourses, youngsters find answers to all the 'whys' nagging them in the field of religion and life in general. He is amongst the few of his peers to be lovingly called the 'cyber saint'. He keeps himself appraised with current affairs, technology and changing times. You can be sure to catch him with his laptop, visor and cell phone but his operations are on a spiritual plane.
Pujyashree Bhai's expression of the divine does not have any language-barrier, as he is fluent in languages like Gujarati, Hindi, Marathi, Sanskrut and English.
He has rendered a total of more than 450 discourses on Bhagavat, Ramayan, Geeta, Upanishads and other subjects. The landmark kathas organized by Samakti Seva Parivar, Samakti Mission, USA and Samakti Mission, UK are:
| Katha | Date | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| 155 Parayan Shreemad Bhagavat Saptah | 30th April - 6th May 1997 | Madhavbaug, Mumbai |
| 151 Parayan Shreemad Bhagavat Saptah | 16th May - 22nd May 1999 | Haridwar |
| 1125 Parayan Ishwar Naam Jaap Katha | 30th Dec. 1999 - 5th Jan. 2000 | Santacruz, Mumbai |
| 501 Parayan Ishwar Naam Jaap Katha | 2nd Nov - 8th Nov 2001 | Kandivali, Mumbai |
| 5108 Parayan Shreemad Bhagavat Saptah | 25th June - 2nd July 2002 | New York, USA |
| 1108 Parayan Ishwar Naam Jaap Katha | 25th December 2003- 1st January 2004 | Cross-Maidan, Mumbai |
| 785 Parayan Ishwar Naam Jaap Katha | 25th December 2003- 31st December 2004 | Ahmedabad, Gujarat |
| Shreemad Bhagavat Saptah Gyanyagna in English | 24th July - 31st July 2005 | London, UK |
Introduction of the concept of Ishwar Naam Jaap
Holding mass scale kathas, an age-old tradition, is a common phenomenon
practiced by most people. Usually, during the seven days of the discourse when
a katha is conducted, one can observe the main orator flanked by two Brahmins;
one of them reads the entire Bhagavat in its sanskrut version while the other
Brahmin does 'Mantra Jaap'. He constantly recites mantras, verses.
In a path-breaking endeavour, to actively involve people in the process of the katha, Pujyashree Bhupendrabhai Pandya conceived and presented to the society an innovative idea of writing 'mantras'. For this purpose, Samakti Seva Parivar printed 'mantra pothis'. Mantra pothis are books where an individual or a family as a unit writes 1.25 lakh mantras of their own choice in any language. Writing mantras has a two-fold effect. As one writes, one also tends to chant the mantra. Therefore the actual number of times the mantra is chanted is not just 1.25 lakh but 2.50 lakh. All our sense organs, our speech, ears, eyes and hands are integrated while performing this divine activity. We hear what we say and see what we write. All our energies are focused in the direction of the Lord. This makes the mantra even more effective.
There have been countless instances where individuals and family members have experienced the miraculous power of mantra writing beyond a theoretical understanding of the verse. Evidences in the form of letters expressing the dispersal of their problems and success achieved in various fields after having begun this pious act, have motivated and inspired many others to take up this noble deed.
The 'first ever katha' of this kind was held in Santacruz, Mumbai in December 1999. Unique features of this katha were; the adoptions of children of Kargil war martyrs, marriages of physically and visually impaired, blood donation camps etc. For further information click here.
Following a stupendous response in this very first experimental Katha, a similar katha was organised by public request and demand at Kandivali, Mumbai in November 2001.Highlights of these kathas are illustrated click here
108 Parayan Shreemad Bhagavat Saptah in USA
This was the first ever Samuhik katha held on the soils of USA whose main sponsor was Dr. Navinbhai Mehta. Even though such a katha was held for the first time, it elicited a tremendous response in the form of 108 pothis. Out of these, many pothis were dedicated to the memory of souls departed in the 9/11 tragedy. Another noteworthy high point of this katha was the discourse on Rukmini's Love Letter, which was narrated in English and attended by more than 600 youngsters.
Having had two very successful experiences in North Mumbai, on the insistence of people in South Mumbai a similar katha was held at Cross Maidan, Mumbai between 25th and 31st December 2003 followed by a Shree Yagna on 1st January 2004. For Futher Details click Here
With so many discourses in Mumbai, Gujarat was not going to be left far behind; for the very first time a katha based on the concept of 'mantra jaap' was organised in Ahmedabad from 25th to 31st December 2004 which drew a large number of audience. Since the tsunami hit the coastal areas while the katha was on, volunteers of Samakti Seva Parivar immediately sprang into action and sent truckloads of help for the afflicted.
Shreemad Bhagavat Katha in London for the first time ever in English!
Samakti Mission UK and Hindu Youth UK paved the way for what can be seen as a celebration of Hinduism. Spirituality truly transcended all barriers and touched the hearts of the exclusively English-speaking population of London. The celebration of this seven-day festival was so full of enthusiasm and gaiety that the geographical distance of thousands of miles and the chronological difference of more than five thousand years zeroed in, right there in London. After having met Lord Krushna, the people in London are eagerly waiting for August, 2006, when they will get to know Lord Rama during the Ramayana Katha, which will also be delivered in English for the first time ever.