Speech of HH Sri Datta Vijayananda Teertha Swamiji during Datta Jayanthi – December 10, 2011 – Mysore
Jaya Guru Datta
“Today we have all celebrated Datta Jayanti in the presence of Sadguru Sri Ganapati Sachchidananda Swamiji. In 1966 Avadhoota Datta Peetham was established in Mysore. For four decades society has been socially and spiritually uplifted in the path of Datta. We offer our reverential prostrations at the lotus feet of our Sadgurudeva for giving us all this opportunity of following in his path. Datta was born on the full moon day of the month of Margashira. It is perhaps for this reason alone that this month is so special and hence Lord Krishna declared in the Bhagavadgita that amongst all the months, He is the month of Margashira.
There are only two things that are noteworthy in the entire Creation. One is ‘Guru Dharma’ (The way of the preceptor) and the other is ‘Shishya Vritti’ (the duty of the disciple). Nothing else is significant in Nature except these two. The Guru desires to uplift. The disciple follows the Guru’s instruction and gets spiritually uplifted and fulfills the purpose of his birth. In the Krita Yuga the disciples had to seek a Guru’s grace in a Gurukula to gain spiritual knowledge. They had to go through much hardship. Dattatreya with the three heads incarnated to make it easy for the disciples. He taught the Anagha Vratam to King Kartaveeryarjuna in the Krita Yuga. In the Treta Yuga and Dwapara Yugas, King Yudhishthira performed this vrata (austerity) and kept it alive. In course of time it got forgotten. Datta, who has now incarnated as His Holiness Sri Ganapati Sachchidananda Swamiji has revived it for the benefit of devotees in this Kali Yuga. He has established many branches of the Datta Peetham, not only for performing religious rituals, but also to feed the poor, to perform mass marriages, and to render numerous services to society. More than eighty ashramas are being run by the power of Datta. The three faces of Datta are Nada (music), Veda (ancient authoritative scriptures), and Yoga (spiritual science). The three symbolize the services of the social, Vedic, and spiritual aspects. We all should follow these paths and reap the benefits.
In the Bhagavatam, King Prahlada approaches Lord Dattatreya who is observing the ‘ajagara vratam’ and prays to him for spiritual instruction. Lord Datta spoke great words. His words give a fitting description of our Sadguru Sri Swamiji. He says, ‘I never blame or condemn anyone. I never praise or flatter anyone. Why do people do good or bad? It is their nature that dictates their behavior. I do continuous penance for the benefit of everyone. I go one step further. I pray that they merge in the non-dual Atma or Soul.’
In Sri Swamiji’s teachings and in his life, we see the exact same philosophy represented. Datta has no birth. He is eternal. Yet to help us He has taken birth in a visible form on this full moon day. We have witnessed the Taila Abhishekam, the ritual bath performed to the Lord with oil. Let us pray that our devotion also should be of a continuous and unbroken flow, just like the flow of oil that is never interrupted. We pray for spiritual knowledge, good health, prosperity, and an inclination for performing good deeds, so that we all may be of service to society and to the Sadguru.”
Sri Guru Datta
courtesy :Smt. Hira Duvvuri