Speech of HH Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji on Sri Jayalakshmi Mata Jayanthi – April 26, 2012 – Mysore
Jaya Guru Datta
“Besides Chickamma (Parvatamma, sister of Sri Jayalakshmi Mata) and myself, is there anyone else here among the audience who has actually seen Sri Jayalakshmi Mata? Okay. 2 more persons have seen her. Sarasu (Saraswati, Sri Swamiji’s younger sister, Sri Bala Swamiji’s mother) has seen, but she does not remember. We have the tradition here of honoring Mother on this day as both her birthday and the day she left her physical body. We also celebrate her birthday during the Devi Navaratri festival.
During the Nandana year (as per the Hindu almanac), inside the Anjaneya Temple, Mother had taught Swamiji the 12 sooktis (rules to live by). She taught them in Kannada language. Later the same rules father also taught me, in Telugu. When father was at home, Telugu was spoken. When he was away, Kannada was spoken at home. Half and half. Later Chickamma taught me Hindi. Twice I failed the exam. The third time I passed. Then later on I learned English. My aunt, father’s brother’s wife hailed from Salem. She was from an Iyer family. She lived in Nusam. She taught me Tamil. Her sister’s husband was an Iyengar. I learnt that language also. I was influenced by both Shaivites and Vaishnavites, the followers of Shiva and the followers of Vishnu. I became familiar with both their symbols. Plus I was also familiar with the pure Smartha tradition (those who do not differentiate between the two). I was introduced to the Vedas.
I have lots of memories.
In this Nandana year we want to do a very special program, a competition, for all those who use email and Facebook. With Shatashloki Ramayana we got 8000 members. Out of those we had the top 10 and the top 13 winners. Many outsiders whom I had never seen have participated. All of you and all of your children must join this group. This will be the year of Sooktis, sooktis in many languages. Each of the maxims that was taught to me at a young age, I have grasped.After a while, I practiced Karma Yoga by the insistence of Chickamma, by working in a Post Office. I also became familiar with the western languages, cultures, education, and traditions. I mix with everyone without changing my traditions or others’ traditions. Then Ganapati came into my life. One thing led to another. I have a lot of interaction with people. I only remember the good experiences. I treat all bad experiences as myth. I have learnt to say, “No problem.” These are my teachings: 1. No problem. 2. Don’t be afraid. 3. Worship your favorite deity. 4. Serve the guru.
Today Sri Bala Swamiji has gone to Jayalakshmipuram to conduct the festivities there. It is a great pilgrimage center. It is a privilege to live there, to drink that water, to visit frequently, to spend a night or two in the presence of Mother, to enjoy and experience that sanctity. I tell everyone. I tell Sastry also. Don’t leave that opportunity. You must experience it.
The son of Sri Thiruvengada Mudaliar who had donated the land for Sri Datta Venkateshwara Temple is here. I bless him. He is a lifetime trustee. This family was instrumental in the construction of this great temple.
This is a very special day, both functions are held, birthday as well as the Remembrance Day. Two events. Do not miss. It has been sixty years. I remember my childhood years. I remember Nandana year, the year during which some very important advice was given to me by my mother inside the Hanuman temple. I remember that moment. The sooktis are like a key. If one is touched, millions and millions take birth from it like flowers. Each one looks easy. But if you go to the inner meaning, it leads to millions like an Akshaya Patra. How to explain an Akshaya Patra in English? An inexhaustible bowl is perhaps a near translation. (Lord Krishna had given Draupadi, the wife of the Pandavas, during their exile in the forest, a bowl that never became empty of food. It was called the Akshaya Patra).
From this upcoming Birthday till the next Birthday of Sri Swamiji, daily one SGS MMS will be sent, Sri Swamiji’s Musical Message Saying. Don’t miss this. There is no fee. It is free membership. There will be a competition based on those. There will be twelve prizes given away at the end of the year. The first prize will be a Car that has been used by Sri Swamiji or if you are not interested in the car, Rs.500,000/- (5 lakhs). The second prize will be a scooter, and so on. Everyone should participate in this competition. There will be a monthly eligibility draw. You should be able to tell which Sookti was sent, from which source (Bhakti Mala, God Word, Life History, etc.), which CD the background music is from, on each specific day of the year. This advice that you will receive from Swamiji is like an initiation. It is indirect advice. Swamiji is giving advice in different, different, different ways, through different, different actions.
I am lucky. You are lucky to witness today’s function. My father and mother were a wonderful couple. Each day Swamiji was receiving some kind of advice from them. Even when they quarreled, it was a friendly quarrel. Swamiji grasped a lot from their valuable conversations. During happy days and unhappy days, from all their conversations, Swamiji gained. Their marriage itself was a miracle. Father was an old man. Mother was only 14. Now it is against the rules. Those days it was different. They followed the regulations of Vaikunta. Mother was beautiful. Father was old and not good looking. I am perhaps better looking than he. I should look in the mirror. Mother received inspiration from Datta and insisted that the brahmin who came to their house that night would be her husband. In that wilderness, in the middle of the night after everyone had retired, this old lady and her brother suddenly appeared at the door! Even today I am surprised. Was she Sukanya? Was she Arundhati? Those are only stories. This has happened in my own life. I have seen relationships made in heaven. Now no one believes in such things. It is a relationship carried over many lifetimes.
New clothes, if you wash and put out to dry, people will steal; it is the same with new footwear. That is why it is safest to wear old and worn clothes and torn sandals. No one will touch them.
I have lots of memories with mother. Each second spent with her was valuable; music, advice, arguments. How Jayalakshmi was born was also a miracle, says Parvatamma. It was a strange practice they had in the family of giving funny nicknames; mother was Puttu; another child was Motu; and another was Kootu. Each member in the family was different and strange. All were introverts. There was never any gossip or jealousy. They were very detached and very contented. Whether we have, or we have not, whether we lost, whether kids were married or not, whether children were born or not, nothing concerned them. They had no reaction. They left everything up to God. They had no need for advice. All the sisters were like that; no sorrow, no rejoicing, no giving trouble to others, no asking for favors, they respected everyone. My grandmother was even greater than Jayalakshmi Mata I would say. Aunt Venkamma also was a great lady, although she behaved like my enemy, beating and punishing in order to give me instruction. I never retaliated. I accepted her authority. They all had such mental strength. Venkamma’s husband favored the Britishers. He was from Nandyal. I have not seen it personally but my grandfather explained to me the reason for our poverty. This husband of Venkamma, he robbed the family of all the wealth and gave it to the British. The family reconciled that it was all God’s doing. I was taught that severe lesson not to go after wealth or hidden treasures. One only invites trouble by doing that. I run away from any mention of hidden treasures. No. I keep such people away. I have cautioned Sri Bala Swami also to stay away from such. Such morals were taught.
Just as there are aftershocks after an earthquake or a Tsunami, there are behind and after effects of Swamiji’s Life History. Each word, each movement, I experience in this vessel, in this body. My hair stands on end. All of you are like that if you examine your own lives and background and understand the effects of the Life History in your own lives. Your own experiences are enough; before seeing Appaji and receiving his advice, and after following his advice; how your life experiences have altered. Indirectly he has given the teaching of the Bhagavadgita. Each moment, each day, a hidden advice from Swamiji influences your own life history. The guru’s Life History is an extra bonus. That is my experience.
You only think of sorrow, loss, pain, and bad behavior (that have occurred in your lives). Why do you dwell only on bad experiences? My sister is not giving, my son is not giving, and my father is not giving, like that. Thinking only of painful events is not good. You will understand it if you begin focusing only on the good things. It is a secret. Don’t explain to others; do not keep a diary of bad things. You should write down only good things. Document only the positive change in your attitude. Is this a film, a Pelli Pustakam (movie about a marriage diary)? No. It is wrong. Remembrance is enough. Remember what advice Swamiji has given. A spiritual diary is like a Bhagavadgita. It is an offence to write down bad stuff. It hurts others. What you write should help others and not hurt others. Such should be the diary. Memory is sufficient. One should be introverted. One should engage in introspection. I have learned from everyone. Everyone has taught me, not only my blood relatives, but you also. You and I share this same air. We exchange our breaths. My breath is your breath. We are all sharing this air. Can any of us claim it as our own?
I am very happy. This is only an introduction that has been given today. Millions will read the after effects of this life history, the strange events. You have to keep asking questions. I need inspiration. I bless all Jayalakshmi Mata devotees.
I am very happy about this ashram. But my heart is in Jayalakshmipuram. Thousands are being fed there. The SGS school block, a new Kitchen facility, a Drinking Water treatment plant, are all being inaugurated today. Sri Bala Swamiji has gone there as our representative. It is your yoga that I have stayed back, leaving such a big program. The helicopter was ready to take me but rain was predicted. To go by car, after all it is only five hours by road, the driver is not available; he has gone to attend his sister’s marriage. Another driver is also unavailable.
The after effects of Life History must be written. So many examples are taken from there. Facebook and emails are filled with those. Do it. The Guru Story After Effects. Meera Datta, Manasa Datta, and Jogi Siddayya (who is growing a beard in competition with me) will all help. I tape (record) everything. With Lakshmi Stavam we will conclude this program. Mother likes this Stava very much. New special videos have been posted on Vimeo today. Watch them.”
Sri Guru Datta