Guru Purnima over the years (1999-2009) in the presence of Sri Sri Babathakur

A Diary by Siddhartha Dasgupta

In 1999, Saccidananda Society & Sri Sri Babathakur moved to Sri Santimoy Datta’s (known as Santida to all bhaktas) place at Metropolitian Bypass (Kolkata) from Sri Nani Chakravarty’s residence at Fern Road.

Some of the common events at all Guru Purnima were that Sri Sri Babathakur always gave a long speech after bhajans. He would go on for hours without knowing what time it was. At the end, someone would usually say something like “Babathakur, shomoy hoyegachhe” – meaning “Babathakur, it’s getting late”. Then he would say something like “OK” and end the talk soon. Other common factors were that the Guru Purnima was always held in Kolkata, & that bhaktas not only from Kolkata, but other parts of India & abroad too would attend the celebration. I have had the good fortune of attending every single Guru Purnima since 1999.

The first Guru Purnima celebration of Saccidananda Society took place on Thursday, July 29^th, 1999 at the rooftop of Saccidananda Society. The event started with bhajans performed by several bhaktas from Calcutta. The following bhajans were sung:

• Om Namaste Paramabramhane, led by Smt. Lily Haldar
• Chhero Na Re Mon, Shyama Mayer Sreechoron, by Sri Pranab Bose
• Om Namo Gurubhyo, Gurupaadukaabhyo, by Sri Pranab Bose, Smt. Lily Haldar & group
• Bramharaam Hari Aatmaaraam, by Smt. Lily Haldar
• Raam Naam, led by Sri Pranab Bose
• Kothao Bhogoban, led by Sri Pranab Bose
• Jaya Madhabo, by Smt. Lily Haldar
• Shiva Shiva Shankara, by Sri Pranab Bose, followed by Shiva Om
• Hare Krishna Hare Rama, led by Sri Pranab Bose
• Radhe Gobindo, led by Sri Pranab Bose & group
• Joy Joy Guru Joy, led by Sri Pranab Bose

Guru Purnima 2000 was held at the roof of a “Mishtir Dokan” (Sweet Store) located very near to the Society building. Our e-Sri Sanai editor, Smt. Sroddha Patranabis sang a melodious bhajan (Ayahi Borode, Mata Sharode). The bhajans that were rendered were as follows:

• Prem Se Bhaja Mana, led by Sri Subir Kar Purkayastha
• Om Namo Gurubhyo, led by Smt. Lily Haldar
• Bhaja Bhaja Mana Saccidaanandaghana, led by Sri Subir Kar Purkayastha
• Shyama Ma Amar Anondomoyee, by Sri Pranab Bose
• Ayahi Borode Mata Sharode, by Smt. Sroddha Patranabis
• Saccidananda Guru Om, led by Smt. Lily Haldar
• Bhaja Mana Raamakrishna, led by Sri Subir Kar Purkayastha
• Anondo Guru, Anondo Ishoro, led by Smt. Lily Haldar
• Hare Krishna Hare Raama, led by Sri Pranab Bose & group
• Radhe Gobindo, led by some lady in the Calcutta bhajan group
• Babathakur Naam, led by Sri Pranab Bose
• Joy Joy Guru Joy, led by Sri Pranab Bose

The format of the Guru Purnima function changed in 2001. Sri Kedar Narayan Bodas (who has sung in the Babathakur Bhajan CDs/Cassette albums) started coming to Kolkata to render a few bhajans during the celebrations. This happened every year from 2001 onwards, except for 2003. Another change was that Guru Purnima started to be held in an Auditorium. The 2001 celebration was a two-day event held on Thursday, July 5^th & Friday, July 6^th at the BD Auditorium, Salt Lake. The 1^st day was the Guru Purnima celebration & the 2^nd day was the weekly Friday bhajan (which used to happen back then) done by the Kolkata bhaktas.

ZEE Bangla also began recording the Guru Purnima function from 2001 onwards. These were telecast later (starting in 2003) as 30 minute sessions – “Talks of Self Identity” on Zee Bangla.

From 2002-2009 (except 2008), the venue for Guru Purnima moved to Kalakunja, Kalamandir (located on Theatre Road, in Chowringhee). Sri Satinath Mukhopadhyay of Kolkata was the MC for these events. In 2008 Guru Purnima was held at Gyan Manch, & Sri Manas Bhowmik of Siliguri served as the MC.

Bombay Ma was also able to attend the Guru Purnima celebrations from 2002 – 2005.

In 2003, since Sri Kedar Bodas was not present at the celebration, some of his bhajan recordings were played before the program began.

At the 2004 function, the following bhajans were sung:

• Madhuram Madhuram Saccidananda Madhuram, by Sri Kedar Narayan Bodas
• Aho Ki Anondo, by Sri Kedar Narayan Bodas

The 2005 Guru Purnima had something special – Sri Kedar Bodas singing 5 bhajans accompanied by live dancing performed by Smt. Sonali Chakraborty of Pune. The dances were all choreographed, directed, shown, & taught by Sri Sri Babathakur. In fact, I even saw a part of one of the rehearsals at the Society Building when Sri Sri Babathakur was directing them.

At the 2005 function, the following bhajans were sung:

• Om Namo Gurubhyo Gurupaadukaabhyo, by Smt. Ratna Bhowmik
• Guru Ebar Kripa Kore, sung by Sri Kedar Narayan Bodas & Smt. Sonali Chakraborty’s dance
• Satya Gyan Ananda Muroti, sung by Sri Kedar Narayan Bodas & Smt. Sonali Chakraborty’s dance
• Aaju Mere Shyaam, sung by Sri Kedar Narayan Bodas & Smt. Sonali Chakraborty’s dance
• Prem Se Bhaja Mana, by Sri Pranab Bose & Smt. Lily Haldar
• Mon Re Amar Poran Khule, sung by Sri Kedar Narayan Bodas & Smt. Sonali Chakraborty’s dance
• Aho Ki Ananda, sung by Kedar Narayan Bodas & Smt. Sonali Chakraborty’s dance

At the 2006 function, the following bhajans were sung:

• Satya Sundara Swayam Bramha Jyoti, by Smt. Lily Haldar
• Guru Tomaar Chorone Mor, by Sri Kedar Narayan Bodas
• Doyal Doyal Doyal Guru Amar, by Sri Pranab Bose
• Sharode Sharode, by Sri Kedar Narayan Bodas

At the 2007 function, the following bhajans were sung:

• Shantayo Avyakto Rupayo, by Smt. Lily Haldar
• He Chiro Shundoro, by Smt. Lily Haldar
• Kaleenam Shuddha Sagaro, by Sri Pranab Bose
• Guru Tomar Chorone Mor, by Sri Kedar Narayan Bodas
• Manosho Udyane, by Sri Kedar Narayan Bodas
• Madhuram Madhuram Saccidananda Madhuram, by Sri Kedar Narayan Bodas

At the beginning of the program, Sri Satinath Mukhopadhyay gave a little introduction of Sri Sri Babathakur’s words & related it to a Rabindrasangeet – “Amar Hiyar Majhe Lukiye Chhile”.

In 2008, & 2009, Smt. Suchismita Das, Smt. Shaoni Mitra and Smt. Chandrabali Rudra Dutta rendered a few bhajans in addition to Sri Kedar Bodas.

At the 2008 function, the following bhajans were sung:

• Brahmasagara Shudha Shindhu, by Smt. Chandrabali Rudra Dutta
• Bhaja Mono Omkaro, by Smt. Chandrabali Rudra Dutta
• Doyal Doyal Doyal Guru Amar, by Sri Pranab Bose
• Shree Ganesha Shree Ganesha, by Smt. Suchismita Das
• Prem Se Bhaja Mana, by Smt. Suchismita Das
• Bhaja Mana Omkara, by Sri Kedar Narayan Bodas
• Ananda Guru Ananda Ishwara, by Sri Kedar Narayan Bodas

At the 2009 function, the following bhajans were sung (from what I remember):

• Apon Swaroope Purna Apon, by Smt. Lily Haldar
• Shantayo Avyakta Rupayo, by Sri Pranab Bose
• Jaanu Jaanu Jaanu Main, by Sri Pranab Bose
• Mere Preetam Mere Preetam, by Smt. Shaoni Mitra
• Kothay Ek Kothay Bahu, by Smt. Shaoni Mitra
• Main Ka Main Hai Ahamdeva, by Sri Kedar Narayan Bodas
• Bodha Swaroop Hei Bhagawaan Bodhi Swayam Jaane, by Sri Kedar Narayan Bodas

In addition to the bhajans & Sri Sri Babathakur’s speech, there would be speeches by some of His bhaktas. For the last few years, Santida had been giving a speech on the importance of Guru Purnima. In 2009, he said “Om Namo Gurubhyo Guru Padukabhyo, Acharya Siddheshwara Padukabhyo, Namo Namah Shree Guru Padukabhyo”. Sri Satyapriya Chakraborty would always recite a poem written by him on Sri Sri Babathakur. Some bhaktas would be called on stage to present flowers etc. to Babathakur. Sometimes even books would be released on Guru Purnima. In fact in 2007, a DVD of a bhajan program performed by Sri Kedar Narayan Bodas & some other Kolkata based artists, was presented along with the Press Conference DVD & Sri Sri Babathakur’s speech following the bhajan that day (January 27^th, 2007).