Speech of HH Sri Datta Vijayananda Teertha Swamiji – December 14, 2016 – Teppotsavam, Raft Festival – Datta Jayanthi, Mysore
Compiled by Bala Aati
Jaya Guru Datta ! Sri Guru Datta !
Avadhoota Chintana Sri Guru Deva Datta !
For the past three days Pujya Sri Swamiji blessed all of us with Datta Jayanthi celebrations. Yesterday, with great interest and fervour Sampoorna Bhagavad Gita parayana was done. Pleased by the practice of those kids, Swamiji sacrificed Teppotsava festival also yesterday. That is the kind of blessing Swamiji showered on those kids. Pujya Sri Swamiji on many occasions explained to us about the ‘Pancha Utsavas’ – the five types of festivals. Teppotsava or the raft festival is an important one amongst those. Swamiji made a sankalpa to conduct this teppotsava today. Since yesterday was Datta Jayanthi, Dattatreya archana is to be done at sarovara today. We just completed this archana today. Ashtavadhana seva also was performed as a part of this. On this occasion, I pray Datta Swami who is in the form of Sadguru to bless all.
As a practice, Teppotsava happens on Datta Jayanthi day, on the evening of Tailabhishekam day. During the concert of Sri Gowrinath, Swamiji enquired about the Bhagavadgita parayana schedule of kids and was told that it is organised on 15th Dec. Swamiji said by 15th all the devotees would return back homes. These kids have learnt and practiced it so well. Let all the devotees listen to their chanting. Atleast one percent of the listeners get inspired with this and learn Gita chanting and asked to re-schedule it to yesterday. We all were so surprised. Many people come to witness the teppotsavam. Many devotees wait to watch Dattatreya along with Pujya Sri Swamiji in the form of Dattatreya in the raft. Then Swamji permitted to conduct raft festival the next day of Datta Jayanthi. This shows Swamiji’s love towards those kids and the blessings He showers on those who perform sadhana. Hence, we have seen those kids chanting Bhagavad Gita yesterday.
The essence of Bhagavad Gita was told by Dattatreya even before Gita was told. So, we can also say that Bhagavad Gita was also originated from Dattatreya. You may ask how ? There is a great text called Avadhoota Gita. That is the crown of all Gitas. It cannot be understood easily. Language and subject both are tough. It is completely a spiritual text. The lord explains His own tatva. The same happened in Bhagavad Gita also. Who else can explain it ? Only a Guru can explain His own tatva. No one else can. Similarly Paramatma explained His own tatva as Avadhoota Gita. Since its subject is tough, and He wanted all His devotees to understand it, Dattatreya Himself incarnated as Lord Krishna and taught Bhagavad Gita. Today, both Krishna and Datta have come in the form of our Swamiji and gave us Bhagavad Gita again. There is procedure to chant one chapter a day of Bhagavad Gita starting from the next day of full moon day and the new moon day, thus completing 15 chapters. Then what happens to the rest of 3 chapters ? 16th, 17th & 18th chapters will be left out. Right ? Then what to do ? So, on the 1st day when the 1st chapter of Arjuna Vishada Yogam is chanted, chant 16th chapter. On day 2 when Sankhya Yoga is chanted, chant 17th chapter. On 3rd day chant the 18th chapter of Moksha Sanyasa Yoga also. There is such a chanting procedure. In this process, when you chant Bhagavad Gita on a Purnima or a full moon day, the merit for such a chanting is Guru anugraha – Guru’s blessings. This was told in Padma Purana. What is not possible with Guru’s grace ? A dumm can speak, the one who cannot even walk can climb mountains also with Guru’s grace. Such is the power of Guru’s grace and a full moon day is a day to bestow this. That too, this full moon day is also Dattatreya Jayanthi. On such a day, those kids chanted and along with Sri Swamiji we all listened to it. We all dwelled in the ocean of Gita.
Today, someone came from Bihar. He is with Sikha (a tuft of hair at the back of head). When asked about it, he said, it is our dharma. Who will protect it if not we. Dharma is protected by such people. He asked me if he can have the darshan of lord. I said Yes. How ? If one has Guru’s grace, they can have God’s darshan. Am I right ? He felt so happy with this. Being on the path of Guru is the greatest fortune. Without this, we wouldn’t be on this path. Our body is a boat. While coming here now, I remembered a great incident from Ramayana. When did the actual exile start ? After crossing the river Ganga. How did they cross ? They all went to Guha and asked him to arrange for a boat to cross the river. A boat was arranged. While getting into it Rama chants a mantra which says O Boat ! Do good to us. A wonderful narration was given to this incident. Our body itself is a boat. This body has come after a great amount of merit. This should not be wasted. The ocean of samsara is to be crossed using this boat called body very carefully. In our tradition, the seat that we sit, the kalasa that we use, the altar where the deity is being placed.. everything is worshipped. This means that we see the lord everywhere. Rudraadhyaya says, obeisance to the stones, sand, water, sky, stars… everything in the universe is mentioned there. Obeisance to the horse, to its owner, to the chariot etc etc. This means that see God in everything. This is what Sadguru teaches. Hence, treat this body also as God. Know its value. It doesn’t mean you should eat more to protect it and at the same time do not starve.
Yukthaahara viharasya…
Be tactful in everything you do. Teppotsava teaches this. Use your body to cross the ocean. That is why we celebrate Teppotsavam. We placed the lord in the raft. This doesn’t mean, the water here, the articles, the altar and all other things existing here are cheap. You must see the lord in all these too. All of us watching this too are also the form of the Lord. Pray Lord Dattatreya who is seated in this raft for good health. Because we said our body is a boat. Do you know that every boat will have a water outlet ? Our body also has nine outlets. It has to be healthy. So, use this body effectively.
Many people enrolled for teppotsavam thinking that it would happen yesterday without enquiring the change. Because they know it would happen. I liked their bhakti. Such people were supposed to leave this morning but stayed back to witness teppotsavam. That is how bhakti should be. You may get bus or train tickets for a later date but admission to Sadguru’s presence is difficult. You all coould get such a ticket. Many people might come to Swamiji but only a few will be counted. We all must try to be among that few. Then success will be yours. Those who enrolled for this come forward and take the prasadam. We shall then move to Datta Venkateshwara temple. His name itself has Datta in it. From there we shall go to Datta temple and perform Kakada aarti. With this, we conclude Datta Jayanthi festival this year. May Sadguru’s grace and Datta’s blessings be on all of you.
Jaya Guru Datta ! Sri Guru Datta !
Avadhoota Chintana Sri Guru Deva Datta !