Speech of HH Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji – Day 10 of Navaratri Celebrations – October 17, 2010 – Mysore
Jaya Guru Datta
“Today we have the visarjana (removal or clearing away) program. Although God is always in our hearts we still invoke Him. We do aavaahana and visarjana, ‘welcome’ and ‘good bye’ so to speak. The mind forgets that He is there inside and so invites Him to come in. Then we deliberately offer all the 16 services such as concentrating upon, inviting inside, offering a seat and so on. One method is to say, ‘please come and stay, please do not go’. The other method is to bid goodbye until next time.
In the Navaratri rituals there is much that we do not know. Whatever we know is not God. There is no argument there. What we do not know is God, Paramatman. What is seen clearly, what is visible is called pratyaksha darshana. That is when God appears in the world as if He belongs to the world. Krishna came like that. He assumed a physical body. He experienced all the nine types of emotion. Finally we see that He left the body. Rama did the same thing. It appeared as if He gave up His body in Vaitarani, the celestial river. What is present in such incarnations is an aspect of God.
We have not grown spiritually to that level. Hence we do abhishekams, pradakshinas, we break coconuts, and we do annadanam to obtain the understanding of what God is. When we see God Himself in the form of the Guru we think that he is only a man. We know that God is there in him. We do recognize God’s presence in him. Yet we continue to deny it. When a temple is still under construction it is just a structure. When the image is being worked on it is still only a sculpture. But once the sculpture is infused with Life Energy, Prana, it is not a sculpture anymore. Even the sculptor gives up his claim of creating it because now it is infused with divinity. He bows down his head and worships the image. The Temple then becomes a holy place. The entire property is treated with respect and reverence.
Once a person becomes a yati, a holy man, he becomes divine. We cannot be frivolous in our treatment of him. You may tell others, ‘In earlier days he used to come to my house to eat. He played tennis with us when he was young’. That may be true. But that was then. Now he is different. You must recognize and respect that difference. Yes, when I was young I played gillee danda (a street game played by boys with a stick and a piece of rock). I sold milk. I rode a bicycle. That was a different form. This is a different form. The president of a country might have been a farmer once. The man who is a bank manager today might have been your next door neighbor once. But you cannot take liberties with them now on account of their past circumstances or your past relationship with them. You cannot speak lightly with disdain or disrespect.
Many small children slept on my lap. I picked up and played with many babies. I carried them. Now they all have grown big and tall. I am even scared to look at them. I cannot carry them now. It is all different. They are not the same. They have changed.
You can easily look at the rising sun. It is good for the eyes to look at him. You should get a quick glimpse of the midday sun. It is good for your intellect. But at midday it is impossible to look at the sun for any length of time. You will go blind if you try to do that. Again at dusk you can look at the setting sun. It is good for your skin to have the sun’s rays fall on you in the evening. The Sun is ours. We use discretion in how he is viewed at different times. Sri Swamiji is ours. Although he once was a clerk in a post office, now he is different. You must recognize and respect that. Be careful in how you behave in his presence. Use your discretion in how you treat him.
The coconut sapling which was tiny when it was planted is now a tall tree. If you think that you know Swamiji, you are wrong. If you want his grace, your behavior must change. If you treat him lightly he will also treat you lightly. If you give him one vastram (a piece of clothing), Rs.1000/- and do one namaskaram, and think that that is enough, he will greet you and will talk politely with a smile enquiring about your family. But there his grace ends. You will only get according to how much you gave. Will he transform you? Will he give you spiritual bliss? No. Not unless you treat him well. To receive his divine grace you have to have intense devotion. You must serve the Guru unstintingly. You can see that the pot of nectar is here. But how do you get it?
The celestials were not idiots. They, along with the demons struggled hard to churn the ocean of milk to obtain amrita, the nectar of immortality. One of them came in the form of a turtle and suffered the weight of a mountain that was placed on his back for the purpose of churning. He later came in the form of Dhanvantari carrying the pot of nectar to give to the celestials. He brought it for his own cousins. Why did he make them work so hard to obtain it? Why did he not freely distribute it? Why is it that the celestials did not demand the nectar from him by catching him by the throat? It was Vishnu who gave them the idea in the first place. Then it was He who suffered as the turtle bearing the weight of a mountain on his back. A chip was prepared. Then he himself became the chip. Vishnu suffered and took medical treatment although He Himself was Dhanvantari. I am not saying that Vishnu made a mistake.
I think very hard before giving a boon. People have no time to do puja. They have no time to come for darshan. They want me to give blessings over the telephone. It is like on the internet they get married and stay married for 4-5 years without ever living together. You must build up your reserve by coming again and again. You wait till catastrophe hits you and then you come rushing to Swamiji. When you do that, I will also make it difficult for you. When you are well and happy you must come to Swamiji and do seva. Not only when you are in danger. I may speak unkindly but I still have compassion. I will not show it. I will know and the other person will know where the mistake occurred, what the error was on their part.
When everything is going well you must do as much Guru Seva as you possibly can. With no expectation, even unintentionally simply out of devotion you must participate in Guru seva. That will be wonderful. It is like building up a bank balance. Each time you have darshan, each time you do prostration, each time you chant Hare Rama, Krishna, Govinda, it builds up value, even if you do it for fashion. Do not search for small change to offer to him. Give all that you have. He will return it to you a thousand fold. The Guru will prevent mishaps from occurring. He will give you the strength to endure difficulties. It takes a long time to explain my feelings about the guru-disciple relationship. You must learn about how to behave with a Sadguru.
Many people do not know about Navavarana Puja. We do not advertise, solicit or send out invitations. We don’t do that. You should find out and come. Like fragrance, it should attract you. This is a big subject. It is a drama.
Several kalasas (sacred pots with water) are energized with seed letters. Different deities are invoked into them. This is a different kind of puja combining the secrets contained in scriptures such as Soundarya Lahari, Devi Bhagavatam, Chandi Saptashati, Tripura Rahasyam, Mantra Shastra, Yantra Shastra, and Tantra Shastra. Swamiji offers water, lamp, coconut, and grains and calculates which grain is good for this year for this country and for other countries based on how long it takes for each one to sprout. It gives secret information to Swamiji. I cannot explain it. Today we mix all the kalasa waters to sprinkle on the deities to energize the Peetham. One day may be Swamiji will publish a book about this puja, but then again he may not. People may get a wrong understanding and do their own interpretation of it.
Annarchana is done to obtain blessings for the poor and the hungry. There are 108 small kalasas , also with different yantras and seed letters placed amidst the rice. There is an emerald Sri Chakra placed in the middle and worshipped. Then the rice is distributed.
(Sri Swamiji proceeded to show the different items of worship which were on His altar). This first one is a natural Ganapati, formed from the root of the tree, Calotropis Alba or Shweta Arka. Here is a natural Sri Chakra that a devotee gave me several years ago. It has mercury inside it. Every year its shape and color change. This is not a museum. This is my worship altar. Today abhisheka will be performed using conch shells. There is a ruby Sri Chakra in the middle, with a Bhooprastara at the bottom. There are gold images of Sri Rajarajeswari and Ganapati. On the left side is the Sun. Behind the Sun is Lord Lakshmi Narasimha. On the back right is Siva. I also have Lord Krishna and Lord Subrahmanya. There is a bigger idol of Lord Dattatreya in gold. In the middle of all these is placed a Sri Chakra made daily with turmeric powder by Swamiji with ten different angles and seed letters. After the puja this is cleared away or reserved to give to devotees with special needs. Some homes have problems. Swamiji gives to devotees from such homes some turmeric to use as dhoopa or incense. Some are possessed by evil spirits. If Swamiji recommends Sitaram gives them some of this turmeric.
There are different types of saligramas here. They are of different sizes and colors. We have thousands of them. Here we have selected 40-45 of them. Each saligrama talks to Swamiji. They complain if they do not receive water. There is life energy in the saligramas. Do you believe these statements? It is truth, truth, truth as ordained by Siva. I am like a small child. My words are not rubbish. They are not foolish words. I express my thoughts and my ways with a smile. I do not hurt others. If I am upset I go into a room and lock the door. After five minutes I want to talk again. Devotees know that if Swamiji scolds, he will call back immediately to pacify and comfort. Old devotees wait to be scolded because they know that at once they will be called back.
It is now time for archana (worship) and final harati (waving of lights) which will be followed by visarjana and dolotsavam (swing ritual). Here is another natural formation of Ganapati which has come from China. Some Jain ascetics have come today to see this. Nice shop. Nice exhibition. Thank you. The main Ganapati is a present given to me by my mother Sri Jayalakshmi Mata. He is called Prashna Ganapati. When Swamiji was younger, he would place this Ganapati next to his ear to receive innumerable answers in code words. I used to work in a post office. I know about code words. That was all a long time ago. Now the communication has stopped. That was meant as initial training. I would be informed that so and so was coming with such and such problem. Now I can teach him. I know at once without any aid. Once in Washington D.C. the officials were very perplexed by it. They suspected that there was something in it. They took X-Rays; they observed it and examined it in different ways. Prasad was afraid that they might break it. They asked if it was a rock. I said, ‘Yes. For us he is God.”
God is in stone, in ghee, in my mouth and in yours. Our Lord Narasimha came out of a stone pillar. Lord Venkateshwara used to talk before. Now he has stopped. I went to him recently. He is so free now like this (Sri Swamiji showed the pose). He has people shaving their heads, making offerings, being told ‘Jaragandi’, keep moving. It is not a joke. He used to be like me. Unable to endure the long queues and all the troubles the devotees gave him, he became a rock. We don’t want that. We don’t want that. Jaya Guru Datta.”
Sri Guru Datta
English summary of Sri Swamiji’s speech – part 2 on Day 10 of Navaratri, Mysore, Oct. 17, 2010
Jaya Guru Datta
Note: I missed the beginning of this bhajan session on the webcast.
“Song: Jaya jaya bhagavati mangala murthe
Song: Bhuvanagala paalisuva
Today is the last day of the Navaratri Festival. I will sing one of the Trishati bhajans and explain some aspects of Mother Goddess. She appears to move yet she does not move. She is Atma svarupa, the Soul which is all pervasive. She is inside this Creation and outside of it. She is ever full. She is that and she is this. She is totally here and she is totally there. Like Datta, She is everywhere in her fullness. She is in me and she is in you. She is in everyone. She is all around. She is up and she is down. She is in the rock, in water and in fire. She is Sri Rajarajeswari Devi. If we understand Her our delusion and distress will instantaneously vanish. Because of Her the mind works. Because of Her words are spoken. Because of Her inhalation and exhalation occur. All movement is because of Her. Those who know Her will enjoy Her complete grace. She resides in the Sri Chakra. She lives in the hearts of all beings. Other celestials have limited powers. Her powers are limitless. She is the power behind wanting to do anything (Iccha Shakti), the power that gives the knowledge for doing anything (Jnana Shakti) and the power that enables one to do anything (Kriya Shakti). She is the one that nourishes all Creation as Annapurna. When a drought occurs or when a volcano erupts people get alarmed quickly. There is a worse drought where one cannot breathe. No matter how catastrophic a situation might be, by Her mere glance She can set things right. She protects those who do good. She punishes those who obstruct those who try to do good. That is Her constant activity. She is born from the Fire of Consciousness. She is infinitely more radiant and more beautiful than the rising sun. She has four arms. With those for the worldly ones she gives Dharma (ability to effectively perform one’s rightful duty), Artha (livelihood), Kama (the capacity to fulfill rightful needs), and Moksha (liberation). For the seekers of liberation she gives Sadhana Chatushtaya, the four –fold means to achieve it.
e.g. Discretion to know good from bad; to recognize one’s own rightful duty ; renunciation and self restraint.
Detachment has been achieved when one can have a plate filled with food and still refrain from eating; be thirsty, but merely rinse the mouth with water but not drink it; place sugar on the tongue and not swallow it; see favorite things and yet not have the desire for enjoyment. Like saint Thyagaraja sang, “Gopi janamuto sangamu leka keliyu chese”, interact and rejoice without ever touching, the way Lord Krishna did with the gopikas.
Mother Goddess bestows saameepya, saaroopya, saayujya, saalokya etc. nearness, similarity, identity, and oneness with God. She draws the ignorant ones towards Herself using the rope of Love, “raagaswaroopa paashaadhyaa” (1000 names of Lalita). She is “krodhaakaaraankushojwalaa” – controls with the goad of anger those who try to manipulate others through evil deeds. “Manoroopekshu kodandaa” – with her bow of sugarcane she creates good feelings in the mind. “Panchatanmaatra saayakaa” – with her arrows of the five types of perception such as vision, hearing, touch, and so on, she puts to effective use the five elements. There are many secret aspects to Her.
On this Vijaya Dashami day whoever tries to know Her will be blessed with success. In the Treta Yuga Lord Rama was blessed with success on this day. In the Dwapara Yuga the Pandavas were blessed with success on this day.
Make the determination today to follow Datta Sadguru. For forty years now Swamiji is blessing devotees. He has been guiding four generations of devotees. He is called Thathaji, Appaji, mother, brother, and friend. Those who are able to reach his lap are those who surrender to Him their all – tanu, mana, and dhana – offer their services through physical, mental, and financial means. To them Swamiji gives His blessings and His grace. From every angle try to do seva, to serve the Guru. At least bring one new devotee to Swamiji, get at least one new member for Bhakti Mala, participate in at least one Datta Seva project. Do some seva if not one per day, at least one per month.
By performing these rituals for ten days I pray that my universal family should receive good blessings. From November 12-22 Ati Rudra Yagam will be performed here at the ashram conducted by Datta Guru. Please participate. The way we now worshipped Mother Goddess, we will then worship Lord Shiva. We did this in 1986. After so many years we will do it again.
Mother is “Dharminee dharmavardini” – She establishes and promotes Dharma, righteousness. May the Divine Mother bless you all!
Song: Trishati – 300 names of Lalita – the concluding section, the phala shruti, the benediction. This is not a bhajan, not light music, not a cinema song, not nama sankeertan. We tried our best to compose this to make it easy and effective. Refrain: Hreem hreem hreem hreem Maheshwari
So Happy! How to handle that! Only whistles? No applause? (there was a thundering applause)
Sri Rajarajeswari is poorna kala. Complete fullness.
Song: Jaya jaya jaya jaya jayeebhava
Song: Dancing tune on the synthesizer
(the audience stood up en masse, applauded, squealed with joyous screams, danced gleefully and demanded an encore)
Today the drummers came to perform from Kerala, the Chande. This noise is louder than that. They will run away. Okay. Jaya Guru Datta. Today also it is Happy Birthday. Be quiet. Enough. Peace. Calm down. Sit down. What happened today? Mother Durga has possessed everyone! It is the first time that you are all behaving like this. What is this energy!
Song: (repeat) Dancing tune on the synthesizer
(the audience remained standing, applauding, squealing with joyous screams, dancing gleefully and demanded another encore)
Quiet! Now people will get frightened. The new people, those who have come for the first time will either never return, or they will join you in your frenzy. Silence!
This ecstasy that you are experiencing IS Mother Goddess. Enough! I will give you laddoo. Be quiet. You won’t let me speak. You applaud even if I cough or scold. You are very happy. This is very danger. This happiness Mother has given you. May this joy be with you always! Swamiji is giving special blessings. May this kind of joy remain with you permanently!
Song: Ide Datta Seva
(Listen to my words. Feeding the hungry, teaching the ignorant, performing multiple marriages, being the friend of the poor, doing unlimited service, protecting the environment, establishing and maintaining ashrams and their branches, teaching the Vedas and the scriptures, being the light to those who grope in the dark, building temples and towers in downtrodden areas, giving free medical aid in villages, providing a mother’s lap to those who are destitute, this is Datta Seva, this is Sacchidananda Seva!)
With the small amounts that you contribute, see how much Swamiji does! You all receive an enormous benefit by your participation in this seva.
Tomorrow is Shanti Homa. It is most important. What needs to be done after that, you all know.”
Sri Guru Datta
Courtesy: Smt. Hira Duvvuri