Speech of HH Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji at HIS 69th Birthday – June 12, 2011 – Haridwar
This special song offering was made by Sri Datta Vijayananda Teertha Swamiji to His Holiness Parama Pujya Sri Sri Sri Ganapati Sachchidananda Swamiji on his 69th birthday on June 12, 2011 at Haridwar ashram. It was set to tune and led by Mani.
Refrain: Sadguro Ganapati Sachchidananda Datta chittananda saananda makaranda
- Puttinti bandhuvulu mettinti bandhuvulu endarendaro galaru maakandaraku indu
Okkadave neevauduvaatma bandhuvu maaku janmaanikaavali todayye bandhuvu
- Jayamicchu lakshanamu needanchu teluputaku Jayalakshmi garbhaadri udayistivaa soorya!
Veda dharmaalilanu poshinchi penchutaku avatarinchina datta gururoopa aachaarya!
- Neerasinchina janula baadhalellaa deerchi aatmarasamunu panchi sukhapettedavu neevu
Raaginee raga sadvidyato veligeti anuraagi bhoogola sanchaariveevu
- Bhakta Hridayamu chera nee navvu maadhyamamu duhkhaala cheripeti karma neekaadyamu
Jaya jaya dhwaanaalu chesemu mee koraku vandellu velagaali mee velugu maa koraku
English summary:
Refrain: O Sadguru Ganapati Sachchidananda, Datta Sadguru, sweet as honey and full of joy!
- We all have so many relatives here from our parents’ side and the in-laws’ side. Yet, you are our only soul-mate and closest relative who is with us even beyond these lifetimes.
- O Sun God! Did you choose to rise on the eastern hill called Jayalakshmi’s womb to proclaim to us your quality of always giving (Jaya) victory? You are born as the Datta Sadguru, the preceptor, to preserve and nourish the Vedas and to establish firmly the code of righteousness.
- You destroy the difficulties of the weakling humans. You feed them soul juice to give them comfort. You shine with the glory of the celestial science of Raga Ragini. Out of Love you travel the entire Earth constantly.
- Your smile is the medium that wins the hearts of devotees. You first use Karma (prescribed austerities) to dispel the sorrows of your followers. We repeatedly shout chants of “Victory!” to you. Your light should shine for us for a hundred years.
Sri Maha Ganapataye namah
Sri Saraswatyai namah
Sripada Vallabha
Narasimha Saraswati
Sri Guru Dattatreyaya namah
Today’s Kriti Mala (a garland of verses) presentation is very good. Good singer. Nice composer. Sri Bala Swamiji has composed this. The tune and the presentation are very nice. Each line is like an Upanishad. It gives the essence of the entire life history of Swamiji with excellent feeling. Wonderful. I am very happy.
Almost every year on the day of Hasta star as per the lunar calendar, Swamiji’s birthday, it rains. (There was a heavy downpour that morning). It is because Swamiji took birth at Brahma Kundam near the Sangama, a great pilgrimage center. Sri Jayalakshmi Mata had offered prayers. Swamiji took birth. It is still a secret how that birth took place. It is all code words. I cannot explain. No one witnessed the birth. Even the mother was not conscious of the world. There was this small child with water splashing. Afterwards the tribal people came. They made a contraption like a fish net made with sticks as if to catch a big fish. There was a thunder storm. Rain. Big confusion. It was a big forest. Nowadays there is a road. Olden days, there was no road. The tribals carried both the mother and the child. Later her mother Savitramma came to realize what happened. Mekedatu, many of you know. There is a temple there. We recently performed Kumbhabhishekam. After the baby was placed on the ground, (Bhoo sparsha), people were afraid. Ganapati came. So many elephants in the forest. Daily they were visiting that time, the elephants. So many monkeys came. Now also, so many monkeys here in Haridwar. (As Sri Swamiji was speaking, a huge group of monkeys in all sizes thumped on the roof and moved along slipping and sliding along the walls of the Guru Nilayam). Every year monkeys come on this day, birthday. Yesterday a big monkey entered my bathroom. I was surprised. I threw a towel at him. He wrapped and looked in the mirror. Not monkey. Anjaneya. He was not afraid of the towel, but of my Viswaroopa. It is not a joke. It is a real story. My grandmother told me that daily monkeys would come to see the baby. The people at home got fed up and shifted to another hut. There also monkeys came. They were always my friends. Always they surround me.
Happy Birthday!
We are sitting in Ganga Sannidhi. We are very happy. We are very lucky. How much lucky? Countless. The journey was difficult. It is holidays time. No tickets. Real relatives, real Datta family members have joined in the celebration here. Even if I celebrate in a forest, some real family members will come, I know.
I told Bala Swamiji only 50 or so devotees will come. But I wanted this pandal (tent) to be constructed. First Vamshi said, “It will cost 1-2 lakhs of rupees. It is a waste.” Now see! (The tent was filled to capacity with several hundred devotees). I said even if it is in a forest, or at Brahma Kundam, or even in an Agni Kundam (fire pit), when I celebrate, they will come with total faith.
In Pittsburgh they booked a hotel for 17,000 people. But this is a better celebration. But American devotees are happy to celebrate Guru Purnima instead.
In the tune of Happy Birthday to You, this Sanskrit composition was sung by all
Shubha janma dinam te (It is your auspicious birthday!)
Santosham aho me (It is joyful for me, hurray!)
Anandam aho me Appaji/Swamiji (It is happiness for me, hurray!)
Shubha janma dinam te (It is your auspicious birthday!)
(In ‘te’ and ‘me’ the ‘e’ is pronounced as ‘ay’ as in May)
Composed by Sri Bala Swamiji
Sri Guru Datta
Speech given at Ganga Ghat at Haridwar ashram in the evening
Jaya Guru Datta.
After performing the evening worship with haratis to Mother Ganga, with lamps sent floating gently by His Holiness Sri Swamiji, Sri Bala Swamiji, and the devotees, the following anugraha bhashana (a benedictory speech) was given.
Sri Maha Ganapataye namah
Sri Saraswatyai namah
Sripada Vallabha
Narasimha Saraswati
Sri Guru Dattatreyaya namah
Bolo Ganga Mayi ki Jai.
Om Namassivaya.
Om Namo Narayanaya
Om Namo Hanumate Namah
Jaya Guru Datta
This is a very auspicious moment when Ekadashi is giving place to Dwadashi. This is an unforgettable celebration. This day will never come back. May be another birthday celebration, at another river, Kaveri or (Godavari) atNasik. But not this birthday, not like this at Ganga Sannidhi, here. Both solar and lunar calendars show the same birthdate next year for the 70th birthday. Both the Hasta star and the Ekadashi tithi (lunar phase) coincide.
Everything we have, is acquired by us; property, children, diseases, earnings. It is not accidental. All our papa (sin) and punya (merit) are earned. They have all been earned over many lifetimes. This lifetime, this birth, all the difficulties that we face, all these, every single thing has been earned by us. Everything is pre-arranged. That is why things are happening the way they are. Bhoga (comforts), Roga (diseases), pains, children, the children’s good behavior and bad behavior, all are results of our own actions over the past many lifetimes. To clear the debts incurred by us in the past, these present lifetimes occur. Don’t say, “I don’t know.” Don’t ask, “Why this confusion?”
We must suffer for the bank accounts that we have created. This is the last birth for us to balance this account.
Today we are celebrating Swamiji’s Birthday. I have no birthday. I have no death day. With Swamiji in this body, we have gathered here yesterday and today near Ganga Mayi (Mother), with Swamiji sitting in Ganga (Ganga’s lap) for this celebration.
For so long we have earned, over so many lifetimes, joy and sorrow. Yesterday one devotee broke her arm and cried. “Is this your arm?” Swamiji asked. She realized the truth. Now the pain is still there, but no sorrow. Swamiji told her that he gave her the arm back. She is happy now.
All this we have brought upon ourselves. Out of respect for this body we have to experience the pain. So that it will co-operate with us. We want others to co-operate with us. So sometimes we have to show appropriate emotions. It is the manassu (mind) that feels the pain. Intellect is different. The mind talks. What is Buddhi (intellect)? The intellect follows Karma as per Vedanta. For example when one is born, we do not say, a body is born. Because of birth, a body comes into existence. So we give it respect. When the body leaves, it means that it can no longer maintain itself. The body is a vehicle. It is like a car. After some time, this car goes and is replaced by another car. The body is the vehicle for the Atma (soul). As per its wish Kama (desire), Krodha (anger), up and down, and a lot of confusion are experienced.
I am Suddha Chaitanya (Pure Consciousness). That is Atman. These are big words. It is nothing. At the beginning what happened? My body, my happiness, my house. Everything slowly deteriorates. Slowly repairs come. After some age, knee pains, joint pains, you groan with discomfort. You are ready for repairs. Something happened to the vehicle. Atman is thinking, “Market is good. New models are available. I need a new vehicle.” Swamiji gives blessing to couples. Surprise! New vehicles are produced. Close your eyes and understand this simple Vedanta. In you, your Atman is the Guru. You will understand this Maya (illusion).What is this circle? Think for yourselves. What is this Janma (this birth)? Where does the soul go? It is simply purchasing new vehicles to replace the old ones.
Guru Kripa (Guru’s grace) gives good Jnana (spiritual knowledge). This is Siva Satya. Truth Supreme. Guaranteed. There is no need to attend any classes. We need a Guru to help us to recollect. He is needed to help us to remember and revise the knowledge that is within us. Every living being has Jnana. We all have come from Brahma. No one is an ajnaani (an ignorant one). He may have difficulty in learning, but he is not ignorant. The wick and the oil are ready. All that is needed is for the Guru to light the lamp, to show the way. The one who forgets the Guru Mantra will suffer for seven lifetimes. If you leave your Guru and chase after other gurus, it is like giving up a healthy nourishing meal and stuffing yourself with junk food. It will make you sick. Eat the fresh, hot, nutritious food that you have at home.
Swamiji has to take his bhiksha (meal) on time. Otherwise his health gets spoiled. People are not strict about food schedule. If you eat at odd times some junk, you lose your appetite, you lose your taste, and you lose health. Govinda!
Like a cow, you must regurgitate. Recollect. Remember all that the Guru has told you. You would have gobbled up in haste. You heard in haste. You were filled with anxiety then. Now slowly recollect. Whoever has listened to (the TV series) Datta Maata with concentration has that knowledge recorded inside. I guarantee it. Turn on that machine now and extract those files from that inner bag, like the cow.
There are different sacs in the brain to store information, just like the cow has different sacs in the stomach for storing food. From the urgent sac bring it out to the slow digestion sac and apply concentration. Swamiji has given remedies. You will recognize now, O Swamiji gave this remedy to this problem, this medicine for this pain, the answer to this puzzle. You must listen with focus. Then it definitely gets recorded. Once you contemplate, it will all come back. Replay. Swamiji gave this talk for 30 minutes. Remember it. It is stored in your memory. Not only from this janma. From all janmas you can remember.
Mother Ganga (the holy river) washes away all sin (Paapam). Chandra (the moon) cools down the burning sorrow (Taapam). Mother Ganga is here. The moon is looking at us from up above. Papa pariharam is done by Ganga. Tapa pariharam is done by Chandra. The Guru, who is Lord Shiva Himself, destroys both Paapa and Taapa. Today may all your sorrows be burnt away! Swamiji has burnt them all away! With Sat Sankalpa (determined to be good and truthful) lead the rest of your lives. I give my special blessing on this Birthday with Ganga and the Moon as ‘I’ or “EYE” of Shiva as witness, the Sahasra Linga Shiva whose abhishekam was performed.
I will never forget this ashrama. I always remember. You all must remember also. Each month send for maintenance. This is a special ashram with real Ganga Mayi. It should become self-supportive. Please direct your funds to the volunteer organization. They will direct them here. Specify that you are supporting this Haridwar ashram. If you send to Mysore, it is an ocean. You do not know where it goes. We do not know to save. Swamiji is Bhola Shankar. Someone said Swamiji is very rich. Everything is ours, whatever is in each bank. Paramatman owns everything, does He not? We let the funds remain in the different banks because we do not need them right now. So we have left them there. We get what we need. My devotees are my bank. They come from far and near, traveling by car, bus, auto, train, or airplane. Some are thieving banks, my devotees, robbing from husband to give to guru. Be happy. Never be sad. If someone says something about Swamiji, don’t get upset. Ten to twelve years ago devotees used to cry for things like that. Now, they simply ignore such comments. They are happy for the publicity, even if it is negative, at least they are talking about Swamiji. We have show. We have decorations. So they get fooled into thinking that we are rich.
Truth is that I have to support all my devotees. So many are there. Many foreigners come. I have to support them and even pay their airfares sometimes. Many come. But all are poor devotees. But happy devotees. In America, all software engineers. They give to Swamiji from their meager income. If some people have wrong notions, give them a deaf ear. Ignore those who criticize Swamiji. Spit on their face instead of listening to them and crying. You are fickle minded. You are not firm. You slide down. You must never doubt or suspect Swamiji. That is not nice. Become good. We are happy.
Everyone has problems. To steady the mind, Swamiji gives mantras and seva opportunities. I never go to astrologers. Once I listened to one of them and incurred a loss. He fixed a muhurtam (an auspicious time) for me, and when I followed his advice, the flight, the program, everything got cancelled. Everyone cursed the fellow who set the muhurtham. The devotees of Machilipatnam, Proddatur, and Kadapa have had bad experiences with astrologers setting muhurthams. Now they know. When we followed the advice of Vastu (science of structures) people, we failed. Now I do not listen to anyone. I follow my own sankalpa balam (the strength of my own resolve) and am very successful. To doubt is bad. Everything goes to waste if you become too dependent on the almanac. The actor Brahmanandam (Telugu movies) is good at enacting the role of astrologers.
This is not serious. I am using colloquial language just for laughs. Appaji is explaining why programs get cancelled. I have the title now Cancellation Guru or Muhurtam Guru. I have given myself these titles. Don’t blame Swamiji. In a good muhurtam set by me, not an astrologer, Swamiji came here with an excellent sankalpa. So many of you have come with pure devotion, innocent devotion. Forgetting all your difficulties you have come to listen to Swamiji’s words and songs. In spite of problems many have come. Mussoorie people set a muhurtam. The program got cancelled. The organizers cried. Only my muhurtam is good.
Now prokshanam (sprinkling of holy water on the head) for you, and snanam (bath) for me.
The honor and responsibility of conducting the 70th Birthday Celebration in Mysore has been given to SDHS volunteer organization. A-Z everything they have to handle, all religious rituals, the titles (felicitations), the decorations, the annadanam, the charities, everything. It is their duty to ensure my joy and satisfaction. I gave them only six months to plan the Birthday Celebration in Hyderabad earlier. That event is unforgettable. Now I give them one year’s time. I want a Garuda Mantapa to be built. I want simultaneous programs of Burra Katha (folk rendition of stories), Hari Katha (traditional mythological story telling), Kathakali dance, Kolattam dance, Kannada, Telugu, Hindi programs – like a seven course meal. When you return home after the festivities, you should not feel the need to eat for seven days.
Go home happily. Tomorrow Swamiji leaves. Make a list of donors who are willing to maintain the Haridwar ashram.
Sri Guru Datta