Sri Guru Datta Vaibhavam Saptaham
Day 6, August 6
Jaya Guru Datta !
In Sri Guru Datta Vaibhavam, we entered the 6th day which is a thursday too. Thursday is very special day for Satsanga, which Sadguru also likes very much. There was time when Sri swamiji would sing bhajans in prayer hall on Thursdays. Some Senior devotees know this. I still remember Swamiji singing bhajans on a thursday even when there were just two or three people. When told that there were no people, Swamiji said I’m singing for Janardhana – the Lord and not for Jana – people. Satsanga on thursday is very special.
In Sadguru Sapthati, there is a Hindi bhajan, Hari Hara Vidhi Sab thuj mey Prabhu, thuhi antaryami prabhu
I like this word Antaryami. It means that one who resides inside me. Touch your heart and say Antaryami. You will feel His presence inside you. It is like confluence of Ganga and Yamuna and the invisible flow of Saraswathi rivers.
Gurur Brahma, Gurur Vishnuhu, Gururdevo Maheshwaraha, Gurur Saakshat Parambrahma, Tasmai Sree Guravey Namaha !
Guru is the Trinity in Himself. He creates knowledge and sustains it.
Yesterday we spoke about how Guru brings change in us, how Sadguru transforms man and his mind. Have you ever noticed Dattatreya’s picture ? You find a huge Audumbara tree. Datta resides in Audumbara. Then you see a Kamadhenu. Audumbara bends down and gives shade to Datta. The Kamadhenu turns around from behind and looks at Datta’s holy feet. On Guru Purnima day, I had a thought – what if Kamadhenu eats the leaves of the Audumbara tree ? The tree will be leafless. Leaves and fruits are the general food for Kamadhenu, so naturally it can eat.
In the portrait of Krishna we see a calf licking the feet of Krishna and He is playing the flute. It is in museum.
Kamadhenuhu loka matha
patram audumbaram mechchati
sri datta labdha sangatya
sri guror labhda sangatya
indriyani jayanthihi
Audumbara is totally bent towards Datta just like umbrella. Watching carefully we can see Audumbara tree is offering itself to Kamdhenu as food, but Kamadhenu valiantly refusing to do so. The reason is change in the heart of Kamadhenu. Kamadhenu is an animal. But still, it is not intrested in eating the tree leaves. Why so? It is due to the satsang of Dattatreya. In His presence, it is obvious that one can win over their sense organs. On the other hand, Audumbara is not scared to offer herself as food to Kamadhenu. This is again due to the satsang of Datta. This indicates that Datta not only gives us win over sense organs, but also removes fear. If Datta can change the heart of an animal, can’t He change human beings ?
It is said that we should touch the tree and offer pranams. You receive the energy from the tree and vice versa. Trees talk with us. In bonsai garden a tree dried up despite lot of care. Swamiji went to it and spoke to it lovingly. Whether you believe it or not, it came back to life the very next day.
Sadguru is a doctor who cures the aliments related to mind. The tension of mind is more dangeorus than a prye in graveyard.
Yesterday we saw how the vulture has changed. The realtionship of Guru and disciple is beyond your birth. Sadguru saves us in all lifes. The relationship extends beyond one lifetime. When Sadguru wants to come to you then no one can stop Him from meeting you.
There is a Germany devotee who comes to Swamiji. She saw the second world war when she was a child. During that time, she and her sibling were hiding themselves in a cellar and after about 7 days, the war ended and she was saved by someone unknown. She told Appaji about her experience. Swamiji said it is He who protected her. She was puzzled. She is 10 years older to Swamiji. How is this possible ? Swamiji then explained that His relation with her was from her past many births. If Sadguru resolves, none can stop Guru from coming to you. Sadguru follows us.
Mind can transform anytime. It is fickle and wavering. One should be very careful with walk of mind. We can see the lightning, we can see the footsteps of fish in sea or we can even see fruits of Audumbara tree which is uncommon but tracking the changes in mind is difficult.
A brahmin has certain rituals to follow. The austerities he does are for the welfare of the society. One who contemplates on Brahma is a brahmin – says Shankarachyarya in Vedanta Dindimam. Why is brahmin mentioned so specially? Not only brahmin, none should be with fickle mind.
Once a brahmin boy studied vedas, performed yagnas and got married. Over a period of time, after begetting children, this brahmin lost interest in his wife and started going to a prostitute. He stopped going home and gave up rituals. The society was very abusive aganist him.
Once there was a yogi who came to this town. He was invited by many in the town. But this Yogi just smiled and went directly to this Prostitute’s house and requested for food from her, ate, blessed her and left. Everybody were shocked and started doubting if He was a real Yogi or not.
We also behave in the same way with Our Appaji, which is not right. Sadguru doesn’t tell what you like but tells what you need to listen to drive away your troubles. You should be very mindful of this fact. He gives what is good for you. Just because the child likes ice cream, you cannot only give him icecream everyday.
Some people cursed the Yogi, some kept quite. As the yogi walked away after having food, the mind of prostitute changed. She became very angry on the brahmin and drove him out of her house. This man had no choice so he had to go back to wife and plead her. Earlier to that, Rishabha yogi before having food in the prostitute’s house, went to this dutiful wife, had food there, blessed her. Now husband walked in, pleaded wife, and wife agreed.
As time passed by, husband left his mortal body.
Brahmin is re-born as a child to Sumathi. Sumathi is one of the many queens to the King Vajrabahu. This king married many women for progeny and finally it happened with Sumati. The other queens poisoned Sumathi and wanted to kill the child in the womb. The child in the womb did not die but both mother and child had a peculiar skin disease as a result of this poison. King did not like it and sent them both to forest.
This child was named Bhadrayuvu. This name means one who was protected depsite such dangerous disease. Mother and child were feeling bad as there was no one to look after them. All those people with similar thoughts be aware, Datta is sheltering all such people. Datta came to rescue, sprinkled sacred ash on child. Datta also did Shiva Kavacha mantra initiation to the child. Datta gifted a sword called Chandrahasam and a counch to the boy. Datta ordained the boy to chant Shiva kavacham on regular basis.
Meanwhile a set of surprise incidents happened in the Dasharna kingdom. The king of Magadha attacked Dashrana kingdom, defeated Varjrabahu and took control of Dasharna kingdom. As Bhadrayuvu grew listening to this, went to Dasharana kingdom fought a battle. Bhadrayuvu won the battle gave the kingdom to Vajrabahu and came back to forest. Vajrabahu was confused, who is this man? He fought the battle and returned the kingdom to me. Vajrabahu sends his soldiers to enquire about the man who brought his kingdom back and comes to know that he is his son, brings back wife and son to the kingdom. Datta gets Bhadrayu married to keerthimalini.
Bhadrayuvu was made king. Vajrabahu passed away. Bhadrayuvu is ruling the Dasharana kingdom. Bhadrayuvu was growing up, Datta felt that though Bhadrayuvu has been blessed with sadguru grace, he is yet to walk on the path of knowledge. It is amazing to see how sadguru scripts a devotee’s life.
Now Bhadrayuvu goes to forest for hunting. In this forest a bhramin couple are walking casually. Suddenly a tiger appears and attacks brahmin’s wife. Husband shouts for help, Bhadrayuvu shoots many arrows but not a single arrow could kill the tiger. The tiger pulls wife into the bushes. The husband questions the ability of Bhadrayuvu as king. Even though Bhadrayuvu is blessed by Datta, he could not save bhramin’s wife. Bhadrayuvu is surprised to see this incident. So many arrows shot not one touched the tiger. He meditates on Datta to know the truth. This Brahmin took form of Datta. Bhadrayuvu prostrated to Datta, and equired who is that women and tiger? Datta said the women symbolises age or life. Tiger symoblises death. Bhadrayuvu, you were unmindful of the fact that the death can anyday kill the age. Hence I had to enact this drama.
Bhadrayuvu now walks on the path of knowledge, propagates Datta tattva, and Shiva Kavacham. Anyone who listens to Shiva kavacham will get rid of skin, bones, eyes, heart, nerves, blood and intellect diseases. One can get rid of bad dreams.
What ever we neglect is dear to the Lord. Guru gives you all. Develop Guru Bhakthi. Guru gives everything. Believe me !!
Now let us chant the Shiva Kavacham.
If you all recall, Appaji had an accident some years ago and during that time Shiva Kavacham was chanted and Appaji recovered in 18 days and went to Switzerland for a concert. Appaji says that while bathing you should listen to the Kavachams. Each day one Kavacha should be chanted.
Jaya Guru Datta !