Summary of Sunday satsang of HH Sri Datta Vijayananda Teertha Swamiji, December 8, 2013 – Mysore
Jaya Guru Datta – Harom Hara
All those who have witnessed and participated in the kavadi ritual, and special worship that took place this morning are indeed fortunate. Sadgurudeva Himself carried the pots suspended from the bar on two ropes, one on each side. The pots contain materials used for abhishekam and offerings to the Lord (milk, honey, sugar, sandal paste, flowers, and so on). When one lovingly carries the gifts to God personally, they become more valuable and enriched with one’s love and devotion. It is how a mother loves to feed her child herself, or you wish to personally hand your offering to Guru. The pots signify the mind and the intellect. The bar and the ropes represent devotion and faith. Idimbasura, a demon who was carrying mountains like a kavadi on his shoulders was once stopped by the Child Subrahmanya who told him to put the mountains down. He did so and could not lift them again after the child climbed and established himself on the top. The demon represents ahankara or ego. He was suppressed by Skanda who is the giver of spiritual knowledge as Guru.
Abhishekam and Maha mangala harati were performed. After taila or oil abhisheka, mrittika or soft clay is applied to the body of the Lord. That prasadam, when applied to one’s body relieves many afflictions. When one takes bath in a river or a pond, or the ocean, one should not take soap and shampoo for use. It is a sin to do so. The locally available mud should be applied to the body for cleansing. There are eight sources for such health-giving and purifying soft clay – river bed, ocean bed, lake bed, snake pit, etc. They are all collected for use during religious rituals.
The Lord has a special name, Murukha now pronounced as Muruga commonly. Mu is for Mukunda, Vishnu. Ru is for Rudra, Siva. Kha is for Brahma. Thus Subrahmanya represents all three – Brahma, Vishunu, and Siva (like Lord Dattatreya). The last syllable, when pronounced as Ga, is for Ganapati, his brother. Subrahmanya protects one in all three times of the day, in all the three states of being. When we sleep, our eyes are closed. Yet we see different strange worlds and events that occur in our dreams. These are all seen with the inner invisible eye. It reflects the world of our thoughts and pondering. We see enemies there whom we try to avoid seeing in our wakeful state. We see loved ones and feel happy that at least they are close to us in our dreams. If you keep thinking only of Sadguru, He is more likely to appear in the dreams to give blessings. Keep the mind focused on good things only so that only good dreams come, on better still, no dreams, and good deep sleep is enjoyed.
This third eye is not the third eye of Siva which burned Manmatha to ashes. Some foolish people search on their foreheads for such a third eye and wonder if surgically a hole is drilled, it will open up. No such thing will occur. Do not be foolish. The third eye is the eye of spiritual knowledge that needs to be awakened by the grace of Guru.
Skanda represents the three types of Fire used in rituals. He is a friend of snakes and is called Sarpamitra. He represents the highest Yoga. He rides on a peacock (mayura or mayil) thus indicating that like Appaji, He is a protector of all bird species.
Tiruchenduru, Palani, Nagarcoil and such other six important pilgrimage centers are there for Lord Subrahmanya as mentioned in the Skanda Charitra (Subrahmanya Sapthaham). The temple at Tiruchenduru located on the southern seashore gave shelter to tens of thousands of persons during the Tsunami and protected their lives. The Lord stands there as a protector against calamities. A similar protection was offered to devotees at Manginapudi Nagareswara and Datta Temple on the coast of Andhra Pradesh during the Tsunami where thousands sought shelter.
Now Subrahmanya Kalyanam is taking place at Sri Datta Venkateswara Temple in the Marakata Subrahmanya Swami (emerald image of the lord consecrated by Sri Swamiji) sannidhi (proximity). Valli and Devasena, His two consorts represent all the powers of Yoga, including Ichcha Sakti, Jnana Sakti, and Kriya Sakti, the powers of intention, knowledge, and action. Please witness and participate in the ritual. It grants immense blessings.