Speech of HH Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji after Sri Chakra Puja in the evening – September 19, 2019 – Karya Siddhi Hanuman Temple, Dallas
Compiled by Archana Penukonda
śrī mahāganapate namaḥ
śrī sarasvatyai namaḥ
śrī pādavallabha narasimha sarasvati
śrī guru dattātreyāya namaḥ
Continuing yesterday’s topic of Manasa Puja – there are few more things left to talk about. Some people asked what mantra should be chanted during Manasa Puja. No mantras are needed; Omkara alone is enough. Omkara is power supreme. How should Omkara be chanted? There are three ways you can chant Omkara. “Aaaoom” or “Ooooom”. And third, you can chant mentally with just the breath and without audible sound. Whether you deliberately focus on the breath or not, it sounds like “so-ham”. That is a very important part of Manasa Puja. If you wish to do more Manasa Puja, chant Omkara after finishing all your rituals.
In the early stages, many people want to offer physical rituals – taking a bath, lighting a lamp, offering naivedya, offering incense etc. After you complete those rituals, chant Omkara. Close your eyes and imagine you are going to Kashi or to the presence of your Sadguru. Then, after that mental worship that needs no money or visa, travel like the divine swan. That is why it is important to study Neeti Mala. Swamiji has provided many hints on how to perform Manasa Puja in the book. I wrote the book for all of you in this Kaliyuga. It is the modern Bhagavad Gita. You must memorize Neeti Mala. It only has 80-85 shlokas. If you study it once, you will understand what needs to be done. Swamiji has given so many different hints in Neeti Mala.
Do not pinch Tulasi leaves off the tree – it hurts the tree. Only pick leaves when they are about to drop off the tree. I am not happy when people proclaim they have offered worship with a hundred thousand Bilva and Tulasi leaves. I feel like I am incurring sin even listening to that. All that picking the leaves off the trees must have hurt the tree a lot. You have incurred the sin of hurting the tree. Bilva is a sacred tree. It is okay to worship with the leaves that are on the ground. Collect those leaves, wash them and offer them in worship. Or only pick leaves that are about to fall off. Let the young leaves sprout. Do not pick them. The trees suffer a lot as the poison from your nails hurt them. The tree’s “blood” rushes to the spot you pinched it at, and it suffers a lot. There are two devotees of Swamiji who have had the mishap of their hands getting cut off. They suffer a lot of pain. The brain does not know the hands are missing and it pumps blood to the fingers that do not exist, causing much Phantom pain. The same thing happens to Tulasi leaves. Who can the tree share its pain with? Same thing happens when you pick flowers or leaves for worship. Therefore, there is a system prescribed for this. Only pick leaves that are about to fall off the tree. There is no sin when you do that. Those leaves attain higher worlds after being offered in worship. But it is a sin to pick young leaves. That is why, when I offer worship, I try to select leaves and flowers that are not young. We should not hurt the trees. You can pick leaves and flowers that are ready to be sacrificed in worship.
Tens of millions of flowers, Tulasi leaves and Bilva leaves are ready to be sacrificed for our liberation. Yet, we do not take good care of the trees. We do not water the trees in a timely manner. The trees can talk. I talk to the Bonsai trees daily. I even talk to them on the phone daily when I am away from the Ashram. If the Bilva tree is about to die, you can save the tree and use the leaves. If the leaves are new, wait for a few days for the leaves to get ready to fall off. That is why, our scriptures say that turmeric rice grains (Akshata) are sufficient to offer in place of flowers. Or cloves, which are also flowers, can be offered. Cloves are very important to followers of Jain religion. Swamiji offers worship with cloves during Navaratri and Narasimha Jayanti. The sacred turmeric rice can be offered but use turmeric sparingly as too much turmeric can harm worms and bacteria that feed on the rice.
Your charity must be beneficial to the recipient. If you are giving away cows in charity, select cows that are healthy enough to give good milk, otherwise refrain from donating cows. It is better to offer turmeric rice grains rather than donate cows that yield no milk. You will need to spend Rs. 1 lac or so to donate a healthy cow. If you cannot afford a healthy cow, just offer prostrations to the cow. No one is forcing you to donate a cow. We usually donate cows so that our ancestors find peace.
So, what mantra do you need for Manasa Puja? Omkara is sufficient. Do not chant Omkara loudly. Chant with your breath. If you need to chant other mantras, chant without hesitation. No need to ask anyone. Unhesitatingly, offer prostrations lying flat on the ground. That is also good exercise. Wherever you are, offer prostrations to the sun at the three transitions of the day – dawn, noon and dusk. Offer your prostrations even if you cannot see the sun on a cloudy day. The sun is always shining, just as God is always present. It is humans that are fickle. Prostrate to your parents. Teach kids to follow the dharmic path.
This is the way for humans to live without violence. Nothing else needs to be done. Humans that follow this way of living will automatically attain liberation. Be content; do not hurt anyone; do not fight; do not be arrogant. Be peaceful. When you get angry, close your eyes and chant Omkara. Simply count to 100 and your mind will calm down. Your anger will disappear. Let people at home keep yelling. Do not take offence. They will settle down on their own. That mental happiness is good for you.
Second, teach kids to sing Swamiji’s bhajans just as you are all learning the Bhagavad Gita and the kavacas. Swamiji’s bhajans are filled with Vedanta. You are making a mistake by not realizing the treasure in Bhajans. You are missing out on the nectar by going after what you are incorrectly assuming is greater. Divya Nama Sankeertana is full of Vedanta for Kaliyuga. “Dhimahi gayatri” (the bhajan that was just sung by a devotee) is a beautiful bhajan. People wonder what the Gayatri is. If you study this bhajan, you will find the answer.
Bhajans class is mandatory for kids learning the Gita. It will help the kids chant better as well. Your voice will mold better. Your speech will be clear and pure if you learn to sing bhajans. We have bhajans in many different languages. Next time, I want to hear the kids sing bhajans.
Additionally, kids should learn to play the harmonium or keyboard or a percussion instrument. You can do this in your leisure, not at the expense of your studies. The kids that have finished learning the Gita should especially do this.
We definitely want to do Sahasra Gala Parayana (1008 people chanting Bhagavad Gita from memory) in the US first.
Participate in Hanuman Wings Seva.