Speeches of HH Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji – February 16, 2015 – Mysore
Speech in the morning
Last night we made history with the 1000 voices singing Swamiji’s bhajans. The recording was successful. The children showed so much love and determination. They spent hours practicing and singing. They sat and performed without getting restless or impatient. I am very happy with their devotion. The grownups should be ashamed looking at them because in devotion, discipline, and determination, they are not as good.
The cost of recording the program last night ran into several lakhs, not counting the Annadana, which Swamiji has taken care of. I do not want to burden Datta Peetham with this expense. I do not wish for one devotee to bear the whole expense. I propose that 30 devotees share the cost. I invite sponsors. Their names will be printed on the Blue ray DVD back cover.
The program was successful and now the fundraising also was successful. Actually now we have raised more money than we needed. However, the names of all the sponsors will be printed.
It is always good for devotees to give smaller amounts and support a greater number of projects. This also gives them a better and a more frequent chance to come close to Swamiji to make their offerings. If everything they have is offered all at once, then they lose the chance of coming to Swamiji again and again to participate in His projects.
Our SGS school which is located in a very poor neighborhood in Mysore is at risk of closure because the government is not giving us any support. We are raising funds over a period of three years to keep it going. If you see the children you will love them. They are very sweet, very bright, very intelligent, but very poor. Last week Swamiji visited the school. Usually only Bala Swamiji goes to visit the school regularly. When I went, it was very hot. But all the children out of love for Swamiji assembled outside and they all chanted the Hanuman Chalisa. Swamiji felt very happy. Whatever excess funds I collect, I will pass them on to Krishnappa towards the running of the school. 84 percent of students pass the exams, which is very good. We are hiring special teachers to give them training. Soon we are planning to introduce English also as a medium of instruction. We need to raise a few crores of rupees to maintain this school.
Many adults who came to Sadguru because of their past merit of regular prayers and pujas, are now becoming distanced from Him. Having come to Guru they become complacent that Swamiji will take care of everything whether they pray or not. They verbally say, Oh Guru is in my heart, His photo is in my pocket, but stop offering regular prayers. They give up their discipline and daily spiritual practices.
They give excuses. I have no time. They do not visit the ashram even when they have the opportunity. They do not follow Swamji’s live programs. I have no Wi-Fi. I have no laptop. Like this, they try to escape. They do not see Swamiji’s programs, MMS, or messages. They thus use up their bank balance of merit, and soon, when it is all spent, they begin to go downhill. Their devotion becomes weak. Their connection with Swamiji becomes loose. You must keep the connection tight with regular prayers, and regular visits to the ashram. You must come. You must have darshan. You must listen to Guru’s words and follow them. You must participate in Sadguru’s projects. He is here now, living. You are also living. You must utilize this life to strengthen your bond with Sadguru. You must do your daily sadhana no matter what.
As their children get closer to Sadguru, the parents are beginning to recede in their relationship with Swamiji. The adults are becoming more involved in their children’s affairs. You must do your duty towards your children but after they are grown up, you must allow them to lead their own lives instead of picking on them for little things. You must concentrate on your Guru seva. Wherever you may be, you must continue your daily worship. You must not become lax in your spiritual routine and sadhana. If you do, all the merit that you have earned in the past will become wasted.
There are some good devotees like Sethuraman who continue their Guru seva without getting too involved with the lives of children. I need such good devotees. The really strong first circle devotees remain close to Swamiji. But the second circle devotees are losing their grip and their devotion is dwindling. The third and fourth circle devotees have weak connection with Guru. You should not become downgraded. Be careful. The small children are now getting bonded with Sadguru through singing His bhajans.
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The mantra Namassivaya applies to Siva and it also applies to Hanuman because Hanuman is of Siva’s aspect. Both Siva and Hanuman receive the prayer if you chant this mantra. If you treat them both as one and pray, then Vishnu receives your prayers. If all gods are treated as one, and offered prayers, then Brahman receives your prayers. He gives you liberation. He gives enlightenment. That is what we need.
We have fears and desires. We must get rid of both of them. Earlier Swamiji gave you the Om Namo Hanumate Namaha, a powerful mantra with nine syllables. Now He says chant the Hanuman Chalisa.
Tomorrow it is Puttu Gam’s Birthday. Puttu means Sri Jayalakshmi Mata. Gam is Ganapati. Sri is Swamiji. That is why we say Puttu Gam Sri.
Many lives are transformed by the daily MMS messages and the Puttu Gam messages. People all over the world report to Swamiji every day about the positive changes they experience in their daily lives because of receiving these messages from Puttu Gam.
Now Girija Kalyanam is going to be performed. Girija is Nature. Nature consists of the five elements. We merge into the five elements when we leave the body. The Life Force within us is Lord Hanuman. We are made of all the five elements. We are like a forest with so many desires, anger, jealousy, and so on, the Kama Krodhas. The soul within enjoys and suffers because of those. It is the God within us who, like a two year old child, creates this drama, this make-believe play with so many characters and situations. He builds a castle. He creates a king and a queen and so many battles. When father calls the child to come back home, the child simply breaks the doll house he made, and all the characters in it, and goes home happily. He is not attached to the puppets he created. He does not leave them behind also. The child stomps on the whole set up, destroys and leaves.
Many people build attachments to people and possessions. They do not wish to leave them. They cling to their television, their new car, their new daughter-in-law with whom they have not even yet established a relationship. And so they suffer to die.
They wish to quarrel with the daughter in law, although with outsiders they pretend love towards her. There is lots of hypocrisy. One must be like that child. One must realize that this is all only a game and be happy to end it when the time comes to leave.
Kavacha prayers mention each part of the body and pray for protection for each and every single organ and limb, specifically mentioning every single part, like head, forehead, nose, eyes, ears, mouth, hands, arms, shoulders, chest, stomach, legs, feet, and so on. All Kavachas are like that. Siva Kavacha is very powerful. It protects all devotees. Swamiji chanted the Siva Kavacha after his accident. He cured Himself by the powerful prayer and played a concert in Switzerland a few days after surgery. It is tough to learn. But some European devotees have learned it. At least Listen. Read. Chant. Siva, Datta, Ganesha, Lalita, Surya, and Narayana Kavachas are all there. Also the book is available. Look for the CD and book or purchase the easy app to listen and learn. Now Girija Kalyanam will take place. Please participate and witness. It is highly beneficial. Om Namassivaya. It is Sivaratri time. So it is okay to add the Om and chant Om Namassivaya.
This evening there is a Program by Swamiji in Mysore in the Rajendra Hall. It is a free Healing Music Concert plus Bhajan session. But the hall has no seats left for Datta devotees. All the Mysore audience have already booked all the seats. Chairs and a large screen will be arranged outside the building where Datta devotees can sit and watch. Free bus transportation is arranged from the ashram.
Sri Guru Datta
Speech in the evening – Shuka Brahma Raga Sagara
Today’s program will consist of small bhajans with healing ragas. These are just a sampling of Swamiji’s thousands of compositions. Rishyaketupriya is the first item that Swamiji always plays. This Raga clears the atmosphere of any negative energies which may be present in the auditorium.
You may be wondering about the crystal that I was holding. It is not a mantra danda/a magic wand. It is a crystal that reflects the lights and shows where the different energies are distributed. The other instrument I was using is not a water detector. It measures aura vibrations. It helps me to know where and what type of healing is required in today’s gathering.
In Tenali, Andhra Pradesh, Guinness World Record was set last month for 2.2 lakh devotees chanting in one voice the prayer, Hanuman Chalisa. The arrangements were superb. 3000 cooks were there. All the participants were fed. Not one thorn. Not one missing child. Not a pair of lost footwear. Good vibrations are here at Rajendra Kalamandhir.
The volunteers of Mysore had requested Swamiji to conduct this program. Recently a program was held in Hyderabad at the request of volunteers there.
Yesterday, history was made at Avadhoota Datta Peetham when 1000 participants sang more than 20 of Swamiji’s bhajans in unison. There were small children of five years of age to eighty year old devotees. They all practiced for hours at the Nada Mantapa. No water, sleep, or food. Sitting on the floor for so many hours. Still that wonderful music is ringing in my ears. The bhajan groups gathered from Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka. Other foreigners and devotees from other regions in India also sang, using the scripts that were distributed. Hanuman from Rishyamuka parvata I am reminded of, with Rishyaketupriya raga. The first song is Pranava swaroopam.
Next I will play and sing ragas Mohana, Natha bhairavi, the main healing raga, and Sama. Also some small bhajans. Tomorrow being Shivaratri, I have chosen this next bhajan. Bala Datta students from all over the world love this bhajan. Also all the volunteers love this old bhajan. It is in Mohana raga. Isha pateesha. It is called Manipravala, where it is neither Kannada nor Telugu nor Sanskrit. It is a mixture of different languages, like a mixed flower garland. Not a jasmine or a lotus garland. Different gem stones. It is on Siva. The next song is in Sriraga. Kolattam song for villagers. They dance to this tune. They sing it as a lullaby. Request by volunteers, to relax. We sing this at Navaratri. Srim srim srim.
Musicians always insist on my rendering this short, very popular bhajan that I am going to play now. It has transformed many lives. Only three lines. They play it in many hospitals. One of the earliest bhajans that Swamiji had composed, after Pahi Pahi. It is a cure for troubled minds and sleepless nights. Krishnam vishnum Sridharam
Today’s raga now. All this was preparation leading up to this. All problems with nervous disorders will be reduced with this. Many patients download this raga and listen. This is a meditative raga. Relax. Sleep. Forget everything. Close your eyes. Whatever problems or anxieties you may have, let them go. Forget everything. This is like a train ride. Just go to sleep since you cannot get off. Listen to the sounds. It is not a dancing tune. That will come afterwards. There is a calculation about the repetition of notes and the rhythms. It is good for the nerves. Natha Bhairavi Raga. Sthapita bhavitha. It is suitable to depict different emotions, such as for sorrow and for happiness. It can be used to put to sleep or to wake one up. No movie or play can be complete without the use of this raga. I do not play for applause. This is for you to experience only. Absorb the sounds. Don’t worry, go to sleep. I will wake you up. Subhapantuvarali Raga – Naranarayana devane Ramyaka ratri Shivaratri Dancing tune Sama – Ragaragini Devi Mangalam.
Sri Guru Datta