New Year Speech of HH Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda – January 1, 2008 – Vijayawada
We just now released “Nitya Stotra Malika” book. This small book has many of the prayers chanted in Mysore Ashrama. This book should be used for your daily prayers. Also lead your children to read them and chant them. Make it a habit to regularly chant some of the prayers in this book. When people approach Swamiji to make a decision on their behalf, Sri Swamiji looks at them and then he gets the feel if they pray daily or not. If you pray daily, Sri Swamiji answers your question immediately. If not, Swamiji may not give a very directed answer. If you pray daily, you may not even need Sri Swamiji’s direct guidance or intervention. Swamiji will be with you. Also, you cannot cheat Swamiji with your answers. Because Swamiji is a bigger cheat to cheats. One you start lying, you will be getting in to a fire pit. The essence of my message is – Teach children to chant Datta Stava daily. Make them chant prayers regularly. Also, don’t berate them to believe something. Slowly train them. Then, they will willingly come along. Also don’t force them to study too much. They should not be pawns in your revenge plans on what you could not accomplish. Also keep them with you at home in their student life. I don’t like sending children to board schools unless in special circumstances. Children are such special Gift in life. Don’t send them away.
Don’t be a doubting character. Such nature will make your old age a hell to live. You are waking with two legs now. Once you enter the phase of life with three legs, a doubting person will suffer greatly. You must have control over your life. A life with devotion, love and affection towards yourself and family and friends will make life a heaven to live. Money is not the end. Talking about money always makes your children also money minded. Using foul language in the presence of children will make them think that it is normal to use foul language. Before you preach, you should lead a life of simplicity and purity. A balanced life brings more happiness. Don’t get in to a credit mess. You don’t need to show off or have more than what you need or more than what your means can provide you. Don’t test God’s prowess and powers with your money. You believe in God if you get USA visa. If not, then you doubt God’s existence. Also don’t believe in God because many others believe. Look for an intense personal experience with God. How can you get that intense personal experience? Be leading a moral life filled with love and prayers. Don’t blame the world for your problems. Problems come to you because you invite them. Don’t worry about unnecessary things. You see TV news. You learn that some earthquake shatters some region in some remote corner of the world. You worry about it and fall in a depression. Of what consequence is that news to your life? Why can you do meditation in that time you devote for your news hunger? Just sit and think calmly about all you did today and then analyze if those actions were of any use or if it was an abuse of time? You will be shocked about the amount of time you waste in newsgathering. Why do you need it? Are you appearing for some competitive exam or some TV show? You don’t have to prove to the world that you are a factoid specialist. Learn to be devotional and teach spirituality, devotion, and respect to elders, prayerful life to your children. If you don’t bring them to me, it’s okay. But make sure they are not you. Read good books instead of wasting your time in front of TV. Ashrama has only bookstall and not food stall. Why? Because I cannot see a crowd in front of a food stall and the book stall with no crowd. So, take a book home and kick start your reading habits.
Jai Guru Datta !!!!! HAPPY NEW YEAR.
Don’t worry that Swamiji’s message for the New Year is chiding. Consider it as a advise to your life.
Earlier in the program, we released PANCHA TATTVA RAGA SAGARA CD. This contains the five Ragas Swamiji played in Hyderabad concert on 14th December 2007. IT was an amazing concert. I strongly advise this CD for sleepless problem. Also, please don’t play it in car while driving. Swamiji’s music play in this CD is so soothing that it will put the listener to sleep. Swamiji’s music play is taking a great shift in the way music is played. On 5th January 2008, Swamiji is playing music in the famed PWD grounds in Vijayawada. It has been a life long dream of some old devotees of Vijayawada to see Swamiji’s program in that ground. So, a desire of three decades will be fulfilled there. Swamiji intends to make music for the Six Yoga Chakras in the body.
Let us sing Bhajans now.
Swamiji starts to chant OMKAARA – Audience join and there is a massive thick OMKARA CHANT by over two thousand people. The effect is mesmerizing and amazing.
Sri Swamiji sings “Ganapathy Devudu Maaku”
Ganapathy is the one who gives Ananda. Because he carries with him Modaka (that which gives happiness). It is not sweet but a unending happiness.His ears are like the large plates. They are collection point for your prayers. He is the first to be prayed. Fire is his Swarupa. Ganesha is the leader of the Ganas (groups). He is also the one in everyone. Let Ganapathy firmly take seat in your hearts.
Sri Swamiji sings “Tripura Malinim Vande”
Sri Swamiji sings “Datta Datta Anukondam”
Sri Swamiji sings “Krishna Damodara Pahimam Pahimam”
Sri Swamiji sings “Naga Bhusha Naga Thosha”
Some one asked me in Eurppe as to why Indian God’s have varied forms. I can understand their perplexity. We attach more to their energies than their physical form. In our Puranas, Sadguru is compared to full moon. You cannot take such statements literally. How can a person be a moon? The eternal dramatist Kalidasa compared Mother Goddess to Marakata stone. Can God be a stone? It is the power that she invokes. That’s why Swamiji installed Marakata stone Raja Rajeshwari in Vijayawada. In Ramayana we have a chapter called “Sundara Kanda”. What is beautiful? Printing of the book? The poetry in that chapter? The descrption? No. It is the chapter that brought happiness (beauty) to the main characters in the story. Rama came to know about Seetha being alive. Seeta got the ring from Rama. Hanuman had Darshan of Seeta. Vibhishana got the chance to think about escape from his evil brother. That is why that particular chapter is called as “Sundara Kanda”.
Sri Swamiji sings Hanuman Bhajan “Pavana Nandana Sundara”
Sri Guru Datta.