Speech of HH Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji – Bhajan session, Ganesh Chaturthi – September 15, 2015 – Vijayawada
On this auspicious day of Vinayaka Chaviti, we are offering our music service to the Lord by way of devotional singing – Divyanama Sankeertana. Ganapati’s 16 services puja is concluded. In the end, we offer pleasure to Gaana Ganapati (Music lover Ganapati) and Nritya Ganapati (Dance lover Ganapati) with our worship with music. We pray that he should remove all our obstacles and keep our minds happy and properly functional, keep us healthy, and help us grow more devout. At the Patamata ashrama in the presence of Kshipra Ganapati, let us all sing together. Hanuman also loves music. So does Mother Goddess. They are all present here. Even to Mother Goddess we offer music at the conclusion of Puja. Datta’s love for music does not need a special mention. As an Avadhoota, Datta has popularized music all over the world. In His presence we sing. Siva is Nada Purusha and Veda Purusha. In His presence we perform Divyanama Sankeertana. This is a very sacred shrine.
However large the premises may be, for the devotees of Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda, the place is not sufficient. However small the place might be, they adjust. Whether it is spacious or cramped, we still adjust happily. Wherever we may go, even in a large field, we would still wish that there were more space. In America, a hall has been built that accommodates 5000 persons and still it is not sufficient. Devotees still remain standing outside, watching the programs on television screens. Like Vamana Murti (Lord Vishnu’s dwarf incarnation), Swamiji always begins small, and then expands his size. Railway passengers have a way of requesting for a small space to sit, having got exhausted after standing for a long time, and then the donors of the space end up traveling standing because they get pushed out of their seats. They get tired. With Swamiji, the same thing happens. No matter how vast and spacious the hall may be, it gets filled to capacity and overflows. Swamiji places a foot and then occupies the entire space. Whether the ashram is big or small, it is the same story.
Sloka: on Lord Kshipra Ganapati
Bhajan: Gam gam Ganapati vinayaka
Bhajan: Dhundhi Ganeswara vighna bhayankara
(Sin is of different types – prarabdha, sanchita, and aagaami: what has been accumulated before and inescapable, which makes one commit more sins, what mistakes are done now, and what is yet to come. Ganesha cleanses us happily, without getting irritated with us. Man has the freedom to act. Knowingly he makes mistakes. He is influenced by bad company. His inner trait tempts him to do wrong. Ganapati is prayed to, to help transform. Sin is committed by thought, word, and deed, during wakeful state, during dream, and during sleep by sleeping when one should be performing duty. Ganapati is offered prayers for proper discipline. Help me not to commit sin either during the day or during the night)
Sloka: Bhetaala sakti
Bhajan: Vande prasna ganeswaram
Bhajan: Kolattam/stick dance song: Chikkulannee vidipinchu prasna Ganapati
(Untie all the knots O Prasna Ganapati, remove all sorrows, O Chintamani Ganapati. Accept worship with Garika/Durva grass and shatter the mountain of obstacles. Consume the modaka sweets and be happy. On this auspicious day of Bhadrapada month’s fourth day Chaviti, we will listen only to your stories. Please remove the ups and downs in our lives. Help us to lead lives on a straight path. May our hearts swell with a Satvic (pure and gentle) nature. You are all the five elements and your form encompasses the entire cosmos. You have no name or address. You are unequalled. You are our refuge and our constant companion. You are easily pleased. Please shower your blessings upon us quickly. You are offered the first worship. You are the beginning-less Sachchidananda.)
This song can be rendered as a folk song, or as a traditional Carnatic classical song. Now you will listen to the demonstration of the classical style rendering.
When a meal is cooked after proper planning, it may taste good. But what is spontaneously put together without pre-planning is always very tasty, because one is truly hungry then, as I was, to listen to this instant demonstration, and that is why it is appealing.
Bhajan: Samagana lola sumadhura
A bhajan on Datta before the concluding mangalam song.
Bhajan: Dattamasraye sadguruttamam
Bhajan: Marutiraya balabheema
Our (dancing) Ganapati got good exercise.
For 40 days in America, in Frisco city, Lord Hanuman’s greatness swelled all 24 hours daily. Without rest devotees chanted the Hanuman Chalisa for 24 hours, with the devotion granted by Swamiji by constant story-telling about Hanuman’s glories. The entire city was attracted to come to the temple, including many Christians in the neighborhood.
Right now, the temple is not that attractive. It will become more attractive once the Indianization is completed. In many of our temples which are excessively decorated on the outside, it appears as if the visitors do not pay much attention to the god inside. In some old temples built only of stone, only the main deity appears attractive. The outside is left plain. If one is overly attracted to the outside embellishments, then by the time the inner sanctum is approached, the interest dwindles. That is why, those who are wise, keep the outside decorations to a minimum. The drawings and carvings are kept simple. Only the inner sanctum is decorated. That is the situation at the Dallas temple now. After five years, when the Indianization is done, the same story may repeat that the external carvings and colors will steal the attention of the visitors and the inner beauty of the actual deity gets diminished by comparison. By the time the devotees enter the inside of the temple, the excitement decreases and just formally prayers are offered. The feeling of merging with God may become absent.
There are nine types of devotion. All the nine types of devotion, and nine styles of decoration should be concentrated upon the deity in the inner sanctum. Here, the outside colors and designs are overpowering and they catch the eye well before one enters the inner sanctuary. The mind gets distracted with all the designs. God inside should be more attractive than the external fittings. That is how it is now in Dallas. Because the Indianization is not yet done, it is like this. The completion will take 5-6 years so that the devotees now have a chance of seeing and appreciating the beauty of the Marakata Hanuman in the inner sanctum. Swamiji is deliberately delaying the external ornamentation for this purpose. During the abhishekam, now one can see the shimmering hues of different tones pouring out of the Murti as different substances are poured over Him. The piece of stone that was remaining after Marakata Rajarajeswari was sculpted, was used for preparing the sculpture of Marakata Hanuman.
The children in Frisco were all named by Swamiji as infants. Their first feed, and their learning of the ABCs were initiated by Swamiji (namakaranam, annaprasana, and aksharabhyasam). Their marriages were performed by Swamiji and now their children are under Swamijis care. These children feel that Swamiji had done so much for them, that they wanted very strongly to build a traditional temple in their town. The Telugu, Kannada, and Tamil devotees got together and have made this wonderful achievement. Regardless of their being big officers, they took care of the Chappal (footwear) stand, and the parking lot. All that they had learned here from Swamiji, they have employed there in their lives and have succeeded.
Parents must force children to come near Swamiji and offer their services. Then they will learn. If the parents dissuade them from coming to the ashram on the pretext of exams and assignments, the children will be the losers. They will veer off from our Dharma. They will choose their own paths. The parents of Vijayawada have trained their children well. The youth now in America are very successful in their careers and in their service at the ashrama. All are either from Vijayawada or Hyderabad. The Vanara Sena volunteers received good training in their younger days at this ashrama. Swamiji, while in Frisco temple felt as if he were in Vijayawada. The children see Swamiji in Hanumanta now, the way they used to see Swamiji in Ganapati here. That is how strong their devotion is. Tomorrow, if Rama is installed, they will see Swamiji in Him. If Swamiji wishes to build an empty temple, then they will see all the deities there. That is true bhakti/devotion.
I am happy that while I am living, I am able to see the demonstration of such pure devotion. Generally, for many great souls, like Shirdi Saibaba, the devotion of the devotees comes to the fore only after the saint has departed. Much later, the devotees will engage in profuse amounts of worship, but not during the lifetime of the Mahatma. It should not be that way. Swamiji is lucky that in His own lifetime, with His own eyes, He has witnessed the true devotion of His devotees.
Rama declared his happiness at listening to his life story from the rendering of Lava and Kusa, during his own lifetime. This has not happened to any other deity or emperor. No other Swamiji has enjoyed this pleasure. Swamiji is fortunate. After exiting the world, no matter how many temples you build, how much praise you shower, or compose innumerable songs, Swamiji’s physical presence will not be there, although He will be present in spirit. Because of my recent experience, I feel that I will live much longer. The recent America experience has shown me that unless you become Swamiji’s devotees, there is no use in your going to America. Merely amassing wealth is useless. Earn, so that you may sacrifice your earnings for Swamiji’s mission. Many of the parents and relatives of those children who are serving there, attended the function there. Your efforts in raising the children properly have fully paid off. Look at the miracle they have achieved of building such a huge temple there in America worth crores of rupees.
All around the temple, there are homes owned by devotees, like the old time Agraharams of India. The moment the temple bell rings, within minutes everyone gathers in the temple. Such Agraharams are nowhere to be seen in India now. But in America, it is happening now. How such houses were built all around the temple, on all three sides, how the government permitted it, how the devotees were able to purchase them all, is indeed something remarkable. The residents have made access into the temple premises through their backyards, by placing a gate in the backside fences. It is extraordinary.
It is all nothing but the grace of Ganapati and Hanuman. Within two years, this miracle has occurred like an illusion/Maya. Not only Swamiji, but His devotees also are capable of performing miracles. Those who argue are handled efficiently by them. When I sang Marutiraya balabheema, I remembered them. I felt as though they were missing this music and this presence of Swamiji. But with Swamiji’s stay there for 48 days in their midst, they felt that they have regained all that they felt that they had lost.
Only once in Swamiji’s life, He tried to stay here for forty days. But it was not really a continuous stay in Vijayawada. After twenty days, Swamiji had to travel to Machilipatnam. This is the first time that without any overnight stay anywhere, Swamiji has spent 48 days in one place, and that is in Frisco, Texas, USA. Swamiji has a Guru Nilayam inside the temple itself. He was able to stay right there. The devotees there have done an exceptional number of Hanuman japa. You also should follow their example. Record the Hanuman Chalisa in your own voices and submit. In Tenali, 2.5 lakh devotees chanted the Hanuman Chalisa in unison. Similarly, you should also conduct such programs here. Send your count to sgshanumanchalisa@gmail.com.
In Facebook, on Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji page, if you click Like on the new photo posted daily, it will count as one repetition of Hanuman Chalisa. Each photo worldwide receives several lakh Likes every day. All of you join as members of that page and participate in this activity. Write appropriate comments on the special feature of the photo. Now sing the Hanuman Chalisa together.
When you chant the Hanuman Chalisa, some of you have developed a new bad habit of alternately singing the lines. It is like wrestling with the wind. You derive absolutely no benefit from such singing. All your effort is wasted. Everyone must sing every line. You can sing in a different tune if you prefer. You cannot sing like a duet, with one group singing one line and the other group singing another line, alternately. Each one must sing every line. I do not know who initiated this wrong practice. You not only deprive yourself of merit, you accumulate sin. It is as if you are singing only half the praise or incomplete praise.
We have completed 600 crore repetitions of Hanuman Chalisa so far in our Maha Yajna. 300 crores are pending. 68 countries are participating. The video records will be sent via satellite to forever orbit in space. Your face also will be seen. When Swamiji travels to Vaikuntha, He will see your faces. Learn the Hanuman Chalisa by heart (memorize).
One lakh recordings are expected to be produced in Vijayawada. Many non-devotees are recording in their voices. Learn to read the Hanuman Chalisa. You may read and render for the individual recordings. Do it fluently with practice. No faltering is allowed.
Kayena vacha ..
Sri Guru Datta
Compiled by Smt Hira Duvvuri