“Suru jalle hagel Harikatha,” I heard my grandmother exclaim when one of my distant uncles launched into one of his not-so-thrilling speeches. I was completely baffled; divine stories? More like divine snoozefests! It hit me later—she was probably saying, “Here he goes again on a long tirade!” Over the years, the Harikatha format has turned into an endurance test, and in this age of TikTok and YouTube shorts, I can only imagine the patience our generation needs to build!
But here’s the twist—I actually love Harikathas! There’s a certain flair to how they’re delivered, like a delightful mix of storytelling and singing, all tied together with valuable life lessons. Back in the day, my dad’s entertainment options were pretty limited in his teeny-tiny village of Gangoli. He once told me they’d hop on bullock carts just to catch a Harikatha or Yakshagana.
Then there’s the legendary Shri Sant Bhadragiri Achyutdas, the superstar of Harikatha in GSB circles, enchanting audiences in both Kannada and Konkani. You can still catch some of his performances on—you guessed it—YouTube!
In today’s world, we have the well-known Mrs. Bhavana Prabhu (or Bhavani Mai for those in the know) keeping the Harikatha tradition alive. She lectures like a no-nonsense headmistress, making sure everyone’s paying attention! With her skills in Kannada, Hindi, Marathi, Konkani, and Sanskrit, she takes complex spiritual concepts and makes them relatable with everyday examples. You can hear here recitals on her channel or on Youth of GSB
Personally, I’ve discovered that 10 minutes of listening to her spiritual wisdom right after my morning run sets me up for a fantastic day. And it’s a bonus when I can recycle those stories at bedtime with my kids. If you’re like me and crave such nuggets of wisdom, make sure to tune into Bhavani Mai‘s lectures here. Trust me, your soul will thank you—and so will your kids!
An update: I recently heard Harikatha recital by Ved B. Ramkrishna Bhat – so beautiful. Typically when we think of these orators as an elderly. But not Shri Ramrkrishna Bhat – he is young, has beautiful oratory skills and extremely clear vocals – will be looking out for more from him. He delivers in both Konkani and Kannada. You can hear one of his recitals here.