Bhagwat Katha
Introduction
Bhagavatam’ means that which deals with Bhagavan, the Blessed Supreme Being. It also means the revelations of the Lord Himself (bhagavatah idam). It can mean the glory of the Lord’s devotees, bhagavatas also. Just as the syllable Omkar is said to be the sound-form of the Lord, the Bhagavatam is said to be the word-form of the Lord. Hence to know the Bhagavatam is to know the essential nature of the Lord.
The Bhagavatam is believed to have been told by Lord Narayana Himself to Brahma, the creator. This lamp of knowledge is said to have been passed on by Brahma to his son Narada, by Narada to sage Veda Vyasa, by Veda Vyasa to his son Sukadeva and by Sukadeva to King Parikshit who was under the curse of imminent death.
Bhagavatam’ means that which deals with Bhagavan, the Blessed Supreme Being. It also means the revelations of the Lord Himself (bhagavatah idam). It can mean the glory of the Lord’s devotees, bhagavatas also. Just as the syllable Omkar is said to be the sound-form of the Lord, the Bhagavatam is said to be the word-form of the Lord. Hence to know the Bhagavatam is to know the essential nature of the Lord.
The Bhagavatam is believed to have been told by Lord Narayana Himself to Brahma, the creator. This lamp of knowledge is said to have been passed on by Brahma to his son Narada, by Narada to sage Veda Vyasa, by Veda Vyasa to his son Sukadeva and by Sukadeva to King Parikshit who was under the curse of imminent death.