Speech of HH Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji – December 11, 2014 – Naguvanahali
Jaya Guru Datta
Sri Guru Datta
Upadhyaya thota (orchard) was there. Grandpa Lingannayya lived there. Rangayya was there looking after the cows. In this whole area, something happened to the cattle. All the calves that were born were short lived. Veterinarian doctors were consulted. They could not diagnose the reason for the death of so many calves and cows. They did not know the reason. It was suggested that some black magic or Bhoota chesta/evil spirits were responsible. Even for that some remedies were tried but to no avail. Swamiji loved cows and cattle a lot, even as a child. It was a concern for the whole village. Rangayya approached the little boy Satyanarayana (Swamiji as a young boy). He whispered a secret into his ear.
Rangayya: I know of an effective way to save the lives of the cows and calves.
Satya: What?
R: You must steal a lemon to save the lives of calves.
Satya: Why should I steal? Why can’t I purchase one?
R: No. A purchased lemon will not work. The juice of a stolen lemon mixed with turmeric powder should be given to the cows and calves to lick. Then they will not become victims to the disease that is killing them.
Satya: Why don’t you steal the lemon?
R: I will get caught. They will call me a thief. I cannot afford to get caught because I have a wife and children to support.
Satya: I also have a family and wife (I did not know the meaning of the word he used for ‘wife’).
R: You don’t have a wife. Also others won’t suffer if you get caught. Also, if I steal the remedy will not work. You must steal it if you want to save the cows. Only a little boy like you must steal the lemon.
Satya: What if I get caught? My grandfather will beat with a coconut stick.
R: Then you must suffer the beating. You must admit that you have stolen it.
S: Can I tell them that you told me to steal the lemon, and also the reason for stealing it?
R: No. If you tell them, then the cows will continue to die. You must not reveal the secret.
What could Swamiji do? If you were in his position, what would you do? You tell me. Cows were dear to me as my very life. I wanted to protect them at any cost. They were all like our family members, with names like Gowri and Lakshmi.
Every week I was sent to the village market to go to the flour mill. That week when I was sent, with a big Dalda tin of grain, I went riding a bicycle monkey pedaling, because the seat was too high for me. I had to place one leg under the bar to the other side to pedal. I wore a loose knicker (shorts) and a loose banian (grandpa’s T-shirt).
After getting the flour done, I noticed at the store a heap of lemons. Certain that I would not be seen, and one missing lemon would not be noticed by the store keeper Subbayya, I snatched one lemon. I had one rupee in my pocket and really wanted to pay for it, but I remembered Rangayya’s words that for the remedy to work, it had to be a stolen lemon. Having got the lemon, I did not know where to hide it. My knickers pocket was too deep and the lemon would keep dangling as I moved and would reveal itself. I had no pocket in the top shirt. An idea flashed. I stuck the lemon inside the flour in the tin and began pedaling fast to reach home. When I got home, I found that Subbayya, the shop keeper had followed me right in my tracks.
The moment I stopped, he roared at me. He was actually very fond of me and would have gladly given me any number of lemons if I had just asked for them. Now he glared at me and asked for the lemon which I had stolen. I tried to put an innocent face and denied having a lemon on me. I challenged him to search me. Subbayya carried a bag with him. I thought he had rocks in it to hit me. However, the bag contained lemons, which he handed to my grandfather with the complaint that I had stolen a lemon from his store, and here were lemons if grandpa needed any. Grandpa was short tempered and very strict. He thundered at me to admit my crime. I denied stealing the lemon. Grandpa opened the Dalda tin and sure enough found the lemon there. I was caught red-handed.
Lingannayya got hold of a horse whip. He told me to smear oil on my body and approach him. I did not follow his reason for the application of the oil on my body. Once he started to whip me, I realized that the oil makes the lashings smart more intensely. He whipped me so hard. He said I had to eat all the lemons that were in the bag. I was under oath not to pass the blame to someone else, and to suffer the punishment submissively. While this was going on, I noticed that Rangayya had picked up the lemon smeared with flour, since it came out of the flour tin, extracted the juice from it, and mixing it with turmeric powder offered the mixture to the cattle to lick. I had a lingering doubt whether he was actually going to use the lemon for treating the cows. It gave me satisfaction that he actually did it.
Later, out of much pity for my plight and the severe punishment that I suffered, my grandmother cajoled and begged me to tell her why I stole the lemon. I could not tell her, because I did not want the cows and calves to die. I kept mum.
You tell me if what I did to save the cows was wrong. All of them were named cows. They were like mothers to me. After this incident, there were no more mysterious deaths among the cattle in the village. All the calves born after that survived and thrived. This secret I have revealed today because now Rangayya is in heaven. I am safely mentioning his name.
In the original Life History of Swamiji, only a mention was made that in Naguvana Halli, an incident happened which was a turning point in Swamiji’s life, because he stole a lemon and swore never again to steal or deceive the rest of his life because the episode made a lasting impression on his mind.
May be Rangayya was Lord Dattatreya. He had made me an instrument in saving the cattle and holy mother cow. Like little boy Krishna, I also had an opportunity to save the lives of some cows. I thought of this incident recently. The grandson of the shopkeeper Subbayya came recently. He was honored at Mysore ashrama. If I had asked, the shop man would have given me the whole pile of lemons. He loved me. Now Rangayya has gone to heaven so I mention his name. I had one rupee. I wanted to pay. But Rangayya said I must steal, to save the cows. Why don’t you steal? I have family and kids. I have also kids, family and womenfolk, I said, being a small kid, not realizing the meaning of the words. This was before I became known as the Father of the World. Krishna before He showed the Viswaroopa/Universal Form was only a kid. A bamboo is only a stick before it is used to produce music. Moon is there only if you open the window and see it. Rock candy is sweet only if it is tasted. Like a diamond in the dirt I was then. Only when expressed, talent is recognized. Effort is required to gain a reward. A sanyasi wished to get rich overnight. His Guru said wash the dirty rock on the sewer drain over which you step every day, and see. It was a diamond, when the sanyasi washed it clean.
We do not use our talent when required, but use our crookedness. That is wrong. To rescue the cows, Swamiji had to undergo that hardship. Swamiji did not have a beard then to hide the lemon behind it.
Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham’s Swami gave Swamiji a cow. Swamiji was very fond of it. It developed cancer. It died in my lap. Cows are my life. Too much attachment I should not have towards them, I realized.
This story is called ‘Gorakshana (protection of cows) lemon story of Naguvanahalli thota’. Tell Subbayya that Swamiji will return his lemon. History of lemon has been narrated.
All this farm produce is feeding us. All are fed by the effort of farmers. For Naivedya we use the fruits. We use coconuts in Puja, and Rice for free annadanam and Pulihara (tamarind rice) as daily offering to Sri Datta Venkateswara. We get vegetables and flowers also from the farms. As long as Datta Peetham is there, Annadanam (free food for devotees) will be there. Next is preservation and promotion of music. Then cows protection, and preservation of the Vedas. Vasudeva Acharya and Jayalakshmi ajji were introduced to Swamiji by a saint from north India, who gave Swamiji the responsibility of protecting them. Much land they gave to the ashrama.
Suresh and all his family members serve Swamiji. They render unblemished, pure-hearted, selfless service.
Now industries are built on farmlands. Forests are cut for construction of buildings. Birds, elephants, and wild animals are displaced from their homes. No leopards can be seen. Instead, humans have acquired the qualities of the wild animals. They have become us and our nature. We have to show our children ourselves, one another as beasts with different beastly qualities.
Trees are getting destroyed. At least in pots grow Tulasi and Audumbara. Keeping some plants inside the home in pots will bring Lakshmi to our homes. I need lots of volunteers to serve during the 2016 big Bonsai Conference. Big trees from foreign countries also will be imported. Centuries old trees. Not only bonsai. All of you must support to the best of your capacity. Help. Cooperate within your means. Money, sarees, or any manner of service you can offer. You take 600 rupees sarees for yourselves, but at least give me 150 rupee saree.
Prasad has said that in any month one is hungry, not only in the month of Kartika. What if it is Margashira now? We will all feast now and have a nice Vana Bhojana (feast under the trees). I give this saree to grandma Jayalakshmi. If you wear it you will appear to me like my mother.
Turmeric is very good. It prevents skin problems, and even prevents cancer. Infections it fights. Boils are healed if powder mixed with gingelly (sesame) oil is applied. Not too much in the hair. It may turn the hair white.
USA researchers say South Indians have less incidence of cancer because of the use of turmeric in cuisine. Turmeric also keeps roaches and mice away.
Sri Guru Datta