Speech of HH Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji during Koti Deepotsavam – November 9, 2014 – Hyderabad
Jaya Guru Datta
Sri Maha Ganapataye Namaha
Sri Saraswatyai Namaha
Sripada Vallabha
Narasimha Saraswati
Sri Guru Dattatreyaya Namaha
This Bhakti TV has re-created here for us Indra Sabha/Indra’s Court, and Siva Loka/the Kingdom of Siva.
When famine struck, 333 crores (one crore=ten million) of celestial powers were brought together by Indra in one place to offer worship to Lord Siva. Lord Vishnu and Lord Brahma also joined them in prayers.
Siva is formless. He is everywhere. The sky is His form. The Siva Linga is of the form of the sky. The five elements are in Him. He is Earth, Oceans, Fire, Air, and Space. He is in all living creatures.
When only the ten main deities called Him in prayer, Siva did not come. A few more important deities joined them. He still did not respond. When all the 333 crore deities prayed in unison, He appeared as a Bindu/a subtle point, and then grew in dimension as a magnificent Pillar of Light, the end or beginning of which, even Lord Vishnu and Lord Brahma could not comprehend.
We have to be careful. In this Kali Yuga untimely and unexpected calamities and unprecedented epidemics may be anticipated. People have a tendency to forget about devotion. People lack peace of mind. It presents a frightening prospect. In every home lamps should be lit.
The 333 crore deities each held a lamp in their hands pouring devotion as the oil. With all the three bodies (physical, subtle, and causal) Lord Siva was offered worship. One should not only light the lamps but should also view the lamps.
Today that scene described in the Brahmanda Purana and the Basava Purana is brought before our eyes here. The scriptures have described that event.
Today in this Kali Yuga, when people are shy or ashamed to display their Bhakti/devotion in public, we got together and tightened our belts to demonstrate our devotion proudly and collectively. May Bhakti TV be strengthened further to develop their efforts to promote devotion and the Hindu faith.
I have not come here to give a speech. I am overwhelmed with happiness and am expressing my sentiment.
Yajnas and Yagas are in progress at the Mysore Ashrama during this Kartika month. I have left the proceedings and have come here to witness this wonderful program, believing that it is permitted to do so.
We have become that one group of 333 crore deities.
So many of you are enthusiastically participating, despite family problems, and problems of ill health. With Asana Siddhi you are all sitting here for many hours. Since 4 PM you have been waiting here.
When all the crores of deities held the lamps in their hands, the Lord did not come. When finally Vishnu came and lighted the lamp, Siva made His appearance. Till then all the other lamps were not visible.
Today the ancestral spirits are pleased. May our country Bharat prosper and become strong. I give my blessings. May the light of knowledge glow in everyone. May everyone be blessed with devotion, good energy, health, and prosperity. We are afraid of imbalances in nature. May God remove our fears and forgive all of our sins. May we transcend all the three Gunas.
Sri Guru Datta