Speeches of HH Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji on Ratha Saptami – February 6, 2014 – Hyderabad
Speech in the morning after Surya Aradhana
Om Suryanarayana Parabrahmane Namaha.
Jaya Guru Datta.
Om Namo Hanumate Namaha.
Om Namassivaya.
Today is Surappa Poundareeka’s (Sri Swamiji’s ancestor) Birthday. He was a great Surya Upasaka (worshiper of Sun god). It was said that at noon when he stood before the Sun, he could not be seen. At sunrise when he faced the Sun, his shadow fell in front of him. At sunrise when he was looking at the Sun also, the same thing happened. His shadow was in front of him. He performed the Poundareeka Yajna and earned the title Poundareeka. Swamiji is born in his lineage. The present generation does not know his greatness. The family tree must be seen and the ancestors should be remembered daily. I have told Nanjundappa and his children. I have told them lovingly a second time. I told them firmly a third time. I told them angrily the fourth time. Thereafter, I have stopped telling them. I do not even bother to remind them anymore. He used to sing the powerful mantras as keertanas. We remember this Avadhoota. We are his brother’s descendants. The brothers used to live together. He was a great Yateeswara. Atma sanyasi. You are all his disciples now. Your fortune is great. That is why Swamiji came running from Singapore. He came running to Mysore for Vaikuntha Ekadasi. He has still not recovered from the disturbed sleep cycle and biological routine after that long journey. I feel sleepy at odd times. I may sleep at any time. But no one minds it. They consider me as Ananta Padmanabha Swami (lord depicted in a reclining posture). Any time is lullaby time for me. I am not embarrassed. Like a small child I may even announce when I need to go to the bathroom.
I show you and tell you how to follow rules. You must follow rules and discipline. I bless that all of you and all your family members obtain good health, spiritual knowledge, and prosperity. I pray that everyone also get the mindset to use their wealth for a good purpose. Give a half of what you earn to Sadguru whether or not you are granted His darshan. Offer strictly a certain percentage of your income to Sadguru. Remain satisfied and contented. Don’t go for easy ways for getting money by using unscrupulous methods. Never deceive, ill-treat, or manipulate women, Guru, innocent persons, or old people, to squeeze money out of them. By doing that you earn the sin that equals the five greatest sins. With the Sun as witness, I am declaring this as the truth. You will be reborn as insects. Pray to be uplifted. Pray for health, devotion, and faith. Praying for easy money (ill-gotten) will take you to hell. 70,000 years you will have to live as insects. With the Vedas as witness, I make this declaration.
It is okay to beg, if you have to, or do menial labor, but never cheat for money. If necessary, clean the sewer and gutters, but do not deceive or abuse others for money. Even in begging, do not cheat, pretending to be blind, and crippled. Take only the amount that you need and then stop.
Swamiji has recorded a CD with many mantras to help alleviate the bad effects of sins. It will be released soon. I pestered Sri Bala Swamiji to research and find me the special mantras. I do not know Sanskrit. I had to learn and practice to chant them. I have the knowledge of them, but my attention lies elsewhere. It is Swamiji’s nature to always created new things, not to dwell on old things. Of the thousands of bhajans that he has composed, he does not remember the lyrics. Stubbornly he refuses to memorize. He prefers to compose new bhajans instead.
Have faith that we will all go to Vishnu Loka (the abode of Vishnu). If you have faith, you will lead a full life. Do not entertain worldly problems. Try and resolve your mental issues and problems. Worldly problems are not serious. Many beggars have become wealthy. It is important to be free from mental troubles. The way a lotus blooms with the sun’s rays, you must blossom.
The Sun is a huge globe that is self-effulgent. He has existed since the beginning of Creation. No one else can generate energy the way the Sun does, by recycling his own materials such as gases. Science has documented that. He recharges his own light. No one else does it for him. Can we recycle the food that we consume? Nourish ourselves with our own waste? We cannot. The Sun is capable of generating his own energy. I pray to the Sun to give Jnana (spiritual knowledge), remove doubts and wavering mentality, and grant the grace of Guru. I pray that all the forefathers should proceed to higher worlds.
Out of love I have come here. It would have been easier for me to go to Chennai. People were surprised that I was taking so much trouble to travel all the way to Hyderabad for this occasion. This is my 2nd important ashram after Vijayawada. Mysore is the Kshetram, the principal ashram. Now Hyderabad is becoming better than Vijayawada because of the increased number of good devotees.
All of you please remain calm and relaxed. There is breakfast. Payasam is being prepared. Lunch will also be served. Do not disappoint the management. Accept and enjoy their hospitality. This stomach is a bag that regularly gets emptied every three hours. A king once granted a wish to a subject who asked that his bag should always be kept full. They kept filling his stomach, and he kept coming back for refills. Brahma is always busy. He has no time to ponder over the consequences of the boons that he grants. He grants them in a hurry and later Vishnu has trouble honoring the conditions and offering protection to the ones who are oppressed by the ones misusing the boons that they have received. Brahma should first have a meeting to consult the pros and cons and weigh the matter before granting boons quickly.
While giving prasadams, Swamiji makes a certain Sankalpa to give so many; and no more. Be careful. Don’t think that Swamiji gives away easily. He has a calculation for everything. He struggles hard to destroy your sins. That is why the volunteers check whether you have purchased a ticket for seva or not, before allowing you to receive prasadam from Swamiji. Otherwise our accounting gets messed up. They will be questioned. Sometimes Swamiji gives away easily whatever he is wearing, his ornaments, and even his clothing. So the assistants keep cautioning Swamiji that certain items are made of gold and are precious and need to be accounted for, and are not meant to be freely given away. Those who mentally think ill of Swamiji’s intentions and speak bad things and those who listen to bad things spoken about Swamiji should both punish their tongues and ears respectively. It is the worst sin to abuse Guru. Swamiji is clean as clear crystal. The best gift that he can give to others is a clean mind. A teacher gives worldly knowledge. A businessman teaches how to earn money. A tradesman teaches a skill. But Swamiji is none such. He grants a clear mind. That is why you should ask from him and receive. Do not ask him for ways to get rich or to obtain worldly benefits.
We are building a hospital in Mysore for birds. There are hospitals for humans, and for animals, but no good hospital in India for birds. Certainly there is no hospital for treating birds from a foreign origin. We got permission from the government to get some special birds, real hamsas. This is the first time in history. Out of love and respect for Swamiji, they have granted permission that has never before been given. No one cares about sick, injured or deformed birds. Such birds are neglected. We keep such birds and care for them alongside healthy birds.
Our parrots speak. Thy say Datta, Rama, Jaya Guru Datta, Namassivaya, Good morning Appaji, and Good night. If they do not greet me in the morning and at night, I do not feel at ease. Our culture is dependent on birds. Garuda Purana is named after Garuda, the bird. We got the Bhagavatam from a bird (Sage Suka/parrot). The Ramayana story has Jatayu and Sampati, two birds that play a pivotal role. Bird sponsors get to take photos with Swamiji, along with a bird. The photos will be published at sgsbirds.com website on the Internet.
Ratha Saptami messages have been posted by Swamiji this morning. Please view them on your computers and smartphones. I pray for blessings to be showered upon all devotees of Bhagyanagar (Hyderabad).
Jaya Guru Datta
Speech at noon
Jaya Guru Datta
Veena is structured like a human being. It has a head. The middle part is like the spine and the bottom end is for support. It has both the spiritual and the physical aspects of a human being. Veena, Venu (flute), and Mridangam (S. Indian drum), and also the Tambura (tanpura) are celestial musical instruments that are ancient and are helpful in removing the blockages that occur in the heart. Playing the flute is like doing pranayama, breath control. It is the first musical instrument to be chosen for health. Veena represents the soul and is the second choice. Mridangam improves the intellect. Tambura cleans the nadis (the invisible spiritual energy channels) with its drone. When the tongue blocks the air passages during sleep, snoring occurs like a hum when the air struggles to come out. If the person is gently moved, or if the nostrils are kept clean, the snore is avoided. When breathing is regular and good, heart problems do not occur.
Sri Jayalakshmi Mata gave Swamiji a flute to learn to play. He neglected the opportunity and used the instrument as a toy to hit things and break them in play. She also gave him an Akhanda Veena (constructed out of one continuous piece of wood) when he was just two years old. It is said that he used to sit on it. These details do not sound good. So they were left out of the life history. Swamiji still has that Veena. Now, regretting the negligence of childhood days, at age 70+2 Swamiji has picked up his interest in flute playing. He is now learning to play the instrument. My sincere advice to all parents is to have your children learn to play the veena, flute, or the mridangam. Even if they learn seriously for one year, and leave it off afterwards due to circumstances, the benefit will continue lifelong. On this auspicious Ratha Saptami day, Swamiji is offering this valuable advice. Please follow it. Your neighbors may complain of the noise. Be careful and do not cause them disturbance. If the children come and tell me after six months that they are learning to play these musical instruments, it will make Swamiji very happy.
Sri Guru Datta
Summary of speech in the evening
Jaya Guru Datta
I am doing Puttu Gam only for your benefit. If you do not see the messages, then it is useless. Outsiders appreciate these immensely. Many of you do not see. Those who see them do not even click Like. They do not read the messages and put them into practice. It is so easy to read and click Like. You don’t even have to write anything. Once if you go to Puttu Gam page and click Like, you will get the messages automatically on your newsfeed daily. Whichever photo you like, or whichever message appeals to you, all are nice actually, but daily, comment on what you like.
Birds. When I say birds, I remember the Guru Gita. Every one of you, please watch the Guru Gita episodes. Please watch them on ETV. If that is not possible, view them on Vimeo or on Youtube, where ETV people themselves are posting them. You can record the episodes. Every day make a note of what species of bird appears with the episode. You please go back and watch them again and again. There is a connection between the episode/shloka and the parrots that are present in the show. They are beautifully put together and matched. It is not a random arrangement just to add color and interest. There is significance to the color of the bird and its connection with the episode of the day. It is very thoughtfully put together. This is not an ordinary discourse, with verse and an explanation of its meaning. It is a very personal communication from Swamiji, like a family member conversing with you. Whatever issues are bothering you that day, you will perhaps find an answer in Swamiji’s words spoken that day.
The only thing is that it is early in the morning at 6:25 AM. You wake up normally by that time. There may be a few lazy ones amongst you who do not get up that early. If you go to bed by 11 PM then it is easy to rise early. It is even better if you sleep by 10 PM. Some students are required to stay up till 11 to study. If you have to, wake up early; watch the program and go back to sleep again, if you are still that sleepy.
Mr. Kuppa Krishnamurthy has got me stuck to this ETV. I postponed for two years, but ETV people insisted. I was not able to escape. They are not letting go of Swamiji. So finally Swamiji recorded, for your sake, in a rapid pace. Because it was done for your benefit, you must obtain the benefit. Those for whom it is meant, those same people should acquire the benefit. There is a saying that every grain of rice has a name on it, and that particular person only will get to eat it; it somehow happens like that; or that some insect whose name is on the grain will only eat it. Some grains do not have a name written. So they will get spoilt and some germs will eventually eat them in some form. Hence, that germ’s name is on it. Nothing is ever wasted. Even what goes into the drain or sewer is still consumed by some creature. The germs and insects are also our relatives. We were also born as such germs and insects once upon a time. Hence, we are feeding our own relatives, are we not?
When you reject and waste food and throw it away, it is a fault and may incur sin, but when the food is eaten by crows, or dogs or even a wicked or useless person, it is still bringing merit for you, because you are feeding a soul. You are indirectly doing annadanam/feeding the hungry, and are earning spiritual merit. All have souls, do they not? Whatever you have cooked, if you serve a morsel to another, it gives greater benefit, than sin. The sin of throwing food is evident. But the invisible merit that someone’s hunger has been satisfied protects you. Such merit is of great significance. Sometimes even in what appears like a sinful deed, the hidden merit will bring you benefit.
We are at the mercy of food, health, and knowledge. Our Datta devotees engage in the donation of these three. Giving food, health, and education – all these three are very important. We have held on to the path of devotion. Devotion is the path to obtain spiritual knowledge. Only when coupled with devotion, spiritual knowledge gets absorbed, than when Jnana is taught directly.
Under some circumstances we will be committing sins that have also a hidden merit for us. As one creature gets harmed, another creature is getting benefited. When we see a tiger killing another animal like a deer or a buffalo, we feel horrified and are unable to witness the scene. But a tiger cannot live on grass. God has created that animal like that. Some give a curse –Turn into a tiger and remain cruel for so many years! That tiger will accrue immeasurable sin by its cruel deeds. It is not a small curse. It is creating a path for it to travel only with sin. By such a curse, the person is committed to that cruel path. Since you have committed such a horrible crime against that great soul, you have earned such a terrible destiny of being saturated with cruelty. You have insulted him. You have spoiled his penance. You have given him pain. You have ruined his discipline. The same great soul may give a boon, “Be born as a deer!” The deer always remains in fear of death. We should not revert to such lives as animals. We have come past that stage. We are done being four-legged creatures. Now we are intelligent human beings walking on two feet. We have to proceed ahead from here, and not go backwards or in reverse. Starting as germs, insects, and then animals, and birds, we have come a long way to become humans. Now we must not wish to be born as deer, a lion, or an elephant or a whale. Such wishes are despicable and should not be indulged in. We have graduated from such births. Do not wish to be born as a mermaid. They are all low-class desires that drag you backwards. If you must have a desire, then it must be to rise to higher levels. Even such a desire should not be entertained, it is said. You should rise only by practice and pursuit, and not because of desire. You must do your sadhana, your spiritual pursuit and leave the results to God. It is only if you have such an attitude, you will obtain the fruits of your efforts. The fruits are in God’s hands. You must only get promoted and not demoted. You must rise to a higher spiritual plane. Never look for shortcuts. You must climb the ladder one step at a time.
Don’t say, “Swamiji, you know everything. Give me your grace.” Just because I know everything, I am not obliged to shower my grace.
“You have so many crores of rupees, throw one crore towards me. “
If you say that, he will say,
“Why should I give it to you? I am at liberty to simply throw it away if I wish.”
“You have so much.”
“So what, I will give to my wicked children. But I will not give you.”
Why should he give you? Even if he has excess, he need not give you.
Similarly, Sadguru has everything. But he is not under any obligation to give you everything.
“I gave you one salutation, one Namaskaram. So give me.”
No. Perhaps, if you completely surrender your body, soul, and wealth, Guru may show you the ladder leading up to enlightenment. He may show you, or he may simply suggest a path. You must grab that suggestion and adhere to the spiritual path, without ever slipping, following the path towards promotion. As you progress in that path diligently, in the end you will not even feel the strain and exhaustion. In the beginning, it is difficult to have concentration. The mind will waver. You will hear noises with your ears. The eyes will look this way and that, noticing things. The body/the skin will have its sensations. The ant or mosquito that lands on the body will be felt and driven away. We kill the mosquitoes while chanting Om Namassivaya. What is the use? You are hurting another soul and chanting Namassivaya and counting. Your sins will get doubled. The little merit you earn is all lost. In the spiritual pursuit, you must become forgetful of your body and sense organs. You must forget that you have a mind. You must direct your intellect in the proper direction. It is only when you forget yourself that you will qualify for a promotion.
Instead of doing that, declaring, “I have believed so firmly. I have given so much. I have lost so much. That person has died,” is worthless and harmful.
The person destined to die, will certainly die. Do not have business dealings with God. There is no connection between your worldly gains and losses and God. I have said this many times before. I am mixing and blending and telling you the same thing now in so many different ways. I am filtering and straining and giving you this spiritual drink for your consumption. Please drink it. The same water I give you now, with cardamom flavoring, flavored with cloves, with the sun’s rays I am energizing it. The same existing water (I cannot create new water) I boil, I put through a sieve, I filter, I add flavors, and in different tastes and variations, I give you again and again. “Oh, how delicious is this water!” It is the same coffee, the same water, the same spiritual principles, repeated over and over again. The same tune is repeated. But it appears new. The same path is described in so many different ways. We must keep reiterating these rules to ourselves, and we must continue our efforts. We must control the senses, the skin, and the mind that keeps running away. We must stop it in its tracks. For that, you must not run behind it. You must simply ignore it. Then, on its own, it will stop. Because we chase after it, it will irritate and pain us more and more. It is like scratching hard on the same spot where there is no itch. If you keep scratching, off and on, it will eventually really begin to have an irritation and will really create an itch and a problem. It will increase and spread. Out of nothing you have made a habit of scratching. This you must control. You must not irritate, stir up and stimulate your mind unnecessarily.
Om Namassivaya you chant, and in between, you recollect what happened during your wedding 40 years ago. The girl, whom I married, used to be talking to another man. Now she is not a girl anymore. She is an old woman who has given birth to umpteen children. Such is our circumstance. Be it husband, wife, or child, or anyone, do not stir up old memories. Just as you must not revert to your lifetimes as germs and insects, you must not mentally also revert to your past. Only good things that will help you learn lessons must be recollected. You must never recollect your sorrows and difficult times. A lot of people remember past grief and cry, as if it is a fashion. “I slipped and fell then”. Don’t cry now. That stage is past. It is foolish to dwell on that. Difficulties occur to everyone. They are not exclusive to you or your family. Others will scold you if you keep complaining of your past troubles. The same troubles will occur to me perhaps in the future, you imagine and cry. Sometimes they do not even bring tears. Yet you cry. How terrible can troubles be? Why exaggerate them? How many tears can you shed? One glassful? One potful? How much can you cry?
You must not cry. You must face troubles with courage. Surrender yourselves to God when you face troubles boldly. “You have given this to me. I am experiencing this.” Have firm and total faith in God, in Lord Hanuman, in your Sadgurudeva. Hold firm to that faith, without ever letting it slip. God is there to protect us. Once, if you say,” Victory to Hanuman!” He will feel immensely happy. He loves to be praised. Don’t say, “Doesn’t God know His own greatness? Does He need our praises?” Don’t speak as you wish, frivolously. The more you praise God’s glories, that much more He is eager to protect you. He loves to be praised. Such is His nature. You have to keep reminding Him. “I am so and so, and I am here to pray to you and to praise you.” He is not deaf. His attention is elsewhere. It is wandering. There is no harm in introducing yourself. There is nothing to be ashamed of. Don’t say, I have done it before. What happens if you simply offer your salutations from afar and go away? Swamiji will say that He has not seen you. Then you conclude, “He does not have divine vision.” You must not speak like that. Even though He has divine vision, you must keep alerting Him to your presence and keep drawing His attention towards you. Only then you get uplifted.
Don’t say, “You are in my heart. Why should I come in your presence and inconvenience you? “It will lead to hell. If you do not tell, Sadguru will feel pain. He does not feel pain if you do tell Him. It is not your business whether or not He pays attention to your words.”
That is what is said in Guru Gita. These are not my words. These were the words spoken to Mother Goddess. “Parvati, with Guru one must be very careful. You must not say that He is deaf, He is ignorant, he lacks divine vision, he has eyes closed, or he has turned a deaf ear. Such things must not be said. Frivolous words should not be spoken, like. “Then, I will go back. Oh, we will have to come back again all the way.” You should think, “It is my karma that He did not greet me. My karma is good. Now it must get even better. I must keep improving myself.” This morning you all witnessed a wonderful puja.
I told the children that I would not come out this evening. I told them to go ahead and sing bhajans. But I have come. “What do you want us to do?” They asked. “Shall we put a chair?” I said do you need to ask me that? Keep the chair, keep the microphone ready. I may come if I feel like.
My bird has already been taught to chant Rama. In two hours it has learned. Priyanka has taught the bird. I was so surprised. It is sitting on my shoulder and chanting Rama. I thought it was Bittu. But this is a different bird. It bites my hand. I am careful with it. Its brain is so small; as small as a grain of millet. Many of you have not seen grains of corn or millet. You have seen Masala Dosa. God’s creation is so strange and amazing. Can man ever create such a creature? Such a small brain, and yet it knows so much. It speaks so clearly. It remembers a hundred words.
The most powerful and capable creature is Man. He has all the senses. He can become divine. He has the potential, it is said. I do not like to say that. But we are developing not divinity, but demonism. Jealousy, envy, irritation, I tease you and make you see one another with curiosity. You should pray that Sadguru should look at your face all the time. It is wrong to give looks that may give others a wrong impression as if some romance is going on. Everyone looks if one person looks, or if Sadguru looks at someone or something, as if that person is being given a great fortune. As long as a person is in the room, all his actions and what is in that person’s wallet is all being watched. Do not indulge in so much curiosity about other people. Yes, they are also Swamiji’s devotees. But do not allow your minds to wander.
We must all rise higher and higher. We must not descend to lower levels. The moment the eyes are closed, the mind must get absorbed in Swamiji. As if we are with Swamiji, we are close to Him; we are serving at His feet. Such a feeling should come, as if his words are being listened to, as if we are seated next to Him, doing things with Him, and going around with Him. That is purification. We must never think bad thoughts about anyone. May the rays of the Sun shine upon all and may everyone get purified. Let the Sun remove all inner contamination. The Sun evaporates water even from dirty sources and gives us back pure water. I pray to the Sun to grant great spiritual knowledge. Ratha Saptami’s concluding prayer I wanted to render today in just two verses and two bhajans. Instead, I have decided that there is a greater need for a discourse.
The Sun is God even to Lord Rama. He is the deity for all great souls. Every day is Ratha Saptami. Every single day the Sun shines upon us, traveling in his chariot with seven horses. You must offer Surya Namaskara. Many people are suffering from skin diseases such as psoriasis. Many medicines are being used. Look at the Sun, chant the 12 names and do the exercises. Your skin condition will improve. Your vitamin D levels will increase. Then digestion improves. Good sleep results. Everything is interdependent. Otherwise imbalance occurs.
Swamiji is still under jet lag and a disturbed sleep cycle after the trip to the Antarctica. This occurs to one in a million. It has now happened to Swamiji. Swamiji has traveled globally a hundred times, but this time alone it is having this extended disturbance in the biological clock. When I went there, my entire metabolism got upset. I now stay up all night. No sleep. People without sleep for 4 days will go insane. But it did not happen to Swamiji. Swamiji is also in a human body. Do not say, he is in a divine body. I treat this body the same way as I treat you. I make it do its duty. I take care of the body so that I can be with you for a very long time. You have the wish that your children and grandchildren should have the good fortune of my company and grace. I tell many old people not to worry about their youngsters, and that I will look after them. They feel very happy.
You are all very lucky. Tomorrow there are no public programs. The Sri Chakra Puja will take place inside. Have Lord Hanuman’s darshan. Don’t expect interviews and bhajans. The day after tomorrow there is a Bonsai Conference. You are all welcome to attend it at the Begumpet Country Club. See Swamiji amidst all the trees. It will benefit you. I will see everyone’s face there. You have no option but to attend. Since Appaji is going, all the devotees have to be there. It begins at 10 AM. Swamiji will be there for a couple of hours. Don’t come late and have regrets. No business transactions there. You are all like Bonsai trees. It will benefit you to be walking amidst the trees. Swamiji is doing many experiments with the trees. He communicates with the trees. He talks to them. He is also getting a book written, which will be easily accessible to everyone. 365 trees are assigned a date each, one for every day of the year. As per your birthday there is a special tree with its specific raga with information about its origin. No need to be concerned about star and zodiac any more. There are many great souls here. Mr. Appa Rao is very experienced. One person has described the styles very clearly in a book. But, they do not know about the medicinal value, the worth of the roots, the ragas, and their connection with the trees.
Swamiji is then proceeding to Chennai, then to Nellore. Each day he will be in a different town or city, not just visiting a different home as described in the bhajan. Until after the Birthday Swamiji will not be making another trip. Nellore has a new Siva Shrine. Eluru has a Subrahmanya temple consecration. You cannot follow me everywhere. Just choose a few places to visit.
The Brindavana consecration and Kalyanam of your grandmother at Jayalakshmipuram; please do not miss. His name is Narasimha Sastry. Her name is Lakshmi. Hence, Lakshmi Narasimha Swami Kalyanam after 72 years is going to be performed. Come there on February 20th. That program is most special.
Then Sivaratri will be celebrated at Mysore. That will be followed by a visit to Rameswaram. There is a cloth on which you can write your names. Swamiji will take the soil from Rameswaram and on the same day travel to Kasi to immerse it in Ganga River water. He will bring the holy water and will perform abhishekam in Rameswaram. All on the same day, traveling by helicopter. Whether you come to Rameswaram or not, write your names on the cloth; it will be immersed in the sacred waters. All those who accompanied me to Kasi, please write your names. All those who are now coming to Rameswaram, please write your names. Tomorrow again we will make our efforts about the birds.
Sri Guru Datta