Speech of HH Sri Datta Vijayananda Teertha Swamiji – October 22, 2011
Jaya Guru Datta
“Communication impaired children from the Vagdevi school in Bangalore have hand-painted some clay lamp saucers for Deepavali. Such items are rare specialty items available only in the ashram. The funds go to help run the school. Teaching each of these challenged children takes an effort equal to teaching a thousand normal children. It is the duty of each and every devotee and disciple to know of all such social, spiritual, and Vedic services that are being offered; the daily and regular activities of the ashram. Deepa Daana, offering of lamps, wicks, oil, and lamp holders to Sadgurudeva is a very special seva. Please obtain these hand-made beautiful clay saucers, show them to the Sadguru and take them home to use, or give to those who cannot purchase these. If you give them to orphanages, or to poor children, it will help them.
Kartika maasa (a month in the Hindu calendar) is very special to Lord Shiva. Shiva is Guru; Guru is Shiva; so declares the Guru Gita. Shiva as the Sadguru removes ignorance and difficulties. Anyone who differentiates between Shiva and the Guru is a great sinner. The Creator of the Universe, the sustainer or protector of the Universe, and the one who withdraws the Universe into Himself again is Shiva. We are born, we live, and we merge in Him again. Sight, Scene, and the Seer, all three, known as the Triputi, is Shiva. He is Paramatman. We worship Him in the month of Kartika, especially, because Kartika month is related to the star Krittika, which signifies Agni, Fire. Shiva wears Agni on His forehead. Those born under this star have a strong Fire aspect in them (anger). They gain success in spiritual pursuits. Subrahmanya Swami is also worshipped during this month. Dhaatri Puja, Tulasi Puja, and Vana Bhojanam (picnic in the forest) are also conducted during this month. Kartika Purnima (full moon) is particularly special for the Mother Goddess. Because it is special for all the deities, it is special also for the Guru. Because it is special for the Guru, it is special for all disciples also. The vice versa is not true, that whatever is special for the disciple is special for the Guru. Kartika month is Guru Month. Those who worship the Guru during this month are very fortunate.
The Shiva Mahimna Stotram composed by Pushpa Danta, a Gandharva, describes the glories of Shiva. Shiva’s attire may appear inauspicious but He grants auspiciousness to His devotees. Chitraratha was a king who made a beautiful garden to be used solely for the service and worship of Shiva. The garden was not for his personal enjoyment. Here in the ashram, Swamiji has made beautiful gardens, the Bonsai garden, the Nakshatra Vana, the Rashi Vana, the Rishi Vana and also the Vishwam museum. These are not for his personal enjoyment but only for the benefit of the devotees. They all have herbal plants and healing energies used for therapy. Although we need more accommodation for visiting devotees, since the numbers are increasing, Swamiji will not allow these areas to be disturbed. The flowers and fruits from these gardens are also used here for worship.
People build a Puja Room in their homes and say that it is for God. Does God require a Puja room? The entire Universe is His home. He is everywhere. Your whole house is His. The Puja Room is for you. It is a place where without any disturbance you can go inward, focus on God and pray for your benefit, for your peace of mind.
A Sufi, an Avadhoota from Turkey would roam all day, and at night he would go to a Masjid, light a lamp, and all night he would be singing the praises of God. He would be drinking liquor and using bhang and forgetting himself while he sang of God. Here it was the tradition for such saints to challenge themselves to see whether even in a totally intoxicated state and stupor, whether they could still remain alert, remember and praise God. Others objected that the saint was drinking liquor in a place of worship. He challenged them to show him a place where God does not reside and if they did, he would proceed there to continue this activity. God is everywhere. Similarly the Maharashtra saint Namadev had his feet towards the Shivalinga. When questioned about this atrocity, he challenged to be shown a place where Shiva is not there. Shiva is everywhere.
Ayyappa Dikshitulu, a saint, performed a mandala diksha (40 days) where he consumed materials (Ummettha leaves) that would induce insanity. He instructed his disciples to write down everything that he spoke during that period. Amazingly, when he took an antidote at the end of that period and came back to his senses, it was discovered that the prayers that he had composed during the state of temporary insanity were exquisite. One should be mad about God and Guru. What if others call you mad? This madness is the state of Reality.
Chitraratha once discovered that no matter how early in the morning he went to pick flowers for worship, to offer to Shiva, the flowers were missing. Someone was stealing them. The guards and the watchmen could not catch the culprit. Then it occurred to the king that the thief must be a Gandharva, coming to his garden in an invisible form to take away the flowers. He decided to reduce his powers so that he would become visible and could be captured. Chitraratha placed the Shiva Nirmaalya (the flowers that had been previously used for the worship of Shiva) at the entrance to the garden. The following morning, the Gandharva, Pushpa Danta came as usual, and unknowingly stepped over the Nirmalya. When the dust from his feet touched the faded flowers and leaves, he lost his powers and his form became visible. He was captured for stealing the flowers.
The flowers and fruits that we use for worship are more precious after worship than before. After worship, the materials should not be left scattered or abused. They contain divine energy. They should be properly disposed of. Make a ditch in the garden and place them there and use them to make compost. It will be very beneficial. Do not ever step on them or treat them with disrespect. It is very wrong to do so, and is sinful. Some devotees treat with great respect the chair that was used by the Guru. They will cover it nicely with a good cloth, place the Guru’s picture on it, and will behave as if the Guru is still seated there.
Pushpa Danta realized his mistake when he was caught. He was filled with regret for the sin that he had committed. He saw that he lost his powers because he had stepped over the bilva leaves that had been used in the worship of Shiva. Overcome with remorse, in order to wash away his sins, he composed the Shiva Mahimna Stotram that extols the glories of Shiva.
On the way to Shabarimala, there is a hill called Aduda hill, reaching which, everyone remembers all their past misdeeds and begin weeping with remorse. With tears they praise the Lord and get their sins washed away. The first time that they meet the Sadguru, many devotees go through this same experience.
The first verse of the Shiva Mahimna Stotram says, “Who am I? What qualification do I have, to praise you? I have no talent or skill. I do not measure up. You cannot be described or praised adequately even by Brahma Himself! But since no one can possibly praise you, I will at least try. I do not know grammar; I am no scholar; I am ignorant. Yet because I am with you, O Lord Shiva, like the pebbles in the river Ganga are wet with the spiritual energy of the flowing waters, your greatness will touch me and make me speak of you.”
Om Namasshivaya. Om Namo Hanumate Namaha. Avadhoota Chintana Sri Gurudeva Datta.”
Sri Guru Datta
Courtesy: Smt. Hira Duvvuri