Speech of HH Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji in the morning – October 26, 2014 – Chennai
Jaya Guru Datta
Sri Maha Ganapataye Namaha
Sri Saraswatyai Namaha
Sripada Vallabha
Narasimha Saraswati
Sri Guru Dattatreyaya Namaha
25 years of history of this ashrama you have heard so far. Ramani has narrated. There is much more to tell. It will make a book. The historian is IIT Venkataraman. The ones who propagated this are Chandra Rao and Kautha Mani. The charioteer/driver was Gopalan. The conductor is Panchapakesan. With all of them this bus is running, sometimes lacking a wheel, and sometimes lacking a seat. This route bus is running. When Swamiji came, what he spoke, has all been recorded. He forcefully tossed one lemon and where it fell, he said a Datta Temple should be built. A well, Datta Ganga was also there on the site. Two wells were dug. One has been closed due to lack of water. On the Northeast side of Dattatreya at least dig a bore well now. It is auspicious. On the Southeast is the place specified for fire.
Such history exists for all the 77 ashramas established by Swamiji. Every location has prospered and has become a gold mine. The smart devotees purchased plots then when Swamiji suggested it, and thrived. They were available at rupees 2-3 K per ground. The foolish ones ignored the advice of Swamiji. Most people disregarded and complained about the distance to Velachery. Had they invested then, now 2 crores each plot will fetch. One needs to have the good luck to purchase land, to conduct a marriage, to raise cattle, to get vehicle, or even to purchase a refrigerator.
Please worship God. When Vishnu is worshiped, prosperity will automatically come. To answer spiritual questions, pray to Siva. For protection pray to Hanuman. For strength, pray to Mother Goddess. Dattatreya is all in one.
Brahma, Vishnu, Siva, Saraswati, Lakshmi, and Parvati all are there. He has gifted to us everything that we have, body, mind, intelligence and possessions. He has given himself to us in the end and has come to reside in our homes. Even Sri Rama and Sri Krishna worshiped Lord Datta. He is the Guru, the primal and foremost Guru. Dattatreya is a Poorna Avatara, with Vishnu as His main aspect. Seeing the moon is like seeing Datta. Durvasa represents the Rishi tradition of Dattatreya. Datta is Guru to all, to gods and even to Satvic Rakshasas like Prahlada. The Tamasic demons were destroyed by him.
I am very happy that we are today celebrating the Silver Jubilee of this ashram. I cannot forget this.
Mani has set tunes for many of our bhajans and has taught many singers to sing them. He has sung in Tripura Vaibhavam also. He respects Swamiji’s tunes. He is like a guru to our students.
I am very happy to hear that that he sang in Dallas. That people of Dallas appreciate music now, is very good news to me. Earlier there was no interest in music there. It is wonderful that he has sung there and lectured there.
Now all spirituality has gone from India. There is no Agraharam anymore to even explain the concept to children. We have to show it in a movie. How the Agraharam layout should be, with different compounds can now be seen in Dallas at the Hanuman Temple being constructed. Now in Dallas such a traditional layout is taking shape. A few years ago people laughed at my prediction. Now there is also a temple pond. A huge temple that can accommodate 3000-5000people is being built. The children have all taken personal loans to finance it and they are clearing the loans themselves without burdening the Ashrama.
Nada Nidhi title is a blessing granted to Mani. There are 100,000 devotees, and at least 100 musicians deserving the title, but due to Datta’s grace, he alone has been selected.
Mani gave a suggestion yesterday. That big book (Raga Ragini Nada Yoga) should be given only to those who have a command over the English language and who are interested in research in music. A small 100 page book should be brought out to introduce this compendium to lay persons. Just to give an outline of what is contained in the big book will take 100-200 pages. Many people do not deserve to have this in their possession. It is a collection item. Most people are so unlucky who have not procured a copy when it was available. Accidentally the book ended up in the bookstall. Those who are intelligent obtained a copy. Although it was available, many did not avail of the opportunity of procuring for themselves a copy of this treasure.
People spend on coffee, sarees, hospital and operation but not in purchasing this book. Some family member later in the family may show interest in learning music and may find this book to be priceless. You will be an old person then and will remember the words of Mani. Run and get a copy now before the stock is withdrawn. Many people have done Ph. D based on the information contained in this book. In America 3 persons have used this treatise to base their research for Ph.D. One in Andhra Pradesh has done so. People run to purchase a saree, a watch, or some other glass item that has now become a craze. People spend so much money on worthless things. Is this book not worth more than those things? All of Swamiji’s knowledge is crammed into this book. You do not even need to read his Life History if you have read this. All those who sing music, listen to music, and who sing bhajans, must possess this book. Swamiji himself will be seated in your home in the form of this book.
This stock will be withdrawn and a small booklet which will serve like a table of contents for it will soon replace it in the bookstall.
Where do you find a diamond? In the dirty soil. Its brilliance is hidden. Like the turtle which withdraws its head and limbs, it lies hidden. Only to swim it releases its limbs and uses them. Such a hard shell hides it. People ignore it seeing just the rock-like shell. Once the enemy leaves, the turtle will move again.
Dasaratha lost control of his judgment. That was his karma, his curse. It was destined to happen like that. Without Dasaratha, the Ramayana story would not have occurred. Rama would not have gone to the forest to kill all the demons, if Dasaratha had not made the mistake and himself became a loser. Because of Dasaratha, we have gained so much. I offer prostrations first to Dasaratha. Otherwise Ravana would not have been killed.
All that happened in the history of this ashrama, all the words that Swamiji had spoken, his plans and advice, everything had a definite purpose. None of it happened without reason.
Many children are here waiting for me. It is getting late. The children are getting hungry. Annadana is as important as spiritual worship. The two should be balanced. It is very important for Swamiji. This evening also there will be a music program. Many have come prepared to sing. Lots of practice sessions are in progress. I heard them. I said it is raining bhajans. I was told that they are preparing for the evening program, all the different groups.
The rain here is unpredictable.
I will go there and give blessings to the children, pose for some photographs for the magazines, then have the darshan of Lord Dattatreya, give him my 25 year report, assure him that I will feed him a feast of bhajans this evening, and then will return for the evening bhajan program.
Please subscribe to Bhakti Mala magazine. Srinivas is working very hard. Please gift it to your friends and relatives. Take extra memberships. It is like a newsletter for the family. The cost is minimal. Please give advertisements and donations. For Namakaranam, Griha Pravesam, Marriage, and Birthday celebrations, you can give small advertisements soliciting Swamiji’s blessings. With the proceeds, the cost of publication will be met. You may donate paper for printing. Give for maintenance. This is also a rare magazine. It will one day become a rare collection item. There are online copies available on the website in all different languages. You can pay and subscribe so that students can download for research purposes. In Telugu there is a huge membership. Tamil magazine should also become as popular. It gives all four types of blessing – Chaturvidha Purushartha.
Sri Guru Datta