Speeches of HH Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji – July 19, 2015 – Frisco, TX USA
Speech in the morning
Sri Maha Ganapataye Namaha
Sri Saraswatyai Namaha
Sripada Vallabha
Narasimha Saraswati
Sri Guru Dattatreyaya Namaha
Jai Veer Hanuman ki JAI
There is one important Bhajan in Bhajana Yogam – ‘Dehame Devalayam’/the body is the temple.
Search in the Bhajana yogam. Does anyone present here know this Bhajan? Many, many Bhajans are there giving important, secret meaning. Our body is like a moving temple. Some people neglect their bodies. They misuse it a lot. You should not pollute this devalaya/temple. Same way, one’s body should also be taken good care of, just like a temple.
The pillars in the temple are like hands and legs in a body. Sikharam/the main temple tower’s peak is like the head. And then we have the Gaali Gopurams/wind towers or temple towers placed on the different side entrances on the outer periphery, which connect the energy of the temple to the Cosmic energy. The prayers offered by the priest involve also ten specific hand mudras/gestures, along with the chanting of several special mantras and the pouring of water over the images of God during the rituals. Then the prayer vibrations are transferred to the Temple Tower and then to The Almighty Himself.
Invisibly, God is giving blessings through Prasadam for our different Pujas. As prasadam, some temples give fruit, coconut, flowers, Kunkum, Vibhooti, and Betel leaf or Tulasi leaf. And if you get even one betel leaf, you are lucky. You can either eat it or keep it in a book, or keep it in the Puja room as a blessing. The positive vibration goes to the entire family.
Temple is like the human body. I am continuing the theme from yesterday’s speech. The temple towers function as the antennae. The different Gopurams/towers over the sanctum sanctorums represent the heads of the different deities who reside within. The inside structures of some temples may be different, but outside, the Gopuram generally will be similar, but with different designs.
Daily, different rituals are happening. Different Japas, chanting of God’s names, Mother Goddess names, Ganapathi names, and names of different deities. They are continually producing positive energy. The five elements are kept active. In small mandirs/temples, the decorations are small. Here we are conducting five days of rituals. For forty days strict rituals are performed, whether help is received from others or not. The energy thus produced will be surrendered to Lord Agni/Fire God.
A temple has rituals on different days for different deities. It is the Pujari’s/priest’s responsibility to do for the first 40 days a strict observance, as a Mandala Diksha in a temple, to remove the difficulties of the devotees. There are different types of Aagamas and we follow the Vedic or Vaidika Aagama in this temple. There are Vaishnava and Saiva Agamas.
I am very happy. I want to see these ceremonies conclude successfully and quickly. Surrender to God. What you give here, goes for a good cause. Donate to the Lord. Your money will go to a good place. Give good donations and let all programs happen peacefully and happily. It is great fortune for everyone to have Swamiji here for forty days.
Many years back I stayed in Vijayawada for forty days, but did not stay that long at many other places.
This is an important Bhajan. It explains the whole meaning about a temple. The mouth is the doorway or entrance to the temple; the tongue is like the temple bell; Om Namo Hanumate Namaha; good words spoken are the Mantras; nerve system is like the garland adorning the deity; inhalation and exhalation are the bhajans or hymns sung in praise of God; Pranams/prostrations are the flag pole; Life energy is the lamp that is lit; and Atma/Soul is Tatvam/Truth principle. This is Tatvam/the philosophy of a temple.
God is everywhere in the body. He is spread all over. Whether it is a serious head injury or a small wound on the toe, the sensation is felt. The awareness is everywhere. This one Truth is explained beautifully in this small bhajan. As I read the lyrics of this bhajan, it lights up the intellect. It stimulates thought and makes me compose more bhajans. If you read this Bhajan for 4 times you will want to write another new Bhajan. You will get inspired. Very inspirational Bhajan – each line gives enough content to create a new Bhajan.
Now all of you visit the Hanuman Temple and pray that everything should go smoothly. Pray for success. I myself have explained the meaning of this bhajan. We meet again in the evening. Have some Pujas done and pray to Lord Hanuman.
Sri Guru Datta
Speech in the evening
Sri Maha Ganapataye Namaha
Sri Saraswatyai Namaha
Sripada Vallabha
Narasimha Saraswati
Sri Guru Dattatreyaya Namaha
Jai Veer Hanuman ki Jai.
Vanara Gita is very famous. It is all science. Saints are always chanting the Vanara Gita. The battle between Rama and Ravanasura had concluded. Rama and Sita returned to Ayodhya victoriously. Everyone was happy and relaxed that the war was over and the demons had been killed.
Then, Hanuman suddenly showed His Viswarupa/Universal Form. No words. Only silence, in Ayodhya. Everyone was aghast and frightened to see this awe-inspiring appearance of Lord Hanuman. The Vanaras are all different saints and celestials appearing in the forms of monkeys and bears. They all began praising Hanuman with intense devotion. Then gradually, Hanuman withdrew His Viswarupa.
Hanuman knew that killing Myravana and Ravana was not enough. The task was not completed. One more Ravana/Satakantha Ravana was there, left to be conquered. Hanuman and Sita knew this. Rama was not aware of the danger still remaining. Everyone in Ayodhya was happy. Rama and Sita were engaged in all the celebrations, but Hanuman was not happy. Something was upsetting Him. Nobody dared to ask Hanuman the reason for his upset mood. Ayodhya was happy. Sita had returned. All the rakshasas/demons were killed. But one remained. Only Sita and Hanuman knew. They were not happy. All were afraid to see the terrifying Universal Form of Hanuman.
The Vanarasa are not ordinary monkeys. They are great saints. They praised Hanuman with fervor and devotion. First Sugreeva, and then Angada sang the glories of Hanuman. Some people calm down when they hear their praises sung. Hanuman was not calming down. Rama also was giving salutations to Hanuman. Sita also praised Hanuman.
(My English is not good, I think. In my childhood, my aunt Venkamma became furious if I spoke in English. She was putting cow’s urine in my mouth to cleanse it if I spoke any words in English. That is why I did not get accustomed to speaking in English.)
Some were upset. Some were crying in Ayodhya, looking at Hanuman’s Viswarupa. Hanuman appeared as if He wished to rise to the skies/Akasa. Some big danger seemed to be lurking.
One sloka from the Vanara Gita, which I like very much, I will chant now. Dwividha is the name of the Vanara who is praising Hanuman.
Sloka: Raamaadheenam …
Rani Subbiah Deekshitulu is a great Sanskrit scholar. He will explain the meaning to you, either in Telugu or in English.
Sri Rani Subbiah Deekshitulu’s speech:
Jayatu Guru Dattaha
Appaji has great love and great compassion. Hanuman’s nature is shown in this sloka/Sanskrit verse. Thousands of times Swamiji has given Ramayana discourses. The words may be mine, but the meaning is Swamiji’s, as he had expressed many times.
The Rama-Ravana war was over. Ravanasura was killed. Sita entered the fire to prove her chastity. Rama wanted to leave and return to Ayodhya. The Pushpaka aircraft was summoned. It came. Rama said there was no need for any of the Vanaras to accompany Him to attend the Coronation. The Vanara army was eager to witness the festivities. They approached Rama via Sugreeva with a request. Sugreeva conveyed the message to Rama that the Vanaras sought permission to go to Ayodhya for the ceremonies. At first Rama denied them permission. Then the Vanaras approached Rama through Vibheeshana, the newly appointed King of Lanka. One cannot easily decline a king’s request.
Vibheeshana assured Rama that the guests would not stay long. Rama said yes. Vibheeshana’s family and the Vanaras went to Ayodhya along with Rama and Sita in the Pushpaka Vimana.
All were happy. The festivities concluded. Hanuman alone was unhappy and appeared even angry. All were frightened to see Hanuman’s demeanor. They did not know the reason for Hanuman’s serious mood.
Hanuman is not human. He is energy. Hanuman is none other than the infinite and immeasurable power and energy of Sri Ganapati Sachchidananda.
In the year 2000, Swamiji disclosed that the name given to Hanuman by his mother Anjana Devi was something different. Hanuman means one with ‘sagged jaws’ resulting from incessant Japa of the name of Rama. ‘Sundaraha’ was what Anjana Devi called her son. It means ‘Beautiful’. That is why the section in the Ramayana about Lord Hanuman is called Sundara Kanda.
Hanuman could have killed all the demons. He had the power and the capacity. But he chose to leave the credit to Rama.
Hanuman deliberately succumbed to the power of the Astra employed by Indrajit, although he had immunity against it. Half of Ravana’s army Hanuman destroyed before leaving Lanka the first time. He killed Ravana’s ministers and some of his sons. Rama needed the title as ‘Ravana’s killer’. That is why, although Hanuman could have easily killed Ravanasura himself, he allowed Rama to have that honor. I prostrate to such a great hero, Hanuman – is the meaning of this sloka.
Hanuman is a good orator. We talk. We receive complaints about our words. Our words are useless because our speech is ineffective. Hanuman has no enemies. How did he earn such divine grace? Sadguru’s compassion. Rama gave Hanuman the energy. ‘Rama nama’ japa gave Hanuman his skills, powers, and talents. ‘Speak less’ was his motto. Lanka was burned down by Hanuman. Poet Sage Valmiki described in 210 slokas Hanuman’s travel to Lanka. In only two slokas he completed the description of Hanuman’s return from Lanka after seeing Sita.
Hanuman gave a thunderous roar as he returned. The other monkeys roared in response. It created a turbulence in the sea. Everyone asked, “What happened?” Stylishly, Hanuman described to all the lesser monkeys, how he killed so many demons by breaking their arms and legs and dashing them mercilessly to the ground. He told the small monkeys what they wished to hear, all the heroic feats.
Hanuman spoke differently to old Jambavanta, a respected and revered elder, when he approached Hanuman to hear the news. Hanuman declared with brevity, “I saw Sita. She is in pain.”
When the Vanaras returned to Rama’s presence, what did Hanuman say to Rama?
We think that money, we should not spend, but must save. But truly, it is speech that we must save, and not expend. Hanuman said nothing to Rama. He sat in the back. Other monkeys described to Rama, Hanuman’s feats with excitement. Rama asked questions. They answered. Rama asked further questions. When the smaller monkeys had no answers, then they receded. Then Hanuman, who had remained in the back till then, came forward.
Hanuman is energy. We must worship as our Sadguru, every deity. We must see our Guru in every form of God. Why? We make mistakes. God gets angry. Guru protects us. Rama had the power to kill the demons. So did Hanuman. He reserved for Rama the fame of winning the battle by killing Ravana.
Medical camps are held. Annadana is conducted. Datta Seva is performed. These happen at Swamiji’s ashrams.
Medical Camps originated with Hanuman. Indrajit employed a powerful Astra. Lakshmana went into a coma. Sushruta, the physician came. He gave his diagnosis. He prescribed the medicine. The question was, where is the nearest medical shop? The shop was the Sanjeevani mountain. Hanuman brought the whole medical shop to the battlefield in Lanka. That was the first Mobile Medical Van.
Hanuman was quite capable of taking the patients to the Sanjeevani Mountain, carrying them on his shoulders. But he knew that in the Kali Yuga, doctors have to go to the patients. Hanuman was setting an example. That is why we conduct medical camps.
Sri Guru Datta
Compiled by Smt Hira Duvvuri