The ISKCON, Bhubaneswar will observe the 76th Vyasapuja, Sripad Maharaj Odhani Sasthi, on Sunday. It is a great festival of lord Jagannath.
On this day, the ISKCON guru Traveller Sri Srimad Bhaktiswarup Damodar Swami Maharaj was born in 1937 in Manipur in a Vaishnav family. After the passing away of ISKCON, Bhubaneswar guru Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami in 1996, he was selected as the GBC of ISKCON, Bhubaneswar and remained so from 1996 to 2006.
Damodar Swami Maharaj is a scientist, spiritualist, philosopher and Krishna Conscious preacher. He made pioneering efforts to bring a synthesis between science and religion. He laid the foundation of Bhaktivedanta Book Trust and ISKCON, Gundicha Temple in Bhubaneswar and Bahanaga, Brahmapur and Kamakhyanagar ISKCONs, and Bhaktivedanta Institute, Burla.
His disciples across the world are also observing the Vyasapuja. At ISKCON, Bhubaneswar, there is a Nagar Sankirtan programme at 6 am, followed by pendal programme at 8 am when the 76th lamp will be lighted. The Vyasapuja book will be offered at 8.30 am. After an inaugural speech by Sripad Padaseva Das at 9 am, there will be editorial reading. Prasad, Arati and Guru Dakhina programmes will be held at around 12 noon. Prasad will be offered to guests and devotees numbering around 5,000 people. Istagosthi will be held at 6 pm.
The second season will start at 7.15 pm, followed by a video show of Sripad Maharaj’s lecture at 8.15 pm and offering of cake to Sripad Maharaj. The devotees will take Prasad after this.