Speech by HH Sri Datta Vijayananda Teertha Swamiji during Sunday Bhajan Session – June 8, 2014 – UPH, Mysore
Jaya Guru Datta
Sri Ganesaya Namaha
Sri Saraswatyai Namaha
Sripada Vallabha
Narasimha Saraswati
Sri Guru Dattatreyaya Namaha
Sri Sri Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Sadgurubhyo Namaha
Asato ma sadgamaya Tamaso ma jyotirgamaya
Mrityormam amritam gamaya Om Santissantissantihi.
As was mentioned this morning, today is Ganga Dasahara Dasami.
Ganga Destroys all sins. Doing Satsang now on this auspicious evening is our good fortune.
Bhajan: Gam gam Ganapati Vinayaka
Gakara panchakam. Five words which begin with Ga
Guru
Govinda
Ganga
Gita
Gomata
Govinda includes Ganesa and Gayatri and all others names of all the gods.
Guru has an exalted position. He is our guiding light. He satisfies our thirst for knowledge. He destroys ignorance. We begin with Guru.
Mahabharata says that the principles of Gita, Ganga, Gayatri, and Govinda are to be understood and revered. Here 4 are mentioned.
At dawn and dusk Sandhya Gayatri upasana is done and with it all mental and skin problems vanish. Sun energy is Savitri and Gayatri.
Govinda should be established in the heart. No punarjanma (repeated births) will then occur. Ganga Jayanti is today. It means, dasahara, sins committed by the 10 organs are destroyed. With the sense organs we do wrong. Ganga cleanses all sins. When the mind is disturbed, the scriptures recommend that we take a bath. Water has such power. Water purifies and gives happiness. 3 days skip bath, and you feel miserable. Others hate your odor. Inner stink also is terrible. Ganga cleanses the inner soil also. Bathe at least 2-3 times a day. Wet the body at least, if water is scarce. It is good for health according to science. 20 types of diseases are cured. Navaratri does that. Focus develops and it needs practice. There is no other way. It is difficult to study or to do Japa. Asana siddhi is important. Yoga siddhi comes after that. Sit still for a couple of hours. Then the mind listens to you. It behaves as you say. Bath helps gain concentration.
The limbs and the sense organs are the 10 friends to the mind who distract her. You first control them and the mind will listen. With no luggage no travel is possible. If there are no affairs to conduct, why would anyone travel? No need to go anywhere actually, because Guru Sannidhi has all the sacred pilgrimage centers right there.
Ganga flows from the Himalayas to Calcutta where it merges in the ocean. All water is Ganga. Siva is there wherever there is water.
Bhajan: Guruttama Datta Guruttama
ETV program was not shown today as per their announcement. We are right in the presence of Swami Kalagnisamana Dattatreya. We do not need to see Him on TV.
Datta guru does what? He alone is our refuge He gives us everything. Prosperity, good mind, success, and fame we pray for, and He grants all of these.
You give us birth. You protect us during our lifetime, and you merge us into yourself, O Lord Datta. That is what this bhajan says.
Five gakaaras – we will sing songs today.
Bhajan: Gita Saaram shrunuta sadaa
There is nothing to excel the Bhagavad Gita. God Himself explains the essence of all sciences. We do not understand all but every verse of Gita should be studied. Only such a person is a true devotee. Read in your own language, translations are available. Understand each verse and its meaning. It is God’s word.
Guru makes the Gita even simpler. What does guru think about? How do I share my bliss with devotees easily?
In 18 small verses Swamiji has given us the juice extract of Gita.
Who has listened to the Gita with focus? Guru asked. He was disappointed. Very few raised their hands. 19th chapter who has heard? Everyone raised hands. There are only 18 chapters in the Gita. Guru understood the mindset of the listeners. They have no concentration.
Read 1 or 2 verses a day. So many pills are available in the world for curing so many ailments. No one swallows all of them. They only take what they need. Each verse is like a pill. God gets our message when we begin reading, as to what problems we suffer from. Right away he sends the right pill to fully cure us. At least once in a lifetime without giving any excuse one must listen to the Gita or study it. Elders used to make youngsters listen. Now there are audio books. Now kids do not listen. We read for ourselves. But that is not enough. We must make them read and explain to us. Then grandchildren will get interested and they will become alert. They will then appreciate our wisdom and understanding, when we discuss the various aspects of the teaching of the Gita with them. Read each Sloka and its meaning. Share with others your knowledge and understanding. Keep the book at home and keep it accessible. It will tempt you to read it someday. Hide the magazines so that they do not dominate your attention. One day you will look at the Gita and will get interested. You will then pick it up and will begin somewhere. Why did Krishna say this? You will begin to have doubts. He will never say wrong. What is in the Veda he explained in a simple language. Sage Vyasa gave it the name Bhagavad Gita.
Food maintains life. Bhagavad Gita has tablets for all our diseases, if we begin to read and understand it. God will lead us to the right medicine contained in it.
Aristotle said, “Bring me from India the holy water from Ganga, the sacred soil of the land, the Bhagavad Gita, the Mahabharata, and a good Guru”.
Gita Saara our Guru has given to make our minds blossom. It lets in the light into the gloomy and dark mind. Mind is dark and gloomy. Let in light. Desire and anger will get thrown out. Great bliss is granted through spiritual knowledge.
In a dejected mood people talk nonsense. They do not realize what is being said. Stay and fight or leave the battlefield? That was Arjuna’s dilemma. How to kill all my friends and relatives? Arjuna is confused.
When should one say that he does not want war? Well before. If Arjuna leaves the battlefield, will the war stop? No. Dharma will not be established. Full knowledge is required. Half knowledge is dangerous. Science of Gita clears all doubts. Acquire knowledge. Surrender to God. Hold God’s feet firmly with the mind, not just with the hands.
The soul is eternal and all-pervasive. Soul is all. It cannot be destroyed. It is Truth.
The essence of Gita is given in these short verses. Give up all and hold on to me alone.
All physical obligations you give up. All mental affairs you let go. You will be granted liberation.
May all receive the nectar of Gita and get liberated.
Bhajan: Govinda jaya jaya
It is Ganga Jayanti today.
Bhajan: Ehi Pahi puneehi gange
In Haridwar this bhajan was sung inviting Mother Ganga to come and wash away all our sins and make us a pure.
It is enough to just utter the name of Ganga and all sins will disperse. I get goose bumps for just saying Ganga. Now Ganga is not protected, it is only worshiped. We offer flowers and also throw the plastic cover in the water. Our scriptures say protect our Mother Earth and all its children. Do not contaminate water of rivers. I feel bad every time I use the toilet. If you dig a pit to use it as a toilet then the waste turns into manure. Our toilet water now since the past 100 years goes and dirties our water resources. Why did Veda stipulate rules? Only to protect resources for the future. Let us all do what is best. All noble souls have extolled all holy rivers. Ganga’s birth is described in detail in so many scriptures. Prayer and effort both are required. The new Indian govt. is pledging to clean up Ganga. So many come from all over the world, from far and near to bathe in Ganga, and are afraid to take a dip when they see its condition. It is a sin to think bad thoughts about the holy river. May Sri Swamiji bless for the purification of Ganga. Up to Kanpur Ganga’s waters are clear, and afterwards it turns black with industrial effluent How to right the wrongs? Have to do it. The sanctity of India, its soul is getting destroyed. Sadguru’s compassion has made others aware. Demonic tendencies are proliferating out of selfish interests. Ignorance must be destroyed. Let us all pray fervently for the cleanup of Ganga. May lord Siva bless this worthy effort.
You have given energy even to the celestials, Mother Ganga. Ganga you are my mother. When I bathe, I feel that I am in your lap. You are full if love. You were in the water pot of Brahma. You emerged. You ever wash the feet of Vishnu. That is your diksha/austerity. Please come and purify us. Your waves are divine. You are Brahma and Vishnu and their power fills you. You are in the Jata/matted locks of Siva. Eternal bliss is what you grant us when you flow upon us mother Ganga. Please come O most pristine and pure one! That is the meaning of this very special bhajan.
Bhajan: Gangadhara Siva
Tvameva mata
Tomorrow is a very special day -Ekadasi and Hasta star both have coincided for Sri Swamiji’s Birthday as per the Hindu calendar. Narasimha worship and Sachchidanandeswara worship will be offered, followed by Paduka Puja. Mrityunjaya Homa and other homas will be performed for Sri Swamiji’s good health and success in all His missions. Everyone please participate.
Kakada harati – Sri Datta devam
Sri Guru Datta