Indian spiritual leader Morari Bapu has begun a nine-day recital of the Ramcharitmanas at Harvard University in Cambridge, with the programme titled ‘Manas Guru Prasad’. The recital began at Sanders Theatre on August 15 and will continue until August 23.

The programme also featured a three-day scholarly discussion held from August 16 to 18 and included the observance of Tulsi Jayanti on August 19, marking the birth anniversary of poet-saint Tulsidas.

Harvard Programme Explores Ramcharitmanas Tradition

Professor Diana Eck, Faculty Director at Harvard’s Lakshmi Mittal and Family South Asia Institute, described Ram, Sita and Lakshmana as “primordial pilgrims”, referring to their 14-year exile from Ayodhya.

Eck said their journey through places including Prayag, Chitrakoot, Panchavati, Kishkindha and Rameshwaram helped transform those locations into sacred sites that pilgrims have continued to visit.

“As they travelled, these places were transformed into sacred sites, and pilgrims have followed their footsteps ever since,” Eck said.

She also said the journey became part of the landscape of Ramlila traditions, which extended beyond India to countries including Thailand, Indonesia and Cambodia.

Tulsi Jayanti Marked During Nine-Day Recital

The programme also marked Tulsi Jayanti on August 19. The event formed part of Morari Bapu’s efforts to honour those involved in preserving, interpreting and carrying forward the traditions associated with Ram Katha and the Ramcharitmanas.

According to the press release, Bapu began the Tulsi Jayanti programme in 2010 as an initiative to recognise those dedicated to the tradition.

“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 said.

He said the gathering would centre on the “Tribhuvana Sutras” of Satya, Prem and Karuna.

Harvard’s ‘Veritas’ Linked To Spiritual Values

Dolar Popat, a member of the UK House of Lords, said Harvard’s motto, ‘Veritas’, resonated with the values of “Satya, Prem and Karuna”.

He described the connection as significant to the gathering, which brought together spiritual practitioners, scholars and members of the Indian diaspora at the university.

Paavan Popat OBE, a member of the organising team, said the programme represented an intersection between “the world’s oldest recital traditions and one of its greatest centres of learning”.

He noted that Bapu had previously taken Ram Katha to locations including Kailash Manasarovar, the Vatican, the United Nations and Cambridge.

Scholars And Sadhus Gather At Harvard

Paavan Popat said the participation of sadhus and scholars from Chitrakoot, Ayodhya and Varanasi was particularly significant for the Harvard programme.

The event brought together the recital of the Ramcharitmanas with academic discussions and the observance of Tulsi Jayanti, creating a nine-day programme combining spiritual tradition and scholarship.

According to the statement, Morari Bapu has delivered more than 980 Kathas at over 900 locations across the world.

His previous venues have included the Vatican, the United Nations headquarters in New York and the University of Cambridge, where he delivered a Katha in 2023.

The Harvard recital, scheduled through August 23, continues that international programme while placing the Ramcharitmanas and Ram Katha traditions in an academic setting.

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