Discourse on Yoga Vasishtha
June 9, 2016
Om Santissantissantihi
Yesterday we heard the description of the earth as viewed by Mother Saraswati and Leela Devi. Today, we hear about their approaching the hut of Vasishtha, the brahmin, who died 8 days ago. The entire universe, the earth, and the hut – everything exists inside the heart. Arundhati, the wife of Vasishtha, who had also died recently, herself is now Leela Devi. She forgot that. Now she is returning to her past life experience. Vasishtha and Arundhati have recently passed away. Their household is a house of sorrow now.
Sloka
The worthy ladies, Saraswati and Leela Devi have crossed one galaxy and now have entered a different galaxy. Now they are on earth, in Girigrama, and have entered the hut invisibly. Only the two of them are able to see each other.
When we sing bhajans, do japa, or worship, the deity we worship is present there invisibly. Only when our devotion matures, we will be able to see the divine form. To earn the power to know and feel their presence, we must first practice visualization and imprint their form on our mental screen. Sadguru also is always present with us. We must practice feeling that actual presence. It is said that Hanuman is there wherever Rama is praised. It is true. We can see him, if our devotion is strong and genuine.
The ladies have now entered the hut. The hut is drowned in sorrow. All the relatives are grieving. It has been just eight days since the death of the couple. The family members, relatives, and servants are weeping. Their faces are like wilted lotuses. Valmiki is a great poet and he paints a vivid picture that hugs our hearts. The women’s faces are faded and lack luster.
Agastya had once swallowed the waters of the ocean. Now the hut appears like a dried up water bed. A home that had been festive once, now looks barren and desolate. Since the head of the household is dead, the home looks like an extinguished lamp.
The wick when it burns out, and the lamp is about to be extinguished, it turns black and gives a particular smell. We at once attend to it, add oil, remove the soot, and revive the lamp. There will be very dim light as the light is about to die out. The hut looked very dim and lifeless, like a dried forest. Leela Devi had long penance to her credit and so she had a sankalpa that was worthy and would bear fruit. Saraswati has no sankalpa. We make sankalpas/resolves and Sadguru gives his grace to fulfill our wishes. He himself rarely makes any resolves for us or for himself.
Satyakama or Satyasankalpa means pure wish. God’s description includes this attribute. Leela Devi now thought, may my relatives see me and Saraswati Devi as ordinary women. If they should see them in their real form, especially if Saraswati should appear as a deity, the people there may not trust their eyes. They may be in disbelief.
Sloka
The moment Leela Devi had this thought, the two of them became visible to the people inside the house. They appeared to them as radiant Lakshmi and Gowri. All three female deities were there, it appeared. It was the grace of Saraswati Devi. The two of them were decked in long, fragrant, beautiful floral garlands. Certain descriptions are appropriate while we have darshan of Guru or deity. Chandana Alankara, deity smeared with sandal paste, or right after the sandal paste is removed, is an auspicious sight to see. Lord Venkateswara’s Netra darshana is very auspicious, when his eyes are left uncovered. We must see Swamiji on his Birthday adorning the golden throne, fully decked in jewels, and wearing a crown. Such a sight fulfills the lives of the devotees. It fills them with joy and spiritual energy and bliss to last an entire year. To have this vision they throng here every year.
To see or visualize Mother Goddess wearing a long flower garland extending down to her feet gives a great benefit to the devotee. Such a form is described to us in the scriptures. The ladies appeared beautiful and effulgent. They appeared like spring time. The flowers in the garland were most fragrant. It was as if two full moons had risen at once. Their long black hair was beautiful. Their moving eyes were like black bumble bees. The ladies were like jasmine flowers. As the ladies moved, it was like golden waters of a river flowing. When Mother Goddess is given abhishekam with Turmeric water, it is like bathing the deity in gold, and that darshan grants prosperity to the devotees. The ladies were like waves in a celestial ocean. Their lotus-like feet finally touched the floor. This was unnoticed by the onlookers. Till then they were an inch above ground. Perfect souls are supposed not to touch the ground with their feet. Yudhishthira always floated above the earth, about an inch above, and only when he told a lie he touched the ground. That is how strong the influence of a bad thought or deed is, how it downgrades us at once. With their glances, all the dried up trees began to sprout new leaves, it seemed.
Namostu ..
sloka
As the ladies were being observed, Jyeshtha, the eldest son of the deceased couple, offered them flowers at their feet. The dewdrops on the flowers are beautiful at dawn, with the sun’s rays glittering upon them. These descriptions increase one’s devotion. The flowers placed upon the feet of the ladies appeared divinely beautiful like that.
Sloka
It is important to remember this. All of them offered them their reverential prostrations. The presence of the ladies dispelled the grief of the family and friends who were there.
Sadguru darshan and devata/deity darshan remove our sorrows. People are generally in a rush when they come to the ashrama. They want instant interviews. They are not patient enough to sit and just have a leisurely darshan of Sadguru. The impatience of devotees is not desirable. You have come only to remove our grief, they said to the ladies. By their very darshan, the grief of the children and the rest of the household was dispelled. Sadhus have the Dharma/duty of giving solace to grieving individuals. They give protection and comfort to good persons. For that purpose God incarnates, as mentioned in the Bhagavad Gita, Paritranaya sadhoonam.
Saranagata deenarta ..this line with the same meaning comes in Datta Stavam.
Hearing these words, the ladies asked the reason for their grief. Not that they did not know. They, who had knowledge of all the galaxies and all the worlds that existed, knew everything. They wanted to hear about it from them. When something happens, people inquire about the details. It gives comfort to the grieving persons to describe their sorrow by giving details of the incident. One should not think, why trouble them by asking? Repetitive mention gives relief to persons in grief. Asking for details is an expression of concern. The children in that family are suffering from bereavement of parents. To them it appeared as if entire nature was drowned in sorrow. Leela Devi recognized her eldest son Jyeshtha. The boy did not recognize the mother because now her form was different. Leela Devi saw all her other children also lovingly. They felt comforted to see her, although they did not recognize her. We feel a certain affinity towards some people for no known reason. It is perhaps some past life relationship. It is inexplicable. Leela Devi knew her children and relatives. She touched them gently. The people at once felt very relieved and blissful. Mother’s touch is so powerful and comforting.
In truth, there is no such thing as grief. Only happiness exists. We have to realize this.
We will continue tomorrow. Today, this was a very short session.
Jaya Guru Datta
Sri Guru Datta
Om Santissantissantihi