Speech of HH Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji – March 2, 2012 – Ayodya
Morning speech
Jaya Guru Datta
“Sri Rama Jaya Rama Jaya Jaya Rama. There will be a 50 minute Coronation program. For the 13 syllables of the Rama mantra we have top 13 winners. These devotees are very lucky. Today they will receive a very special prasadam, a historical prasadam. Today’s participants will all get a special Rama Tanka.
I will mention the important points about the Shatashloki Ramayana Yajna. Two teams, one in India and one in the US have worked. The Gam team has worked very hard. They have no desire for recognition or praise. They are all ingredients in this yajna in the form of ideas, money, and effort. May Rama give them all the same Jnana that He has given me.
Some people took Swamiji’s words seriously. Some did not. Timely effort was required. Many gave excuses. They felt bad. They wandered off. They escaped. Rama has made a note of all the lazy ones. They will have to suffer punishment. Some lied, and said they did not know how, they did not understand, or they had no facilities. You may think why is Rama so stern? I have to be. It is his order. In the future be prepared for punishment. You have to follow commands, regardless of obstacles and difficulties. Some old people with genuine difficulties will be forgiven. Such ones have actually done more. Many people went to computer centers and paid money to get on the top 10 list. I embrace them and bless them. Some have called the US so many times. I know their telephone bills. 3 lakhs they struggled to get on YouTube. Some discrepancies, some mistakes, known and unknown to the boss had occurred. Mareecha and Subahu tried to destroy the yajna of Vishnu. Rama saved and protected and gave the world the blessing. Mareecha and Subahu poured water in the sacred firepit to spoil the yajna in an instant.
In Karnataka, there is Hanuman Gundi, a waterfall. Swamiji went there for 2-3 days. No telephone, no Internet. Lots of mosquitoes. Swamiji bathed in the waterfalls. It was a divine loka. In those two days the YouTube disaster occurred. Lots of miracles. You think that it is an ordinary event. You do not know the background. In this incarnation, this is an extremely serious Yajna. By the time Swamiji came out of bathing in the Hanuman Gundi, Pramod was informed. Things happened to reduce the arrogance of some devotees. As soon as we came to the main road, we got signal. Prasad got the news. I was so engrossed in the count; so intense, for universal welfare; asking every minute for the status reports. Prasad could not bring himself to tell me what had happened.
Ayyappan never gets into computers. For me, he did. Hanuman Hoffman, Ram Chennupati, and other children constantly gave me the count. Before sunset I had to get a certain count. If not, I could not sleep. I became restless. For some scientific reason this Swamiji avatara has taken place, as Rama. Of so many lakhs of devotees, only you have come here. Night and day they kept counts and we needed comments. Duvvuris and Janani from Bangalore and others gave lots of comments. The comments are very nice. I wish to publish them as a small book. For getting Likes legally, photos were collected for IDs. This morning we got the top three categories of most popular, most played, and most commented for Shatashloki Ramayana and two other Puttu Gam videos on Vimeo. This morning the Vrata Deeksha concluded satisfactorily for Swamiji. The (Delhi) earthquake occurrence was a proof, a witness (for the power of this video).
Swamiji embraced, insulted, gave pain and finally got this work done. I have no special favorites. With Rama as witness I declare. That is my nature. Even from a pig I get work done. We all have to be patient and earnest. By following Swamiji’s example and influence we must change.
Like a spare tire that people keep, Swamiji keeps 4 spare tires. People have had to skip work, quit work, and have even lost jobs because of their involvement in this Yajna for universal welfare. I made some of them cry. Not a day did I spare them. A thousand dollars rent had to be paid for the server. I have to express myself. I need this outlet, even if it causes delay for you today. Ravi Anupindi played a key role, like Bheeshma in the Mahabharata or like Vashishtha in the Ramayana. I give him a doctorate on this occasion. Both husband and wife are like a couple of sweet parrots. I wish that she also had come. I would have given her a special saree. It is okay. I will send it with Ravi.
The moment we got on the road, we got signal. The news came that YouTube Shatashloki Ramayana became (a disaster) GOVINDA! Hanuman said, “Saw Sita”. He did not give any Purana (introduction) before. A soldier told the king abruptly, “the enemies have attacked!” The king got upset, since he was listening to music, scolded the soldier and told him that news should be conveyed gently. Another guard came, wept and slowly revealed that a baby boy has been born. If news is insignificant, then do not even bother to convey it. There is a method for giving news.
Prasad said, “We got on Vimeo finally. It is very nice.” Swamiji asked, “What about YouTube count?” Prasad said, “Not nice. Cinemas.” Because he began like that, this news became unimportant, because he gave the good news first and then slowly gave the bad news.
Gam Team from India and USA with Chandru, Murali, Rukmini, Ramana, Murali, Sadhu and others, each with their own different mastery in each subject have handled very nicely. The one dollar program, the Shatashloki Ramayana glory, the small fall of Swamiji and Hanuman rescuing him while he was chanting the Shatashloki Ramayana – all are significant.
Who is watching? How much? Under what name? Siva Panduranga Sadhu used his expertise to give me all the details. He never relaxed. Swamiji would call at any time and he will come out of his office to speak. If he was driving, he would pull over, to talk. I made him cry every day. To make a movie so much effort goes in. We watch for 2 hours and then comment and criticize. Swamiji keeps getting new ideas. He conveys them at once. Sadhu is not agreeing to any marriage alliance that I suggest. He wants the girl to be like a movie star. I tell him that finally he will get somebody dark like me. That is okay. Let her be good.
From India someone had to do my work. The work had to continue. Sucheth came from Australia. I appointed. He made new acquaintances, begged them and got the work done. Bhaktimala Rajeswari – I gave her so much pain. So much trouble she had. Wholeheartedly she endured so many insults. May Rama bless her. Raman brought a new instrument. Vinnakota fan repair was in the top 13. Swamiji has inspired many to succeed. I thought we should get one crore views. Today we have 3 crores and 80 lakhs. Whether you have viewed or not, the vibrations went into the environment. I can purchase lots of equipment and do many lakhs. But I wanted the views to come from all over the world. The waves bounce back. Hence they have to come from all the regions of the world. So many different countries! Surprising. I have no devotees in those countries. This is not maya. Out of curiosity they click. Unless it is viewed fully, you will not get the view count. We paid to get the full statistics.
I wanted to keep this confidential. But I have revealed everything. 13 grams of pure gold for each of the 13 Rama Tankas. Chandru has given a statement that each will provide for theirs. We will call the names of the top 13 and will honor them for their co-operation. Many people made the top ten list. Some had not given their names properly and hence missed receiving recognition. The certificates for winners from other countries will be sent there and distributed. You may donate a token amount to cover the cost. It is optional.
Now I have told all. I feel relieved. I feel light now. Let us now recognize the top 13. I bless all the winners. People are very happy. My best friends in 171 countries are the viewers of Shatashloki Ramayana. There is no physical proximity, but still so many hits and daily messages have been received. ‘We don’t know you Mr. Swamiji. We send you greetings.’ This Shatashloki Yajna has spread throughout the world. Unknown devotees write, ‘I don’t know your Hindu God. I like your music.’
P.G. Krishnamurthy, a journalist has written articles covering this Yajna. It has come in several newspapers. He is giving lectures everywhere celebrating Shatashloki Ramayana and explaining to unknown people. I win! We have won! Some people wanted to obstruct and stop. But we have won. In the last moment also, last night also one company wanted to shut it down. It was a problem of misunderstanding. After we explained, they said, ‘Go ahead.’ I told Anupindi, ‘My vratam is finished. Ravana is killed. I had asked Rama to shoot his last arrow. He said that he had exhausted them all. But I said to him to shoot one last arrow. Half an hour later the reply came. We won! Jaya Guru Datta.”
Sri Guru Datta
Evening
Jaya Guru Datta
“Lots of small miracles you experience with Swamiji. If you understand his miracles, then you understand the greatness of the Sadguru. You have to take these small miracles seriously. Only then you will understand his glory. Each second you must be alert to observe, to analyze and to understand these small miracles that occur. They may appear as tamasha, frivolous or as jokes. They are not. You cannot neglect or ignore any one of them. You simply cannot disregard them. It may be only for a couple of seconds that such experiences occur, but it is something very serious. What are these 2 second miracles? I will give you an example. You will think, ‘Today I want to give this present to Swamiji. I have this question in my mind.’ Swamiji will suddenly say, ‘Someone has brought me this item. Please give it to me’. Along with that the answer to the question is also received. This happens many times but people forget. They do not realize that it is the Guru’s greatness. They forget and ignorance covers their mind again and again. It is not good. You must record such instances and document them. You must put your experiences in words. It helps others. Do not ever think that such experiences are too small and trivial. They are too full of meaning. In those couple of seconds, Swamiji reveals the powers of the guru. Don’t lose that energy. Write it down and analyze it. Then you will understand. Write it in your diary. Very small, small, tiny tiny miracles. But they are not really small. They all add up to a very big miracle and a profound understanding of the nature of the guru. You must record them, remember them, and read them again and again. Only then you will understand. You will have a question in your mind. You open facebook and find your answer there. You are shocked. At once write it down in your diary with the date and the exact experience. Collect all such small experiences. All these small miracles will add up to a big miracle. Don’t waste Sadguru’s glory. If you do, your ignorance will increase. You will have a downfall. It is guru droha, a dishonor to the guru. It is all scientific. Don’t take these events lightly. Don’t laugh it off. You must get goosebumps (horripilation) when these occur. You must become enlightened by these experiences.
Sage Durvasa gave a garland of lotus flowers to Indra. Out of arrogance he threw it down and his elephant trampled on it. He got a huge curse because of that. You have to be careful. Don’t take things lightly.
Now we are in Raghukula’s kingdom, Dilipa’s kingdom. This Ayodhya is Dharma kingdom. At once you must write your experiences. Take a vow that you will record each and every one of them. There is a deep meaning in them. Every surprise, every shock, you must remember and record. One day a devotee purchases a saree. First she selects a saree, then rejects it and buys another one. She wears it. Swamiji looks at her and comments that she looks like Sri Jayalakshmi Mata. It is a very nice color, he comments. You feel very happy. You realize then that something happened in the store to make you change your mind about the selection of the saree. You wonder what made you suddenly pick this particular saree. It is Swamiji’s miracle.
Today during the boatride on the Sarayu river something happened. It teaches Vedanta. What happened? The boatman fell into the water. He came back to the boat swimming. What was the miracle? Even a good swimmer finds it hard to swim in such cold water in the river current. It is not fun. Not tamasha. Some people had seen it. Swamiji had predicted it. I request Sri Bala Swamiji to tell about how he reacted to this incident. Then I want Prasad to tell us about what happened in the meeting that took place before we went to the river. ”
“In the meeting that took place before we went to the Sarayu river I had predicted that something would go wrong. I want Prasad to tell you about it. Now I request Bala Swamiji to tell us what happened at the Sarayu river.
Sri Bala Swamiji said, “I was not present at the meeting. Sri Rama entered the Sarayu river at the end of his life. He thus got liberation from his human incarnation. I was very happy about going to this sacred river. The boat left. We were speaking with the boatman, referring to him as Guha, the boatman who helped Rama cross the river along with Sita and Lakshmana (Now it was Sri Swamiji riding along with Sri Bala Swamiji and Prasad). The boatman also was happily conversing with us. We referred to him as the King of Nishadas, as described in the Shatashloki Ramayana, ‘Guhamaasaadya dharmatma nishadadhipatim priyam’. Swamiji left the vastram with all the names of the devotees printed on it, on the waters of the river. After this nimajjana (immersion in the water of the sacred cloth), another boat suddenly hit our boat. The boatman lost his balance and fell into the river. You all watching from a distance might have thought that he voluntarily jumped into the river. No. He fell. We thought that the boat might capsize. At once Swamiji picked up the anchor and made the boat regain its balance. You people watching from afar might have thought that for fun he picked up the oar. No. I feel that today Swamiji has saved my life. The boatman swam with difficulty against the current and got back on the boat and said, ‘You have saved my life,’ to Swamiji. ”
Sri Swamiji continued, “Swamiji controls himself a lot. Even if he speaks something in a moment of irritation, it comes true. Now I want Prasad to tell us what happened.” Prasad spoke, “When the planning for the Ayodhya trip was taking place earlier, Swamiji received a message internally while at Hanuman Gundi, not to go to Ayodhya in November. Hence the trip was postponed to March. When this present trip was being planned, Swamiji wanted to first visit the place where Rama had left his body in the Sarayu river, a spot between Faizabad and Ayodhya. In the meeting we vetoed the idea saying that it would be an inauspicious beginning for this wonderful celebration. Swamiji agreed but that is where he wanted to go along with all the devotees today. Suddenly last night he changed his mind and said, ‘Let us not go there’. He sent Vamshi to find a different ghat that would be suitable for our purpose. That is how this Rama Ghat was decided upon. All the devotees went earlier and had assembled at the ghat waiting for Swamiji to arrive. Just before leaving for the Sarayu river this afternoon at 4 PM, Swamiji asked, “Do you really want to go there? Do you want me to go into the Sarayu permanently?” It was noticed that he wore his head band wrong side out. The trip was fraught with minor impediments. Once we reached the river, Swamiji wanted to leave the vastram at the edge of the river itself, instead of going into the waters. When he entered the boat finally, many other devotees also sat on the boat, and made it crowded and heavy. Swamiji got annoyed and threatened to get off the boat. The first one to respect Sri Swamiji’s words was Sri Bala Swamiji who got up to leave the boat. Then angrily Swamiji said, ‘If Bala Swamiji does not go, then I will not go’. So Bala Swamiji sat down again and all the others got off the boat. The boat left. Swamiji got upset that so many people were filling up the other boats. He agonized, ‘Why are they all being so adventurous? It is not safe. Why is bookstall Ananda Rao getting on the boat? Tell them all to go back.” Swamiji was simply not happy. (There were in all 6-7 overfilled boats on the waters by then). Suddenly another boat came and hit our boat. Our boatman fell into the waters as if he were a wooden toy. I am struck with memories of so many instances like this when sudden mishaps have occurred with Swamiji and Swamiji himself had disappeared suddenly. May be with his permission I can share those stories with other devotees someday. When this happened today, we were about 150-200 feet away from the river bank. Nobody amongst us was a good swimmer except Swamiji. Swamiji is an avid swimmer. When we were at Tonga Island he swam in the ocean around the island for two hours. Many watched him with bated breath. Today when we came back ashore, Swamiji told Bala Swamiji, ‘I came back just for you’.”
After singing three bhajans, Swamiji gave a mass upadesha of the 13 syllable Rama Taraka Mantra. ‘Sri Rama Jaya Rama Jaya Jaya Rama’, saying that if chanted with concentration 13 crores of times, one would attain liberation. Chant it at least for one hour in the morning, at noon, and at night. It may be chanted all the time. The Puranas mention that the Saptarshis, many kings and emperors have chanted this mantra, as well as many ordinary persons. I think Sage Valmiki also has chanted this mantra. The first time he chanted only ‘Rama Rama’. The second time he chanted this mantra. I am giving you a variety of styles to chant. You may choose whatever style suits you and is the easiest.
Many people say that they are doing things for Swamiji. They claim that they are staying in the ashram just to serve Swamiji. They claim that they are helping and supporting Swamiji. You do not do anything for me. I do for you. I came for you. I live for you. You do not live for me. You do not work for me. It is a sin to think or say like that. All the planets revolve because of me. You have to understand that, ‘He exists without me. I am the one that depends on Him’. The rooster thinks that because of its crowing the Sun rises. That is arrogance. The musicians think that they are supporting me with music. If you listen, at night even the mosquitoes entertain us with music.”
Since some of you devotees have shared your chutka (instant or quick) miracles of Swamiji with others, I would like to also share one chutka miracle with you. This happened a few decades ago in Mysore. There was this small boy Ganesh. I taught him how to perform Pada Puja. I told him that he could bring devotees to perform the Pada Puja for Swamiji. He became very eager to try out his new skill. He approached Roja Pushpam and two other young ladies who were staying at the ashram and requested them to sign up for Pada Puja. They were not interested. He enticed them, ‘For just five rupees each, I will take you to Swamiji for Pada Puja.’ They were not willing. He tempted them, ‘For just two rupees each, you can do Pada Puja.” They ignored his request. He begged them, ‘Give just one rupee each, and I will conduct the Pada Puja as priest, I will take you to Swamiji.’ They still were not keen. Finally he pleaded, ‘Just for a cup of coffee for me, I will take you to Swamiji for a Pada Puja.’ They reluctantly agreed to do it that night.
That was a special day. They all washed their hair, and wore new sarees that they had just purchased, and went out to the Exhibition Grounds (Fair Grounds) to have fun. They took pity on this small boy and after giving him coffee, took him along for the outing. They all got on the Ferris (Giant) Wheel. Ganesh did not want to be seated with the ladies. So they sat him on a seat by himself and on the seat that was underneath his, the three ladies sat. The wheel began to spin. As it speeded up, the boy got frightened and started screaming for it to stop. Out of fright I guess he lost his bladder control and the three ladies who were sitting on the seat underneath him got nicely sprayed on their heads and all over their new clothes. Finally the wheel came to a stop and they all got off. The ladies got terribly annoyed at the boy for what had happened and quickly returned to the ashram. They all shampooed and showered again and changed their clothes and went as promised to Swamiji for the Pada Puja. As they approached him, Swamiji greeted them with the words, “Was that a nice abhishekam (ritual bath)?”
Sri Guru Datta