Speech of HH Sri Datta Vijayananda Teertha Swamiji in Saroop Nagar evening – March 3, 2012 – Delhi
Jaya Guru Datta
Sri Ganeshaya Namaha
Sri Saraswatyai Namaha
Sripada Vallabha
Narasimha Saraswati
Sri Guru Dattatreyaya Namah
Sri Ganapati Sachchidananda Sadgurubhyo Namaha
Om Namo Hanumate Namaha
To have the darshan of the Navanatha Datta Kshetra and all the devotees here I have come just now from Ayodhya, Rama’s birthplace which is very sacred. In the Puranas seven Moksha Kshetras (places that give salvation) are mentioned. Ayodhya is the first amongst them, followed by Mathura, Maya (Haridwar), Kashi (Varanasi), Kanchi (Kanchipuram in South India), Avantika (Ujjain), and Dwaraka (in Gujarat). Ayodhya means, a place that one cannot fight against and win. It is a place that can be won over only by love and not by battle. Even the Vedas mention Ayodhya. Swamiji was very happy to go to Ayodhya. In this city are 8 Chakras (wheels) and 9 Dwaras (entrances). It is a celestial city. To enter this city you must be acquainted with the rishi (sage) who has no body; he has no fingers and yet wears a ring; he has no tongue and yet he speaks; he has no throat and yet wears a garland. His name is Manmatha which means one who troubles the mind. He causes confusion, dilemma, dualities, and ficklemindedness. Out of the churning that occurs from such confusion, knowledge slowly surfaces. One does not enter Ayodhya with the body but with the mind and the intellect. When the body comes to the temple, you have to make sure that the mind also has come to the temple.
Nama Sankeetana (singing the praises of God) brings the mind to the presence of God. Just as a stick helps you to bring down to within your reach, the grapes on a grapevine so that you can pick the fruit, Nama Sankeertana draws the mind closer to God.
It is very difficult for us to study and chant the 24,000 verses of the Ramayana. Even merely chanting the name of Rama becomes difficult for us. Why? We think that we struggle. But it is really the Sadguru who struggles on our behalf. Even to chant one shloka is difficult for us. We have to protect ourselves. We have to protect and preserve our devotion. We have to protect our families, and our nation. How? With devotion. With Dharma the society is protected. If the mother and father fail in performing their duties, the children will also fail in doing their duties. Doing our own duty is our responsibility. Why? Without each one performing their individual duty, the world will not survive. Social service is necessary. By diligently following Dharma, we have to keep our minds and bodies pure and clean. Everything is supported by human dharma. It has everything in it. We cannot act like animals. We have been blessed with this human body. Spirituality without devotion is useless. To be seated in the Sahasrara Chakra is useless if faith and devotion are lacking. Spirituality needs devotion. Society needs Dharma. A Sadguru teaches both of these. He teaches and constantly reminds us also. Rama is Dharma personified.
The Ramayana has 24,000 verses. The Gayatri mantra has 24 syllables. Even in a dream one cannot hope to chant all the 24,000 verses of the Ramayana. It is unthinkable. Sri Swamiji has come up with an instant method for us to earn merit by chanting only the one hundred verses from the first chapter of the Ramayana that gives the whole essence. It is the Shatashloki Ramayana. In Ayodhya Sri Swamiji has performed the Ramayana Parayana, Maha Purnahuti, Sri Rama Pattabhishekam (a symbolic Coronation Ceremony), and the Sarayu Prokshana (sprinkling the sacred waters of the Sarayu River on the devotees). Whoever was unable to attend has also been blessed and receives merit. Rama is in Ayodhya, yet He is also in our hearts. In Ayodhya they show so many places and say that Rama was here, Rama was here, Rama was here. Now there are lots of monkeys there. We see Rama in them. They were all a part of Rama’s army once.
Sarayu is Moksha Dwara, an entrance to salvation. Rama took everyone into the river with him, to give them all liberation, all except Hanuman. That is why Hanuman’s entourage the monkeys are still there. It was a very nice darshan for us.
Here now you have witnessed the Sri Chakra Puja. Certificates have been distributed to the girls living in this neighborhood who have received training to be beauticians. This ashram is for all. The outside world gives ‘shrama’, stress and strain. The ‘ashrama’ makes it all go away. You forget your stress and strain when you enter the ashrama. For six years now the children are receiving training in Balvadi. Annadana, medical camps, tutoring for children, and English lessons should also be carried out here. This ashrama is meant for the benefit of the local residents. You must properly utilize it and reap the benefits.
All are invited to attend tomorrow’s inauguration of the new ashrama in Dwarka, which is closer to the airport. This is very far. All are invited to attend the Sri Chakra Puja, the Ganapati Homa, and receive the Sarayu teertham. Victory to the Sadguru. Victory to Datta. Victory to Hanuman.”
Sri Guru Datta