Speech of HH Sri Datta Vijayananda Teertha Swamiji during Venkateshwara Kalyanam – Nada Mantapam Mysore – February 3, 2013
Jaya Guru Datta ! Edukondalavada Venkata Ramana Govinda… Govinda ! Datta Venkata Ramana Govinda… Govinda !! Say it louder. Govinda…. Govinda… Govinda… Govinda… Govinda… Govinda !
He likes it when called in this way. Perform Nama Sankeertana says Appaji always. We are listening to the discourse of Srinivasa Kalyana by Pujya Appaji. We are at a wonderful juncture in this discourse. We are listening to the episode of Lord Srinivasa’s wedding. The engagement was done and Srinivasa started towards bride’s house. We call it as ‘Baraat’ which means procession. The procession started towards Narayana Puram to Padmavathi Devi’s place. We heard about this yesterday. Today Srinivasa Kalyanam – the divine wedding will take place. This means, the holy hands of Venkateshwara will tie a knot to Padmavathi. How lucky, isn’t it ? More than Padmavathi devi, it is our luck for, we are listening to this through our Sadguru. Such wonderful episode is not just being heard by us but Swamiji also arranged for us to witness this today. It is our fortune today to both witness the divine marriage and also listen to its narration.
On this ocassion, there is something special happening today. What is it ? During Venkateshwara Kalyanotsavam that took place during Chaturmasya this year, Swamiji saw the silver Yagnopaveeta, the sacred thread being adorned to Srinivasa and said, why silver thread ? Is my Lord so small? We have to put Golden thread and made a Sankalpa for it. Our wishes are desires where as Sadguru’s wish is Sankalpa – determination. Our desires may or may not get fulfilled. It all depends on our luck. There is no hard and fast rule that it has to get fulfilled. It depends on our previous birth’s merit. If there is any good deed done in previous birth, as a result of its merit, our wishes may get fulfilled. But Sadguru’s wish will definetely get fulfilled. There is no room for doubt in it. That is why very rarely Sadgurus will make sankalpas. So, during this year’s Sravana month, Swamiji made a sankalpa for this golden thread.
Usually, for any project, Appaji first finds out how much would that entire project cost, who can do it, who will do it, has anyone done it earlier, will anyone take it up as seva… all this He enquires. As devotees, you may not know all these details but Swamiji enquires all this internally. Swamiji is very practical. He never talks as if descended from sky. We need to understand this. All His wishes will definetely get fulfilled. No doubt about it. But, since we are on earth and are related to earth, we must behave accordingly says Swamiji. For every project Swamiji finds all the details and then only makes an announcement. Dont know what happened that day, but Swamiji said I want Golden Yagnopaveeta for Venkateshwara Swamy. You get it done. Swamiji’s sankalpa is ok but what if I have to do it? I said, Swamiji you made this sankalpa, with your grace, it will happen. Priests Madhavachari & Hari were performing Kalyanam at that time. Swamiji said all of you pray that by next Kalyanam, Golden thread for Venkateshwara should come. Sri Gupta, 16 other devotees and many more contributed for this sacred thread. This will be adorned to Venkateshwara Swamy today by Appaji during this Kalyana discourse and this kalyanotsavam. Who ever sees this yagnopavita will get rid of the sin of Guru droha. This thread has Sankha, Chakra and Tiru Nama. Some things we should not talk egoistically. But certain happy things should be spoken if it is a good one, but without ego. As far as I know, except in Tirumala, no other Venkateshwara kshetra has Golden Yagnopavita. Our Datta Venkateshwara Swamy has it now after Tirumala. This is His power and sankalpa. Witnessing Venkateshwara Kalyana is very auspicious. This is not like ordinary marriage. This is kalyana for universal peace. This should not be looked upon low. Our mind and heart should be open wide to witness this. Only then we can have darshana of Paramatma. Otherwise, why do we talk about a story that happened long ago ? It definetely has some power. You will remain like you only even if you are in school, office, hospital or after marriage. You dont change. Similarly, Paramatma remains as is forever. We should have the power to see Him.
Bruhat Kaayaya Namaha ! Bruhan Netraya Namaha ! Bruhat baahave Namaha ! Bruhat Paadaya Namaha ! Bruhadeeshwaraya Namaha !
All His names start with bruhat bruhat…meaning large. If there is anything to witness His greatness, that is His kalyana – the sacred wedding. Such great event we are witnessing today. All of you pray for Kalyana. For us, Kalyana is not mere marriage. It is Atma Kalyana. That is the merit of witnessing Srinivasa Kalyana. When such huge merit is being bestowed, we should not pray for petty things. If someone is offered some 100 acres of land, a house, job, bank balance etc, and if he asks for one meal, how foolish it is? So, don’t pray for one meal instead ask the lord for merging your one life into Him. There is no need to ask for petty things. Smart people do not ask for it. To create such insight in us, Kalyanam is being performed often.
All that we do is called Seva. There is a wonderful saying about this. SEVA WILL SAVE. Just a small interchange in spelling. But Save what? Save Punya – the merit. Dont forget Service. This body is given for service. You may serve spiritually or socially or atleast serve yourself. What is Self-Service? Sadhana is your service. Without service, there is no smile and happiness in life. After some time, when you look back, there is nothing remaining in life. Your past appears blank. To avoid that, we must serve the lord and the society. Swamiji likes it very much.
About the Lord’s Pada Seva, it is said that ‘Udugani mukthi trova’ – The path of mukthi is never closed. Udugani means it is never closed like the doors of the house. Why do we have doors for the house? For protection is secondary. For protection, there is a watchman. Then why do we need the doors? Practically speaking, it is for closing and opening. Isn’t it? What is the use for it? Sometimes to open and close. We open for good ventilation. If there is too much light, air or mosquitoes, we close. Udugani Mukthi trova! All the worldly doors gets closed at some point of time. But the door of His Seva will not get closed anytime. Even if you have not served from your birth, now you came to know the merit of seva, so atleast now start doing it. Even if it is your last seva, even if is is a small seva, a minute one, with that seva, the doors of mukti will be open for you and the lord bestows salvation through it.
jamudullasa maadanga chaalu cheva
Jamudu is Yama, the death god. Everyone is scared of death. But those who are into seva are fearless of even Yama. This fearlessness comes from Seva. If Yama comes, our Datta Devotees greet him saying Jaya Guru Datta! We should be like that. That power comes from Seva. There is no need to be scared of death. If we are scared, all the happinesss vanishes. So we must remove fear from mind. It is not so easy to remove fear from us. When we have a security guard, we dont feel the fear. Right? If no one is there, we ask somebody to come along with us in the dark. But, we have an assurance from Sadguru that He is there with us protecting us.
In Kaliyuga, we get scared to talk to some people. We are afraid to talk to some atheists. They feel they are speaking wondefully. We cant argue with them and win. Then, what to do with such people ?
Thundudukula gelchu Teva.. Teva means courage. Thunduduku means thougthless speech.
Think well before you talk. We must think about our level of knowledge on shastras. We just say, this kalyanam is all puppet show. It is very wrong. We must try to know its power. If that power is absent, so many rishis, so many shastras, vedas will not talk about it. We must try to understand its inner meaning. If you dont understand, just keep quite. Dont point out. To win over such people who argue is possible. Guru Gita gives a wonderful hint on this. If someone abuses God, Vedas, Guru, Father or Mother, don’t listen to it. If it cannot be avoided, get away from that place. In case if you have the capacity to stop them with your argument, do it. Who ever follows these three will get rid of the sin of abusing Guru, Father, mother, God or Vedas. These all are very wrongful things. Today it may be good, but this sin will not leave you. You will feel bad for this at some point in your life when you have ill health caused as a result of this sin. So, when you are healthy and good enough, perform seva. That is what it means Thundukula gelchu seva.
Today, Swamiji is giving a wonderful opportunity to everyone. The sacred Yagnopavita will come to you. Please touch and pray. Once decorated to Venkateshwara Swamy, we cannot touch the holy thread. That is why Swamiji is sending to all the devotees. Who ever has done the seva for this yagnopavita, may the lord bless them all.
Going back to the topic of seva, bahu durbhabara janma parampara maha jadadiki naava !
This appears to be a huge word. Naava means boat. We all are sitting in a boat. This is Sadguru’s boat. You heard the bhajan Naav Chal Padi.. Datta Naav Chal Padi. Sometimes, the boat that we are sitting does not go to either shores. Staying at one place is of no use. Life is very difficult sometimes. We often struggle to get a job, for marriage, in business, for children and so on. It is very difficult to withstand to such difficulties. We have taken birth. Due to some previous fortune, we are into spiritual path. We could get a Sadguru. This is real fortune. It is not possible for everyone. Those who got this opportunity should utilize this properly. Otherwise, it becomes Janma Parampara – continuum of births.
You all know the story of Satyavrata. He is a king. Swami protected him through Matsyavatara – an incarnation of fish. The Lord protected Satyavrata keeping him in a boat along with important rishis, required food, medicines, important kings, devotees etc. This means, the main essence is been protected. If this is done, other things will renew.
Bhoomi jana Santhathi kaaraya deva deva
O ! Deva deva ! Venkatesha ! Srinivasa ! We have been searching for your path, your boat, but could not find it. We dont have any more courage. After finding all the ways and means, all that I could find out is
Mee adugula seva
Remember this important line. After searching everywhere, all I could find out is everything is in the seva of your foot prints. It is simply said as foot prints and not Pada or Pada Padma. This means who ever is following the foot prints of Guru, who ever is serving Sadguru will get immense merit.
Venkata Naghadhipathi Vilasat Krupamathi
Krupamathi… His heart is full of krupa – compassion. Hence, O ! Venkateshwara, always bless me with your Seva.
All of us are witnessing kalyanam today and listening to its narration by Swamiji. All of you pray to the lord to forgive you, your family, your ancestors, friends, relatives who might have done anything wrong by abusing God, Vedas, Guru, Father or mother because the reason for our difficulties today is that known or unknown abuse that have been done earlier. Pray to bestow Sadgathi – the right path. Just touch and pray. Dont start chanting Venkateshwara stotras, as many people are there waiting for the chance.
Today is Hanuman mandala deeksha last day. Pray to Hanuman also. Om Namo Hanumate Namaha ! Datta Venkata Ramana ! Govindaa.. Govinda ! Govindaa.. Govinda ! Govindaa… Govinda ! Jaya Guru Datta !