Speech of HH Sri Datta Vijayananda Teertha Swamiji – Guru Purnima – July 19, 2016 – Mysore
Compiled by Bala Aati
Jaya Guru Datta
Sri Ganeshaya Namaha !
Sri Saraswathyai Namaha !
Sri Pada Vallabha Narasimha Saraswathi
Sri Guru Dattatreyaya Namaha !
Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Sadgurubhyo Namo Namaha !
Gurur Brahmaa Gurur Vishnuhu
Gurur Devo Maheshwaraha
Guru Saakshaata Parabrahma
Tasmai Shri Guruve Namah
Akhanda Mandalakaram Vyaptam Yena Characharam
Tatpadam Darshitam Yena Tasmai Sri Gurave Namaha !!
Agnana Timirandhasya Gnananjana Salakaya
Chakshur Unmilitam Yena Tasmai Sri Gurave Namaha !!
Dehe Jeevatvamaapannam Chaitanyam Nishkalam Param
Tvam Padam Darshitam Yena Tasmai Sri Gurave Namaha !!
Akhandam Paramartham Sat Aikyam Chatvam Tadho Shubham
Asinadarshitam Yena Tasmai Sri Gurave Namaha !!
Brahmanandam Parama Sukhadam Kevalam Jnanamurtim
Dvandvaateetam Gagana Sadrusam Tatvamasyadi Lakshyam
Ekam Nityam Vimala Machalam Sarvadheesaakshibuutam
Bhaavaateetam Triguna Rahitam Sadgurum Tam Namaami !!
Guru Purnima blessings to all ! Today is a day for disciples and devotees to remember Guru. Not just today, but every moment Sadguru has to be remembered. Only then Eshwara anugraha and Paramatma darshana is possible. Guru’s grace is infinite. It is indescribable. It cannot be measured by anyone. We are indebted to the compassion He showers. It’s called Guru Runa. It means great debt which cannot be repaid. Today is the day of remembering Guru’s lineage who disseminates spiritual knowledge.
We worship Lord Dattatreya, Vyasa and the entire Guru mandala. Guru’s grace will always be there on disciple and devotee. But who ever worships Guru today, remembers Him will have God’s grace. Such is the power of Guru Purnima, the first day of Chaturmasya Vrata. Today we all assembled here for Guru Puja, Vyasa Puja and Chaitanya archana. I pray Sadguru that you all have His grace forever.
Swamiji this morning while talking from Dallas said He is here in Mysore watching you all. We too worshipped with a feeling that He is right here. You all have travelled far to attend to this Guru Purnima festivities here. I’m so happy seeing you all. I’m moved with your devotion. Though Guru puja has to be done every day, not every day we can perform such elaborated puja. Though this is like Guru Day, we should not be calling so. Every moment is Guru’s moment. We are all living because of His grace. Sadguru gives rebirth. Such Guru should be remembered and Guru Purnima is an auspicious day for it. It is said that every man should have a goal. But I say, even if you do not have a goal, you must have a Guru. Else your life goes waste. We can live without goal. Some people say without goal you cannot live. But I say we can live without goal. But without Guru we cannot live and we should not live. Because, even if you do not have goal, if Guru is there, He will show the goal. Let’s say you have a goal. But without Guru, you will not know how to reach your goal. Let’s say you have goal and you have intense desire to reach that goal. Then what happens ? What will man do ? To reach that goal, he will even get into unrighteous ways to reach it. Breaking someone’s head and performing annadanam does not give merit. Is that Dharma ? Scriptures, Vedas and Gurus will not accept it. But in the world they say go to any extent of reaching your goal. That is wrong. It ruins the society. Pray that you reach your goal soon by following righteous path. That’s acceptable. In this process of reaching your goal, if you have a Guru, it makes a lot of difference. Isn’t it ? Even if you don’t have goal, Sadguru show it to you. We don’t have any goal. What to do ? We ask. Then Guru says this is your goal. Else we do not know what it should be.
Some say they are on the path of bhakthi. Some say they are on the path of Gnana. Some say they are on the path of Karma. Some others say they are on the path of Seva. If you are on the path of Dharma, you are all on the right path. Like the rivers flowing from all directions reaching the confluence, Sadguru puts people from all these paths on to one and shows the goal. So Guru is very important in reaching our goals. There is a process to reach our goal. Sadguru shows how to properly utilise our life. You should utilise this birth. Why are we born ? Bhagavatam says a wonderful word about this.
Tasyai Namosthu Kaashtayai
Yatraatma Harireshwara
Yad Gatva Nanivarthante
Yad Shantaha Sanyasinaha Amalaaha
Prostrations to the Supreme destiny, which is the form of Lord Hari, that destroys everyone’s sins. That is the master for all of us. He is the protector. Reaching a destiny from where we would not fall down again is the supreme destiny and Guru shows such goal. Who is reaching such goal ? Shantaha… Sanyasis who are ever peaceful at heart and all those who are pure at heart. Then how do we reach ? We are not Sanyasis. We are devotees – people say. Who should devotees have as an example ? For bhaktas Prahlada is an example. There is no one greater than him in devotion. Bhagavata completely describes his personality – the way he treated his parents, the way he treated the needy, the way he behaved with friends and relatives and the way he behaved with his Gurus.
Gurushu Eshwara Bhavanaha
In case of Gurus, Prahlada showed Eshwara bhavana. He treated them like Eshwara. Guru Gita says, who ever treats Guru like a normal human being will fall in hell. For sinful personalities, Guru appears as normal human being. For those with good merit, Guru appears as Eshwara. If we can see Eshwara in Guru, we can be treated as noble and should pray to Him to increase our merit levels. Due to Prahlada’s utmost devotion, the lord incarnated specially for him. When the lord asked him to wish for something, Prahlada just asked for His grace. Lord Narasimha bestowed Prahlada with kingship and said it is due to his Guru’s worship, He had to give that boon. So, today is a day to worship Guru whether you are in the path of bhakti, gnana or Karma. The lineage of Guru started with Narayana.
There is no beginning or end for Shuddha Chaitanya – Pure Consciousness. We ask Sadguru for many things. But today is the day we should ask for Knowledge and wisdom. Purnima or full moon indicates fullness. Ask for that fullness. When in trouble you ask to remove it. But during that time, you need to think what a trouble is. But it is not possible.
In Dallas we have seen the power of Guru’s words. Last time when Appaji went to Dallas, He said it would be nice if the kids there learn Bhagavad Gita. They may be NRI kids but are living in America. They cannot even pronounce properly. Such kids 41 of them learnt all 700 slokas of Bhagavad Gita by heart and sang in front of Swamiji. We all are living in India. How should we be ? So, everyday learn and chant atleast one sloka of bhagavad Gita or atleast do pranayama for 5 mins. Take a vow about this. If not every day, atleast during this 2 months of Chaturmasya try to do it. Chaturmasya is not just for Sanyasis. People in family life also can do it. These two months, turn towards spirituality.
Now the question arises – what should we do ? Wake up before sunrise. That is first and foremost. Wish Sun a good morning since He is your friend. Offer one namaskara to Him. Start with it. Take head bath and chant Guru mantra atleast for 108 times everyday. If you had the eligibility of Upanayana – thread ceremony, perform Sandhya Vandana. Recite Gayatri mantra. Without Gayatri mantra no vrata is fruitful. Then why is not everyone eligible for Gayatri mantra ? If those who are eligible to do, does it every day, that is enough to protect the world. Others can chant Guru Upadesha mantra. If you are not initiated into this also, no problem. Chant Guru Gita every day. Atleast chant 5 slokas. Read Aditya Hrudayam. Chant Datta Stavam. Reduce salt and spice during this period. Try to have food avoiding onion and garlic. If possible, take liquids in one meal. Do not fast completely. Have satvic food. If possible fast on Ekadasi. Do extensive mantra japa. Chant Hanuman Chalisa. Read any book like Swamiji life history, Datta Darsanam, Bhagavatam, Ramayanam and so on. Try to complete reading it in these two months. This equals to Chaturmasya vrata. Spend as much as possible in spirituality. You cannot be in mouna completely but try to avoid unnecessary talk. That equals to mouna. Speaking good words also is mouna. All this is equal to Chaturmasya. Let us all pray Sadguru that the merit of this chaturmasya keeps all the worlds at peace.
This year Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Prasasthi – the award being give on Pujya Swamiji’s name is being given to Sri Krovi Parthasarathi of Vijayawada who completely audio recorded Pujya Swamiji’s life history. He wrote many books and is a great Devi devotee. He did a great practice on Lalitha Sahasranama. He translated many Devi related books to Telugu. I’m very happy to bestow this award on him.
Chaturmasya is starting from today. Many social and spiritual activites are planned during this period. All of you participate in all those activities. May Sadguru bless all those serving in Annadanam, Medical camps, Homas and all other activities. Now let us move to the second part of the puja.
Jaya Guru Datta !
Sri Guru Datta !
Jai Bolo Sadgurunatha maharaj ki Jai !!!