In a landmark confluence of spirituality, scholarship and resonance of Sanatana Dharma across the oceans, a nine-day recital of the Ramcharitmanas has begun at Harvard University. This reflects India\u2019s strong soft power network, historical and civilisational essence being acknowledged, cherished and adopted across continents and in one of the world\u2019s renowned univeristies of the modern times.<\/p>\n
Spiritual leader Morari Bapu commenced the nine-day recital, titled \u2018Manas Guru Prasad\u2019, at Harvard\u2019s Sanders Theatre on August 15, coinciding with India\u2019s 80th Independence Day. The Katha will continue through August 23, with a three-day scholarly discussion held from August 16 to 18.<\/p>\n
The programme also commemorates Tulsi Jayanti on August 19, marking the birth anniversary of poet-saint Goswami Tulsidas, whose Ramcharitmanas has shaped India\u2019s spiritual, literary and cultural traditions for centuries.<\/p>\n
The opening of the recital at the Harvard University brought together sadhus, spiritual leaders, Katha narrators, scholars, musicians, artists and international academics. The delegation includes spiritual figures and scholars from Ayodhya, Chitrakoot, Varanasi and Vrindavan.<\/p>\n
Prof Diana Eck, Faculty Director at Harvard\u2019s Lakshmi Mittal and Family South Asia Institute, described Bhagwan Ram, Sita and Lakshmana as \u201cprimordial pilgrims\u201d, highlighting how their 14-year journey through Ayodhya, Prayag, Chitrakoot, Panchavati, Kishkindha and Rameshwaram transformed the Indian landscape into a network of sacred sites.<\/p>\n
She noted that the journey also became the setting for Ramlila traditions that travelled beyond India to countries including Thailand, Indonesia and Cambodia. The Ramayana, she said, represents not merely a story or map, but a \u201cliving landscape\u201d of spirituality and tradition.<\/p>\n
Lord Dolar Popat, a member of the UK House of Lords, drew a connection between Harvard\u2019s motto, \u2018Veritas\u2019 and Morari Bapu\u2019s core message of Satya, Prem and Karuna \u2014 Truth, Love and Compassion. Morari Bapu said that the gathering was not simply an academic or historical occasion, but a spiritual convergence. \u201cThis was meant to happen and therefore it is happening. This is not historical, it is spiritual\u201d, he said.<\/p>\n
He described the Ramcharitmanas as a sadgrantha with universal relevance, emphasising that its principles of truth, love and compassion should not merely be worshipped but lived and practised. The central theme of the Katha is the \u2018Tribhuvana Sutras\u2019 of Satya, Prem and Karuna.<\/p>\n
These three chaupais from the Ramcharitmanas have been taken as the central theme of the Katha, which are \u0917\u0941\u0930 \u092a\u094d\u0930\u0938\u093e\u0926 \u0938\u092c \u091c\u093e\u0928\u093f\u0905 \u0930\u093e\u091c\u093e \u0964 \u0915\u0939\u093f\u0905 \u0928 \u0906\u092a\u0928 \u091c\u093e\u0928\u093f \u0905\u0915\u093e\u091c\u093e \u0965\u2019 \u2018\u092e\u0916 \u0930\u0916\u0935\u093e\u0930\u0940 \u0915\u0930\u093f \u0926\u0941\u0939\u0941\u0901 \u092d\u093e\u0908\u0902 \u0964 \u0917\u0941\u0930\u0941 \u092a\u094d\u0930\u0938\u093e\u0926 \u0938\u092c \u092c\u093f\u0926\u094d\u092f\u093e \u092a\u093e\u0908\u0902 \u0965\u2019 \u2018\u0938\u0939\u093f\u0924 \u0938\u092e\u093e\u091c \u0924\u0941\u092e\u094d\u0939\u093e\u0930 \u0939\u092e\u093e\u0930\u093e \u0964 \u0918\u0930 \u092c\u0928 \u0917\u0941\u0930 \u092a\u094d\u0930\u0938\u093e\u0926 \u0930\u0916\u0935\u093e\u0930\u093e \u0965<\/p>\n
The programme has an additional historic dimension this year. For the first time, the Tulsi Jayanti on August 19 is being held outside India, with awards including the Tulsi, Vyas, Valmiki and Ratnavali honours being presented in the US. Paavan Popat OBE, a member of the organising team, described the event as a meeting of \u201cthe world\u2019s oldest recital traditions and one of its greatest centres of learning\u201d.<\/p>\n
The opening of the Ramcharitmanas at Harvard on India\u2019s Independence Day thus carries a wider cultural significance \u2014 presenting India\u2019s spiritual heritage and civilisational essence on an international academic stage.<\/p>\n
\u00a9 Bharat Prakashan (Delhi) Limited. Tech-enabled by Ananthapuri Technologies<\/p>\n
\u00a9 Bharat Prakashan (Delhi) Limited. Tech-enabled by Ananthapuri Technologies<\/p>\n