Speech of HH Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji – Christmas message – December 24, 2003 – Mysore
Merry Christmas
Happy New Year
Jai Guru Datta
Jai Hind
Jai Hind
Antje has asked about the connection between Lord Dattatreya and Jesus. There are so many connections and similarities. I have no time to explain. But I think you can sit and close your eyes and contemplate. You yourself will understand. Three stars have been decorated here. They are like our Brahma, Vishnu and Maheshvara. They formed as a single energy and we call that consciousness as Lord Dattatreya. The trinity here denotes Truth, Love and Sacrifice. Creativity, affection, protection, burning our sins has their entire place. Truth is one. These qualities when put in practice are Dharma. There are three qualities of Datta.
Datta’s message is – if you control and kill your Ahankara i.e. ego, you get the Brahma consciousness. You get the knowledge. The cross was a great symbol even before from the times of Jesus. The cross represents removal of the ego. When your ego goes, you get Jnana. Jesus preached this. He performed many miracles and gave us great knowledge. We are still following His path because it is eternal. He lived as an example. His life story may seem miserable. But it is not miserable. Many think that He suffered. Some say that He suffered for us and give us light. There are so many stories. He is the part of that great God. He gave good knowledge to people. That is Brahma Amsha in Him. He protected people. That is the Vishnu Amsha. These are the similarities between Datta and Jesus. Only those who benefited understand many miracles. I cannot explain. Their works are eternal and everywhere.
Datta has three stars, which say He represents Brahma Vishnu and Shiva. Datta had 24 Gurus. You know that. Jesus too had many natural teachers. From this creation He found many good and useful examples. Datta has so many arms and ornaments. They may look like weapons. It is not ornament or weapon. It is to convey the inner meaning. You might see the trident in the hand of Datta. It is to remove the badness in us. The three points in the trident are the three bodies we have. The gross body, the subtle body and the causal body. The drum sounds remind us that we have to lead a good life. The cow gives boons. The Kamadhenu and Kalpa Vriksha behind Datta give boons.
Jesus too gave so many boons and gifts to people who needed. The stories many seem simple and funny. But they have enormous inner meaning. He gave Moksha and Happiness to many. Sins are nothing but bad Rakshashas, bad evil ghosts. These ghosts too aspire liberation. Humans too want salvation, Moksha. Jesus submitted to destiny and played with the world. The story may look pitiful. But Jesus was a very powerful soul. He took them upon Himself with love and happiness. Datta too vanished from the world when He was 8 years old. He was in a deep ocean and meditated there. Some thought that He died after drowning in the ocean. Even Atri and Anasuya thought that Datta died by drowning. He came out after 18 years.
Even in Jesus story we find some years missing. They were doing Tapas. That is all. Not only Datta or Jesus. Even Mohammed, Buddha and Mahaveera stories have their mysticism in them. Any one who assumes a physical body has to undergo suffering. Once you have the body, you get feelings. Lord Rama suffered. Rama was an 8-year child when His sufferings started. Even Krishna had to fight His uncle when He was still a small boy. In Vamana Avatara too suffering was there. Even in Narasimha Avatara suffering was there. Don’t say that it was suffering.
Bible and Bhagavad-Gita are sacred text to billions of people. The inner meaning of them is the same. Koran also is very special sacred text. Different ways, different tastes. But the aim, the goal is the same.
Once again – Merry Christmas – happy New Year – Jai Guru Datta
OK, We have a Santa Claus is here. Let us see what gifts he has brought.
Courtesy: Avadhoota Dattapeetham