Spiritual leader Morari Bapu is hosting a nine-day recital of the Ramcharitmanas at Harvard University, featuring scholarly discussions and celebrations of Tulsi Jayanti.
CAMBRIDGE, MA – Spiritual leader Morari Bapu has commenced a nine-day recital of the Ramcharitmanas at Harvard University, an event that also includes scholarly discussions and the observance of Tulsi Jayanti.
Titled “Manas Guru Prasad,” the recital began on August 15 at Sanders Theatre and is set to continue through August 23. A three-day scholarly discussion took place from August 16 to 18, according to a press release.
The program coincided with Tulsi Jayanti on August 19, which celebrates the birth anniversary of the revered poet-saint Tulsidas.
During the event, Professor Diana Eck, Faculty Director at Harvard’s Lakshmi Mittal and Family South Asia Institute, spoke about the epic journey of Ram, Sita, and Lakshmana during their 14-year exile from Ayodhya. She referred to them as “primordial pilgrims,” noting how their travels through significant locations such as Prayag, Chitrakoot, Panchavati, and Kishkindha transformed these sites into sacred destinations, inspiring future generations of pilgrims to follow in their footsteps.
Professor Eck also highlighted the global influence of the Ramlila tradition, which has extended beyond India to countries such as Thailand, Indonesia, and Cambodia.
Dolar Popat, a member of the UK House of Lords, remarked that Harvard’s motto, “Veritas,” resonates with the values of “Satya, Prem, and Karuna,” which were emphasized throughout the gathering.
The event featured the participation of sadhus and scholars from notable locations including Chitrakoot, Ayodhya, and Varanasi.
Paavan Popat OBE, a member of the organizing team, noted that Bapu has taken the Ram Katha to various esteemed locations, including Kailash Manasarovar, the Vatican, the United Nations, and now Cambridge. He expressed that the Harvard program unites “the world’s oldest recital traditions and one of its greatest centers of learning.”
Bapu shared that he initiated the Tulsi Jayanti program in 2010 to honor those committed to preserving, interpreting, and advancing the tradition of Ram Katha and the Ramcharitmanas.
“This Katha is being held in Savan maas, in the context of Tulsi Jayanti. What was lit today by the sadhus was not gyan deep; it was prem jyoti,” Bapu explained.
He emphasized that the gathering would focus on the “Tribhuvana Sutras” of Satya, Prem, and Karuna, reinforcing the event’s commitment to spiritual and cultural values.
According to India-West, the recital and discussions aim to deepen the understanding of the Ramcharitmanas and its significance in contemporary society.