Speech of HH Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji – April 11, 2015 – in the evening during bhajan session – Auckland, New Zealand
Sri Maha Ganapataye Namaha
Sri Saraswatyai Namaha
Sripada Vallabha
Narasimha Saraswati
Sri Guru Dattatreyaya Namaha
Everyone should repeat this mantra after me. It is not just for me. See how fine it sounds when everyone chants it together. When Sri Ramachandra took birth, it was a result of the prayers of all the Gods praying together that Lord Maha Vishnu should take birth as a human being to destroy the demon king Ravana who was tormenting everyone.
When everyone prays together, the vibrations will positively affect the aura system that surrounds us. I cannot explain the immense power that it generates. Group prayer has a remarkable amount of power. In Maharashtra, even to this day, people chant the name of Vitthala together at least for a few minutes up to half an hour, before going to sleep. Everyone in the family joins together, reconciles all differences and prays together. Such a practice promotes good interpersonal relationships. In our homes family members all come home at different times and at unpredictable times. Before going to bed, if group family prayer is not possible, then, in the morning, it should be done. Early in the morning in Maharashtra, they sing Vitthala , Vitthala.
Whether or not you believe in God, it is good to sing of God together as a group. These days relationships are not harmonious. Always there are tensions and quarrels. Friendship will generate among family members if combined family prayers are held. Different souls come together as a family. Why should one always quarrel? I don’t understand. This is not a permanent friendship. Our home, things, body, all are temporary. Why have a possessive nature? All things and even this body have to be given up. No one single person ever took the body with them at death. Only in Krita Yuga, because they were all angels and not humans, they went with the body. No Purana ever has mentioned that anyone left along with the body at death in any other Yuga. If such a mention is found anywhere, then it is an utter lie.
In all other Yugas, we must leave this body made of the five elements. We have to discard it. We cannot go with the body. Only in Krita Yuga it happened. They were all Gods that is why. They were not human beings. This is only a rental body. The intellect also is rental. It follows the karma. It performs a long journey according to karma. God alone is all-pervading. We have leased this body. We have taken small parts from the five elements. They are the owners of the body. Why are you quarreling and crying? Be happy. As much as possible, laugh. Bad things also teach good lessons in our house. Who is whose brother or mother, we do not know. We do not understand this illusion. We have no answers. Why we are born, what our aim in life is, we do not understand. We take birth, we study, we marry, have children, gain some, lose some, cry one day, laugh one day, one day in pain, one day in pleasure. Mood is very happy one day. Flying like a bird. Then it suddenly changes after a few minutes. I want to die. Someone gave me bad words. Who spoke? Who heard? We have no clue. Guru gives us different lessons in our family journey. Why be disappointed? Why be depressed? Who is responsible for your joy and sorrow? Only your karma. You yourself. Your mother, father, and children are the enemies who come into your lives to give lessons. If their behavior does not suit you, it is because of your own karma. You deserve what you get. You have earned it. Pray for good children. Each one is occupied with their own problems, One is worried about job, another about watching TV serial. Each goes a different way in the same family. Mother says she will stay home and will not join others. The cook plans to torture the family with new recipes seen in a book. Perhaps with other ingredients, she will throw the recipe book also in. The husband is forced to eat even if he feels nauseous. If he refuses to eat, he is accused of having eaten out.
Human problems make great stories. Very interesting. No happiness. Always morose. If one is happy, the other is envious. Why should the other person be happy when I am miserable? Why should others suffer because you suffer?
It is all a strange mix. Only Avadhoota mixes all things and eats. I did Madhukara Bhiksha in childhood. They chant a mantra and give the food. All the items are mixed together brought from different homes. In Proddutur, there were handicapped persons with missing limbs and so on, sitting at the Siva Temple. I fed them first and then ate the leftover food. I could not tell the taste at all of the food. Could not tell whether it was sweet or sour. It is a great experience. If you develop that habit, you will never find fault about tastes. Now we keep all tastes different. Just like the different dishes with different tastes you experience and relish, family relationships are also like that. Dad is like that, dad’s wife is like that, he is like that, she is like that, you criticize. Each person’s tastes in life and behavior are different. Life is filled with sorrow. Body is filled with aches and pains. This pain, that pain, headache, stomach ache, always this vehicle is under repair. New medicines, new operations. if kidney is lost, replace. If knees is spoiled, replaced with steel. Heart also replaced with steel, and same with brain. Pig brain or plastic or steel brain is given as replacement.
Rama said after living for 10 thousand years, He got so bored and wished to return to Vaikuntha. You get bored if you live too long. Body disintegrates. Live a comfortable life and die a painless death. Don’t wish to keep prolonging life.
All these different questions come in our lives. What is an easy way to have a good life? In the Kali Yuga, the easiest solution is Namasmarana – group singing of devotional songs. Slowly devotion will develop. In the beginning, the monkey mind will not have devotion. Rama took help from monkey. In one place to see perfect devotion, Rama selected a monkey. In his childhood, Hanuman was very fickle-minded. His behavior was very naughty. But he developed into a great devotee.
Each gives a different mantra. What should one follow? The easiest method is bhajan singing. One should forget oneself, one’s body and sense organs, simply tie bells on the ankles and sing and dance singing the praises of God. Satsang has immense power. I cannot adequately explain the power of bhajan singing. We must all join together and with concentration, we must sing. First have concentration in singing. Then devotion, knowledge, and finally dispassion will come to us. First we must create some interest in singing. Pretend that you have interest. Then, the mind will get attuned. Then you cannot even give up singing bhajans. Divyanama sankeertana grants devotion and liberation. This is the easiest way to follow in Kali Yuga. When there is sorrow in the heart, automatically the mind will chant Sri Rama Jaya Rama. The grief will go away. Otherwise, psychologically, small sorrows will grow into mountainous sorrows. We are born only for the purpose of singing of God. The treasure of liberation is to wish for being reborn again and again only to praise God.
All belongs only to God. We are all small toys, puppets in the hands of God. He holds the puppet strings. WE are all like good robots. Even a robot will get liberation if he is good. Many people have asked for this bhajan.
Bhajan: Gam gam ganapati vinayaka
Your requests have reached me. Over 3000 bhajans have been printed. Over 6000 bhajans have been composed. Many musicians in many concerts, they use these bhajans, including even in fusion music programs, in Veena concerts, violin concerts, on the radio, in TV, etc. both in North India and South India.
I heard that in Auckland, they like this bhajan very much. It is a Devi bhajan that Swamiji sings during Navaratri. A very beautiful keertan. Very easy to sing. It contains the essence of the spirit of the Navavarana Pujas.
Bhajan: Manasa mandira
Your favorite bhajan has been sung, just for your pleasure.
Bhajan:
This Telugu bhajan in Ganamurti raga was one of the first healing ragas. Most people ask for this. For today’s star, and today being the Tulasi Vrata day, special for Lord Vishnu, The bad effect of Sani/Saturn will be reduced by singing this song. This was translated from Sanskrit to Telugu. It heals all ailments. Now Swamiji has not come prepared to play on the instrument at length. He just came at your request to sing a few bhajans.
One couple willingly and readily hosted my last trip here and showed me the entire south very efficiently.
Tomorrow we also have Sri Chakra Puja and Homa, because it is Sunday.
This raga was sung at Tirupati. Chief Minister Chenna Reddy also attended the program. He noticed and said, please finish the song quickly because the queue has stood still when Swamiji started singing this Palaya Govinda song. All turned towards Swamiji, listening to this, forgetting themselves and the queue stopped moving. Over 2 lakh devotees were in the queue for darshan of the Lord.
Bhajan: Aghanasana anaghapriya
It has a samishti charanam to make it easy for everyone to sing. Professional musicians only can use the system of pallavi, anupallavi and charanam in this song, because this raga is a little difficult to render.
My mother has composed so many bhajans based on the Bhagavatam. Sri Jayalakshmi Mata’s song is this which even my parrots sing. If you go to SGS birds channel on the YouTube you will see the parrot singing this. Parrots sing. You people do not sing. You are always busy, no peace, always hungry. Now time is seen even on the phone. No one carries a watch anymore. All are only worried about eating meals.
Everyone loves this bhajan. People of all languages sing this Kannada bhajan. In Ahmedabad, in other regions in India, in other countries, like even in the West Indies, they all compete against one another to sing more and more beautifully all of Swamiji’s bhajans. When there is competition in other things, why not have in this also?
Bhajan: Om namo narayana Krishna
This is a Tora bhajan, like a garland placed at a doorway to indicate an auspicious occasion. Some songs have different patterns, like a diamond shape and syllable-strings going both horizontally and vertically, some are in a star shape, like Vishnu’s wheel, or in a mace shape. Mother Sri Jayalakshmi Mata had the extraordinary expertise to weave the syllables of the songs in different patterns.
e.g. Om Namo NaRa yana Krishna
Na Ra dadi vandya
Na dalola Krishna
Rajeevaksha neene
Rama Krishna neene
Bhajan: Alloo rama illoo rama
Not Allu Rama of Telugu movies who was my devotee. Do not mistake. It means Rama is there, and Rama is here also. You are there Rama, and you are here, you are everywhere.
Bhajan: Hey Hanuman bahu balavan
(Hanuman, who is very strong, is a treasure house of devotion, knowledge, and dispassion. He removes sorrows, fulfills wishes, makes the weak become strong, removes grief instantly, will prevent troubles, and makes difficult tasks easy to achieve. Those who sing his praises will not face difficulties. Hanuman grants liberation.)
I am very happy. You have a strong bhajan group. Make it even stronger. Improve your bhajan singing by learning more bhajans. Sing in groups, sing loudly and see it improve your peace of mind, the harmony in relationships, and your health. You have come far away from your homes. Where is Vijayawada or any other hometown that you have left, and where is Auckland?
Now we conclude with Hanuman Chalisa. Everyone chant and send your count. This Yajna may go on for two years. At least 40 times you have to chant to send in your count to sgshanumanchalisa@gmail.com.
Do individually or in groups, send count with photograph. At least once in four days when you complete forty counts send in the count. Do daily ten times for four days, or twenty times in the morning and twenty times in the evening, as it suits you. Join four people and sing just ten times. It is so easy to earn blessings. Continuously keep sending. Once you send, you will experience the taste of chanting God’s name. You continue to send, every one of you must participate. Compulsory. It is your duty to send. Only good results will be obtained by you, and your family. You will enjoy good health. You yourself will witness the improvement that occurs. You be the judge. The energy that Hanuman Chalisa gives is indescribable. It is beyond words.
Now the last bhajan. Someone has requested this bhajan on Siva.
Bhajan: Om Namassivaya – Nagabhoosha nadatosha
This was composed spontaneously in Kasi in the sannidhi of Lord Visweswara. This song is my life. That is why I do not sing it often. Lord Siva’s life force is in this song. It is an Upadesam song. It was very difficult for me to sing this song for recording purpose also. Download this song and listen to its power. Because it was composed in the presence of Lord Siva, it is full of His essence. I saw the lyrics being written by Lord Siva Himself, using the serpent as a pen. Who will believe me when I say this? In the Navavarana Pujas, after each Avarana Puja, Swamiji will go in and Mother Goddess Herself would compose each song. Hanuman bhajans are all composed by Hanuman Himself. It is difficult to sing them for recording. My Ambassador car was all filled with poems that came to me spontaneously and were written all over the fabric. We have now kept the car for display. Unknown to me, they replaced the upholstery. I was afraid that I had lost all the scripts. But they have been preserved.
Telugu Namarchana CD has this song. Download this song and gift it to me so that I can put it in my phone. If you listen to this song, you will become a devotee of this song and of Lord Siva.
Now my favorite. So far I sang your favorites and requests.
Hanuman Chalisa chant.
Kayena vacha …
Sri Guru Datta
Compiled by Smt Hira Duvvuri