Speech of HH Sri Datta Vijayananda Teertha Swamiji on the occasion of Swarna Gowri Vratham – September 16, 2015 – Dundigal Ashram, Hyderabad
Sri Ganeshaya Namaha
Sri Saraswathyai Namaha
Sri Pada Vallabha Narasimha Saraswathi
Sri Guru Dattatreyaya Namaha !
Sarva Mangala Mangalye Shive Sarvartha Sadhike
Sharanye Tryambake Devi Narayani Namostute
Sharanagatha deenartha paritraana paraayane
Sarvasyaarthi hare devi Narayani Namostute
Ya devi sarvabhuteshu matru rupena samsthita,
namas tasyai namas tasyai namas tasyai namo namaha
Ya devi sarvabhuteshu shakti rupena samsthita,
namas tasyai namas tasyai namas tasyai namo namaha
We all observe Ganapati festival with utmost fervor and devotion not just in India but also in all the countries. Clay idol of Ganesha is worshipped during this time. Shastras also support this. It is said that Ganesh festival should not be observed without performing Swarna Gowri Puja which comes one day before Ganesh chaturdhi. In Karnataka, this is observed with much passion. Those who do not have this tradition, observes Swarna Gowri vratham on Ganesh festival day itself. Mother Goddess is praised as Sama Gaana Lole. She is also called as Sangeeta Priya Maanase, Sangeeta Rasike and Saptaswara Nilaye. We have done a wonderful Sangeeta seva today for such mother.
Swarna Gowri Goddess likes music & Nama Sankeerthana. Even if you sing with or without knowing also, she accepts it happily. That is why Pujya Swamiji instroduced the tradition of Nama Sankeerthana to us. Singing it knowingly is a sadhana. Not singing even when known is a sin. After many years of learning, singing and offering it as a flower at Her feet is to be done and She listens to it and while doing so, she nods her head enjoying the song. When this is done, the merit of it is shared not just for the singer but also for the listener.
Today in such an auspicious occasion, we all gathered here to observe Swarna Gowri Vratham. Ganesh Chaturdhi is favourite festival for Jaya Lakshmi Mata. Ganapathi is Dattatreya and Dattatreya Himself is Ganapathi said Jaya Lakshmi Mata. Hence Ganapathi in the form of Dattatreya incarnated amidst us in the form of Sadguru. In Karnataka it is called Gowri Ganesha Habba. Goddess Gowri comes first to our house. Taking Her permission, we invite Lord Ganesha. We are not sure if He comes. Hence we pray Gowri to come to our house along with Her son Ganesha, because She is the one who created Ganesha. So we pray Her first.
Swarna Gowri is a special name. Swarna means Gold. Gowri means the one who is fair. The combination is unique. She is fair in complexion like a good devotees mind. People ask about Her form and appearance. Your mind is Her form. She appears according to the state of your mind. She gave darshan to sages as their mind is clean. That form was described to us by them since they witnessed it. Since we do not have the capacity to see Her form, Mahatmas and Sadgurus described to us about Her.
Swarna Gowri… She is praised as Bangaru Mai Chaya, meaning She has Golden radiance. She is in fair complexion. What is this ? Is She in Golden or fair complexion ? How are both possible ? Only one has to be possible – you may think. This is the language of Bhuloka. It is not possible to confine Her for one complexion as She is far beyond our intellect and our naked eye. She is in golden and also in fair complexion. Her radiance is golden. Rising Sun and setting Sun appears in Golden colour. The mid noon Sun is in white color. That is Swarna Gowri Mata. She is in the form of Sun. She is called as Bhanu Mandala Madhyastha, Bhairavi Bhaga Maalini in Lalitha Sahasra Nama. She is energizing us in the form of Sun. Recently Pujya Appaji also explained about Suvarchala Tatva which is similar to this. The color of turmeric is Golden. Gowri who is fair in complextion, if She applies turmeric turns into Golden shade. Right ?
Having bath by applying turmeric is good for health. About 15-20 years ago, a research has been conducted on this and was declared that India has less number of Cancer patients. This is due to the usage of turmeric. It is a great antibiotic. It is being used in multitude, in cooking, for bathing, applied to the main door and so on. Some people’s palms are always with turmeric. This is very good. Turmeric is natural sanitizer. If you dont find a soap, never mind, just take little turmeric and wash your hands. That cleans everything. There will not be any room for bacteria. Mud also serves this purpose. But proper clean mud has to be used.
Swarna Gowri is with turmeric. This means she just then had bath. Why is bathing reminded here ? Because Ganesha was born during Her bathing time. You all know this story. She created Ganesha from turmeric. She is Swarna Gowri mata. Do not reduce the consumption of turmeric, especially women. Men also should use but women in particular should use. Turmeric reduces many diseases. This is not a blind belief. These days, we dont get good turmeric. Chemicals are mixed in it. So carefully choose good turmeric. There is a lot of difference between good turmeric and chemical turmeric. In weddings, making powder turmeric is the first thing done. Honey and turmeric are very important. Honey in golden color is good one. Honey extracted from the beehives of neem, amla and lemon trees are very good. Ayurveda describes what kind of honey to be used for a specific disease. This was researched in the recent past. The qualities of honey from each of these trees are different. Honey from Neem tree is in golden color. When poured, it is transperant. Combination of Milk and Honey is good. Family relations also should be like this combination. Swarna Gowri reminds of this combination of Milk and Honey. Honey is Swarna (golden) and Milk is Gowri (white). Swarna Gowri gave us so many meanings. Gold is also called as Suvarna – Su-Varna – good color. Su- Arna is also Gold. What is Arna ? Navaarna Mantra. You all know Nava Aavarana. This is also called as Navaarna. Arna also means akshara – alphabet. Gowri is also in the form of alphabet. She is akshara swarupini. She is the one who taught us alphabets. When she created the form of Ganesha, She made it in the form of ‘Gam’. This is Sanskrit beejakshara. She gave birth to Her son in this alphabet. She is giving us knowledge.
Arna also means not being indebted. The one who removes our debts. We all think how to earn big. First we need to get rid of our debts. If we are unable to earn more, we must give it a thought. If we are unable to save our earnings. we must think about it. Everyone will have one of these issues. Loans given to others are not recovered. What is the reason for all this ? This indicates that we are indebted. This is spiritual topic. This is not a worldly matter. No doctor or lawyer can advise on this. Everyone is indebted in three ways. Deva Runa, Pitru Runa and Rishi Runa. Rishi runa can be overcomed by spreading our knowledge to others in which ever way we know. You can get rid of Deva runa by performing Annadana and archana to God, encouraging Yagnas, performing timely vrathas and pujas. Pitru Runa is very important. If this is not gone, you cannot get rid of the other two. On the day of ceremony in the house, women do not even wear kumkum on their forehead. On this day, even daily pujas also are put aside. Such is the importance of Pitru Karma. Kumkum should not be used as is after buying it from shop. It has to be offered to Mother Goddess first. Only then, it contains some power. If not complete worship, atleast that packet has to be shown to mother and then to wear it. That is why we have the arrangement of selling worshipped kumkum in the ashram stall. By serving parents and elders, one can get rid of Pitru runa.
Ganapathi is called Runa mochaka Ganapathi – the one who gets us rid of our debts. Many people do not step out of the house due to their debts. They lock the main entrance and use the rear entrance. If someone asks, they say he is not at home. External debts are some. Debts that comes by birth are some more. If we have to get rid of these, Swarna Gowri vratham has to be performed.
For the past two months, I’m here for chaturmasya. Many a time, I felt that Mother Goddess is asking for something. Felt that She is trying to say something. Initially, I didnt bother for it. But this happened repeatedly. Some people feel that they are speaking to God in their dreams. This may not be completely false. However, you cannot express this to everyone as they may humiliate you. At the same time, this feeling may not be false too. You must try & do the required sadhana for making this feeling happen daily. If you are doing your mantra japa, continue doing it. If you are chanting some hymns, do it more. If you are practising music, offer the same to Her. What ever you know, offer it to Her and make Her speak to you everyday. It is of no use, if you go on speaking about it to others. Tell only to those who can understand. Only Sadguru can understand your feelings. No one else can. Speak to Sadguru. He will clarify if your feeling is true or not. If you talk to all others, it is like humiliating God. This is a sin. If a devotee is insulted, it is equal to insulting the God. You will gather the sin of giving him the opportunity of humiliating God. Both of you will have share in it. Such things should not be shared with someone who is not a disciple or devotee and to those who is not interested in such matters and who do not have faith in it. So dont share your feelings with anyone.
Hence, I did not share my feelings with anyone. But the same happenned the next few days too. Then I came to a conclusion that it is true and spoke to the priest in the temple that we should get ear pendants done for Mother Goddess. There is a process involved in it. It is not done just like that. It is not like purchasing it from gold shop and decorating it to Her. It is called Thatanka uddharana. Abhishekam has to be done for them. Lalitha Sahasra Nama says – Tatanka yugalibhuta tapanodupa mandala. Tapana Udupa Mandala – The Sun and Moon are Her pair of ear pendants. In Soudarya Lahari, Shankara Bhagavatpada says –
Karalam yat ksvelam kabalitavatah kaala-kalana
O ! Mother ! Siva, who swallowed poison also will never die. It is not a normal poison which has expiry date. Does poison has expiry date ? Strange ! Anything after expiry date becomes poisonous. What if poison crosses it expiry date ? Will it become nectar ? Dont know. I must think about it. It is Kala Kuta that was born from the churning of the sea and not normal poison brought from a shop. Very dangerous. Lord Siva drank that and is still alive.
tava janani tadanka-mahima
This is because of the greatness of Her ear pendants.
There is a place called Jambukeshwara near Srirangam and the presiding diety there is Akhilandeshwari. Her ear rings looks like Sri Chakra.
I told the priest about the Tatanka. After three days, I asked him if he informed this to any one. He said no. On 4th day I was little serious and told him that I myself would announce this. In the meanwhile he brought a lady who was ready to get these golden pendants done for Mother Goddess. I told her that it is not done just like that and there is a procedure for doing it.
She has to go there and watch those done there and who ever has done those pendants in Jambukeshwra only has to do it here also. She asked me where. I told her about Jambukeshwaram. She said that was her birth place. That must be the reason for the 3 days delay. So we shall get these done, perform homa for 9 days, invite Appaji and will decorate it to Mother Goddess. Who ever wants to contribute to this can do so and should be present during that time. People may say all this is waste. But so many will be benefitted and will get rid of their troubles. They will be blessed. I want all of you to be part of this.
Taking darshan of Mother Goddess decorated with these ear pendants will remove all your diseases. Taking darshan of Goddess in Shakambari decoration blesses us with abundant food and removes indigestion problems. Not everyone can take this darshan. So, whoever are present can pray on behalf of them. Prayers gives immense results says shastras.
Tomorrow, sahasra modaka homa is very important. Do not miss. This year, buy only clay idols. Do not buy idols made of plaster of paris.
Any worship that is done is to be as per the norms of the shastras. Else it would not yield any result. Do not buy plaster of paris Ganesh idols for puja tomorrow. It does not give any merit. Shastra does not accept worship of Ganesha made with plaster of paris. Puja has to be done to a clay idol only. After worship, the Ganesha murti has to be immersed in water and if such murti does not melt in water, there is no merit for that puja. Hence all of you worship only clay idols for tomorrow’s Ganesh festival. This will increase ground water levels. Earlier, ground water would touch at 30 feet itself. These days, you dont see water till 600 feet. The reason for this is the chemicals used. In some countries, you dont find mud. Then, you must use dough to make Ganesh idol and worship that. Do not use idols made of plaster of paris or fiber. Painted idols should not be worshipped. You may use vegetable paint however. These are natural paints and will melt. The idols have to be made with devotion and not using dyes. Where are we heading to out of our ignorance ?
Encourage all your friends and family to use only clay idols. Pass on this message to everyone and do this as a revolution. Distribute clay idols to those who cannot efford to buy. With this, you get the merit of distributing the murti of Ganesha and when they worship it, a portion of the merit also is yours.
Now let us all proceed for Swarna Gowri vratham.
Jaya Guru Datta !
Compiled by Bala Aati