Speeches of HH Sri Datta Vijayananda Teertha Swamiji on the occasion of Sri Narahari Teertha Swami’s Aradhana – August 12, 2024 – Mysore
Speech in the morning
Today is the auspicious day of Shravana Somavara and the Aradhana of Narahari Teertha Swami. He is the Parameshti Guru for us.
Pujya Appaji has performed the consecration of Venkateswara Swami, Ayyappa Swami and Panchamukha Anjaneya Swami in Baton Rouge. Today, He will be performing the Aradhana for Tatagaru there.
Once when someone with a skin condition approached Narahari Teertha Swami, He blessed that individual that he would be well. But within a year, Swami began to show signs of that skin condition. When asked why he took on that Illness, he said “it is prāraabdha – a certain portion of the residual karma which one needs to work out.”
Since Narahari Teertha Swami took Sanyāsa Deeksha, and blessed us all with Pujya Appaji, He is Tatagaru for all of us.
ananyāś cintayanto māṁ ye janāḥ paryupāsate
teṣāṁ nityābhiyuktānāṁ yoga-kṣhemaṁ vahāmyaham
Gita 9.22 was His favourite sloka and He would often quote it to Pujya Appaji.
It is doubly auspicious that today Swati Nakshatra is in ascent and Narasimha Swami kalyana is being performed at the universal prayer hall.
May all those of you who have participated and organized today’s Aradhana, be blessed with health, wealth and Tatagaru’s blessings.
Jaya Guru Datta
Speech in the evening
Today, we are all observing our Parameshti Guru – Sri Narahari Teertha Swami’s Aradhana. He was a great Tapasvi, who would do a lot of mantra Japa of the Panchakshari mantra. Tatagaru was given a Rudraksha Mala where each Rudraksha used to have 5 faces. After Tatagaru’s intense Tapas, the 5 faces became 3. Then Appaji did Tapas with that Mala and the Rudrakshas had 2 faces. When I received Sanyāsa Deeksha in 2004, I received that Mala. Those rudrakshas now have only 1 face. I am telling you all this to make you understand the importance of undertaking Tapas and mantra Japa.
Tatagaru would walk into the ashram and announce to Swamiji, “I would like to offer one crore to You.” Swamiji would reply, “okay, I will see.” People around would think him to be extremely wealthy, when in fact he was offering 1 crore Japa count to Swamiji.
On this occasion, Sri Swamiji wished to institute the Smaartha Narahari Prashasti award. So far, it has been awarded to 5 people. Today, it is being awarded to Sri Dilip Kumar Sharma at the Poundarika Rangasthala – where his studies began. Dilip has lived up to his name.
There was a great emperor named Dilip Chakravarti who did not have progeny. When he prayed to his Guru – Sage Vasishta, the Sage, without caring that he was such a great emperor, instructed him to go to the Goshala and pick up the cowdung. The emperor, without batting an eyelid, went into the Goshala and as he cleaned up the cowdung, he was blessed to behold the Divine there. This story illustrates the importance of Guru Bhakti, and how without ever questioning the Guru, one should just follow the Guru’s instructions.
Sri Dilip Kumar Sharma has such Guru Bhakti. A product of the Ashrama Pathashala, he takes on the onus of conducting Dharmik activities like Annadana etc.
May Pujya Swamiji’s blessings be upon Dilip Sharma and his family. All those who have participated in Tatagaru’s Aradhana programs shall receive abundant blessings.
On June 21, Prodattur ashrama performs programs in Venkamma Atta’s memory. Today, the award is being given to Smt Jaya Prada garu.
Kesare has also instituted an award in memory of Smt Parvatamma (known as Chikkamma). Today, that award is being given to Sri Shashidhar