Speech of HH Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji – October 19, 2011 – Mysore
Jaya Guru Datta
“Hanuman Yajna, two types of Yajna, Nama Yajna (chanting the mantras), and Akasha Yajna (vibrations in Space via internet viewing) are taking place.
Before the battle, Vibheeshana (Ravana’s brother) approached Rama from the sky. Those who were surrounding Rama, especially Lakshmana, thought that this was a magic trick employed by Ravana, and advised that he should not be allowed to approach. Rama asked Jambavan, an elder, for advice. Jambavan has the skill to listen to far away sounds. He said that the previous night he had heard the voice of Vibheeshana, but was not sure what the speech contained. He said that it is not good to listen to the utterances of rakshasas (demons). Hence, he advised against entertaining Vibheeshana’s approach. Rama looked at Angada (Sugreeva’s successor) to get his opinion.
Why was Rama seeking the opinion of others? This is the way Rama increased the devotion in the hearts of his devotees. This was not for boosting their ego. Bhakti (devotion) is like a child. Those who are filled with devotion are treated like children, with loving affection. Swamiji also is seen asking Ganesh or Prasadi for an opinion. Others may wonder why he is asking as if he doesn’t know. It is not that he does not have all the answers; he really does not need to ask. Rama is an incarnation of Vishnu. He does not need to ask. He does not need to pray to others. Yet, Rama prayed to the Sea God to give way. At first the Sea God refused. It was not disobedience. He was following the original instructions given to him by Paramatma that he should abide by the laws of Nature. Rama got angry and picked up his bow and arrow, the Rama Bana (the arrow that never misses its target). The Sea God got frightened and appeared. He bowed before Rama, and asked, “You are the Supreme Lord in human form. What is my fate if you employ the Rama Bana against me?” Rama prayed to the Sun to win the battle. Was there a need for it, when the Sun, Moon, and everything in creation follow His orders? He gave the Guru the highest position as being even greater than God. He prayed to the Sun God to let mankind know that one can attain everything by praying to the Sun because he is witness to all. Rama also remembered the family deity and offered prayers.
Here Rama had asked all these important people, and then he turned to this small, insignificant monkey, Neela, and asked for his opinion. Neela was born as a monkey as a result of a curse by the sages because he used to throw all creatures into the ocean to drown. They cursed that hereafter anything that he throws into the water should only float. He became very useful in constructing the bridge to cross the ocean. Rama told Neela to touch each and every rock so that it would float to form the bridge. He asked him so affectionately, not building up his ego either. Rama is so intelligent, so compassionate, and so efficient in the management of people. He had all these tricks that he knew how and when to employ. He cannot explain them to others or share the reasons for his actions with anyone.
Even with the Guru, don’t ask why he asks for advice or suggestions. Just understand that he knows. If you pass negative comments about him or his actions, or criticize the way he handles things, you will lose your place in his heart. Neela very humbly said, “I don’t know.” He pointed at Hanuman and said, “Hanuman is my mentor. He knows a lot. Please ask him.” Rama had not asked Hanuman yet. Had he forgotten him? Was he thoughtless in not asking him? This is Sri Ganapati Sachchidananda’s version of Ramayana.
We forget God and all important things that might be very near us. We forget Sri Datta Venkateshwara and travel all the way to Tirupati to get the head shaven. We forget that the Panduranga, who is there, is also right here. Even senior devotees in the ashram make that mistake. They listen to other people’s talk and become fickle-minded. They want to travel to Kasi. They have the money and so they want to go here and there. These are the same people who once declared to Swamiji, “All the Gods are in you. I have seen all other Gods in all other pilgrimage centers. But my God is here.” You join the ashram. Then from hearsay, your mind becomes unstable. Once you make up your mind that your Guru is your final destination, then, you should not let your mind wander. You begin by saying that you want to go visit relatives. Swamiji tolerates that. Then you want to go attend to affairs about your property, buy and sell and perhaps incur losses. Swamiji agrees indulgently and lets you go. But if you decide on leaving the Guru to go visit pilgrim centers and other places for a change, then, the Guru will throw away your horoscopes.
Eighteen years after making the promise, Swamiji went to visit an old devotee couple in Kumbhakonam. He first went to Tiruvarur, the place of Sri Thyagaraja swami, where he sang, “Nanuganna thalli naa bhaagyama”, Swamiji did the abhishekam and puja for the Mother Goddess at the temple, and then went to visit this old couple. We searched for their house. Everyone was surprised why Swamiji was taking so much trouble. What an experience it was for everyone.
You people never exchange with each other such stories that tell the Guru’s glories. Such a recollection and exchange of narrations of divine experiences will purify you. Instead, you comment and criticize and talk about Swamiji having a head ache, or Swamiji coming late for puja, as if this is a factory.
This old couple was so happy. They performed Pada Puja. The lady looked just like the Mother Goddess Gowri. She had a big dot on her forehead, flowers in her hair, and looked very auspicious. Normally any good loving old couple would ask as a boon that they both should die at the same time, and die without pain. But this old lady prayed to Swamiji that her husband should go first, before her. Many women ask that they should die as a Sumangali, as a married woman. Some quarrel with their husbands and say, “I will die before you, and then you can happily re-marry”. I can still clearly visualize every detail of how this wonderful lady looked. She said that her husband will not be looked after properly by the children, although they had property. He would be miserable without her being there to take care of him. That is why she would like for him to go first. She herself would somehow manage and get by in the last phase of her life, even if she had to fight to get food. What love and devotion she had for her husband! I bow to such devotion. They are both in divine loka (heaven) now. That type of devotion should fill your hearts.
When Rama bowed to him, the Sun also did not gloat with ego. He bowed to Rama. You people want to leave your duties here and want to go on trips with Swamiji. Now that I see that tendency in you, I myself have started suggesting that you go sightseeing. Such Guru seva is useless. You will not go to heaven. Because you have rendered some seva, or given some money, you will not go to Hell also. You will hang in between in Trishanku Swarga (an artificial heaven created by Sage Viswamitra, which is a miserable no-man’s land, neither here nor there). That is guaranteed. You have begun in earnest in Guru seva. But you have left it off and fallen out of favor. Realize your mistake at least now.
Neela pointed to Hanuman. He did not show ego that he was asked by Rama for an opinion. Hanuman has no ego. He was not eager to give advice. He was a great orator; a great grammarian. Gems roll out of his mouth when he speaks. Hanuman humbly reminded Rama of his vow. It was well known that Rama had made a vow that if anyone ever approached him in complete surrender and sought refuge, he would never let down such a person. He would offer him total protection. Hanuman’s words taught everyone present a harsh lesson. Rama gave him that opportunity to do so.
Three years ago there was so much talk in this ashram. Everyone criticized and pointed fingers at others. Not one person offered any reassurance to Prasad or gave his full support. These people were on a path, and they lost their way. They are human. They suffered. Anyone else in their position would have committed suicide. They simply placed their trust in the Guru. On a mossy slippery path, a mother picks up her child, and carefully balances her way to get her child and herself out of harm’s way. She does not abandon the child. Once you find yourself in a dangerous situation, you have to carefully find your way out. There is no other option.
When a child carrying puffed rice slips and falls, spilling the puffed rice all around, a dog that is nearby will quickly go lick up the puffed rice. It will not help the child up. That is how dogs behave. Such a behavior is a dog’s behavior. That is a dog’s mind. Hanuman reminded everyone that if anyone truly apologizes and seeks refuge, Rama had promised that he would definitely forgive. Those were Rama’s words; not Swamiji’s. If you attribute them to Swamiji, you are lucky.
Rama had Hanuman say those words here in this situation. All the other great scholars who were present professed that only rakshasas fly and hence they should not be trusted. They all cautioned and warned Rama. Rama gave importance to everyone, to the Sun, the Sea, and to insignificant monkeys.
When Swamiji asks you a question, you must answer according to the situation; you should not tell Swamiji that he knows everything. But if you become egotistical that you were asked for an opinion, then Swamiji the big drama man will break your teeth.
Rama knew all along that it was Vibheeshana. Rama was Lord Vishnu Himself. Hanuman, when he returned from Lanka had described in detail everything that had occurred there, to Rama and all the others, including the details of his encounter with Vibheeshana, the devotee of Vishnu. But it is natural for people to forget good things, Satvic things. People only remember the details of horror. So the rest of them forgot about Vibheeshana and his pious nature. They remembered only the evil Kumbhakarna. That is how people behave, people who eat like pigs and have bad minds. When Hanuman’s words pointed out their mistaken judgment, all the monkeys prostrated to Rama. Rama asked Vibheeshana to come down.
Swamiji knows everything. You must do as he says, without making comments.
Both the Rama mantra and the Hanuman mantra are now in the sky. Swamiji wanted 13 lakh views of the Shatashloki Ramayana, the Rama mantra. The view count has exceeded 14 lakhs. It was Swamiji’s resolve to give the 13 syllable Rama Mantra, which is the most famous, popular, and powerful Mantra, Sri Ra Ma Ja Ya Ra Ma Ja Ya Ja Ya Ra Ma. This is called the Tera Nam-13 syllable Rama Mantra. Only Rama is God. Other people’s names are not included in this. Swamiji’s sankalpa has been fulfilled. Sri Rama is the protector of the future.
For the Hanuman Mantra also, Swamiji’s resolve has been fulfilled. He wanted one crore, or ten million. In each two minute video, Swamiji has placed 24 repetitions of the prayer. In nine days, the one crore or the ten million prayer repetition count has been completed. That is as per Swamiji’s calculation. Hanuman mantra requirement has also been fulfilled. So Swamiji himself, or Rama or Hanuman has made the videos disappear from YouTube. You can still watch them on vimeo.com or puttugam.com. You can sign in as a member and watch the videos at least 2-10 times a day and give your view count to shatashlokiramayana@gmail.com. Do not stop the viewing abruptly.
Now that the Akasha (space via internet) yajna is done, Swamiji wants everyone to begin the Likhita Yajna, the writing in notebooks ritual. Swamiji needs at least nine crore (90,000,000) times ‘Om Namo Hanumate Namaha’; may be it will go up to 100 crores. Listen to Swamiji. If you do not have trust and you begin to consult other people for yantras and such, it is your karma. Jaya Guru Datta”
Sri Guru Datta
Courtesy: Smt. Hira Duvvuri