Message of HH Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji – Navaratri day 7 – September 27, 2017
Courtesy: FB Page Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji
namaḥ praṇava-rūpāyai namo hreemkāra murtaye
nāna mantrātmikāyaite karuṇāyai namo namah
There is no creator more supreme than Supreme Mother! There is no architect greater than Her! None can surpass Her in broad-mindedness. No one can surpass Her in giving.
Om Avyāja-karuṇā-murtyai namaḥ- There is no mother who can surpass Mother Goddess in showering boundless compassion. Without any expectation, She is protecting this universe. Without any particular reason, She is drenching Her devotees with Her compassion. With feelings of equal-mindedness, She is showering equal love and compassion towards every living entity. We too should strive to inculcate such supremely noble qualities, shouldn’t we?
Hasn’t the Mother Goddess placed Lord Sun at the highest possible levels, so that he remains unaffected from any form of danger? Likewise, calculating that Moon’s proximity to Earth will cause the oceans to generate huge tidal waves, She has positioned him exactly at the appropriate distance.
In this vast universe, based on the requirements of each living entity, Mother Goddess sufficiently provides for its needs even without it having to ask for it. She is large-hearted and is an epitome of compassion.
Maitryadi-vāsanā-labhyāyai namah- The Divine Mother can be reached through the four virtuous qualities known as Maitri, karuna, mudita and upeksha. It is important to regularly chant this special mantra – Maitryadi-vāsanā-labhyāyai namah.
Maitri: It implies we should maintain friendship only with noble, virtuous persons.
Karuna: We should be filled with compassion towards the needy.
Mudita: We should show happiness towards those who engage in meritorious deeds.
Upekṣa: We should remain indifferent towards the wicked.
These 4 qualities cleanse the mind thereby leading to its purification. People who possess a pure mind become eligible to receive Her grace.
A Yogi, who was a dear devotee of Mother Goddess, was blessed with a chance to regularly speak to Her. He had become eligible to obtain a place in Her heart. One day, as he was passing by a forest, he saw some strange sights due to which his mind was disturbed. The disturbance persisted through the day. Even when he reached the temple of Mother Goddess, his mind continued to remain perturbed.
Meanwhile the Mother Goddess addressed him and said, “My dear son, aren’t all your thoughts entirely focussed upon the mango tree, donkey, elephant and cow?”
The ascetic replied, “Yes mother. That mango tree was filled with fruits yet strangely not even a bird approached that tree. The cow was amidst a vast green field, nevertheless it was unable to chew any grass. The elephant was shrieking and jumping while the donkey was rolling on the ground bellowing continuously. What is the reason behind their strange behaviour? Please be kind enough to dispel this doubt.”
Mother Goddess laughed and said, “My dear son, the mango tree was a Brahmin in its previous birth. In that birth, the Brahmin had mastered the Vedas and was a qualified Ghanapati. He however resisted from sharing his knowledge with anyone. He used his knowledge solely for his personal gains but never cared to share it with others. Of what use was such knowledge? In this birth, even if that tree is replete with fruits it has still remained useless. Even an insect doesn’t approach that tree.
The cow was a fertile piece of land in its previous birth. Nevertheless it never served anyone. Even if someone sowed a seed, it did not allow the seed to sprout. Hence in this birth, it is unable to eat even that food that is within reach.
In their previous births, the elephant and the donkey were irritable, angry people, who without any apparent reason, yelled at others and showed their anger on others. As a result of their sins, in this birth one among them jumping endlessly while the other is bellowing continuously. Have your doubts been resolved?” asked Mother Goddess.
The ascetic begged her to explain in greater detail. Mother Goddess replied, “This entire creation is filled with animate and inanimate entities. Therefore, the living entity who is filled with consciousness should eternally strive for the betterment of others. Only then it will be bestowed with auspicious results. It is unavoidable for every living entity to experience the good and bad results for the pious and impious deeds of its previous birth”.
The Yogi offered obeisance to Mother Goddess and, returning to his village, he began to preach the same to the villagers as follows,
“My dear brothers and sisters, please seek the well-being of others in the creation. Work for their welfare. Serve the needy. Please pass on these good habits to your children. Teach your children the importance of participating in meritorious deeds right since their childhood days. Mother Goddess protects those who participate in good, meritorious deeds. Both in this world and the next She blesses them with prosperity and liberation. It is She who blesses those who abide by righteousness with merit and those who abide by unrighteousness with sin. Hence, please hold on to Her feet and elevate yourselves. Offer obeisance to Her with a prayer- Oṃ punyāpuṇya phalapradāyai namah.
May the blessings of Mother Goddess Saraswati, who is the creator of this universe, cause you to wisely discriminate between the good and bad actions in this journey of life!