Speech of HH Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji – Brahmotsava and Birthday Celebrations Day 2 – morning – May 25, 2015 – Nada Mantapam, Mysore
Sri Maha Ganapataye Namaha
Sri Saraswatyai Namaha
Sripada Vallabha
Narasimha Saraswati
Sri Guru Dattatreyaya Namaha
OM namo Venkatesaya Namaha
First announce that you are going to shout the victory slogan before you do Jaikara. Otherwise, people get startled, and are suddenly woken up from sleep with fright. Ring a bell of warning before you shout. Otherwise, people get alarmed. Even I jumped up startled with the sudden shout.
I am always speaking about Hanuman Chalisa. The chant has been translated by Swamiji into Kannada, Telugu, and Tamil so that people, when they sing it, easily know the meaning. The original Hindi/Brij language is also comprehensible, but not so quickly.
Some people asked me, you speak always of Dattatreya, now how did Hanuman get into the picture?
I was only 3 years old. My mother Jayalakshmi Mata, in Mekedatu gave me Upadesha. My entire body was smeared with black ointment. I was kept up on the open terrace naked for 3 whole days. I was given goat milk, 2 each, leaves of Tulasi, Bilva, and juice of Audumbara (leaves). With that, I had no hunger. After 3 days, on Hanuman Jayanti, Amma, mother gave me Upadesa.
My father, at the time my mother gave up her body, sat in the Hanuman temple doing japa. It was difficult to move him from there. Mother is Guru. I always wish and pray that everyone should get a mother who will give spiritual knowledge along with worldly knowledge. Even since then, Swamiji has always been praying to Hanuman. He used to chant the Hanuman Dandaka in Telugu, all in one breath. All the villagers used to have me chant it every day, standing up on a rock. My sister-in-law Lalithamma, wife of Nanjundayya used to have me repeat it daily. Even while breathing, the chanting continues, without stopping at all. That way, it does not even pause for breath.
How many have listened to the recording of this in Swamiji’s voice? Download from Itunes and listen. CDs will not be reproduced. That is why at every release, I was urging you to obtain them. You were not convinced and many did not pay heed to my words. I went to Kasi with my parents and worshiped Hanuman there. These are not mentioned in the Life History. Now I am recollecting all these events, the experiences I have had Hanumanta. I do not feel like coming back to the present, when I begin to recall these things.
Hanumanta is first. He is Air. Pranayama. My aunt (Venkamma), when she taught me Yoga, always made me pray to Hanuman first. Hanuman is formless. He is air. He took a form for the first time during Rama’s incarnation. After that also, he remains only in his subtle form. In Treta Yuga, he assumed a body. Otherwise, he has no body. No shape. His form is in Air.
Yesterday, one youth sent me on Facebook, a pencil sketch of Swamiji holding a veena. I have to ask Prasad how it was done, what technique was used to make that video.
At Hatcha Falls, Hanuman gave me an extension of my life, saying I have to remain here longer. Since then, rather, actually, since birth, I have been chanting about Hanuman. But I have the great urge to have everyone chant his praises. If I try to make 100 people chant, at least 50 might do it. Since childhood, I have had this desire. But how to do it? I did not know.
I wanted to take Hanuman to foreign countries, and wanted to build him temples there. I wanted even people of other religions chant the Hanuman Chalisa. I would debate within myself whether or not it ever would be possible. I would vacillate between feeling encouraged and discouraged. The urge to chant must come within each individual. How to motivate people?
Telugu people are stubborn. They want only something in their own language. Kannada and Tamil people are even more loyal to their languages. They are unwilling to chant in Hindi. With the help of Sridhar, the news anchor on Sun TV, I was able to get the translation done in Tamil. Finally we succeeded. I cannot believe that I was able to render it in Tamil. My familiarity with Tamil is limited. But these lyrics were in pure Tamil. But I succeeded, to my own astonishment.
How to propagate Hanuman Chalisa? One can build a big structure, a school, do annadana, or do pilgrimages, by collecting funds. How to make people chant the praises of Hanuman? You may think that Swamiji is simply saying all this. He is capable of doing anything. In the previous Yugas, it would have been possible. But in Kali Yuga, there are religious and language differences. People are suspicious of holy men. Mispronunciations will occur. How to make this project work? Finally, He, Hanuman Himself has shown the way. Today, we have crossed 200 billion. I originally thought of 1.33 billion, one for each citizen of India, plus a few more, just in case of errors.
Many journalists were shocked to hear of this huge number to be completed within one year. They were incredulous at my daring. Even if the Internet facility was there, how to motivate the people? All the Apps were prepared. The engine, the petrol, everything was ready in the vehicle. But there was no driver.
This was my story. Swamiji made a Sankalpa, and then suddenly changed His decision. Even if the rest of the population of the world may be full of sinners, still I wanted the merit of at least one Hanuman Chalisa chant to reach every single citizen of the world.
At age 20, Swamiji was feverishly thinking of plans to set this project in motion. It may bring him a bad reputation, even if he tried to give good advice to people.
By initiating MMS through the Internet, he has attracted a group of devotees, totaling 45,000 worldwide. Just give your email and those of you, who have not yet registered, join the group now. No cost. The messages reach your home via email. Whoever has a computer must come here and help people to get an email ID. Those who get new email IDs alone can come to me to get prasadam.
In computers, and even cheap phones, you have access to email. Create email IDs. There are 5 volunteers here ready to help new persons. Get IDs in the names of all the family members.
Only America, Malaysia, and Trinidad people are utilizing the services of Swamiji. By the afternoon, for a photo posted in the morning, they gave 6000 LIkes. Every home has youth who are computer literate. Get help from them.
Do you know how difficult it is to gather 45,000 devotees? I do not force. I feel sorry that you will be the losers. The news that has been delivered once, will not be repeated just because you have not paid attention. You have to be alert and pay attention when Swamiji tells you to do something.
You left your chance yesterday to enlist new members. Get a few modems and get the internet connection. This is not a new effort for us. We have done it before. Please do it now these few days.
70 Mysore people gave at once their equipment for use in Malaysia for a similar purpose. If you do it right, by tomorrow, you will start receiving Swamiji’s MMS in your email. It will be immediate. It may take two days to get the registration process completed in America.
Facebook I did not like initially. I went against it for three years. Then I decided to use ITech and the Internet media for a good purpose. Why not send good messages to people, about gods, science, about scriptures, about a moral life? Why not enlist interested audiences, including even senior citizens? Even for a few thousand rupees you can purchase good Smart Phones, which are perhaps better than Iphones.
Airtel, Samsung companies have come up with these fantastic inventions. Everyone these days owns a phone. Auto rickshaw drivers, vegetable vendors, household maids, all of them own phones. Now people look down upon a person who does not own a phone. For any emergency, you need it for communication. Because some tend to lose their gadgets, now they are available for a small cost. You can access Facebook through those phones.
Therefore, Swamiji began using the Internet and Facebook. Many people who were close to me, and even some officers were against my decision. Datta Peetham will announce about programs, and tour details, they declared. But they do not convey Swamiji’s spiritual messages. Prasad and I argued. He refused to cooperate. I told him that I will use a different name, Puttu Gam. I will not use Swamiji’s name. I threatened him that I will use the services of someone else, if he refused to help. From Ukraine to Mahabalipuram we argued. Prasad knew that Swamiji meant the whole thing very seriously. He did not wish to risk losing his position. Now Puttu Gam has become famous globally.
Now Swamiji has made it more personal as gss Puttu Gam. Besides this, in addition to spiritual messages, for music and Nada, Swamiji has created another Page.
Now, the Hanuman Chalisa program has started with the Tenali event. Now I am famous as Cancellation Swamiji. I cannot be relied upon to attend programs as per schedule. I might send Bala Swamiji in my place. Now people have learned tricks. They invite me during Bala Swamiji’s Chaturmasya Deeksha. Then, I cannot send Him in my place. Great tricks they have learned. Do not take up that idea now.
Now, I decided that Hanuman should pick up a huge, unstoppable momentum. Wherever possible, whether the people are of different religion, regardless of gender, status, nationality, so many incentives were given. Bribing that if you do Hanuman Chalisa, I will give you an interview, I will pay your school tuition, I will feed you, and so on. I begged and urged each and everyone. I spoke even with such people with whom I should not speak, and asked them to do this as a favor to me.
Now, in each village, in each country, people are chanting. In 68 countries people are now chanting. I lashed out at people that unless they chant the Hanuman Chalisa, their lives are simply worthless. I was merciless in my propagation of this idea. Datta devotees also have now realized that unless they also follow suit, they will lose face. In many temples, before commencing regular Pujas, they are chanting the Hanuman Chalisa. It is Swamiji’s definite and firm resolve to make every single person chant the Hanuman Chalisa.
Recently, in Nepal, they killed as sacrifice, 3 lakh creatures. That day, Swamiji shed tears in the presence of Lord Hanuman. Nepal is a Hindu country. I love Lord Siva (Pasupatinatha) of Nepal. I have visited that country 5-6 times. It is a Datta Kshetra. There is a Datta temple there. From the Himalayas, Datta descended into Nepal. That is why I like the Nepalese.
On that day of slaughter, blood flowed like rivers. What an atrocity it was! Would they chop their own children to pieces like this? Why would not God forgive such people, I thought. Within forty days of that incident, the terrible earthquake occurred in Nepal. Where did it occur? It started in a place called Hanumadoka (tail of Hanuman). It was as if Lord Hanuman whipped them with his powerful tail.
Instead of preventing the evil act, what is the point in killing so many innocent people now? I cannot understand that balance, that Maya. You must have done it for some purpose, O God.
Now, people are suffering with excessive heat. In many parts of the world, people are tormented. In Andhra and Karnataka, things are tolerable. Datta devotees are leading comfortable lives. It even makes them feel guilty that they are in comfort while their cohabitants in this world are suffering terribly. We may offer some help, but the dimensions of trouble are huge. What can we do, other than pray? It is like offering an elephant a few drops of buttermilk. It is like getting a small underwear stitched for a huge mountain. How is it sufficient? We should at least do that little bit. Do not remain idle thinking that your capacity is minimal. All the funds collected for Puja, Swamiji gave to the Prime Minister’s Fund.
Somebody killed. Some others perished. When Kedarnath floods occurred, we lamented that even some Addanki devotees perished in the calamity. Hanuman Chalisa is a protective shield for us. Do not boast that you have always worshiped Hanuman or complain that you have always worshiped Hanuman and still he has not spared you from troubles. If you do either of those, you lose all your earned merit.
Because of past deeds, you experience your present circumstances. A beggar begged alms from a king. “If you give me alms, you will remain wealthy. If you fail to give, you will become a beggar like me.” We have suffered in the past. We may suffer in the present. But that is no reason to give up prayers. Even when depressed, one must continue prayers. Night and day, it is our duty to keep praying. Do we stop breathing or eating meals, or drinking water because we are facing troubles? If you commit suicide, you will suffer for seven lifetimes, the consequences of that great sin. It is a divine secret. Those who believe Guru’s or mother’s words, will be given valuable information. Unless you are ready to believe, their priceless experiences will not be shared with you.
At least now, quickly begin your chanting of the Hanuman Chalisa. Yesterday, I was requesting Varadarajan of Tenali. Please complete the 5 billion count quickly. Please, everyone of you, contribute to the count and submit your numbers along with your photo.
Keep arranging for mass chanting programs during the Chaturmasya Deeksha in Hyderabad. Offer me at least 100 crores. I know that someone amongst you will get that obsessive energy to achieve it. It is Swamiji’s wish that you must go forward and achieve it. I know you will do it.
Give at least 100 crore count. Go to every home and village. Get everyone to chant. During Chaturmasya keep this as an important aspect. In this internet age, a Hanuman photo got 4 Lakhs Likes. In Trinidad, 12,000 all Hindus did Hanuman Chalisa chanting for a total of 4.59 lakhs count. Now Mysore Hanuman photo will be posted. He should exceed 6 Lakhs Likes at least. Their huge Hanuman Murti is not made of stone. Ours is. Theirs is cement made with ground stone. Struggled for two years to construct it. Flights go around it in Trinidad. Cricket films Show TT Hanuman. He is their captain. In Telugu cinema they showed. Rey is the name. Hanuman is so famous. Flight magazine is full of Hanuman. The history is given, used as an advertisement. Okay. Bless them Hanuman. Have them chant the Hanuman Chalisa. Next in Mysuru we must do.
They did abhishekam with helicopter. Here personally Swamiji did. There the force of 108 barrels is water drenched Swamiji. He had to cling to the feet of Hanuman. A DVD is there. Never again in this lifetime will such an event occur. Now for today, Hanuman Chalisa chapter is closed. At noon the Brahmotsavam commences. Have darshan. Pray that Hanuman Chalisa 7 billion count completes soon.
Sri Guru Datta
Compiled by Smt Hira Duvvuri