Sri Sri Ganapati Sachchidananda Swamiji – speech on Day 9 of Navaratri Celebrations – October 16, 2010 – Mysore
Jaya Guru Datta
“To learn about Devi, the Mother Goddess (the Jnana lesson), to learn spiritual knowledge, karma puja, is a very big subject. In these nine days, we explained about Trishati, the 300 names of Lalita. The children have now given a wonderful performance. It is very difficult to catch the tunes. The words in the Sanskrit language are very tough to pronounce. There are three poetic metres used. The meaning is very difficult to understand. I pray to Mother Goddess to excuse any mistakes. Each name is different. Each name teaches a different subject. It is a very deep subject, Vedanta, a mix of Karma, Jnana and Bhakti, dealing with manifested and unmanifested forms of God, and the importance of action. Eight years ago this song was prepared. Because of some confusion Swamiji did not sing. The past five or six years only explanation was being given of Trishati. Only bhajans were sung. The bhajan group did not have the capability of following and repeating correctly the tune and the wording. Now they are capable. We are all very lucky. Listening to these names is itself a penance. Each letter is an Upanishad. It describes the Creation of this world. Trishati alone is enough for doing Vedanta sadhana. These names will now be propagated.
Tonight is Kaala Raatri. It is very important for those who worship the Mother Goddess as Durga, Sri Rajarajeswari or as Sri Bala Tripurasundari to be awake at midnight and chant mantra or the names of Lalita. She will appear during meditation to bless all the devotees. All your sins will be destroyed. Even listening to the names or remembering the names is sufficient.
All the volunteers should also learn and practice compassion and kindness in addition to doing physical service. You must also do human service mentally and acquire spiritual knowledge, Vedanta. You have job, marriage, and children. All these are there, no doubt. But you now also have my friendship. This is a great opportunity. Use it. You have to change and grow spiritually. You must transform your hearts. Do not hurt others. Do not tell lies. You must learn to sacrifice. If you do, Mother Goddess will be very happy. Many of you have not changed. Many are still smoking cigarettes and eating eggs and chicken. You are still speaking rudely and quarreling. You must develop the habit of speaking gently and politely. From Tamas you have risen to Rajas. Now you must grow towards Satva guna. You listen to bhajans and read Bhakti Mala. Do not remain stuck in Rajo guna (action, passion and arrogance). You must graduate and go forward. Do not fail and go back into Tamo guna (evil, inertia and dullness). If you stay in the same grade, it is better than falling backwards. Definitely do not revert to lust, passion, quarreling and anger. Failing repeatedly and remaining in the same class is not good but I may tolerate that somewhat. Sri Swamiji is trying to take you in various different ways, following even unnecessary (for me) methods to penetrate into your lives as a friend to help you.
Those people are the luckiest who have the friendship of Puttu Gam and Dattapeetham on Face book. It is a great royal highway to lead you forward. Swamiji had tears in his eyes yesterday when Puttu Gam showed him the report that even those who are computer-illiterate have now become friends on Face book. Anywhere you are, even if you do not own a computer you can access. There are no excuses. You can access from your cell phone. There is nobody now without a phone. Having a phone is like having teeth. You will know Sri Swamiji’s movements minute to minute. Those who are not present here have more up-to-date information because they are always checking. Those who are here are more complacent and miss some details.
Everyone must take membership in Bhakti Mala.
Just as in a personal interview no outsiders are allowed, no outsiders will be allowed to attend the Volunteers Camp. There is no special permission for anyone, not even the retirees who claim to have served in earlier days. You may come to other programs, but not this one. The details are not yet fixed for this program. Do not cause problems and hurdles.
Durga Mata (Mother Goddess) gave darshan to Hanuman three times. Once in the Ashoka garden in Lanka as Sita in a subtle form. Again after the Agni Pravesha, when Sita came out of the Fire Pit. The third time She appeared in the cosmic region during the battle against Shatakantha Raavana. After multitudes of warriors were massacred, She appeared as Kaalikaamba to Pancha Mukha Anjaneya (the five-faced Hanuman) on the battlefield. She licked all the spilt blood so that no new demon warriors would be born from the drops of blood.
Durga Mata is very much pleased by the study of Sundara Kanda from the Ramayana and the chanting of the Hanuman Chaleesa.
Jaya Guru Datta – Sri Guru Datta
English summary of Sri Swamiji’s speech (part 2) on Day 9 of Navaratri in Mysore, 2010
Jaya Guru Datta
“Om Ayim Hreem Shreem Siva Rama Anagha Dattaya Namaha. Om Namo Hanumate Namaha.
Tonight on Navami, the ninth day of Navaratri, which is known as Maha Kaala Raatri all difficulties will be destroyed by the compassion of Mother Goddess, Durga Mata, Sri Rajarajeswari. Tomorrow is Vijaya Dashami. The five Pandavas after successfully completing their exile in the forest, and the last year of exile incognito, worshipped Mother Durga and went to the Shami tree and retrieved their weapons. On this day Mother Sita gave darshan to Lord Hanuman in the Ashoka garden. Lord Rama returned to Ayodhya victoriously.
Mother Goddess Devi in Her various forms has been worshipped here at this Datta Peetham for these nine days. Now the final Mangala Harati has been offered.
Our Karnataka Chief Minister Sri B.S. Yeddyurappa, a great leader is here. He is a devotee of Devi and Siva. In Tirupati I told him that he has to come to Datta Peetham. I told Prasad that he will definitely come. He has immense faith in God. His faith will protect him. Our faith gets tested. Even Dharmaraja faced tests. Sri Ramdas and Sri Vijayashankar and some other devotees who are here with the chief minister today come to Datta Peetham even when Sri Swamiji is not here. They conduct programs. They take care of the ashram. I pray that all of them be blessed with success in their endeavors to serve the state. May Mother Goddess give you the required strength on this Vijaya Dashami to utilize your authority successfully. Jaya Guru Datta.”
Sri Guru Datta
English summary of Sri Swamiji’s speech (Part 3) on Day 9 of Navaratri in Mysore, 2010
Jaya Guru Datta
Prayers to Lord Ganesha, Mother Shakti-Durga, and to Guru who is Parabrahman.
“Song: Kalakanthee kalita Siva
On the third day of Navaratri we learned about Mother Durga. Again today on the ninth day we are remembering Her because Her glory and strength are very great and Her name is very powerful. There is no one more compassionate than She. No one gives greater blessings.
Durga means fort or shield that protects. Like a fortress She protects those who worship Her. She gives Sat-Gati. Sat means Truth. Gati is path. She not only shows the path of Truth, she leads us on the path by holding our hand. Her story is very ancient. Any amount of praise and worship of Her still would not be sufficient.
Song: Vande vande Shakti Durgaam
In Kenopanishad the power and glory of Durga are described. Here is one episode about Her among innumerable ones.
From the beginning of Time there have been many battles fought between the demons and the celestials, between Satva guna and Tamo guna. Rajo guna keeps changing sides. The demons die. But the celestials do not die. They are either victorious or they get defeated and run away. It is like mosquitoes and flies. The mosquito remains still and gets smashed and killed. The fly is very bothersome but does not remain still. It escapes by quickly flying away.
Once after their victory, the celestials were gloating and going to excesses in their celebration. One should always practice restraint. If you go overboard in your zeal to show off your victory, it will result in grief. On this occasion each of the celestial leaders was bragging about their own prowess, power and skill and claiming responsibility for the victory. Sometimes when the class monitor finds that discipline is maintained among his classmates, will not even give respect to the teacher, giving himself all the credit for managing the class.
When Mother Durga heard this prattle, She assumed the form of a Yaksha and appeared amidst the celestials. Not recognizing this form and not knowing its origin or purpose, the celestials sent Agni, the Fire God to enquire and come back with an answer. Agni went and demanded to know who this Yaksha was, whether it was male or female and why it had come. The Yaksha, instead of answering the question, asked the visitor to identify himself. Agni profusely bragged about his powers to burn anything and everything. The Yaksha who had a piece of dried grass from an old broomstick from the house of Susheelamma in Vijayawada, placed it in front of Agni and requested him to burn it. Agni looked at it with disdain, over-confident of his power. He cast an intense fiery glance towards the lowly object. Nothing happened. No matter how hard he tried to burn it, the piece of darbha grass remained unaffected. Totally put to shame in public Agni returned. Vayu was dispatched next. He too gloated over his might and bragged. When asked to blow the piece of grass away, Vayu used all of his might and yet failed to make it budge even an inch. He also returned in shame. The celestials looked to Indra their leader to proceed now to find out who the Yaksha was and the reason for this unexpected visit.
Indra is a very clever businessman and a diplomat. That is why he is able to retain his position as ruler of the celestials. He approached the Yaksha more politely and posed his questions. He did not brag. The Yaksha at once assumed a female form as Hymavati, Uma, Shakti-Durga. She is Paramatman Herself. She proceeded to remind all the celestials of their limitations. She is the only one with infinite and inexhaustible powers. All others are children in Her presence and ought to remain humble.
If you practice humility you can easily cross this ocean of worldly life. Whoever praises and worships Durga with true devotion will be freed from all miseries. Great power, skill and capability will be attained by them by Durga’s grace.
Today we perform Ayudha Puja. All vehicles, gadgets and instruments are worshipped, including pens. Mother Goddess resides in all of them. They all should be cleaned and worshipped and given rest for at least an hour. We pray to Mother Bhuvaneshwari and Chamundi for enhanced energy and skill in our endeavors to help humanity.
Song: Chidagnikunda sambhoota
Song: Chandi Prachande Chaamunde
Song: Naadamayeea nata Naaraayanee
I will sing the song ‘Jaya jaya Bhagavati’ tomorrow if I am invited to come to the festival.
Mangalam song: Jaya Devi Durga
(The musicians began to render the song at a fast pace). Why are you rushing like that? Do you have another program to go to? I will give you more money. Please sing it again from the beginning at the proper pace. (Sri Swamiji set the proper slower pace repeating each line).”
Sri Guru Datta
Courtesy: Smt. Hira Duvvuri