Speech of HH Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji on the occasion of Kartika Somavara (Monday) – Nov 15, 2004 – Mysore
There are many atom like particles in Bhu Mandala [Planet Earth], which is God’s creation. The spirit of Shiva pervades over the entire globe, the galaxies and the Universe. Shiva is Truth. Shiva is the Mangalamurti who gives you joy and bliss. He is formless and is in the form of just a Bindu (dot) but we have given Him this form. When we meditate upon Shiva, we merge with Him and become One. What then is Shiva Tattva? The very truth that is all pervading where sheer bliss is present is the tenet of Shiva. Shiva thus is Satyam (Truth) Shivam Sundaram (beautiful as in the blissful state and not in physical terms, though even physically Shiva is beautiful). Truth is permanent, and the Atma is also permanent. It has no gender, no name, yet it is the perennial truth. Atma is one and indivisible. There are not 3 or 4 Atmas or even plenty, there is only One Atma. There is no real difference between you and me, since we a re all one Atma and the Atma is all pervading. Why then do we feel the difference between one another? The Buddhi (intellect), brings these differences and distinguishes one form the other.
Now what is the need for these Pujas, Alankaras (decorations) and Abhishekas, if the Atma is one? Yes the Atma is one, but the gross bodies are many. It is for this gross body that perceives through the senses that such outward physical manifestations like an Idol are needed and worshipping that idol becomes our own fulfillment of that need that created this idol.
This physical body with its karmic nature needs the discipline. God is our family and is related to us. He is this and that and He is everything. God is your own opinion and you have created Him. Even if you say He is not there even this is OK. The great Saint Shankaracharya had even declared that it was all a cipher. Even this is a tenet.
The sky stands by itself. This is real truth; this is also God .Why then this childish play of Pujas, Abhishekas, and Alankaras? It is to please that very child in you. You are children and you must follow the discipline. Your mind has dirty questions and you need to purify the mind and clear your confusions. An hour in the temple of with your Sadguru you will derive that concentration and the purity that is required to reach the Truth .The six senses have to be taught to discern the Real truth just as they perceive impermanent truths. The body feels cold, feel the heat and the warmth, how very true. But does it know that these are sensory only? To stretch the argument, even Pooja is impermanent. The happiness that the sense organs give us is impermanent. If truth therefore is permanent what is it that we are seeking? Pure Bliss is achieved through spiritual knowledge alone. Your words are empty, your joy your tears are all useless. With the use of useless objects you achieve a degree of joy. If you mistake what your senses perceive as the real truth you are in trouble. You have no experience of the other kind of permanence therefore you think this is the real truth. You must make the effort to experience the real Truth by going above the sense perceptions. Puja and worship are excellent aids for this. Your constant attention to impermanent bliss through objects is thus an impediment to your growth. Your misconceptions need to be cleared. For example the morning dew is so beautiful, so enticing on those lush green lawns, but can you use it as water. Dewdrops are water, but cannot be collected. Rainwater can be collected and stored and used. It is useful and it is real. God therefore gives us that which is useful through Puja, which will lead us from the impermanent to the permanent.
This Puja on the first Monday of Kartika Month is like a second Shivaratri, when we used to keep a nightlong vigil (Jagarana) which is done to make u more alert and keep the senses alive. Abishekam or the bath is Jala Tattvam, which is dear to Shiva. Between his eyebrows is the Agni (fire), and Jala or water, which is thus the other element, since finally Shiva is the PANCHABHUTA (FIVE ELEMENTS). He is Prakriti and thus by worshipping Shiva this way we are worshipping Nature.
This Linga of Sachchidanandeshwara is very dear to Swamiji. Swamiji blesses you – “May the darkness leave you all and the light of Gnana (knowledge) enter your lives.