Speech of HH Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji in the morning – Short Question & Answer session – July 26, 2018 – Aripo River, Trinidad
After giving Guru Mantra early on Thursday, Sri Swamiji visited the sacred River Aripo impromptu. He held a brief question session by devotees on Aripo.
Question:
Sri Swamiji, you came here more than 25 years ago. How did you interact with people?
Answer:
There were hardly any devotees, just a few, Dr. Chandool, and a couple more. After about 5 years, I visited for a couple of weeks. Still there were only a few devotees, no telephone, no internet, not t.v. Everything was different.
Question:
We have heard that thousands of years ago, when Aripo Muni Raja renounced the kingdom and came to Aripo to do penance, as Swamiji, He meditated on a rock. Could You indicate where is the rock?
Answer:
Which rock? It has since disappeared after some many jala pralayas, and so many changes in the land.
Question:
In the early days at Aripo, You had mentioned that Parashurama had a connection with Aripo, and that Lord Dattatreya who was roaming about these hills, was very thirsty. Then Parashurama came to his rescue. He threw down his axe and where it hit the earth, this River emerged. Is this correct?
Answer:
Yes. This incident of Lord Dattatreya and Parashurama was like the passport stamp for Swamiji to come here.
Question:
Is there a connection to Ganges River in India also?
Answer:
This is also true.
Question:
What size was the River long ago?
Answer:
It was much bigger, but later became a stream.