Speech of HH Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji – morning – August 15, 2015 – KSHT Frisco, TX USA
Sri Maha Ganapataye Namaha
Sri Saraswatyai Namaha
Sripada Vallabha Narasimha Saraswati
Sri Guru Dattatreyaya Namaha
Sri Sita Rama Anjaneya Lakshmana Swami ki Jai
Sri Venkataramana Swami ki Jai
Sri Venkataramana Swami has kept Sridevi and Bhudevi in his heart.
Woman is given great prominence in our scriptures. Brahma kept Saraswati on his tongue. Siva kept Ganga on his head. Vishnu keeps Lakshmi in his heart.
Devotion came into existence because of women. Puranas extol women.
He is Lakshmi sahita Srinivasa always. He preserves Lakshmi in his heart. Mother’s form she takes, as the Universal Mother. She receives and renders service.
After Krishna’s incarnation, unable to remain in Vaikuntha, he came back to the earth as Srinivasa, it is said. To fulfill the promises made to sages, saints, Vanaras, and others during the Rama avatara, the Lord came back as Krishna. Again Sri Krishna came back as Lord Srinivasa to fulfill promises he made. Seshachala is a saligrama. Sri Hari bestows wealth, knowledge, and health. It is wrong to think that he gives only wealth. He first gives wisdom and then health. Without proper knowledge, wealth will not remain and it will be misused. He gives a charitable nature and dispassion, before giving wealth.
Such Srinivasa came to KSHT on his own, walking on his own two feet, to visit his devotee Anjaneya.
In Rama avatara, Rama gave a boon to Hanuman that any tough task will be accomplished by him effortlessly.
Devotees in the Kali Yuga go directly to Hanuman to get their work completed. We worship him first. He accomplishes all missions. To see the glory of Hanuman, the god of Life Energy, Srinivasa has come to Dallas. Here Hanuman is a Marakata murti, not an ordinary Murti, and not made of granite. By taking loans, and collecting funds from so many devotees through programs such as Dollar a day, a historical event has been created here. The very sight of the Marakata stone removes poverty and illness.
‘Marakata manimaya chela’ is a famous song. Mother Goddess appeared to Hanuman in marakata. He prayed to Sita in the skies at the time of the battle against Satakantha Ravana before his death. Already the other two Ravanas had been killed, Mairavana and Dasakantha Ravana. There are three Ravanas in all. Sita became Kalika Mata and Durga Parameswari riding on a lion during the battle against Satakantha Ravana. Hanuman and Durga Parameswari are very dear to each other. They each displayed their universal form to one another. Durgam means fort, tough to enter. The seven hills are also durgam. Entering the region is possible only for true devotees. Many cannot even approach the seven hills of Tirupati, even if they wish to. Many demonic persons climb the hills and then do terrible deeds on top of the hill. Many have darshan of the Lord and still do not get transformed. Many good and true devotees do get transformed.
Durga Parameswari is of the forms of Sridevi and Bhudevi.
Today is Independence Day, where not only the country but the body also must gain independence. We depend on bank balance, children, spouse, and upon so many other things. It takes many people a very long time to adjust to bereavement. Mind must be strong to survive in this world alone. Gain such strength. Srinivasa experienced it in his life. He teaches us how to be strong.
The Murtis for which Kalyanam was done today have gone through many kalyanams before they came here.
On Tirumala Swamiji has an ashrama. There is a small Datta Temple also. You may visit the 2-3 storey building. History from 200 years ago was dug up by Chenna Reddy (former Chief Minister). He read that the ancestors of Swamiji had supported and followed the Lord of Tirupati. This Peetham must be welcomed with great honors, he decided, and he made an ordinance to that effect. Swamiji said, I am a servant, I do not need all this pomp. He said, your Avadhoota Datta Peetham deserves it. He insisted. They personally took me there. My great grandfather climbed the hills on his knees and lost his life on top of the hill. He then said in anger, my future generations will not come here. We worship Lord Narasimha as our family deity. How Chenna Reddy found out all these details, I do not know.
A Veda Pathasala also you must run on Tirumala. The government will support it, he said. Once a year, the first harati will be offered to you and then only to the other devotees. I said, leave off history. Enough.
I remember all that today. Once a year, from the main entrance, they welcome Swamiji to the Tirupati temple accompanied by all the dignitaries from all the departments, from the Executive Officer, the chief priest, and the chief chef.
They have great affection and devotion for Swamiji. I am detached. I have no attachment for anyone. I may pretend to show favors. But I have no favorites.
Today I bless you all. The Kalyana Utsavam and the Independence Day have been celebrated here. This should become an annual celebration. This should be performed by those who are instrumental in bringing the Murtis here. They must do it as an annual festival. Hanuman will be very happy. Both Hanuman and Lord Venkateswara are Chiranjeevis, they are immortal. Those who worship Hanuman will be protected by Srinivasa. O Srinivasa, first you sent your servant. Then you yourself have come.
Many new devotees also have come today. Do not fear me. I am your friend. The beard and moustache should not scare you. Leave off your reserve. Increase your affection. Become one of us. Understand Swamiji. Avadhootas are always misunderstood. Do not be concerned about understanding or not understanding. Simply follow. Do not come with great ambitions, hopes, and demands, such as, my mute son must talk at once. Pray for strength to bear the burden of your karma.
We have all come to America, by karma. Many have come here for livelihood.
Sing both the national anthems. We eat American food. We must show respect for the country that feeds us. India is still backward. Many poor people are getting poorer. The rich are getting richer. Serve humanity. Ignore the wicked.
We go to Tirupati. We wait in the long queue, even with tickets procured by underhanded methods, the queue cannot be avoided. There, inside, regardless of your ticket, people will push you forward rudely and ruthlessly. The concern of the security attendants is that everyone should get darshan of the Lord. If you get upset with that person who tells you to move along fast, you will only see the ‘jaragandi’ man, and you will miss seeing the Lord, with your mind distracted, and your eyes diverted. Only focus on God. The crowd will push you out without any effort on your part.
Why escalator? They had a meeting about the feasibility of installing one. I said there is no need. Even those with leg pain will be pushed forward. Do not pay attention to the attendants. Only see the Murti of the Lord. You get busy in scolding and blaming the attendants and you are pushed out. You cannot go back. That is bad karma.
We took Lord Venkateswara to Mysore, that is why. We did not wish to struggle with the crowds. We took him to our own home. On Vaikuntha Ekadasi, the crowds at Sri Datta Venkateswara Temple are immense. Many from Tirupati have complained that after Venkateswara came to Mysore, Swamiji does not go to Tirupati. Every year I visit now.
Lot of loans remain here. Please help to repay the loans. All Hindus have got together to build this temple. First let us support our own God who is at our home. Be careful with your money with the lord. He has a tendency to take it away. But when he takes, he gives back more. He plays divine games.
Our inner seven hills are the seven Chakras. The seventh hill is the Sahasrara over the other six chakras. The Lord is always in Jnana. He is pulled down by us with our prayers for help. He listens. He satisfies our desires.
Please maintain our traditions. Many men come wearing shorts to the temple. It is not our tradition. Bring a towel and wrap it around the shorts. Give respect to the Lord. From tomorrow I may wear a loin cloth if you persevere with your habits. Why do we wear clothes? To remember, like a uniform, to think good thoughts. It is nothing to be ashamed of, to wear a dhoti. Keep ten colorful polyester towels for those who come in shorts, I have suggested, to wrap themselves. Give them to them as a loan. Our Raman comes in shorts or underwear, even after having four children. In front of God and Guru it is not the proper outfit.
In our temple, shorts for adults are banned. Not an unfair restriction. It is to maintain tradition and for personal protection and respect. Mosquitoes will bite you if you expose your skin.
This evening there is a bhajan program.
The Sundara Kanda Saptaham was a great success. Many people missed it. They perhaps did not know.
Hanuman’s glories will be described again in a 3 day discourse, Hanumad Vilasam – August 21-23, Friday thru Sunday. It is a weekend program. Attend in the evenings 7-9 pm. come prepared to stay and attend. May Lord Venkateswara Swami bless you.
Victory to Lord Hanuman. Victory to Govinda, Narayana.
With faith, let us offer our hearts to God and surrender to his will. All we have is what he has given us. We came with nothing and we leave with nothing. The Greeks and the Egyptians as we observe in the Pyramids etc. never took anything with them. We are renters on this earth. We fully pay our rent before we leave. All losses and gains are temporary. Keep surrendering at God’s feet all that he has given.
Hundis are kept everywhere in the temples to remind you to give to God. HUNDI is written. What you place in it is your karma in the form of money. When you go home, your money will come back to you in some form or another. Do not worry. Your karmas are removed. You will remain at peace.
Jai Veera Hanuman ki Jai
Sri Guru Datta
Compiled by Smt Hira Duvvuri