Speech of HH Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji at Vijayawada – January 3, 1996
Compiled by Radhakrishna
Proofread and edited by Girishwar Brahma Saraboji Kaveripattinam
Shri Mahaa Ganapathaye Namaha!
Shri Saraswatyai Namaha!
Shri Paada Vallabha Narasimha Saraswati
Shri Guru Dattaathreyaaya Namaha!
Sri Swamiji sang “Gam Gam Ganapati…”
Sri Swamiji sang “Charana Kamala…” (Raga – Kaapi)
This bhajan says that if God’s grace is there a lame will walk, a dumb will speak. There was an incident in Rajamundry. A lady doctor had lost her voice. Upon someone’s advice, she chanted Datta Stava daily and gained her voice back. She even composed a poem on Swamiji on this miraculous incident and sang it in front of Swamiji. See… it is His Grace.
Did anybody take a calendar from the bookstall today? It was presented by a dear devotee, Sheree Lipton of Hawaii. See her. She came on a wheel chair for Shivaratri. She walked and swam when Swamiji was in Hawaii… It was His Grace. Her daughter is here. Levani… please stand! She dances well and is here for the second time. There is a volunteer in Mysore Ashrama. He is Bhonsle. His brother lost his voice and was unable even to utter a sound. He speaks and sings normally now. It all depends on your devotion and dedication. Soordas says the above theme in the above bhajan. Faith and Trust are two great medicines. But high expectations mislead you. If you expect too much even those matters which are achievable cannot be achieved. These attributes almost seem impossible to follow. But there is no way out.
Many calculate thusly, “I prayed this many times…What is the result?” What is this, a bank? You must always think “How much more am I able to serve? How much more can I love and be affectionate?” These should be the qualities. Like Hanuman.
Ravana did penance and asked for Shiva’s Atma Linga. See his greed! That is too much devotion. Demonic devotion. A tree will have its uses through leaves, twigs, branches, flowers, and fruits. But you should not uproot the tree to get its use. When Brahmins give ablutions in the rivers, they chant the Mantra that the river may get many more times the water that they have used for ablutions. An old woman was planting a coconut tree. She was asked by her neighbor why she was planting a tree at this ripe age as she would not see the tree when it becomes big (she would have died). She replied that her grandson would use it.
Gajasura was a terrible demon born in the family of Tarakasura. He was not a cinematic. He prayed to Shiva.
Sri Swamiji sang “Namah Parvati Pataye”
When Shiva appeared, he asked a boon that Shiva should be born in his (Gajasura’s) stomach. See his greed! Shiva is an ascetic. What does he possess? A tiger skin and some Vibhooti and a trident. Shiva is always considered as a Bola Shankara (ascetic Shiva). Once, Shiva was asked by his wife Parvati that a beautiful house be built that they may live in it. Shiva replied that such homes are not for them. But Parvati was adamant. She cited examples of Vishnu, Brahma, Indra having palaces and Shiva living in snow mountains. See Parvati was from Himalayas… i.e. from earth. So she has earthly desires. So Shiva summoned Viswakarma, the divine architect and commanded him to build the best palace that ever existed. So for the house-entering ceremony, Ravana (though a demon, he was a great scholar) was invited to be the priest. After the ceremonies, Parvati was pleased with Ravana’s efficient and pleasing rendition of Mantras and conduct of ceremonies, and asked him to pray for a boon. Ravana asked that the new house be gifted to him. The present Sri Lanka is a piece of that terrible Ravana’s Lanka. It has fallen from heaven, and is a piece of that Lanka. That is why it is strife-torn. Swamiji was invited several times to come there. But it has not happened. If Swamiji goes, the whole organization moves. So if Swamiji goes even to Vaikuntha, you all will follow me, there will be kitchen, canteen, chappal stand, and organizations…! Parvati was terrified with Ravana’s request. She had not even seen the house properly. She gave away that palace to Ravana and was very unhappy. Such an unhappy Parvati came to Kashmir and became the goddess known as “Ksheer Bhavani”. That temple is still protected and is revered in the whole of Kashmir. That temple has a pond inside its premises. If any terrible calamity happens, the color of the water in the pond changes.
Swamiji sings “Ksheer Bhavani Sindhu Vasini”
Then Shiva laughed and told Parvati that such material desires are not for him. After Gajasura’s request, Shiva shrank to a small size and rested on the demon’s lap. Gajasura was advised by Narada, the celestial singer. So it was Narada’s idea. The angels were worried that Shiva was with Gajasura. If Gajasura were to get egoistic, he would start tormenting all. Parvati was alarmed by Shiva’s absence. She summoned her followers and ordered them to search for Shiva. They searched all the 14 planets for Shiva, but unsuccessfully. Vishnu summoned a meeting of angels. Vishnu knew that Shiva was in the stomach of Gajasura. So he devised a plan to kill Gajasura and bring Shiva out. As per his plan all the angels and Gods, Vishnu and Brahma included, disguised themselves as Gangirathis.
Swamiji sings “Shiva Shankara”
All the angels were playing this in shifts. It was happening in a city called Sonikapura. The citizens of that city were thrilled and were engrossed in the play. What else? If angels are playing, how wonderful it would be! Gajasura heard about this. So he sent messengers that the troupe should come to his palace and play, so that he may see. All the angels came to the field in front of the palace and started playing and singing a Shiva bhajan.
Sri Swamiji sings “Sharnbho Shankara Bhakti Kinkara”
The dance continued and it reached a state of frenzy. Shiva Nama Sankeertan reached the skies. Shiva who was inside the stomach of Gajasura could not resist the Nama Sankeertanam and started growing in size…
Sri Swamiji sings “Namah Shivaya… Ekanatha Ishana…”
Shiva broke open the body of Gajasura and appeared in front of the Devatas.
So Shiva had in fact fulfilled the wishes of Gajasura as well as of the Devatas.
Gajasura was not disappointed. He asked that he should be in the presence of Shiva always. Shiva blesses him and makes him an elephant. Parvati had by then kept her favorite Being, which she had just then created. She kept him as watch outside the precincts of the pond where she was bathing.
That Being, unaware of Shiva’s stature, prevents him from approaching the pond and was thus killed by Shiva. Parvati was unhappy that her favorite Being was killed. So she prayed that Shiva would put back life into that Being. Then Shiva went in search of a head in the western direction and found an elephant (Gajasura). Vishnu brought that elephant head and replaced the head of the favorite Being of Parvati. He is Ganapati.
We have to be careful while asking for favors of boons. We should be worthy of our prayers, requests and boons. This is the story of Gajasura.
Some children have requested that a few bhajans be sung. Let us see (take care of) them…
Sri Swamiji sings “Jayam Jayam Sagara…Yuga Yugadi Sodara”
Sri Swamiji sings “Kaayena Vaacha…”
JAYA GURU DATTA