Speech of HH Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji on Krishna Ashtami – August 25, 2016 – Mysore
Compiled by Bala Aati
Hari Om Tatsat !
Krishnam Vande Jagadgurum !
Vasudeva sutam Devam, Kamsa Chanoora Mardhanam
Devaki paramaanandam, Krishnam Vande Jagadgurum !
Krishna’s birth indicates Light dispelling Darkness. Yadu’s dynastry was in darkness all over. Kamsa was responsible for that darkness. The king was ignorant – a form of darkness. People were living under him. No one was aware when a child would be killed in their house. Becase Aakasahavani – a voice from the sky told Kamsa that a child will be born somewhere to kill him. Why did the voice say ‘will be born somewhere’ ? It is the karma of Yadu vamsha. Due to this, Kamsa was killing children born in some remote village too. It would have been nice if a specific information was given. Kamsa would have died of fear. The story should go on. Right ? All troubles disappeared with the birth of Sri Krishna. Darkness disappeared and light beamed through. Krishna also means darkness or black. Krishna also means trouble. We say there are eight troubles – ashta kashta. Krishna removes these eight troubles from us which He had kept with Him in the form of His eight wives. On this Janmashtami day, worshipping Krishna is very important not just for devotees but also for all those who seek knowledge. Krishna is Jagadguru. The Bhagawad Gita given by Him stands tall till today even after many eons. He was never a king but He ruled the world with his political expertise. He ruled Dwaraka for sometime but not as a king. Such Krishna, right from His birth showed spiritualism in His every action.
Everything He did was related to knowledge. Take the example of Navaneeta – butter. What is Navaneeta ? How does it form ? It forms when curd is churned. When sorrows are churned, the final output is happiness. Another aspect is – Navaneeta is sin. When curd is churned thoroughly, butter is formed. Butter is indicated as sin. When butter is filtered, the remaining is butter milk. Butter milk is tasty. It does not contain fat. Fat indicates ego. Curd containing fat is harmful for body. Butter milk after removing fat from the curd is good. Both comes from the same product. One is harmful for the body and other is good for the body. Look at His beautiful creation. Many people eat curd. They fall sick due to this. Smart people ask for diluted butter milk. That is very tasty and good for body. You can add water and have as much as you can and you don’t feel hungry too.
So far, everything I spoke is all about curd, butter and buttermilk. All these are related to knowledge. Curd indicates ego, ignorance and darkness. All these are sins. Once these are removed, the remaining is nectar. Usually nobody asks for curd. They only ask for butter milk. Now a days even beggars ask for ten rupees. They want to watch a movie on the first show itself. They don’t ask for food. If you give ten rupees, they throw it back on your face and demand hundred rupees. Earlier, they just asked for butter milk and not curd since that is healthy. If you demand curd, it means you are demanding their sin, ego, fat and ignorance. If you ask butter milk, you are asking health. This is the difference.
Similarly, Bhagavad Gita is entirely like butter milk. It is not curd. It is nectar. This is the reason Krishna stole only butter. He stole all our sins. It is not possible for anyone else to steal our sins. It is equal to hell. Only He can do it. Only Krishna has the capacity to eat butter. He never gave butter to others to eat. He just smeared it on to their faces. He only gave the left out butter milk for them to drink. Compassionate He is. He smeared butter on the ladies in the house, thus creating a fight between mother in law and daughter in law. They fought for butter. This means that we fight for ignorance and sin. We fight for sinful property of others. No one fought for butter milk. You can add up water to a glass of butter milk and make it two glasses. This is the inner meaning of navaneeta. The book Narayaneeyam describes this navaneeta episode very extensively. Jaya Lakshmi Mata also composed 10- 12 songs about this concept. But the last stanzas called Makutam were not ended with ‘Jaya’. They were ended with Sachchidananda. May be mother knows that I will have that name. I will reveal these songs slowly.
To alleviate sins and darkness, Krishna’s phenomenon helps. A dark person can’t be seen in darkness. You can only make out when they smile. The same person can be seen in brightness. Dark complexion is not bad. Persons of dark shade have their plus points such as white teeth and beautiful eyes to the onlookers. Africans have beautiful eyes. Not to talk about their nose structure. Dont know how they breathe. People with fair complexion will not have that attraction in their eyes. They appear like cockroach. Krishna was said to be of dark complexion. But, He was described as very handsome. However, he appeared as ferocious to people of sinful nature. Even though, he was a great sight to people with meritorious service. Thus, Krishna’s complexion is also a phenomenon itself. He dispels darkness which symbolises foolishness and delusion. People born with fair skin look at those with dark skin differently. You should have born dark like me.
Today children recited Bhagawad Gita very nicely. Am so happy. Two chapters were sung. I would like to mention few things to parents here. Teach kids samskara and lead them from front. What ever they learn from Swamiji, remind them couple of times at home. In America, kids do not have time. They memorized Bhagadwad Gita while bathing. They completely avoided TV and telephone. They didnt touch phones for 8 months. It was so nice to know that. They didn’t waste time. They learnt slokas from book mostly and used phone only for learning slokas. Those who are preparing to learn these slokas for Kurukshetra trip may learn and don’t get discouraged. Else I will take all of you again during May. But don’t get stressed to learn and parents don’t force them at home too. Because, you need to study and do your home work also. You have time till May. You will have vacation that time. As you proceed to later chapters, don’t leave the initial chapters. Repeat them atleast once. Else you will forget them. There are some slokas that appear to be repeated and confusing. Chant them multiple times and remember them. Those who can learn by December can do and others can do it by May. But you must recite without seeing the book. You have exams during that time. So be careful and concentrate on your academics also. But I will definitely take you. Promise !