Speeches of HH Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji – October 25, 2014 – Chennai
Speech in the morning
Harihi Om Tatsat
Sri Guru Datta
Jaya Guru Datta
It is twenty five years since the consecration of Lord Dattatreya here. Even at that time there was fear of rain as a hindrance. But somehow He managed to build His own temple. Today the name of our Karya Siddhi Hanuman is very famous. The first Karya Siddhi Hanuman Temple was built in Chennai. All the devotees and members of the ashram who perform dedicated service here have made this temple well known. Everybody comes here to get their missions fulfilled. Other Karya Siddhi Hanuman temples have not become so famous, perhaps because the local members are not so dedicated. Kerala, Bangalore, and Hyderabad (which is very far from the city), are all very famous. Kadapa and Eluru Karya Siddhi Hanuman Temples have not become so famous. That is because the local members are not showing their faith and dedication.
First Swamikaryam (God’s mission) and then Svakaryam (personal mission) should be attended to. Many people feel that they are not offering service to Swamiji in his immediate physical presence. That is a very wrong notion.
Whatever good path Swamiji shows, if you follow that path with dedication, it is equivalent to performing direct Seva. Singing bhajans is one seva. Listening to the bhajans that are being sung is another seva. Both should happen to please Lord Dattatreya. Because of the priest, the deity in the temple ceases to be a stone. Because of the priest’s genuine faith and devotion, the deity speaks and gives boons. All the devotees and members should express their faith, devotion and dedication and Swamiji will speak to such devotees in their hearts. Swamiji is intimately close to all hearts and communicates with them when there is true faith.
In the Mysore ashram, there is a habit. If they know that Swamiji himself is giving prasadam that day, everyone present in the ashram will sponsor the seva, because they can then come close to Swamiji and receive the prasadam directly from his hands. Some bookstall item or a mala/rosary that is purchased, Swamiji will personally touch and give them as prasadam. Somehow one likes to go in the presence of Swamiji to examine his beard, look into His eyes, and perhaps see His smile, perhaps speak with Him, or perhaps receive His greeting.
Jayaraman called Swamiji a baby. Then, he is also a baby. Baby has two meanings. In Gujarat, wife or partner, or an infant is baby. Here is a very powerful baby in the womb. Even if you touch from the outside, the baby will strongly respond.
Krishna was a baby. When Sri Rama was a baby, Lord Siva came to see him. Once, Siva and Vishnu were in an argument. Both lost and served one another. In the form of Hanuman, Siva came to serve Rama. Hanuman is Brahma, the most ancient. We differentiate between all the deities, as Rama, Krishna, Siva, Murugan, Hanuman, and so on. They are all one. There may be so many dishes in a meal served in your plate, such as curry, sambar, curds, chutney, dessert, pickle, salt, and so on, and all the items are served only for taste. So you eat each as a different item. But once the food goes in, it all gets mixed into one mixture in the stomach. So why waste so much time preparing so many dishes?
As a child, that is how I used to eat. I would go for Madhukara Vrata, begging for food from different homes to collect all the food items, mix them up, first feed the poor, and then whatever, if any, was left, that I ate as my meal prasadam. It would be exceptionally tasty. You should practice that method. Your family members will scold you if you do it. Do it in secret. The first 15 days it will be difficult to eat that mixture. After that you get used to it and it will be very tasty. Vamshi does that. If you invite him for a meal, you will notice that he mixes all the items and eats the mixture without noticing the taste of the food. He only thinks about quantity, not quality, his mother complains. I said, at least he is eating. So be quiet. That practice is very difficult to achieve.
Similarly, all the deities represent the one and the same Brahman. I offer prostrations to the one and only God.
God is only one. So many different tastes. For each deity, the sankalpam, worship rituals, and mantras are all different. The traditions of worship are different. Each prepared dish is different with different ingredients and method of preparation, and then only it has the specific taste. If your mother puts all the ingredients and prepares it as just one dish, you will not like it. In Kannada, they say, meal is up to one’s own choice. But if you go out to a program, it is because of the one who invites you, and so you go to please that person. You should not go for your own pleasure. At home someone may invite you to go to a cinema. If the plan is not to your taste, you must excuse yourself without upsetting the person. If someone speaks something undesirable, you must ignore and reject. In someone’s home they may include garlic in their cooking. You should not complain and upset them. You simply pick out all the pieces of garlic explaining that it does not agree with your health.
There is a crow that is hungry. It is asking for food. After you eat, you please serve it some food. If this were my bird, I would not wait to feed it.
To reject a meal invitation, you have to be diplomatic and excuse yourself without hurting feelings. You can give company but not eat because the food may upset your stomach.
Hanuman puja is different. Siva worship requires abhishekam. Mother Goddess ritual requires decorations.
Similarly, many tastes are there in our food. But all the gods are one and the same. Food is one. First Ganapati Puja, and then Navagraha puja, and then the main puja are performed. The priest will keep postponing and will keep you sitting for one hour. But you have to keep each limb separate. You cannot mix up everything. We have so many different limbs and organs, each doing its own specific job. Otherwise, you will not function normally. You cannot see, hear or do different things. You will just be inert. This creation by God is amazing. It is a computer creation. Something makes this hand swing up like this. The order was given by something inside.
Suddenly a feeling of pain comes. How does the pain come? How does it go away? All movements are caused by Lord Anjaneya/Hanuman. Without his order nothing moves. What is Brahma’s form? He can assume any form. He can remain without form also. It depends on your intention. Life force supports all parts of the body. If some part gives trouble, still the rest of the body functions. The priest also separates each procedure to suit each separate deity with the deity’s own specific form, requirement, and portfolio. You do all different types of worship and offerings. Just as you cannot mix up the recipes and procedures in the preparation of different food items, similarly, you cannot mix up in the procedures of worship to the different deities. You must abide by the rules.
If you do not want this, then go far away and just do one Namaskaram/prostration to all the deities as one God. Nobody objects to it. But if you want to have separate pujas for Ganapati, Hanuman, Siva, Vishnu, Murugan, and so on, then you must follow rules.
I can explain every detail for you like this. If a small insect crawls across the floor, I can speak and explain about it for 20 hours. About an elephant that walks by, I can speak for 20 hours. Each has its specific characteristics which must be understood. It cannot be generalized.
As a child I mixed all the food items and ate while I did the Madhukara Vrata. How tasty that food was. I used to give to the children as a last morsel, such food. Ask them how that food tasted. If they deliberately mix up like that, they cannot eat it. The mixing machine should be good. Your minds have a mixing machine. Om Gam Ganapataye Namaha. Om Namo Hanumate Namaha. If the temple is too crowded, you simply visualize all the deities and pray from a distance. But do not make that a habit at other times. If you go to the temple and do 40 times Pradakshina it will be good exercise. You will gain in two ways, serving God and serving yourself.
So offer a Poornaphala to Lord Hanuman for the benefit of the ashram and for your own benefit. Nada Anjaneya is sitting there. You must not go to the back and examine the details of the decoration. Then you will lose your devotion. Oh it is only grass/hay, you will say. Admire from the front. You must not investigate the source of a Rishi or the River Ganga. If you examine closely you will find that it is factory effluent that is coming out as Ganga water. You will lose your devotion and faith and will not feel like taking bath anymore in the holy river.
If you keep questioning and explaining, then your belief becomes disturbed. The mind will become distorted and it will spoil your service. Without any aberration in your thinking, continue your Seva to the Lord. That is my advice to all of you on this 25th anniversary of the Temple.
Vamshi, please give me an explanation about the book that was released, the Charana Vyuha.
Sri Vamshikrishna Ghanapathi: Charana is foot. Vyuha is layout.
Charana here is Veda Sakha. Swamiji is a pioneer in Veda propagation.
The four Vedas have different Sakhas/branches that are available today. This book shows the sitemap for all the Vedic literature that is prevalent in India.
Sri Guru Datta
Speech in the evening
Jaya Guru Datta
Sri Maha Ganapataye Namaha
Sri Saraswatyai Namaha
Sripada Vallabha
Narasimha Saraswati
Sri Guru Dattatreyaya Namaha
The name of Raga Narayani, Narayani Raga Sagara is today’s concert’s name. It is a tradition to have nine syllables in the name.
Why only Pranavasvaroopam always when there are so many other Ganapati bhajans of Swamiji? Many people ask. Because of the song Pranavasvaroopam, this music therapy is going on for so many years. This has always been the first song.
All 12 shruthis/notes are used in each concert as per deliberate planning. This is modern Veena. That other instrument is a keyboard. Different recorded sounds have been incorporated with different combinations into this instrument.
What ragas and notes will massage which Nadis in the body for what purpose is still being researched. In the end Sri Thyagaraja Swami lamented that the pitch is not synchronizing. It shows how much more of investigation is required. Music is an ocean. To this day no one knows what is in the depths of the ocean. People go out into space but not deep inside the ocean. That is God’s play.
Narayani, nakshtara raga for Anuradha will be played. Today’s Jade bonsai is Anjaneya’s tree. Brahma tree is this Bonsai. That bonsai is Vishnu. All three are here. We never planned it like this but the Trinity has arrived here on the stage. Bonsai trees also respond to music. The bonsai trees can survive for a thousand years. Even bombing did not affect the trees in Japan. I have seen such trees in the museum. The Shinto Temple in Japan is a Golden Temple built for the five elements. Tea is the only prasadam given there. The bonsai trees are their God. Nadanjaneya is also here today. It has happened by God’s will.
I was wondering how I was going to step outside to see Lord Hanuman and offer Him the CD. I got the opportunity to go and have His darshan. This has great significance. Otherwise, I would not have had the chance to go visit Him today. It just happened in an unplanned way.
One raga with 4 notes, one with 5, one with 6, and one raga with all 7 notes are going to be played. All ragas have songs with lyrics. Shruti is the same. It should not be changed. All the 12 notes will be played during the concert. That is a tradition. Different ragas will be rendered.
Anyone can play music. But here, each note requires a certain number of strokes. Where the pauses should be given, how many vowel sounds, how many long notes, and how many short notes should be played? Lots of research and calculation is ongoing. Swamiji is experimenting with this therapeutic aspect. To listen to, it sounds very nice. Once the power is given, the effect automatically comes.
For sugar complaint for which there is no cure, to strengthen the weakened organ that causes the deficiency which causes the disease, medicines are given. Medicines alone do not give strength. Because of the injections and the medicine the diseases is brought under control. Without the medicine other diseases also will develop. Food, entertainment, and thoughts have all to be controlled. Then any penance can be performed. Listen to music to help develop this control. Swamiji has come up with many tricks to effect a cure of ailments. Judgment should be set aside. Swamiji says, whether you enjoy the concert or not, just sit and listen to the music. It will give immense benefit to the body if you sit and listen for two hours. What composition, who is the artist, who is the composer, is all secondary. You are so unwilling to listen. Then you will not get healed. You are so distracted with talking on the phone, looking at the clock, going out, and so on. That is why Swamiji says in big halls to just fall asleep. And he will wake you up at the end. By then, by just listening to the sounds, people would have gone to a different world. Just with the sounds all kinds of benefit are derived. While singing also, the sounds that emanate from the body show a great effect. In different chakras, the different notes are produced.
Anagha and Visharada ragas are two healing ragas missed today because of a delayed start of the program. The first two are the ragas with 4 notes and 5 notes respectively. I have cut the Thani avartanas also. No loss. Even if you sit with me for ten minutes, that is enough. I begin now with the Shruthi.
Pranavaswaroopam in Raga Rishyaketupriya
This is a taste of Raga Anagha. There is no time now to play it elaborately. There is a song also composed in this raga. In Australia they asked for a raga with four notes. This was composed then for them.
Now Raga Visharada – Please listen to just the notes. (A Raga with five notes.)
Mainly only two items today. Narayani raga as per the star of today. The other is the healing raga Simhendra Madhyamam with the full scale of 7 notes.
May be 10 minutes or up to five hours, I do not know. It is not in my control. When it will finish, I cannot tell you.
Raga Narayani with 6 notes in the scale
Generally, there is a procedure how many times a note should be repeated. In every Raga there is a song with at least one refrain and one or two stanzas. They keep repeating. As per restrictions of the Raga, we must follow the rules.
This is not a concert. It is only a healing technique.
The next Raga is familiar to everyone. This song is the healing tune for today. (Pavo sharana Saamba Shankara ki.)
Happy tune. Needu padayugame sharanamani ..
As I said in the beginning, some tunes will be soothing and some will be harsh. That is how the treatment is, with or without anesthesia. With local and general anesthesia operation will be performed. Suddenly it is soothing. Suddenly it becomes harsh. That is how Swamiji has planned the treatment. Suddenly you feel sleepy. Suddenly you feel alert. You should not sit close to the speakers. But sometimes there is not enough space to avoid that.
There is no regret that there was not enough time for all the healing tunes. We somehow managed.
I wish to finish with Hanuman Chalisa, the CDs and books have come. My Tamil is child Tamil. In my pronunciation there may be irregularities. But Swami Anjaneya/Hanuman is very happy. If he is pleased, then as His devotees, all of you should also be pleased. I wanted to give something special for the 25th anniversary. All the children worked very hard to prepare this. I said there may be mistakes. But they said, when you sing it, it will automatically become right. I am not proficient in any language. I have familiarity with all the languages. The Hanuman Chalisa in Tamil CD will first be inaugurated. Then Mangalam will be played in Sama raga. It will conclude in peace. Peace is what we all require.
Hanuman Chalisa in Tamil language composed and sung by Sri Swamiji, a translation of the original Hanuman Chalisa composed by Saint Tulsidas.
Those who have sponsored this, the music director Jaitra, and Balu, and all those who have helped in so many ways, are blessed.
For two days I did not go to Shuka Vana during the production of this CD. The doctor was out of town. I had given word that I would go there to care for the birds. Swamiji may not be physically aware, but he knew nevertheless that at that time, without informing me or giving me notice, the doctor had returned. I was troubled in my mind that I denied my attention to the injured baby birds which required hand feeding by Swamiji. When I take a bath and go to feed them, by the time I finish, I am fully splattered with the cereal food Cerelax. Even my hair is covered by it. I would have to go back and bathe again. I never feel bad about it, or even if they do droppings on me. The birds are to me as your babies are to you. I was very much troubled about neglecting them. The last day when I went there I just shouted out Anjaneya, when 30 huge Macaws came and landed on me. They have so much love for me. I cannot bear that much love. They came to me all together in anger (because I was absent for two days). I said, for your work I had to neglect them and so you have to handle this situation. Then I announced that this CD is going to be released in Chennai and the first day’s proceeds will be given to Shuka Vana. Many of the birds here are injured. They have lost their feet, their eyesight, and so on. It is very depressing to see them or hear about them. There are happy birds also. The happy ones give company to the troubled birds to share their happiness with them.
These CDs will be placed in the bookstall. If you give more than the cost of 100 rupees, which is very minimal, the funds will all go to Shuka Vana. For this Silver Jubilee, I offer this as a gift to Lord Hanuman. I give this CD to you for free here, (the trustees etc.) but you must go to the bookstall and pay for it.
I do not know Tamil. If there are mistakes, please accept them for yourselves and take them home. I do not want them. After all, I made this CD for you. Normally in speeches people say, please take what is good and leave the mistakes to me. Here I say, take the mistakes also.
Now Swamiji will play the Mangalam.
Because of Lord Hanuman, today’s program has turned out to be very different.
There is a very important person behind this who does not like to come forward. Ayyappan was the one who insisted that this should be done in Tamil also, as soon as the Telugu version was released. He kept saying why not. Even if there are mistakes, we will listen, he said. I sang only because of him.
Ragaragini Devi Mangalam
Sri Guru Datta