Report of Sachchidananda bhajanotsavam – October 1 to 5, 2010 – Adi Guru Dattatreya Kshetram
Jaya Guru Datta! Sri Ganapati Sachchidananda Sagurubhyo Namaha.
Festive mood spread in the air at Sri Ganapathi Sachchidananda Ashrama, Chennai towards the end of September 2010. The ashram was in all its enthusiasm to present the “2nd Sachchidananda Bhajanotsavam” ( a festival of Bhajans) in Sachchidananda Hall at Chennai ashram, in the divine presense of Parama Pujya Sri Datta Vijayananda Teertha Swamiji (Sri Bala Swamiji), the junior pontiff of Avadhoota Datta Peetham.
On 30th September 2010 at around 11.30am Pujya Sri Bala Swamiji arrived at Adi Guru Dattatreya Kshetram after having the divine darshan of Madhurai Meenakshi Devi. Sri Bala Swamiji was given a warm welcome by the Chennai devotees. Upon His arrival devotees sung the bhajan “Santirastu Tushtirastu” for peace all over the country. In the evening around 6pm, Bhajan group of Chennai ashrama sung Bhajans in the presence of Sri Bala Swamiji.
Bhajanotsavam commenced on 1st October 2010 with Sri Chakra Puja by Sri Bala Swamiji in the morning. After the Puja Sri Bala Swamiji inaugurated the “Sachchidananda Bhajanotsavam 2010”. Sri.Udaiyalur Kalyanarama Bhagavathar and group soulfully rendered wonderful bhajans of Sri Swamiji and Purandara Dasa Krithis. In the evening Prof. Anantharaman and group sung bhajans at 5.30pm and it was followed by Bhajans of Sri Bala Venkatakrishnana & Nanganallur Murali and group at 7.30pm.
On 2nd Oct, National Conference on “ Vedic Science : Contemporary Relevance” was held at Tatvaloka Hall, Chennai by Institute of Scientific Research on Vedas ( I SERVE), Hyderabad and Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Trust, Chennai in the divine presence of Pujya Sri Bala Swamiji. The Chief Guest, Padma Bhushan Dr. G.V. Ramakrishna, Chairman Emeritus, Construction Development Council and Chairman International Infrastructure Consultants (P) Ltd., and the Guest of Honour Prof. V. Shivakumar, Ph.D., Former Vice Chancellor, Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswati Viswa mahavidyalaya, Kanchipuram, graced the occasion. The conference was presided over by Prof. Sri Kuppa Venkata Krishnamurthy, Chairman and Managing Trustee of Institute of Scientific Research on Vedas (I-SERVE),Hyderabad.
The prime objective of the conference was to spread the fundamental scientific knowledge ofIndiafrom the Vedic period and highlight the importance of fascinating hidden treasures of scientific realities available in Vedas to the present generation. The inspiring lectures and demonstrations by various renowned scholars left the audience enthralled. There was also a lecture demonstration by Dr Sri Sivaram Babu, who has proved that the Vedas had explained the creation of the Universe much before the renowned Big-Bang Theory.
In the evening at the ashram premises, Cuddalore Sri Gopi Bhagavathar and group performed Abhinya Bhajan on Panduranga Leela. They wonderfully depicted the story of Pundalika who refused to attend to Lord Panduranga who came to his doors step while he was busily engaged in serving his parents. He offers a brick platform to the Lord as an Asanam and asks Him to wait. Thus the Lord is named Vitthala, “one who stands on a brick” (in a waiting posture). They also depicted the story of Bhakta Chokamela, an ardent devotee of Lord Panduranga, who was treated as an untouchable and was not allowed to enter the temple to have the darshan of the Lord. Lord Pandurnaga appears at Choka’s door steps. While the Choka affectionately offers curd to the Lord, it spilt on the floor and the Lord happily eats it which had the dust of Choka’s feet. Then He and takes Choka to the Sanctum Sanatorium of His temple.
Pujya Sri Bala Swamiji who was very deeply moved by their performance said ” it is a rule that Yati’s and Sages are not supposed to cry but, while watching such soul touching performances I couldn’t stop tears rolling out. They are nothing but drops of Amruta which comes when the mind get rids of poisoning elements after Mathanam (mental churning) takes place. Sri Bala Swamiji mentioned that Gopi Bhagavathar has depicted the very essence of Indian Culture which says Matru Devo bhaja, Pitru Devo Bhava, Atithi devo bhava & Acharya devo bhava (Respect to Mother, Father, Guests & the Guru). Pujya Sri Bala Swamiji also added that when ever Bhajanotsavam in Chennai is organised He first enquires for Gopi bhagavathar’s programme and thus showered His blessings on the group.
The next day 3rd Oct began with the Sri Chakra Puja and Ganapathi Homa along with the Bhajan session by Erode Rajamani Bhagavathar and group. Later Sri Bala Swamiji discoursed on the importance of Kriya Yoga. “Passport is the most important document to be carried without which travelling abroad is impossible. Similarly without practising Kriya Yoga the journey of life towards God is impossible” said Sri Bala Swamiji. Then Sri Bala Swamiji happily anounnced His sankalpa to consecrate a 70ft Subrahmanya Swami idol at Nadupalani Dandayudhapani Kshetram to be gifted to Sri Swamiji for His 70th Birthday which would be celebrated in the next year.
At around 5.30pm hundreds of people thronged into the Sachchidananda Hall for the much much awaited Mass Bhajan singing. More than 600people had gathered to sing the divine compositions of Pujya Sri Ganapathi Sacchidananda Swamiji. Various bhajan groups in Chennai, devotees from Pondichery ashrama & also many school children participated in this event. Pujya Sri Bala Swamiji entered the Sachchidananda Hall sharp at 6pm while the devotees gave a hearty and thunderous welcome by chanting Om Namo Hanumate Namaha. It was a wonderful sight to see Sri Bala Swamiji lead by Lord Ganapathi (Machlipatnam Sri Mani was dressed as Ganapathi) into the Hall. It was as if Lord Ganapathi was preceding Kumaraswamy into the Sachchidananda Hall. When Sri Bala Swamiji presided the dias Sri. Jayaraman, Executive Trustee of Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Trust, Chennai welcomed Him and addressed the gathering. Smt Varalakshmi gave a dramatic presentation to symbolize Sri Bala Swamiji’s visti to Chennai ashram after the completion of Saptama (7th) Charturmasya Vrata Deeksha at Machlipatnam Datta ashrama. The Saptha Sapthahas conducted by Sri Bala Swamiji were one of its kind. A short skit depicted that not only the devotees forgot their homes but also the the Seven Deities Ganapathi, Rudra, Vishnu, Chandi, Subrahmanya, Surya and Anjaneya also decended at Atrivarada Datta Kshetram. Since they couldn’t leave Sri Bala Swamiji, they followed Him to Adi Guru Dattatreya Kshetram. The Saptha Rishis who were witnessing this arrives at Chennai Ashrama to seek Sri Bala Swamiji to release the Deities for the benefit of the Universe. Seven children were dressed as Sapta Rishis performed this short skit.
After the arrival of Sapta Rishis the Mass Bhajan singing commenced and the Sachchidananda Hall reverbrated with more than 600 voices singing Bhajans of Pujya Sri Swamiji.
Gam Gam Ganapathi Gam Ganapataye Namaha in Raga Sankarabharanam, Atrinandana Aghasamana in Kiravani raga, Digambara Digambara Jaya Guru Datta Digambara in Raga Kalyani, Madurai Madurai Meenakshi in Kharaharapriya raga, Sri Mat Bhasara Saraswati in Raga Kalyanavasantam, Nara narayana devane, a torabandha kriti in Raga Subhali, Neela Megha Shyama Krishna, again a torabandha kriti in Sri Ragam and Prasannanjaneya in Sindhu Bhairavi Raga were wonderfully rendered by the entire clan of devotees who had gathered there. The bhajan Prasannanjaneya ended with a rousing chanting of Om Namo Hanumate Namaha. The powerful beejaksharas (Seed letters) in the bhajans sung kept rebounding in the hall. It was a visual treat to see young children dressed as respective Deities who danced to these bhajans and it was a bling added to the musical event.
Pujya Sri Bala Swamiji who was very happy appreciated all the singers and organisers for the efforts they put it. Sri Bala Swamiji narrated a story in which Godess Rajarajeswari Devi was listening to Saraswati Devi playing Veena. While Rajarajeswari Devi with closed eyes starts gracefully nodding here head to the divine music, Her Jhumkis (a kind of ear rings) swings making a divine sound which was nothing but the Omkara Nada. Saraswati Devi amazed to the Omkara nada from those Jhumkis stops playing Veena to listen to that divine music . Rajarajeswari Devi after opening her eyes found that Saraswati devi has stopped playing veena and asks why. Saraswati Devi says that the divine music of Jhumkis was more melodious than that of the Venna and hence she stopped playing. Rajarajeswari Devi explaining the divinity of those pair of Jhumkis says that her devotees, a couple who sung Devi’s glory wished to be physically close to Devi all the time. Granting them this boon Rajarajeswari Devi makes them as a pair of Jhumkis (ear rings) and adorns them to Her ears. Sri Bala Swamiji said that everyone who sung today have become ornaments of Rajarajeswari Devi. He said like how it is difficult to point out the most sweetest part of a Laddu (an Indian Sweet), it is so difficult to select bhajans out of thousands of wonderful compositions of Sri Swamiji but, the organizers had selected these divine numbers wisely. Sri Bala Swamiji also made a mention that He listened to these bhajans over phone during one of the rehearsals on 26th Sep while he was in Chennai airpot enroute to Madurai and since then He was excited about this event. He said the time has just flied and He wished the clock stops working and this event never ends. Sri Bala Swamiji blessed the Chennai ashrama to organise even more bigger events of Mass Bhajans with thousands, and lakhs and crores of people and it would be a treasure we pass on to the future generations. Sri Bala Swamiji did not stop with those kind words, He came down from the dias and personally blessed each and everyone who had gathered there with prasadam. All the devotees were overwhelmed to the thunderstorm of blessings from Pujya Sri Bala Swamiji.
The final event of Sachchidananda Bhajanotsavam 2010 was Sangeeta Upanyasa by Kumari. Suchitra who brilliantly rendered Sri Anjaneya Prabhavam and sung bhajans of Pujya Sri Swamiji. Sri Bala Swamiji in His speech after her wonderful rendition mentioned that the chapters of Anjaneya prabhavam she rendered that day were not known to Sri Bala Swamiji Himself. Sri Bala Swamiji was very happy that the conclusion of the year’s Bhajanotsavam was with Hanuman charitra. Thus was the happy ending of this year’s Sachchidananda Bhajanostavam at Chennai Ashrama which was humbly offered at the loutus feet of our Gurudeva.
On 4th of October Sri Bala Swamiji visited the Mayamuktaavadhoota Datta Kshetram, Accharapakkam. Sri Bala Swamiji was warmly received by the trustess of Accharapakkam ashrama. Sri Bala Swamiji gave a short speech there. “Today is Indra ekadashi, its a great blessing to have Sadguru’s darshan on this day. This is an Ekadashi in which Maha Vishnu grants Indra padavi to those who fast on this auspicious day and feeds the poor & needy. The clouds are placed so high because they give pure drinking water whereas the ocean is down since it cannot give pure water. Similarly a person who gives and shares his wealth with the poor & needy always reaches greats heights in life by Sadguru’s grace. We all should be very receptive to Sadguru’s grace. We should keep our vessel clean to boil milk, like wise we should keep our body and mind clean to receive the grace of Sadguru. If a piece of iron is dropped in water it gets drowned and when placed in in fire it doesn’t melt down very soon. Whereas a piece of wood when dropped in water easily floats and when put in fire it immediately burns into ashes. A devotee should be like a piece of wood who should happily float in Ananda (true bliss) in times of happiness and should offer Himself to the lord with Aikhya buddhi (total surrender) in times of difficulty. We should never be rigid like a piece of iron” said Sri Bala Swamiji. Then Sri Bala Swamiji proceeded to Nadupalani Kshetram and performed Visesha archana & Aarati to Marakata Dandayudhapani Swamy and halted there that night.
On 5th October morning Sri Bala Swamiji on his way back to Chennai visited a RamaTemple. Sri Bala Swamiji arrived at Chennai airport around 9.30am and flew in the newly launched direct flight toMysore.
Sri Guru Datta
Courtesy: Kanitha Krapavarapu