Speech of HH Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji – Koti Deepotsava – November 20, 2016 – Hyderabad
Compiled by: Smt Hira Duvvuri
This festival of lighting innumerable lamps called Koti Deepotsava is very ancient. When we light lamps for God, our inner light of spiritual awakening gets lit. Lord Siva is pleased when during this sacred month of Karteeka, lamps are lit for God. God is Light. God is Fire appearing in the form of Light. Life Force is Light. Hanuman Life Energy and appears in the form of Light. Lord Vishnu Himself incarnated as Lord Rama to set an example on earth as an ideal man. Lord Siva took the form of Hanuman to serve Rama. In this Kali Yuga, we need to follow Sri Rama’s example. Hanuman takes the form of Light. In every light that has been lit here, I see Lord Siva in the form of Hanuman. Siva and Vishnu are not different from one another. We have witnessed the Venkateswara Kalyana today. Both Siva and Vishnu represent Light. Hanuman also takes the form of Light. After Sri Rama had already installed a Siva Lingam in Rameswaram, Hanuman brought another Siva Lingam from Kasi. Rama installed the second Siva Lingam also. Siva and Vishnu are one and same. Those who differentiate between Siva and Vishnu are sinners. On the last Monday of Kartika month, the priests were performing Abhishekam to Lord Siva. In the night, exhausted, the priests fell asleep before dawn. A thief entered the temple, thinking this is a good time for his work. The lamp near the altar was about die out. The thief, to find the articles he wished to steal, restored the lamp. He found a pot of water. Wanting to use the empty vessel, he emptied the contents upon the Siva Lingam. The priests woke up with the light and the sound and cried out, “Thief!” The thief ran around the Siva Linga frantically and fell down dead. The messengers were sent by Yama the Lord of Death, to drag the soul of the thief to the land of Death. But since the thief had lit a lamp for Siva, did abhishekam and pradakshinam to Siva on Kartika Somavara, the messengers of Death were denied access to the soul of the thief. The thief proceeded to heaven because he performed this meritorious action. Three times a day, all devotees must offer prayers to Lord Hanuman, who is the Light of our Lives. He is our Life Energy. At dawn, noon and sunset, close your eyes for a couple of minutes, wherever you may be, and remember Lord Hanuman and offer Him prayers. Chant the Hanuman Chalisa. Lord Hanuman will certainly protect and bless all devotees who do so. He will destroy all their sins. He is none other than Lord Siva Himself.
Sri Guru Datta