Speeches of HH Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji – May 28, 2011 – Mysore
Speech during Srinivasa Kalyana Mahotsavam – Nada Mantapam
Jaya Guru Datta
Sri Maha Ganapataye Namah
Sri Saraswatyai Namah
Sri Pada Vallabha
Narasimha Saraswati
Sri Guru Datta Venkateshaya Namah
During the 12th anniversary of Sri DattaVenkateshwara Temple, the 13th anniversary of the Nada Mantapam, and your Swamiji’s 69th Birthday Celebrations, this Kalyanam is taking place. Two eyes are not enough to take in the grandeur of this event. The energy that is present here is equivalent to that of Koti Suryas, one crore Sun Gods. The Paramatman’s energy is that of one crore Suns. That is why He is described as ‘Ananta veeryaadi gunaih prapoornaha Tameka Sachchidananda Vibhum vrajaamaha’. It is impossible to describe Him. He can only be experienced by the soul, Atma Darshana only. The physical eyes cannot see Him. The incarnations of Rama andKrishnaare also like that of Lord Venkateshwara. It is high voltage energy. Even our normal current shock can destroy us and our property. Just imagine the force and power of God’s current.
It is only copper wire that can withstand and allow the flow of current of the electricity that we use. Any other material will get destroyed. Nothing else can hold and conduct that powerful energy. Only great sages, tapasvins have the capacity to have such an energy flow through them as that of the Paramatman’s. Lord Venkata Ramana Swami’s story conveys to us that truth. The Lord has come down in the form of Lord Venkateshwara in this Kali Yuga. He is like that copper wire which alone can bear and hold within it the supreme power of the Paramatman. Sri Krishna and Sri Rama were also like that, although in a human form. Normal humans cannot see or perceive that energy. Our physical body, our eyes can only perceive the Lord when he comes down in a human form such as Lord Venkata Ramana’s. He is a bhogi, yogi, and a tyagi, an enjoyer of comforts, an ascetic, and a renouncer. Whoever asks Him, for whatever, He grants it, be it wealth or boons. He is called Vara-da, a giver of boons. His hasta mudra, hand gesture denotes that.
This is a historical event that is taking place here, in the presence of the Fire God, Yajneswara, in the Nada Mantapam. This is not a dolls’ wedding. This is a divine event. Those who read the Bhakti Mala know this verse, “Mukti kanya vivaahechchaa …Bhakti Maalaam gale dhara”, which means if you want to wed the maiden called Liberation, you approach her wearing the garland called Devotion.
If Datta devotees try to describe the glory of their Guru to their friends and relatives, they will not listen. They do not understand. Many have tried and failed. That is why many have come alone. If you tell them that you are going to see your Swamiji, they will comment, question, and criticize. So you simply told them that you are going to attend a wedding. They ask, “Where?” You tell them, “Not here in Andhra Pradesh. The wedding is taking place in Karnataka, inMysore. It is Venkata Ramana’s wedding. Then they ask if you are going to Tirupati. You tell them, “No. I am not that devout.” Like this, in Kali Yuga we have to justify even our good actions. Really if the relatives have love for us, they should not criticize Swamiji. They should also feel like going with you. They should also share your devotion. If they show interest, then next time you give them also an invitation.
Kalyanam is Yoga, complete Yoga, a merging with God, a marriage between the Mind and the Intellect. High voltage energy is generated here, like the striking of lightning. Only a copper wire can absorb that energy. That is why on top of tall buildings they keep an antenna of copper wire. It will earth the energy and protect the building. If you say that it looks bad and remove it, when lightning strikes, it will destroy the building. The Purna Kumbham also serves the same purpose. When you invite Swamiji, high voltage energy is entering the premises. You have to have sufficient energy to withstand its entry. Ordinary human beings are not equipped with the strength or capability to receive such intense energy. It is like protocol while receiving a high dignitary. Only one of equal status should welcome such a person. Only a Purna Kumbha (the pot with sanctified water with a coconut) is capable of withstanding the energy that permeates the region when a great soul enters. That is why a garland or a coconut is offered. They act like the copper wire. They contain the energy and protect the others while that extraordinary energy enters our house. We have to prepare properly to welcome and accept that powerful divine energy. It is the same as how we have to use precaution before looking at the bright sun directly.
After Dwapara Yuga ended, after Sri Krishna, came this incarnation of God as Lord Venkateshwara to remove the Kali dosha, the spiritual contamination brought by Kali Yuga. It is history, the story of Akasa Raja and others. It is not a made up toy story. This concept of Kalyanam we do not understand. It is not a drama. It is a Vedanta secret. It is most wonderful. Agni Deva has come to the Nada Mantapam. Since we wrote the contract and paid half the rent, we had to be accommodated for bringing Agni Deva in a small way. Otherwise normally it would not be allowed here. Today’s miracles are extraordinary. Two Mangalyas (sacred necklaces for the bride) got doubled to four. This Kalyana is taking place in the presence of your dearest Guru. You are all sitting so close to Him, listening to all the mantras. It is a miracle that Agni, the Fire God has climbed the stage of the Nada Mantapam itself. Lord Venkateshwara is Nada Lola, a lover of Nada, divine music. Hence His marriage is taking place in this heavenly Nada Mantapam. I was so eager to do this Kalyanam myself. I was jumping with enthusiasm. But Madhavachari would not allow me. He told me to just simply sit on one side. He said, “You will confuse us. I will forget the mantras. “So I am sitting here. All Datta devotees are participating. I am happy. They are very happy to spend two hours with their Swamiji, who is himself Sri Datta Venkateshwara. He is doing the Kalyanam.
I frequently tell the devotees to perform Kalyanam. When I ask them, “Have you performed Kalyanam?” they get confused. They answer, “Yes, our kalyanam is over”, meaning that they are already married. Then they understand that I meant Srinivasa Kalayanam. They ask if they should do it in Tirupati. I tell them, “No. Do it here”. Many are not aware of Sri Datta Venkateshwara temple here. I have to show them the way. Otherwise I have to personally take them there. They are all so absorbed in activities and so satisfied with being in Swamiji’s presence, they forget to go to have darshan of Lord Venkateshwara.
I bless this our marriage day. This is not about husband and wife. This is marriage between Mind and Intellect, Manas and Buddhi. I pray, please give us this bliss every year like this. Let us celebrate this Kalyanam every year here like this. You all must come. If you personally cannot come, send substitutes. We offer our all to Lord Datta Venkata Ramana. He makes the sankalpa, the will to have services performed and I end up performing them all for Him. I have to fulfill all His desires. I am happy to do it because he gives me the capacity to do it, the moment he makes the decision.
You all must never get annoyed when you are approached by Babu, Ramesh, Ganesh, Vamshi, Prasad, or Sri Bala Swamiji to perform any services here. You should not keep wondering whether it is a genuine request from Swamiji or whether they are making it up. You have to feel very fortunate that you have been chosen to render that particular service, Seva. Once God takes the decision to have you perform a service and you are approached, you must have the faith that He will provide you with the resources to perform it. The money will come to you from the Venkata Ramana Bank.
Remember that He is easily pleased and gives great dividends over small deposits. Swalpa samarpana – a token service is all that is required from you and He will shower upon you a wealth of boons. Lord Venkateshwara is wrongly accused of being a Vaddi Kaasulavaadu, a merciless money lender who extracts heavy interest. He in fact is the one who pays us heavy interest. For every ten rupees that we give Him, he pays us back one hundred rupees. You all must reverse your understanding and your wrong opinion of Him. Like a ball that you hit against a wall bounces back to you with the addition of paint from the wall, what you give Him, comes back to you with extra bonus. This is only a small example. Now please do not begin bouncing balls against the walls of the Nada Mantapam. In a bright place if you use a flash light what happens?
When you show light towards the idol what happens? All other features and decorations are vividly seen. They are all reflected back to you for you to see and enjoy. That is the priceless return you get. When you see that gorgeously decorated form of the Lord, you forget yourselves and you close your eyes to imprint that image in your mind. That is what that small lamp light does when you offer it to God.
When you offer a ten rupee or a hundred rupee garland to Swamiji, the garland has a fixed value. But the joy that you receive when Swamiji looks at it, accepts it, touches it, wears it, that joy is priceless, is it not? That bliss that you experience cannot even be described. That is the interest that you receive from God. A garland has a monetary value. The bliss and the joy are simply priceless. You have the opportunity to make the offering. Avail of it. Once an article is given, it is not yours anymore. Do not research into where it went, who took it, what was done with it, and so forth. For one prostration or obeisance that you offer to Guru the blessings galore that you receive is immense.
This Kalyana Utsavam, the Divine Marriage Ceremony has been performed since many eons. It is not anything new. It is wonderful. Very powerful.
They gave a small piece of land to us in Tirupati, on the hilltop, very close to the temple, within an easy walking distance. We are building a structure there. May be because I am Ganapati, lots of obstructions are being faced. Please help to build this Datta Ashrama in Tirupati. Everyone should participate in this project. Give with pride.
This Kalyanam has been conducted here just like in Tirupati. We are all sitting here, forgetting all our pains, hunger, and thirst. Here you are oblivious to everything. You are lost in bliss. If you were at home, by now you would have got up several times, would have consumed severals cups of tea or coffee. You would have been munching stuff. Swami Manasa when he was young, everyday would do dishti (removing evil eye) to me with a coconut. He would go to the kitchen and select a good coconut. He would tell them that it is for Swamiji, so they would give it to him. He would swing it round and round and take it away. I asked the boys one day to see what he does with the coconut afterwards, whether he really breaks it to remove dishti. They spied on him and said that he indeed does break it, and lets the water spill. When I asked what he does with the pieces, they said, he puts them in a bag, calling it prasadam, and while no one is looking eats them all with jaggery added to taste. Like that we offer laddoos to the Lord so we can eat them later. Show to Him, give to ourselves, ‘neeku choopu, maaku mepu’.
So many hidden miracles today. I cannot explain. Live webcast is on. Everyone with a computer or laptop must take membership with yogasangeeta and watch all the wonderful live programs at www. Yogasangeeta.org. At home, instead of watching cinema, watch these programs, and be with Swamiji up close. This Kalyana Utsavam is not to be missed.
Tirupati Venkata Ramana is here. I pray to Him. Agni Homa is going on. Venkateshwara TV channel is here. Swamiji gave a discourse on Srinivasa Kalyanam in Hyderabad for five days in Telugu language. I am very happy about today’s Kalyana Celebration. In the Nada Mantapam I wish to give an elaborate discourse for nine days on Srinivasa Kalyanam. I have made the resolve today. This is for Universal Welfare.
Sage Bharadwaja and the Sapta Rishis (the seven sages) along with a large number of celestials and sages witnessed Srinivasa Kalyanam. You are all sages. You were all present then when it first happened. Because of your karma, because of the many mistakes that you had committed you took so many births and now you are here to witness this event. That time the marriage feast extended from Seshachala in Tirumala all the way to Srisailam. The line was that long. You all ate the feast then. You are here again now to participate in this Kalyanam. The ashram boys were surprised that the tickets were selling like hot cakes. You all have the yoga to witness and participate.
If you have any discomfort, give it away to Him. These are not your bodies. Do not dwell on physical pains. Now the talambraalu (the bride and groom pour sanctified white raw rice over each other’s heads) event will take place. It is a wonderful part of the marriage ceremony. It is called dhaare in Kannada. This is a simple marriage ritual.
Swamiji has worked day and night. He has worked very hard with great joy and enthusiasm to bring you this wonderful gift. In this Kali Yuga, your Swamiji is the only one who does Dharma Prachara (propagating righteous conduct) using modern technology such as the Internet and Television. Fourteen years ago Swamiji was the first one to go on Gemini TV . Now so many saints and seers have TV shows. Many of them claim to be incarnations of Datta. I told my devotees not to criticize. Swamiji introduced the Datta Kankanam, the copper bracelet. Other organizations have copied. Swamiji said, do not worry. No harm is done. No one has yet copied the use of the Swetarka Raksha. Do you know why? What is the color? Orange. Danger color. No one wears it except Datta devotees. Now Bala Swamiji gives green rakshas. Even Lord Datta Venkateshwara every week wears a fresh raksha. I give it to Him, or send it to Him.
Three years ago in the USA Swamiji began the Hanuman Setu Bandha Project. Daily devotees give one dollar to build the Hanuman temple. People very close to me made fun of my idea. They did not believe that it will be popular. They said that maximum you will have one hundred members. Swamiji said, does not matter. Even fifty is good. Now they are all surprised. They have made great progress. The site is paid for. Two Guru Nilayams have been constructed, one for Swamiji and the other for any other visiting yatis. Swamiji started the five rupees a day Datta Seva. We gave significant amounts to victims of disasters in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, etc.
You all know that Swamiji has grown up in dire poverty. I ask only for one rupee, not for one crore. I am so happy, like the tatadhipati of a crorepati, the grand Master over a Billionaire. Swamiji is very happy.
Swamiji sends emails every day to thousands of devotees, daily messages of Hanuman Chalisa, Shata shloki Ramayana, Hanuman Bana, Hanuman Ashtothara, Neeti Mala, Sri Vishnu Sahasranama, Lalita Trishati, Jayalakshmi Ashtothara and so on. Most devotees do not begin their day before first seeing the message of blessing from Swamiji in their email. They feel very happy and make an auspicious beginning. Now people do not even have to have a laptop to receive these messages. They receive them in their pockets on their iPhones.
Now these daily messages are all being brought out in book form. Please acquire these. These are DVDs with meaning given in different languages, with beautiful pictures selected and sometimes personally painted by Swamiji himself. Please watch and listen. You learn the prayers. Teach them to your children. I have 30 kids who are volunteering to prepare these messages for me. To prepare one email, it takes two days for us. It will make me very happy if you at least spend ten minutes to read, understand, enjoy, appreciate, kiss it, and love it. No. In one second, you just glance at it and close it. Read them repeatedly and learn and absorb the message. You do not do it. My America devotees do it. I use the funds for building the Hanuman Temple. This is not a business. These are collection items. Only a limited number are made. These are made with such love and intense interest and enthusiasm. Hanuman Chalisa is being released now in two volumes. Swamiji alone put in the effort in making these. He personally decided on each email message, the script, the meaning, the picture, the colors, even at midnight he would call the artist, consult, and give suggestions. All children must utilize these.
A tent has been built next to Sri Datta Venkateshwara Temple at the location where the huge Hanuman statue will be built. I want 69,000 chants of Hanuman Chalisa to take place there. Please all of you go there and chant the Hanuman Chalisa at least once.
Please come in two lines to have darshan of the Lord and accept the prasadam that has come from Tirupati.
Sri Guru Datta
Speech during the Jnana Bodha Sabha Conference
Jaya Guru Datta
(Beginning of speech is missinng)
You first take care of your grandmother. She is old. She is weak. You tend to her. Be respectful and kind. Take care of your elders at home. Take care of your spouse and children. Get along with them. Be nice to them. Do your job efficiently at home first, before you begin to attempt to change the world. Before you set right the world, set yourself right first. You cannot get along with other volunteers. You fight with other trustees. You do not like the priest. You cannot stand the mechanic who comes to fix the pipes or electrical connections. You are rude to the visitors and devotees who come to the ashram. Just because you have a talent for giving speeches or writing articles, you begin to lecture and you propose plans to improve the organization or improve the world. Words are useless. Show your intentions in actions. Improve yourself first. Co-operate with your colleagues. Be courteous to others in your team. Be polite with workers. Be nice to visitors. Make them feel welcome.
It is wrong to keep boasting about your achievements. Whose resources did you use to achieve your ends? Yours? No. God used you as an instrument. By His will and grace you were able to accomplish something. Do not take credit for it. Be humble and acknowledge that by God’s grace you were able to do some good work. You must continue to serve. Your attitude must be that of a servant, not a boss. Just because Swamiji gave you a position of authority do not become egotistical and rude.
Swamiji knows what goes on. He knows who is stealing pumpkins and who is stealing mustard seeds. I watch carefully even where the mustard seeds go, because they add up eventually. You charge the ashram account to buy and offer me garlands in my face. This is my hard earned money that you are using to decorate me! And then you slap me on the back with the bill! I never spend on myself. If you wish to decorate me, use your personal money to buy the garland, not the ashram funds. I refuse to accept these gifts. Did I ask that I should be decorated with garlands? I do not want these. I will not wear them. I will set them aside and may use them in puja tomorrow. You have no right to waste Swamiji’s funds like this.
So many items you charge to ashram accounts. That is wrong. Ashram funds are meant for some other noble purposes. Not for unnecessary administrative costs and wastage. The ashrams should flourish. They should have a strong financial base with fixed deposits, so that in certain situations the interest income can tide over routine expenditure. You cannot bring the deposits to nil and show me all zeroes as balance. I will not accept this.
Every year Swamiji has very enthusiastic plans to do something new to improve the ashram. If you all share this enthusiasm and work with zeal your ashrams also will improve and flourish.
Our programs conclude tomorrow. The weather has cooperated. Swamiji was afraid of rains. But we have been spared. Next year is 70th Birthday Celebrations and again first year of Brahmotsavam. We estimate a huge expenditure for annadana next year. We have the project of the Anjaneya Statue. A tremendous amount of effort will go into it.
Garlands was a minor issue. It is only a small example of misuse of funds. You should not burden Swamiji with such costs.
Many devotees are not aware of Telugu Puttu Gam facebook page on the Internet. Even high school graduates know how to use a computer. Many have access to computers but do not utilize it properly. There is so much that you all can learn from the messages posted on Facebook by Telugu Puttu Gam.
Tomorrow is the day for Maha Darshanam. A day to enjoy, relax, sing bhajans, and eat laddoos. In the evening there will be Chaitanya Archana (honoring scholars and individuals with special talents who have served society). The program will conclude with Dolotsavam (Swing festival).
I have personally read all the annual reports. That is enough for you. I am encouraging you to do more service, more efficiently. I am not finding fault. I am only giving you some cautionary advice.
Please go to the tent and chant Hanuman Chalisa where the new Hanuman Statue will be built. Give your count.
Jaya Guru Datta
Sri Guru Datta