Engineer-turned-saint Pranavpuri Maharaj performs standing Katha:The Pontiff, known for 3-hour discourses, shares his views on singer Maithili Thakur and spiritual storytelling journey

A seven-day Shri Ram Katha is currently underway at Manas Bhawan in Guna. The spiritual event is led by Pranvapuri Maharaj, Peethadhishwar of Mahamrityunjay Math, Mahakal Lok Ujjain. With his unique storytelling style, he is captivating the audience with devotion and knowledge. Known for the Hanumant style, Pranvapuri Maharaj narrates the story while standing, just as Hanuman Ji did. He continues this for three hours at a stretch, showing his energy, devotion, and dedication to Lord Shri Ram. Along with religious teachings, he also shares guidance on life values, moral conduct, and principles. Pranavpuri Maharaj believes that Katha recitation is a sacred service, and he performs it selflessly. In his Katha, he stays away from politics and focuses only on religion, spirituality, and the welfare of humanity. He inspires listeners to adopt religion and spirituality in their lives, follow virtues, and become better human beings. This Katha, starting from October 24, will continue till October 30. On October 30, the Katha will conclude and Prasad will be distributed. Dainik Bhaskar spoke to Katha reciter Pranavpuri Maharaj on various topics, including the Hanumant style. Read the conversation with Pranavpuri Maharaj… How did the thought of renunciation come?
The thought of renunciation came in 2012, when I was working as a software engineer in Noida. This thought came because of my elder Maharaj Swami Angad Ji Maharaj. Then I thought that now I will dedicate the rest of my life to the devotion of God. First, I went to Haridwar, where Ardh Kumbh was going on at that time. From there, I went with the saints and began my period of renunciation. During renunciation, I studied Tulsidas’s literature. I received the blessing of Ramkatha from Tulsidas Maharaj and elder Maharaj. Later, I also spent time in Vrindavan, where I self-studied Shrimad Bhagavat Mahapurana. Currently, because I live among saints, I benefit from every scripture – including the Gita, Shivmahapurana, and other texts, as well as satsang, in my life. I wish that what I receive, and also that other devotees, may somehow receive God’s message. You narrate stories while standing, how can we understand this style?
Storytellers usually narrate stories sitting on the Vyas Gaddi, but to understand my style of narrating stories while standing, we need to know the three styles of narration, as told by saints: Naradiya style, Vyasiya style, and Hanumanti style. The Naradiya style is music-centric, in which stories are narrated through music. The Vyasiya style, in which stories are narrated sitting on the Vyas Gaddi according to Vyas Samas, as Ved Vyas Ji narrated. The third is the Hanumant style, in which Hanuman Ji Maharaj narrated stories while standing. According to Ramcharitmanas, Hanuman Ji narrated stories four times: twice in Lanka, to Vibhishan and Mata Janaki, and twice to Bharat Ji. Once when Lakshman ji fainted and was being carried to Dronachal mountain, and the second time when Lord Ram returned to Ayodhya after conquering Lanka and sent Hanuman ji to inform Bharat ji. In these four situations, the circumstances were dire. It was not easy to narrate the story in Lanka, and there was no time to narrate the story while carrying the mountain. Therefore, Hanuman ji narrated the story while standing, because there was no arrangement for seating or a stage. For this reason, this style was called Hanumant Shaili, in which Hanuman ji Maharaj narrated the Lord’s story. You narrate the Shri Ram Katha standing for three hours, do you never feel any pain or discomfort?
When the mind is absorbed in the divine, there is no feeling of happiness, sorrow, or discomfort. Generally, three hours are sufficient for the Katha, but sometimes, in a state of devotion, it can extend to 3:30 hours. There is no sensation of pain in the feet. Now, at the request of people, there is a two-minute bhajan or Ram Naam dhun in between, during which I sit down; otherwise, the Katha continues while standing. Recently, a dispute arose between saints and priests in Ujjain. It escalated to verbal altercations and even jostling. The behavior of saints is one of restraint, so why such anger? It is absolutely true that saints and great souls should not get angry. Sometimes it does happen. If there is too much friction, even fire can emerge from sandalwood. Saints and great souls do not get angry, this is their natural disposition. But, if someone is showing excessive disrespect, then at that time, anger is also necessary. Whatever stories you read from the Puranas, or those of saints and great souls, every demon and wicked person has been cursed. If you don’t show anger towards the wicked, that is also not good. Even in saintly narratives, political ideas start to emerge, what is your opinion?
My experience is that when saints, great souls, or people connected with spirituality move towards politics, often political individuals arrange narratives or discourses for their own selfish interests and ask saints to express their views. Sometimes one has to speak under pressure, and sometimes under influence. But when politics becomes intertwined with the self-interest of saints, it is not appropriate, because saints belong to everyone. Power belongs to someone today; tomorrow it will not be theirs. It is not right to associate with politics to enjoy the pleasures of power. Saints and great souls should stay away from it. Whatever is in the interest of the public and the country, whatever is in the interest of Hindutva, that should be done. Hindutva is not a brand of any party; religion is not a brand of any political party. Yes, whoever upholds it, we will support them, whether one party is upholding it today, or another party upholds it tomorrow. In the Bihar elections, bhajan singer Maithili Thakur has also stepped into electoral politics after getting a ticket. How do you see this?
Bhajan singer Maithili Thakur is a talented artist; she is blessed by Goddess Saraswati. Her getting a ticket in the Bihar elections is probably a strategy by political parties to capitalize on her popularity. My best wishes are with that girl, but popularity and social service are different subjects. In politics, for example, suppose someone has been sweeping there since childhood, picking up slippers, and if he doesn’t get a ticket and someone appears suddenly like a parachute, then it is also an injustice to him. I don’t know who is there whose ticket might have been cut, but the original work of that girl, just like we saints and sages narrate stories, many devotees come to listen, but if we start contesting elections, then people’s perception will change. Then that perception will not remain that ‘Maharaj ji is here, he is saying this, so vote.’ Voting is a different matter. Similarly, listening to that girl’s songs is a different matter. Best wishes to the girl, but she should not have taken this step so early.