Speech of HH Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji – Mysore – December 12, 2012
Jaya Guru Datta
Om Namo Hanumate Namaha
This entire year is a Hanuman festival for us. That is the specialty of 12/12/12. Hanuman is Parabrahman, the Supreme Soul. He explains to us the principle of Jeevatma and Paramatma, the Individual Soul and the Supreme Soul. When you add 12/12/2012 it adds up to 2, representing these two. Hanuman is an expert in Sankhya Sastra (numerology), Vyakarana (grammar), Chandas (Metric scales), and Yoga. Lord Rama is witness to this fact.
This state is not Karnataka, it is the Land of Hanuman, the Land of Service. Pampa River is here, this is where penance was performed. Everyone here remembers and meditates upon Hanuman. His worship blesses us with the faculty of good speech, with a good mind, and with the inspiration to serve (Volunteerism). Remembering Hanuman promotes devotion in the heart. It promotes patriotism. It increases love for one’s own mother and for the Mother of our Nation, Bharata Mata, and the Mother of the Universe.
Whatever opportunity presents itself, we must utilize. Why not have a small celebration to commemorate this 12/12/12 event that is so rare? A similar date will not occur for a thousand years. Why not have a celebration in the presence of Sadguru? You may think, 10/10/10 has come. 11/11/11 has come. But will 13/13/13 come? No. It will not happen. We can have Swamiji’s presence amidst us. There is a nice cake in front of us. We can have it as a part of the celebration. There are many great events happening. The Garbha Mandala Puja (40 days of worship prior to the birth of Lord Hanuman) is going on. Why are we doing this? Whether or not the 40 days of worship will occur after the consecration, we do not know. So we have decided to at least have this prior ritual now. Both rituals are to be done without fail, before as well as after. Perhaps this is a new innovation of Swamiji, to have this ritual prior to the consecration (of the 70 foot high Hanuman).
Why not create an opportunity to celebrate? When a coconut is broken as part of a worship, it has a different significance whether it breaks into two halves, or into three pieces. If it breaks into even more pieces it means something else. Different ways of handling are prescribed based on how the coconut breaks. If it breaks in two equal halves properly, it is offered to God as Naivedyam. Whether the coconut is broken with the tuft intact or without the tuft also has different meanings. If the coconut breaks into several pieces, it is said that it is inauspicious and so another coconut is brought for the purpose. If it breaks lengthwise the meaning is different. For every occurrence, there is a different significance.
Whether or not those who have set up this system of calendar have given this date any significance or not, it does not need to stop us from making it significant and using it as an opportunity to chant the Om Namo Hanumate Namaha Mantra in unison. This was a nice chance for all of us to get together and chant God’s name. When you wear new clothes, you say that it is because of a celebration, a birthday, or a housewarming or something like that. You decorate the doorway to welcome a son returning home from abroad. Our elders say that we must use every opportunity to show our good cheer. We must never entertain grief. We must never be afraid. We must not dwell on our misfortunes. We must offer them also to God. We must never think of anything as inauspicious. Even when something undesirable happens, we should assume that it has happened only for a good purpose. Always we should look on the positive side. If one hand is lost, just brush it aside and feel happy that you have one hand still. If both hands are lost, feel happy that you still have your legs to help you move about. If the legs are also lost, feel happy that your head is still functioning. By the gift of speech and intelligence you can still manage your life. Like this, you should always reconcile yourselves. Never weep about your losses. Knowingly, do not do anything bad. But by God’s decree should something bad happen, just accept it as a gift from God.
They keep showing on the screen 12/12/12. Can you rewind the time? The news broadcast on the radio will not rewind if you miss by not paying attention to what is being said. If you miss some important part of Swamiji’s discourse, and say, “Excuse me?” will it be repeated? No. He will say, “Be quiet. Do not disturb.” Even Pingala Naga did not ask his master to repeat his words, whether he understood them or not, he simply accepted and merged in him. Datta just swallowed him. No question of return or repetition.
I am not returning after a thousand years just to see a similar date again. I do not want any such birth. “Having given me this birth, please take care of me”, prayed Saint Kanakadasa. Do not give me further births.
Do not blame anyone. No one is responsible for your karma but yourself. You have earned this birth and these circumstances. Yogis never ask for any boons even if they are offered. What is your wish? No wishes. Just give me whatever you please.
What do we call this event? New Year? Harvest Festival? Happy what? Happy 12! Happy Date ki Jai! Volunteer Day, Guru Day, like that it is Date Day. One Dozen Day. (Prasadi mentioned the interesting fact that the Mysore Ashrama which is our real home and the heart of the devotees has its latitude situated exactly 12 degrees north of the Equator).
Very happy to know this wonderful and surprising information. Perhaps that is why Swamiji came back here running to be present at this time. My children have come to me giving me presents all with numerals of 12.
Our planets have usurped our homes and are causing confusion. Hence we need special rituals and services to propitiate them.
Garuda, the eagle is Vishnu’s vehicle.
Swan is Saraswati’s vehicle.
Parrot is an ornament for Mother Goddess Meenakshi.
Crow is Saturn’s vehicle.
Sage Suka (Parrot form) has blessed the world with Bhagavatam.
Swan was responsible for uniting Nala and Damayanti.
Conures and Lorikeets circled around Swamiji at Hacha Falls.
Since many years Swamiji has been fond of birds. He did not bring them here earlier because we had dogs. They would have harmed the birds and perhaps snacked on them.
Sparrows used to wake me daily when I stayed at the Rama Sankara Kuteera earlier. Now sparrows have disappeared because of the electronic invasion with the electromagnetic radiations. They have returned to the jungles.
Every time Swamiji performs a Kumbhabhishekam (temple consecration) eagles soar overhead high up in the sky. No, not helicopters.
Swamiji sings in his bhajans, “Pakshi vahana and Pakshi rakshaka” meaning, one who rides on birds and one who protects birds.
There are many stories about birds conveying messages, indicating different things by their presence, and by their calls and gestures.
Now research is being conducted on birds. It is very difficult to gather information that is scattered in many different places. Bala Swamiji is helping me in that research. It is easier to construct a new house than to repair an old house. It is like mixing all different items to make a complete feast.
To remove the results of past karma, we must render service to birds. In Pakshi Teertha birds come regularly at noontime to be fed. In earlier times in the Avadhoota Datta tradition, in jungles, birds used to arrive at noon to be served. Since ancient time the tradition is there of feeding animals such as monkeys, and feeding birds regularly. To satisfy the needs of our ancestral spirits we believe that crows receive the food balls that we offer and carry the essence to them.
We have a close relationship with birds. Only after Guru gives the mantra, you should begin your chanting. Only then it is called initiation. You should not do it on your own. Similarly, only upon Guru’s command, you should begin rearing birds. Not before. Caging a bird without proper directive, one should not do it. Receiving a tora (the sacred thread given after a worship ritual) gives one the fruits of the worship.
Ganesh Avadhani said to me, “People are suffering intensely because of their past deeds. At first it bothered me that you were bringing in all these birds. Now I am beginning to see the purpose and the significance of this action of yours. Our souls will also rise up like birds and will require food in the future. That is why it is good to feed the birds now. That is why I am giving you today a cheque to cover the cost of feeding some birds.” Others also have given towards feeding of the birds. I am not going to ask anyone to help with this. But of your own accord you may come forward and participate in this service. This is a recurring expense every month. I will not ask. I will not request. Voluntary remittances are welcome for this specific purpose. You may join me in this special service to birds. Do not demand from me which one of the birds was fed from your contribution.
When Lord Narasimha was suffering from the poison entering into his finger nails after the killing of the demon Hiranyakashipu, his consort Chenchulakshmi, who was seated on the branches of the Audumbara tree in the form of a yellow conure applied the juice extracted from the Audumbara leaves to heal the injury caused to Lord Narasimha’s fingernails.
Sri Guru Datta