Speech by HH Sri Datta Vijayananda Teertha Swamiji on HH Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji’s birthday as per Hindu Calender – June 9, 2014 – UPH, Mysore
Jaya Guru Datta
Sri Ganapati Sachchidananda Sadgurubhyo Namaha
Today is our Sadguru’s Birthday. It is a happy happy happy day. It is a holy holy holy day. It is a beautiful beautiful day.
This morning we performed Puja to Lord Sri Lakshmi Narasimha. We performed other pujas and several homas such as the Ayushya Homa, Rudra homa, Navagraha homa, etc. We then performed Sri Chakra Puja. We have now completed the Guru Paduka Puja. This is the 72nd Birthday as per the Hindu almanac.
Last night we watched on Yogasangeeta the live webcast of the Birthday celebration of our Sadgurudeva performed very lovingly and reverentially. We have also heard Sri Swamiji’s speech. They had the direct presence of Sadguru.
We feel also the presence of our Sadguru here with us now.
The day of your birth and the day you realize why are born, are the two most important dates in our lives. The dates of our birthday and Sadguru’s birthday are most important. His birthday is more important. He is the one who tells us the reason for our birth. Traditional Vedic puja we did today with all the stipulated actions. Completely we followed the rules. It is good. That is how it should be done, in a meticulous and leisurely manner. At Guru Purnima also, the puja is quite elaborate and takes several hours to complete.
Guru increases our virtues. He makes us give up evil qualities. He helps us to give up bad habits. Now Appaji laments that devotees have stopped the old tradition of letting go one bad habit on each of Sadguru’s birthdays. Now it has become a business deal to come to the ashram to get favors from Sadguru. Good disciples will follow the Guru’s instructions and will get closer to him for the fulfillment of their life’s purpose by developing virtues.
Please lead us on a good path, we must pray. We are in the Ashrama. Others who live outside can do good deeds in Sadguru’s name on His birthday. Give donations of food or medicines or give clothes to the poor to get 100 times benefit by doing it all in Guru’s name. On special days do social, dharmic, or spiritual Seva. This is the best day to do it. Do as per your affordability. If you exceed your limit, Guru will give you the strength to compensate for it.
Today there is a free eye camp at Sri Narahari Teertha Hospital. Those who require surgery will receive free surgery tomorrow at a local hospital. I am very happy that they are conducting this great service.
We have celebrated the Silver Jubiliee Birthday, the Golden Jubilee Birthday, the 60th Birthday, the Ashrama’s Silver Jubilee, and now for the 75th year Platinum Jubilee Birthday combined with the Ashrama’s Golden Jubilee we will prepare. Let us pray that all of Sri Swamiji’s sankalpas/plans should be fulfilled easily and successfully and that our Sadguru should enjoy perfect health.
In Himachal Pradesh an accident has occurred. I read it in the news. May the families and youth receive Sadguru’s grace.
Ganapati gurumekam Sachchidananda roopam
Vibudha nivaha sevyam yogamargadhiroodham
Saranamupagatanam arti sanghadri vajram
Mama hridaya nivasam bhaktinamro namami.
Ganapati and Sadguru are one and the same. He removed our ignorance. He is sat chit ananda. He is a king amongst scholars and yogis. He protects those who seek refuge. He wipes away tears of sadness and gives tears of joy. He resides in my heart.
‘Guru’ means heavy. The planet Jupiter is also heavy. It is called Guru. Fruit falls due to weight. With Guru’s grace, we get freed from our bondages, like a fruit freely falling away. How to keep such a mighty Guru inside our hearts? We are small and he is huge. I bring him into my heart. He is there. Have that faith. Prostrate with devotion. Pray for Self-realization and pray that the world may prosper. May our Guru bless all of us.
A special feast is arranged on the occasion of Sadgurudeva’s Birthday. Please make your offerings and pray to the Guru Padukas and proceed to enjoy the feast in Annapurna Mandiram. In the evening there will be Nama Sankeertana.
There is a program in Mekedatu. After that, on the 20th the trip to Manasarovar will commence.
Victory to Sadgurunatha Maharaj.
I now go to see the medical camp in progress at the Ashrama Hospital.
Sri Guru Datta