Meaning of Sajjana Sangama

Sajjana Sangama means association with righteous, noble and spiritually elevated people. The company of noble souls leads one towards Jnana, Bhakti, Vairagya and ultimately towards Sri Hari.

Narada’s Own Example

Narada, the son of Brahma and a great Guru, narrated to Vedavyasa how he attained his exalted state. During Chaturmasya, as a small child, he served noble Brahmanas, listened to Sri Hari Kathas and cleaned the place where they had taken food.

Through this humble service and association with righteous devotees, Narada attained immense spiritual merit and was later born as the son of Brahma.

Druva and Prahalada

Bird to Prince

Narada once asked Narayana about the greatness of Sajjana Sangha. Narayana directed him to question a bird. Before Narada could ask, the bird died. Next he approached an animal, and it too died.

Finally Narayana asked him to visit a newborn prince. Narada approached the child privately, and to his surprise, the infant spoke with wisdom.

The prince revealed that due to Narada’s association, he progressed from a bird to an animal and then to royal birth.

Becoming of Akasha Raja

Madhava, once a pious Brahmana, lost his spiritual strength through bad association and sinful living. Later, by the grace of Sajjana Sangha and hearing the chanting of noble devotees, his heart became purified.

At Tirumala, Brahma appeared and blessed him that in the next birth he would become Akasha Raja, the father of Padmavati Devi and father-in-law of Lord Srinivasa.

Becoming of Achyuta Preksha

In a previous birth, Achyuta Preksha was among the Brahmanas who stayed with the Pandavas during their exile and accepted Biksha from Yudhishthira daily.

Draupadi herself, who is the Abhimani Devata for Veda, served the food offered to Barathi Ramana. The merit of such divine association later made him the Guru of Sri Madhwacharya.

Sampathi Regaining Wings

Sampathi, whose wings had been burnt while protecting Jatayu, heard the monkeys narrating the story of Sri Rama while they were fasting near Mahendra mountain.

Merely by hearing the greatness of Sri Rama with devotion, Sampathi regained his wings and strength.