Speeches of HH Sri Datta Vijayananda Teertha Swamiji – Mysore – September 19, 2012
Speech after Vara Siddhi Vinayaka Vratham at Universal Prayer Hall
Ganesh Chaturdhi is a favorite festival for all. Is it because lots of good food is offered to Ganapati ? All should be happy and healthy. Good sleep, good hunger and good digestion indicates good physical health. One must be healthy spiritually also. Good mind and good thoughts indicate that. May all be blessed by Lord Ganesha. We offer worship to the Lord Ganapathy with 21 different special kind of leaves. We do not get all of them here. Some are regional specific to Himalayas like Devadaru patra. We try to grow most of them here in the ashram including devadaru leaf. In the end we offer worship with grass. This means as long as grass remains on earth, the creation exists.
Brahmadi Stambha Paryantam
Final destruction comes only when even grass stops growing on earth. Till then we remain. It also means, O Lord, I am only like a blade of grass. Everything in this creation is yours. Brahma is greatest. Blade of grass is smallest. All good intentions should get fulfilled, we pray. He assures us protection. Today Aindra yoga and Vanik karanam. Very auspicious for business. We heard the story of Ganesha chanted by priests during the puja. For those who cannot read the entire story, this sloka helps.
SIMHA PRASENA MAVADHEET
SIMHO JAMBAVATA HATAHA
SUKUMAARAKA MAA RODHISTHA
TAVAHYESHA SHYAMANTAKAHA
The story of the gem is in this mantra. Krishna, Himself who protected the Pandavas and gave us the Bhagavad Gita also was benefited by this Ganesh Puja.
A huge laddoo is offered to Ganesha today. Maharashtrians celebrate this festival in a very grand manner saying Ganapati Bappa Morya ! Though this sweet is priceless, this will be auctioned now. Appaji gave from his personal fund one crore rupees for the new hospital. We will auction this prasada laddoo to raise funds for the hospital.
Now the purnahuti for 1000 modaka homa will be done. This indicates that, atleast after 1000 small desires, may you all hold the feet of the Lord. The Lord blesses with thousands of boons. Each joy and comfort we offer to the Lord as a modaka sweet. Very special homa. Pray in your hearts. Chant Om Gam Ganapataye Namaha.
Speech during Bhajan session on Ganesh Chaturdi day at Universal Prayer Hall
Once, in celestial assembly, Nandi said, play Mridangam. Others said, play Nadaswaram. Ganapati began dancing the Tandava. Just to make others laugh, he danced. His dhoti came loose. He tied it tight with his serpent belt. It wiggled, wanted to be let loose. Celestials usually do not laugh. All celestials were troubled and always look serious. Ganapati arranged for the musicians and began dancing in his dwarf, comical form and made them all laugh. Even Indra began to laugh. Ganapati is the first one who taught us to laugh. Swamiji makes us laugh. He laughs. Laughing is good for health.
When you listen to Ganapati’s names with devotion, devotion increases. But if you want to make fun, they appear comical. Poor snake, is screaming. I will arrange for better belt for you – it must have thought. Ganapati is the one who invented the belt. Today, Shreya danced well, cleverly she danced, facing Ganapati, because she did not have much time to practice. I told her only this morning, to dance here. Sanjay should become a greater hero in the movies. His parents do great seva. This is Guru Assembly here, like celestial assembly. About Ganapati Sachchidananda Swamiji’s love of comedy and laughter, we need not mention. Humor is a science. Indiscriminate laughter gets people in trouble, the way the Moon got into trouble, laughing at Ganapati in the presence of His mother. On this day, the fourth day of Bhadrapada month, one should not look at the Moon. The curse is that one gets falsely accused. But after the puja it is okay. I saw the moon today, unintentionally. I chanted peace peace peace and prayed that no bad result occurs. There are scientific explanations. Eclipse should not be looked at directly, nor the bright sun. Here also spiritually, and scientifically there must a valid reason. But those who do the worship and listen to the story are spared from the curse of Parvati. Lord Krishna saw the Moon’s reflection in a bucket of milk. Yet he suffered so much of bad reputation for no fault of his. Later, by his effort, he got rid of the bad name. We have to remember and pray to Ganapati. We must worship at least with blades of grass. As long as there is grass growing, the pralaya or end of Creation will not occur. Swamiji has blessed everyone for all good things and good health and success. Swamiji has conveyed His blessings to you all from London. The Ganapati worship took place there. Ganapati loves bhajans. So we will now sing bhajans. Today we are not going to discuss the Ramayana. Why talk about the death of Ravana on a festival day? We will talk about it tomorrow. Today we will sing in praise of Ganapati.
Swamiji sings Vande Prashna Ganeshwaram Vidhi Nutam
Prashna Ganeshwara name is heard only at Datta Peetham. It occurs in the Life History of Sri Swamiji. This Ganapati was given to Swamiji by His mother Sri Jayalakshmi Mata. He is still in the puja altar of Swamiji. He answers all of Sri Swamiji’s questions.
Tomorrow evening, Ravana’s death and Vibheeshana’s coronation will take place in Ramayana discourse. Rama’s coronation after 14 years of exile will be discussed also shortly. We will listen to all these important events. This year chaturmasya, three months time was available for a detailed narration. I pray to Lord Ganesha today, that the result and benefit of this Ramayana discourse is showered upon everyone worldwide. This is also the year of Sri Swamiji’s 70th Birthday. It makes this Chaturmasya ritual more special.
Jaya Guru Datta.