Speeches of HH Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji – May 20, 2017 – Mysore
Compiled by: Archana Penukonda
Speech in the morning
Sri Maha Ganapataye Namaha
Sri Sarasvatyai Namaha
Sri Padavallabha Narasimha Sarasvati
Sri Guru Dattatreyaya Namaha
Just as the great Sage Bharadwaja and sages such as Sanaka and Sananda recited the Vedas in the presence of Lord Vishnu, you recited the Vedas in the presence of Lord Datta today. It is a very happy day. I am drinking nectar through my eyes and ears. Veda Mata is flowing from everyone’s face. Lord Narayana who is in the form of Sadguru is very happy today. We are worshiping the subtle form of the Lord – the invisible form of the Lord today. Who was He visible to? He was visible to the gopis and cowherds.
The Lord was visible to those who had a pure heart. The Lord Who is the form of pure bliss resided in their hearts in a subtle form the size of the thumb. The light in the heart is itself the Lord. Parikshit saw the Lord even while he was in the womb. After death, he was again given life and then Darshan of the Lord. Parikshit was constantly looking for the Lord everywhere and in everyone. Therefore, even though he had two names, the name Parikshit (Pariksha is to examine – Parikshit used to examine everyone to find the Lord in them) is more well known.
I am seeing Lord Narayana in everyone’s face today. The Lord is our Guru. Krishnam Vande Jagadgurum. We have only one Guru. We are feeling great love towards the Lord. You will all attain Vaikuntha. Those who recited the Vedas and those who listened will all attain Vaikuntha. Lord Datta loves the Vedas. In the presence of Lord Datta, you recited the Vedas. Through the three faces, the Lord listens to the Vedas as well as recites them. The Vedas circumambulate the Lord. If we recite the Veda Sookti, the Lord is very happy.
Today, Lord Datta is very happy. I am very happy. I have no words to describe how happy I am. You all gathered here with love, faith and devotion. May Lord Datta bless you all.
Jaya Guru Datta. Sri Guru Datta.
There are many young Veda students here who are still studying various sections of the Vedas. Please complete whatever you are studying. Everyone should come here to take their exams. Do not try to evade it. You must get your certificate here each year. You know how big a scholar you will be once you get a certificate here. This is Lord Datta’s place. Do not give up in between on some pretext or because you feel you are unable to grasp the Vedas. You must try. Veda Mata will bless everyone. If you pray to her with devotion, she will bless everyone. She will also bestow material happiness. Let us all follow Veda Mata.
Sri Guru Datta
Speech during Bhajan session
Telugu people need not worry about understanding what I am saying. Telugu language is very close to Kannada. If you love Swamiji’s voice, you will understand what He is saying regardless of the language. If you (Kannada speaking people) cannot understand Telugu after so many years, you are a waste. That’s your title – waste. You have been with Swamiji for over 40 years, you must try to understand Telugu. If you have some interest, you will understand. Do not be fanatic about your language alone. In the field of spirituality, we need to know other languages too. If you are talking politics, you can root for Kannada alone. But here, we should try to understand all languages. Two, three or more languages.
Mysore and Karnataka get revenues when they (Telugu speaking people from Telangana and Andhra Pradesh) come here. They use auto rickshaws, trains, buses etc., so the revenues go to Mysore and Karnataka. They are our guests at the Ashram. We need to speak so they can understand. When they come to the Ashram, we should share with them what we eat. You need to tell them everything they need to know while they are in the Ashram, in their own language. Where they need to go, where they can find food to eat etc. If Swamiji talks in a different language, they will not understand and will ask their neighbor what Swamiji is saying. We need to tell them not to waste water, to keep the place clean etc. But we need to speak in their language. If you speak only in Kannada, how will they understand? When we have guests, we should speak to them in their language. We want the guests’ revenues, but we are not willing to speak to them in their language. Thousands of people come to see Swamiji. Where do the revenues go? The government of Karnataka gets the revenues. If we don’t speak to them in their language, they will wait for Swamiji to come to their town. Our town will lose revenues and Swamiji will need to visit them more often.
I respect all languages. We should try to understand all languages. The Telugu people are speaking in Kannada. But are we Kannada people speaking in Telugu? No. That is our misfortune. Datta devotees are our brothers and sisters. You must treat all languages equally. But you want to go watch Bahubali (blockbuster movie) in Telugu. You are the first ones to go watch. If you are so against speaking in Telugu, why do you go watch the Telugu movies? You do not want spiritual contemplation, but want to watch the movies in the language. 80% of the words in Telugu and Kannada are from Sanskrit. We can understand easily. We just need dedication. Sanskrit is in all languages. There is not a bhajan of Swamii that does not have Sanskrit. The first word we say is Amma. We don’t say “Appa” (father) or “Avva” (grandmother). Everything we say is a mix of Sanskrit. Even those who are fanatic about Kannada will mix English in their vocabulary. English should also be called “Anglam” (Kannada word for English). Coffee should be called “berake”. Tea is “kalagachchu”. Why are you saying “Tea” and “Coffee”? Thank you is an English word. So is sorry. Telugu and Kannada people cannot speak without mixing in English. In every language, we include a little of other languages. Otherwise, we cannot operate.
We must respect all languages. When you have respect and friendliness for other languages, the country will prosper. Why these divisions based on language? Everyone has the same blood. We are all Indians. We should have respect for every Indian language. We need every language. Everyone has a mother tongue. Kannada has plenty of Telugu, Malayalam and Tamil words. They all look alike. Sanskrit is generously present in all languages. We have the faculty to understand. We should use our head a little. We need to concentrate a little.
Sri Maha Ganapataye Namaha
Sri Sarasvatyai Namaha
Sri Padavallabha Narasimha Sarasvati
Sri Guru Dattatreyaya Namaha
All foreigners are welcome to Mysore Ashram. I am very happy about the seven-day program starting tomorrow. It is a good experience. We do not want to miss these good events.
Divya Nama Sankeertana is most prevalent in Maharashtra.
Bhajan: Nacungi mein nacungi
Meera Bai didn’t want to have anything to do with anybody. She wanted to sit at home, sing and study Bhagavad Gita and Bhagavatam and walk the path to God. “Singing, meditating, I want to spend my time. I do not want anything else”. That is the kingdom of devotion. She was reigning the kingdom of devotion. We all need to have that kind of devotion. At home, whenever you find a little time, contemplate on God.
When we do Bhajans, our ears are elsewhere. We are very fickle. We make gestures to others. That is not singing Bhajans. That is a different language. Whether you do Bhajans for 10 mins or 20 minutes, forget everything and immerse yourself. Everyone in the family join together. Even if one member in the family is demonic, that would make it difficult. If everyone in the family is of the same mind, that is so happy. Turn off the TVs and contemplate on God. That is Kaliyuga Vaikuntham. Jnana Deva says that when every wife, husband and kid waste no time and join together to do Bhajans whenever they find time, there, there is Kaliyuga Vaikuntham. Jnana Deva is himself Panduranga. The Lord came in that form. Just as he came as Chaitanya Prabhu, he came as Jnana Deva. Holding a flag in his hand, he sings “Rangapure Vithala”. Each Bhajan we sing, we should imagine we are holding the flag and marching towards Mysuru.
Holding the flag, he sings a Bhajan, asking for the route to Vaikuntha. In every house, sing the Lord’s praises at least for 10 minutes. That is what Jnana Deva is saying. Wherever there are devotees singing the praises of the Lord, there is Vaikuntha. Wherever you are, just put steps forward with Panduranga in mind. If you cannot sing, play the recording for 10 minutes. Listen with concentration. Think of God in every word. Wherever I see there is Vishnu, that is how we should feel. He is in me, I am in Him. I am going with Him, He is going with me.
With anklets on his feet, with cymbals in his hands, forgetting himself completely, he sings.
Bhajan: Datta dhyava datta gava
I am in you, you are in me completely. You are everywhere, inside and outside. There is nowhere where Ranga is not present. Ranga is everything. I have no other God but Ranga.
“Datta vina kahi nohe” – I have no one except Datta
He is responsible for me taking this form. I came from him. I want to see him everywhere. “Dattarupa he avani”
Give me the occupation to see Datta everywhere. Let me be immersed in him. See God in all forms, instead of seeing each individual as a different person. There are so many people, the Lord has taken on so many forms. Give me the job to be immersed in seeing Datta everywhere and be immersed in Him.
Bhajan: Sundara te dhyana ubhe vitevari