Sri Sri Ganapati Sachchidananda Swamiji – speech on Day 8 of Navaratri Celebrations – October 15, 2010 – Mysore
Jaya Guru Datta
“I offer prayers to Ganapati, to Mother Goddess, and to the Guru. This year we are trying to slowly understand the principle and the philosophy of Mother Goddess, where She resides, what She does, and so on. She cannot be known through the study of the Vedas and Shastras, the sacred scriptures, because they cannot fully describe Her. Countless Navaratris would be required to fully study and understand all the sacred texts. She cannot be known through songs and speeches. She can only be experienced. In order to have that experience one needs to have an intense love, faith, and devotion towards Her.
Mother Goddess’s energy manifests through actions. We cannot see the energy itself. For instance, take electricity. It is invisible. Its presence is recognized when you look at the light bulb getting lit or the turning of the fan blades. If you want to experience electricity and you put your fingers inside the electrical outlet, you will get electrocuted. When a short circuit occurs, it burns by causing fire. Then you know that the energy exists. It cannot be understood, only experienced. She can only be perceived by the inner vision. The entire world is within us. We have to look inward and acquire that vision.
Some Devi upasakas, worshipers of Mother Goddess may claim that they know Her. They may smear a lot of turmeric and kumkum and make smoke and loud noises. It is all a drama. It is all acting. By wearing such disguises you cannot know Her. Such people cheat innocent people. For all the innumerable actions and functions that occur every moment through eternity, She is the source. Everything in Nature is well calculated. It is orderly and systematic, with a definite rhythm, such as walking, the heartbeat, the blinking of the eyelids. The rishis or sages of the Vedas mention ‘nimisha’, what is called ‘minute’ in English, that denotes a calculation related to the blinking of the eye. Those who believe in the Vaastu science may find an imbalance in a structure and they may demolish one section of the building to bring about balance. Is it possible to do that with a limping person, or with someone with a deformity? You cannot cut off the ear on the right side to balance something on the left side.
Song: Bettada thaaye Chaamundi
Mother is seen in two aspects, ‘desha’ and ‘kaala’ – space and time. This concept cannot be explained in half an hour. As per the scriptures, desha is not country as commonly understood. It is of three types, Kala, Tatva, and Bhuvana. Time is of three types ‘Varga’, ‘Pada’, and ‘Mantra’. Through understanding these six forms Mother Goddess may be understood. She has four features, ‘Spandana’, ‘Nartana’, ‘Aavartana’, and ‘Chaitanya’. Only if we know all these, we can know Her. Her movement is very subtle to comprehend, ‘Gahana’ and ‘Gamana’. It is only out of an intense devotion that one can experience Her. Towards those who have devotion she is always compassionate. Towards those who do not have devotion, she will be angry.
In the Devi Bhagavata, it is said that She killed the demons Chanda and Munda, and hence She is called Chamunda. She is described in the 1000 names of Lalita as ‘chidagnikunda sambhoota’, the one who emerged from the Fire Pit in a fiery form. The 1000 names of Lakshmi also described Her as ‘krodha sambhava’, one who was born out of fury. Later that name was changed and now people chant it as ‘ksheeroda sambhava’. While She is always of a peaceful aspect, why is She then depicted as being furious, with Her tongue hanging out and looking fearsome and ferocious? It is only to quell the evil forces that She assumes that form. She has only compassion both towards Her devotees and towards those who are not Her devotees, who are evil. In order to destroy the attributes of Rajas and Tamas, arrogance and dullness in them, she assumes an angry stance. Rest of the time She is all compassion.
The bad custom of animal sacrifices, killing of goats and chickens has cropped up in some of Her temples, giving Devi worship a bad reputation. Adi Shankara forbade it and made every effort to stop that practice. It still continues to some extent, even in the environs of Mysore city. Some temple authorities had invited Sri Swamiji to visit their temples. Sri Swamiji told them that he would only visit if they stopped the practice of animal sacrifice. They did stop. In 1989 in Guyana where even larger animals such as buffaloes were being sacrificed, Sri Swamiji was invited to visit one such temple. He refused to go unless they curbed that practice. They asked for some time to discuss with those concerned, in order to come to a decision. Within a few days they decided to stop the practice. The animal killing in many temples has stopped. Animal killing still happens in kitchens. That is a different matter.
Because of the unbearable tortures being inflicted upon the celestials by the demons, the Trinity, Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva got very angry. All the celestials were also very angry. That combined anger of all of them took the form of Chandi, when the celestials gave up their arrogance about their power. She killed Madhu and Kaitabha. She killed Mahishasura. She killed Shumbha and Nishumbha. That same Maha Saraswati became Chandi. All the celestial then worshipped Her.
The pure hearted souls with unblemished devotion see only Her peaceful nature. The others see her as being fierce. She removes fear and anger from the hearts of devotees. She fulfills desires. She is ‘bhaktivashyaa bhayaapahaa’. May she always be remembered in our hearts.
Song: Lalita Trishati. Refrain: Sadodayaam sadaa dayaam
Song: Chandi Chandasura damani
Our ego is like Chandasura
Song: Amma amma Jayalakshmamma
Happy Birthday to Mother Jayalakshmi! This song was composed by Puttu Gam. Now we will sing a composition of Sri Jayalakshmi Mata
Song: Kaalige gajje katti in Kannada and then in Telugu
Tomorrow morning we perform the Chandi Homa. Tomorrow wash your hair. Pray to Mother Chandi. She will remove all difficulties.
You are tired from sitting for so long. I am tired from walking for so long. You are waiting to stand up and stretch your legs. I am waiting to just sit down.”
Mangalam: Jaya Devi Durga
Sri Guru Datta
Courtesy: Smt. Hira Duvvuri