Sannidhanam on Why Jagadguru Sri Chandrashekhara Bharati had an Empty Seat when reciting Ramayanam

Short Messages from Sringeri Jagadgurus:
Sannidhanam on Why Jagadguru Sri Chandrashekhara Bharati Mahaswamiji had an Empty Seat when reciting Ramayanam (Telugu):
(a rough translation/summary)
Jagadguru Sri Chandrashekhara Bharati had made it a practice since His youth to do Parayanam (recital) of the Ramayanam. Before doing the Parayanam, Jagadguru used to keep an empty seat next to Him and decorate it with flowers. Then He would do the Parayanam, with the decorated seat in front of Him. On seeing this, some people asked why Jagadguru had kept an empty seat when doing the Parayanam.
For that question, Jagadguru replied wherever Sri Rama's Sankeertanam and Parayanam of Sri Rama's Charitram was taking place, Aanjaneya Swamy (Hanuman) graces that place and showers His Anugraham. That is why we say:
यत्र यत्र रघुनाथ कीर्तनं
तत्र तत्र कृतमस्तकांजलिम् |
बाष्पवारि परिपूर्ण लोचनं
मारुतिं नमत राक्षसांतकम् ||
yatra yatra raghunātha kīrtanaṁ
tatra tatra kr̥tamastakāṁjalim |
bāṣpavāri paripūrṇa lōcanaṁ
mārutiṁ namata rākṣasāṁtakam ||
(Salute Hanuman, the destroyer of Rakshasas, who remains with His palms joined above His head and with His eyes brimming with tears of joy wherever there is a recital about Rama.)
Jagadguru said wherever the Charitram of Sri Rama is recited and the Gunas of Sri Rama are praised, Aanjaneya Swamy (Hanuman) comes to that place. Hence, when Jagadguru was doing Ramayana Parayanam, He had kept a seat for Aanjaneya Swamy who would come everyday and listen to the Parayanam. Such was the Astikyam of Jagadguru Sri Chandrashekhara Bharati Mahaswamiji.
Video: • Sannidhanam on Why Jag...
Original video courtesy: • Sri Sri Sri Vidhushekh...
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