Speeches of HH Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji – April 27, 2020
Speech during daily Satsanga at Mysore
Appaji very humorously mentions of those being a little late in joining the session.
Most of you say that you are missing Appaji and that you have not seen Appaji, since last 5 days. How is that so? even day before yesterday all of you saw Appaji. All of you are seeing Appaji daily, only yesterday maybe you did not see Appaji. Not only that, many of you are also seeing Appaji in the dreams.
A lot of people are already sending in their experiences. That makes me happy. However, some are feeling somewhat shy to express themselves and explain their experiences. I have assured you that we will not publish those experiences that have intimate details. Only those experiences that are eligible for publishing, will be published. So, why should you feel shy about narrating your true experience? A West Indies devotee brought a huge book, titled Bhakta Mala. It had a collection of experiences from various devotees from various places. Those experiences were very well written. All the devotee experiences. Appaji permitted him to go ahead with printing it.
Similarly, we can also consider publishing this book as a memory of this Coronavirus pandemic. It will always remain as a treasure. This could be a way for our future generations to know about this coronavirus and how it created a dire situation across the world, locking it down. Even if it is small book with limited number of experiences, it is okay. I should like the experience and approve it. The narration should contain a genuine context. Not just say, Jaya Guru Datta, Sri Guru Datta. We went to have His darshan, He blessed us, we came home. We performed Anagha Vratam and also offered Annadanam. And then we went back to have Swamiji’s darshan, etc. This is not how Swamiji would like the experience to be detailed. It should contain facts – When did you meet Sri Swamiji? Where did you meet Him? What words of Sri Swamiji attracted you to Him? Which bhajan attracted you? How did Swamiji welcome you into His family? How did He teach you to sing? How did He make you feel, by not talking to you for two days (or more). Sometimes, Swamiji makes a direct conversation, for example, a particular disease is not curable. Another example, Swamiji does not have the power to make a particular boy who was differently abled, to walk. The boy himself did not have the needed strength to walk. Some people have remained with that truth and have accepted Swamiji as their Sadguru. They started realizing Guru Tattva and were able to forget the challenges that came with nurturing a differently abled boy. There are many such children. Several parents bring their differently abled (sometimes quadriplegic) children to have Swamiji’s darshan and since Swamiji cannot do much in such cases, He advises them to make their children listen to healing music. Such experiences can be written. You do not have to hide these facts.
Instead of saying that Swamiji did not cure my ailment, mention how Swamiji gave you the required strength to cope with your ailment or your circumstances. Since we take birth because of some accrued karma, we cannot evade it.
In Lord Rama’s example, He was supposed to be coronated the King of Ayodhya. The auspicious timing for coronation was set by Sage Vashishtha. He was no ordinary sage. Even King Dasharatha was a great ascetic. In spite of the auspicious time and the greatness of the people involved, did the coronation take place? Instead, a different kind of an event happened. Lord Rama had to go to the forests for 14 years. Lord Rama became the king of that forest, instead of his Ayodhya kingdom. Even if we have to consider these events as Vedantic, how would we explain the inability of Lord Rama to witness the birth and growth of his twin sons, Lava and Kusha? Mother Sita gave birth to the twins in Sage Valmiki’s ashram. This was a pre-destined event just so that Sage Valmiki can write the Ramayana epic. Not just that, per a particular scripture, it was also believed that Lord Rama who was by then the King of Ayodhya was forbidden from seeing his twin sons for a certain number of years.
Do you think that Mother Sita was an ordinary home maker/consort? She was the daughter of Mother Earth. It was pre-destined for her to go through these events. Having said all these things, how can we say that Swamiji did not cure your child? You should not entertain such thoughts. While there are some people who have been rescued by Swamiji in a number of ways, it is solely because of their accrued karma. We must understand that it is our accrued karma that decides some of our current life events. I don’t like to use the word Karma, because, many people feel hurt. But if you read Swamiji’s life history, you will know why Swamiji does not use that word.
Mention real facts and true incidents in your experience. How did Swamiji bring a change in you, because a change is very important. You should go through a mental shift for good. What caused you to gain wisdom/ knowledge? How did Swamiji’s presence and His love change you as a person? Such facts must be mentioned. Instead, please do not mention that you did not win a lottery after coming to Swamiji. Such wrongful thoughts must not be entertained. Even the birth of a son or a daughter is due to accrued karma. Some scriptures mention what kind of progeny one would beget and why. What did the parents do in their past or current lives, what enemies did they attract? Why do their own children become their enemies, such details are mentioned in our ancient scriptures. Some children do get better, albeit marginally. They heal just as needed to perform their own chores. Some parents only want that amount of healing. We should always strive to perform good acts to accrue good karma. Just by visiting Swamiji 40 times, by placing a life size photo of Swamiji in our homes, we cannot just push our karma on Him. We would have accrued that karma from several of our previous lives. Just 40 visits to Ashrama, warrants that Swamiji takes away that huge pile of karma? Swamiji would have mentioned at the very first instant that some things cannot be repaired, some are difficult to be mended. Beyond that, it is purely the Lord’s grace. Surrender to Lord Dattatreya. Don’t you understand such subtle messages? Instead should Swamiji blatantly say that it cannot be healed/repaired. Stop coming to me henceforth. Do I really need to be so blatant? Even if I do, some of you are so adamant. You argue saying “If Swamiji knows that it cannot be healed/repaired, He would also know what can be done to heal/repair it”. They keep coming back with this adamant nature. Swamiji is helpless, He can do nothing.
Some others argue mindlessly with me saying “If Swamiji has the power to read into my karma, Swamiji should also have the power to change my karma. Why cannot He change it? Very difficult for Swamiji. Talking in a straight forward way is difficult, not speaking also is difficult.
Sometimes, some sages, some pious men take others karma onto their physical forms. But how many people’s karma can they take on? If the person in question can be of help to the society, then, surely, that person’s ailment/situation will be reversed. Some do not qualify in that category of being helpful to the society. They will remain with their vices and accrue more karma. Why should such people be rescued? Instead of spending all of my energy in rescuing a person who cannot give up his vices, I can instead use that powerful energy to impart knowledge and wisdom to so many other people. That one person is not destined to rule any Kingdom.
I will now tell you about the story of Vishwamitra. Sage Vishwamitra harboured so much anger for Sage Vashishtha, that he ended up creating a new Heaven for Trishankhu, expending all his energy. This drained him of all his powers and energy. He had to restart his austerities and his penance. Would you want Swamiji to do the same thing? Do you want your Swamiji to come down to a lower plane/level?
I will now tell you the story of Ramakrishna Paramahamsa. It is a small story. A great yogi would visit Ramakrishna Paramahamsa’s ashram every day. Neither he nor Ramakrishna Paramahamsa initiated any conversation with each other. One day, it was time to cross the river to go to the other side. So, Ramakrishna Paramahamsa and his two disciples spent 4 annas (currency unit, used in India in earlier times) to cross the river and go to the other side. The other Yogi walked on water and crossed the river at the that same instance. That is when the yogi and Ramakrishna Paramahamsa spoke to each other. The Yogi says to Ramakrishna Paramahamsa “The world says that you are a person with myriad powers, but you spent 4 annas to cross the river. Instead, you could have saved that money by using your powers to walk on the river like I did”. That is when Ramakrishna Paramahamsa responded saying “All your power and energy was sold for 4 annas, when you decided to walk on the river to cross it to come on to this side. You cannot again walk on the river to go back to that side, because you spent all your power on this”. Truly so, the Yogi could not walk back to the side he came from. Further, Ramakrishna Paramahamsa says “You walked on the river only to prove to me that you are powerful and also mock me that I did not use my power. I saw your outward behaviour every day you visited my ashram and realized what your intentions were. I may have spent 4 annas to cross the river, but you spent the energy from several years of penance to cross this river, just to mock me. For the 4 annas I spent, I also got a return ride in the boat. I crossed the river, procured all the things I wanted and even go back to my ashram. You, however, not only spent several years of penance, you also have to spend additional money to go back to your side. Instead, you could have used your powers to educate others”. This story is only a few decades old. You could verify it.
Just one visit, offering two prostrations, and by spending Rs 1000, do you earn the right to ask me to rescue you? Should you not realize your own karma and the karma of the child, the karma of your ancestors, can Swamiji heal the child, does Swamiji’s karma allow Him to heal that child or not? Would you only believe in my powers only if I heal you or your child? Do you think that I am only available for these acts? I am here to spend my power and energy in more useful ways like imparting knowledge to people, to awaken them from their deep slumber. If I do heal you or your child, my powers will only be spent on one person. Even if I do heal, that child will not be of use to the society. He will grow up to have vices, in fact, he took birth in your house, as your enemy.
You should read the book published by Swamiji – Katha Sagaram. You will know these stories and understand why Swamiji did not heal the child. You do not earn a right to question my powers just by spending Rs 1000, paying 40 visits to ashram, your prostrations. It is not called service, it is called selfishness. Look at the old couple. They visit every week. They do not ask for anything. They do not need anything. Their ancestors are all happy and have attained supreme bliss. They have sons who work elsewhere. They do not have any attachment with them. Look at them, their lives and look at your own selves. I am blessing that old couple and teaching you this lesson. The parents of the child ask Swamiji to heal the child just so he can use the bathroom himself. Swamiji only suggests that they offer their services. The child is their enemy due to some of their own misdeeds in the past. Reading Kathasagaram will help understand these nuances. The parents should consider letting their differently abled child in institutes that are specially serving their needs.
There is one such devotee, she is a singer and had a differently abled child. I suggested that she should place the child in such special institutes. The devotee did as instructed and the child is now doing well, she sings well, and also plays the Veena. The child when is placed with peers, learn faster. If the mother alone is helping and nurturing the child, she would be pampering the child and in future the child will also develop anger and worldly desires. The parents may not afford to provide everything. The food that you feed the child will cause him to have desires. It will be very difficult to address such issues. It is the same with girls and boys. Pay the required fees and place them in institutions that serve their special needs. That way, they will learn discipline. Or, hire full time help. If the parents do not have those means, then, there are institutes that offer such specialized services for free. They are government owned. The parents argue with Swamiji “We visited you 40 times, can You not help”. Swamiji never asked them to visit those 40 times, who asked you to pay Rs 1000 for that pooja? Did I tell you that I will heal your child, pay Rs 1000 for the pooja? I only said, develop devotion, offer services. Did I ever tell you that your child will be healed? In fact, I told you that the child cannot be healed. How much more blatant can I be? The parents now ask Swamiji to accept them as devotees, it is possible. I can be your Guru, as long as, your devotion is unwavering. The day, your devotion becomes fickle, I will cease to be your Guru. This is the blatant truth.
Some people come visiting the first time. They do not even see Swamiji’s face, they do not even know the prayers, they come for an interview. They straight off the bat, tell Swamiji that their son has issues. Do you expect that Swamiji assumes responsibility just in that instant? You pay Rs 300 for a pooja, come in a line, meet Swamiji, and dump a huge problem on Swamiji? You bring your son who has a drinking problem and then tell Swamiji to mend him? He is drug addict, an alcoholic. You have encouraged him to do all these things so far. You don’t admit that you made a mistake. Now that you are visiting Swamiji, you are making Him responsible? How can you expect that everything will be all right by visiting just twice? Is this even reasonable? Some people complain that no good happened after visiting just once? Do you expect that I use all my years of penance that is accrued from several births, just on your case? Do you want me throw way all my energy? There has to be a time for everything to happen. That time has to come and it will happen.
Take the example of Prahlada. He had to call Lord Narasimha several times before He came to rescue Prahalad. Did he not suffer all those times before he was saved? Can you not bear some difficulties? Parents come back saying that their child is doing slightly better. He is walking, he is eating etc. Swamiji is happy about the progress and instructs them to continue whatever they were doing, without letting go. Get physiotherapy done. Place him in an institute or hire dedicated help. You have to part with half your salary. It’s okay, you gave him birth. You have share property with him. Use his share of property to help him get better. You will serve him and his needs until you get old. After that, it is God’s grace. Surrender to Lord Dattatreya. Someone will be there to take care. Do not bother about it. This is called trust. This is believing. Just at the first visit, nothing will change. Especially, for the new ones that are coming. Some old devotees have made it their duty to introduce new people to Swamiji. As Swamiji walks over the bridge, these old devotees shout from below, calling Swamiji to introduce those new people. They consider this a great achievement. They think that Swamiji is pleased and will praise them. They call out for Swamiji standing below, saying that these are new devotees whoa are very fond of listening to Bhajans and watching all Swamiji’s programs on the TV. Now they wanted to have Swamiji Darshan, so have come. This introductions is like an application. Good that they have come, will they stay the night in the Ashrama? The devotee responds affirmative, and said they would watch the Puja next morning. Swamiji then tells them to retire for the night. I am just relating the sequence of what happens.
I am not involved in allotting rooms for visiting devotees, but I am happy to provide food freely.
Next day, the newcomers are suggested to participate in the puja, by paying a token amount. Once they hear it is Rs.300 they start to question, why is the puja so costly? Will I get a receipt for the amount? Will I get a card for the payment? And then argue with the Puja Counter staff on all these points. Finally they join the queue to have Swamiji’s Darshan. Even while waiting in the queue, they create some kind of trouble, by wanting to move ahead of others, jump the queue. After all this, they reach the window where Swamiji is seated, they just start off to tell Swamiji that their daughter has eloped and how should they deal with the situation. Whoever comes to me is never disappointed. Nobody is sent away without getting an answer. I also does not ask anybody to come back tomorrow, I do not advise for any remedial pujas or any thousands of rupees to be paid. I would never reveal the real secret behind the problem, even though I know why such an incident happened, but would not tell it out.
I calmly speaks to the parents and asks more details about the girl and her age. The parent reply that the girl eloped 3 months ago and were unable to meet Swamiji earlier. The girl is over 20 years and has many degrees to her credit. I now understand that the girl is a major. All this while I speak to the parents very gently, soothing them, in spite of making other devotees wait in the queue, checking if they have spoken to the boy, to see if there could be a reconciliation. The parents feel insulted and do not want to approach the police. I make them understand that the girl is educated and the boy is also known to the family, the only difference is that the boy is from a different community. I then gently make the parents understand that we many a time we would not know our ancestor’s caste or community, so why think of it in their daughter’s case. Let the children lead their life. The parents say it is an insult to them, I say why do you feel so, time has elapsed.
If at any point had I been harsh or given a decision, people would have blamed me without any hesitation. Swamiji did not support the parents or the daughter, but instead spoke in a reconciliatory tone. But, surprisingly now both the parents and the boy’s family have reconciled and are staunch devotees, even though they belong to different communities. The old devotee who introduced these newcomers was unhappy that Swamiji did not take sides and advise. I am asking, is this not fickle minded devotion? Why should they think so? What should Swamiji do? Can He talk on behalf of the parents or on behalf of the boy? Today they are all fine. They have their own children. There are so many cases like this. Sometimes I uphold the marriage saying that now that they are married, let them be. In case it fails, let the daughter come back take, care of her.
Not all children are trained by Swamiji, even if they have grown watching Swamiji, they have life failures, why? Because of their upbringing. I see them only for little time, but most of the time the parents are watching. And just by mere singing Swamiji bhajans does not mean that the child is disciplined and is very dear to Swamiji.
Why is that the parent did not sense the change in the child? Or did not notice the route that the child is taking? Why did the parents not take any disciplinary action? Think! Who is responsible?
This entire message is making all of us understand a relationship between a Guru and Disciple. I will continue this message. Me and My Life is a witness to all what has been told. I have given you live examples only to strengthen the relationship, but not to scare or weaken you. I want you to enhance and strengthen our Guru Bhakthi after hearing all this. These kind cannot happen just like that in any person’s life, only divine incarnate see these kind of incidents. It is very private. Usually there would be only a life history that is written. Here it is two faced, I am not talking of the Trinity – Guru Brahma, Gurur Vishnu and Guru Devo Maheshwara. In the Two faced, the one that is seen is the Private life, which can be recorded as a Life History. But remember, if one really wants to record Swamiji’s life history, space and papers would be a big constraint, it is so vast. There are so many in this Universe who need Swamiji. My intent is not to publicize. I have families to protect, lives to secure, protect the honour of girls. There have been many occasions where Swamiji has protected the girls’ honour and has never spoken about them anywhere. Each of the private audiences /interviews that one has with Swamiji is never referred or spoken in public. I promised My Mother that I would maintain this kind of privacy. And I abide by that word. Swamiji may be using names just as examples, but would never reveal the true identity of the person. Why, because they are all my children, daughters, granddaughters. They may come only for a day, repeatedly or only once in the lifetime. Even just a glance is enough for them to be in my Family. Datta Family. Datta children. That is happiness.
Even if they are in heaven, I would be with them. I will fight with Yama in hell and bring you back, as all of you are Datta devotees. What does this mean? It only means that all of you should have so much of faith and belief. Without faith and belief I cannot do anything. Increase your devotion, so that Swamiji keeps coming back to be on live streaming.
Many are writing experiences, some of you have messaged in AppJI asking what could be written? Write everything you want, I will read. I want content which will last for 6 months, for Swamiji to read. I will edit the text and keep what I want. Write your experience in such a way that it would be useful for others. Be truthful while writing. No Falsehood. How did you change? Almost 70k to 1 lakh people are bound to Swamiji at a go, why? Most of you do not seek any other Guru, do not like other compositions, all you keep saying is Appaji Appaji! When you have so much of attachment with Swamiji, what should be your behaviour and attitude? Never lie. Change your name while writing if you want, but I will only know who it is. On AppJi, 2 of them from the USA and 6 from India asked about, what to write, I will not reveal their names.
Today no other Sookthi, we will sing some Bhajans. From today a new batch for learning Bhagavad Gita will start. So we will play Bhagavad Gita.
One Bhagavad Gita batch is ready to give exams, but due to corona virus, it has been postponed. Do not think like the academic institutions promotion is automatic. No, each one of you have to take the exams and secure the gold medals. The gold medals are being readied. Since you have more time because of this virus, learn better. I am waiting for the Sahasra Gala (thousand voices) of chanting Bhagavad Gita, which will be happiest moment for me. When all thousand voices come together and chant Bhagavad Gita, I will be immensely pleased and will bathe and drown in Ananda Ganga – happiness.
Today we have a new batch starting with 2500 registering for the classes. It is so nice to hear this. Please do not get scared and leave. One of our Ashrama inmates, who is more into housekeeping, without any basic academic education, has memorized and got a gold medal. She also got a first class awarded by Sringeri Peetham.
Swamiji has seen all the names of those who have registered. None of you should get scared and leave. It has nothing to do with being a devotee or not. Anybody can memorize. Does hunger have any caste/community? No, if one is hungry, we just eat food, there is no discrimination. Similarly, do you need a nose to breathe? Not really, one could breathe through the mouth. Hence, Hunger has no caste and breath has no nose. In the Memorization batch there are 1600 registered and 950 in the Fluent reading category, which is very hearting and encouraging. Swamiji hopes that all students and teachers are watching live.
Whatever advise I gave earlier is for those who are writing an essay, and gave them tips how to write. The classes for the batch will start from tomorrow, and the teachers felt that it is auspicious to start the classes with Appaji, hence all of you repeat after me.
Appaji officially inaugurates with the first 4 shlokas from the 12th Chapter and declares that the classes can commence.
The 6th batch has concluded and the 7th batch with 250 students are ready to take the exams. 8th batch with 300 students continue their classes and will be ready to take the exams in December. 9th batch with 2500 will soon start their classes. It is so nice to hear that so many from India will soon be ready to chant. All these troubles and viruses will disappear when Bhagavad Gita is chanted. By the time, all ready for the Sahasra Gala (1000 Voices), Swamiji would have completed the recording of Bhagavad Gita with Meaning and commentary. Even the print will be ready.
Now let us hear about Bhagavad Gita. Sings the Bhajan Gita Gita Bhagavad Gita and two other Bhajans.
Shiva Bhajan
May Lord Shiva Bless all, and if benevolent Shiva open His Third Eye, not only these viruses, everything will be destroyed. Regarding Corona, I remember, tell everyone, in the earlier times when there was any problem with the respiratory tract/system, if someone had a common cold, a headache or throat pain, my ancestors, especially my father was a practicing Ayurveda Doctor. He never used to give medicines for me, when I was young. His only advise was drink warm water till such time I was better. Boil milk and add pinch of turmeric and drink that warm milk. Next face steam using plain water, do not use any vaporisers (Vicks etc). Face steam couple of times in the day. Bathe with warm /hot water.
Then use cotton balls in the ear, since cold or any viral infections are easily caught through the ears rather than the nose. My father used to further advise that small piece of garlic pod maybe rolled in a ball of cotton and placed in the ears. Or even a drop of garlic juice on a cotton, made into a ball and placed into the ears. Best practice is plain cotton ball. These are time tested methods. Even China is following the practice of drinking warm water, face steam with plain water and warm milk with pinch of turmeric.
Bhajan on Rama
I am happy that Annadanam could be done even on Amma Jayanthi day. I am also happy that various people from different sections of the society, have expressed their pleasure with Appaji’s timely support.
Since all of you cannot directly serve the communities, Guru becomes the via media to reach out the society. All of you trust that the money paid for the pujas is being utilized in a proper way. Swamiji is only a channel. A bank manager cannot claim ownership on the money deposited in the bank. Same way if you lock your money in a cupboard, the cupboard cannot utilize the money. Guru is like an electric wire, it only carries the current, but is not current by itself.
Bhajan
Message in Bhakti TV Program telecast on April 27, 2020
Compiled by: Jaya Akkanapragada
Śrī Mahāgańapatayé namaha
Śrī Sarasvatyé namaha
Śrī Pādavallabha nrsimha Sarasvati
Śri Guru Dattātréyāya namaha
So far we have been talking about nivédana. For each festival, the naivédyam which is prepared incorporates seasonal ingredients available at that time of the year. As we have discussed, taking such food at that time of the year is very good for our health.
In Karnataka, there is a tradition of eating white sesame seeds during Sankranthi (in January) since the sesame seeds give strength to the bones. Sesame also produces heat in the body and keeps the body warm in winter months.
Even to this day, in villages, there is a tradition of using a magnifying lens to focus the sun’s rays and light the stove to prepare a sweet dish with gōduma or wheat flour for rathasaptami. This naivédyam is offered to the Sun God, and eating it makes the body glow.
In this way, for every festival, the naivédyam which is prepared is extremely beneficial for health. Every day, the food which is prepared at home, should be offered as mahānaivédyam to Swami, and taken as mahāprasādam.
When we learn something (we do not know about) by reading a book, and understand and remember it, it becomes part of our memory. In the same way, the food that is placed before Bhagavān, is like the subject matter present in the form of letters in the book. The essence of the offering is accepted by Him in the subtle form just like the learning we take from the book.
In kśétrās like Puri Jagannāth, every day, a different naivédyam is prepared within the temple precincts. There is no discrimination there on the basis of caste. The ones who prepare the food, offer it to the people of the other communities because they believe Paramātma is present in every being there. Even the brahmins who chant gāyatri mantra partake of this prasādam. Sarvam jagannātha! The rathōtsavam – chariot festival is organized so beautifully. A few lakh devotees are present there to witness the festival, and even though the chariot moves on two extremely huge wheels, no one ever gets hurt.
In Uttar Pradesh, in many temples they have a tradition of offering chhappan bhōg – preparing and offering 55 different types of naivédyam. This tradition is followed there to this day. There are many who criticize saying “Oh, does your God eat all this food?” nivédana is offered because by doing so, our minds become purified. It is only when we do not understand the reason behind traditions, do we conveniently twist things and criticize practices.
naivédyam nivédayāmi – the dévatās were given nectar which came after churning the milky ocean. Having taken this nectar, the dévatās need no sleep and experience no hunger or thirst. Paramātma took care of the hunger of all 133 crore dévatās by giving them nectar. So the food that is offered is not for them, it is for our consumption. By offering nivédana, we are following the path of dharma, and we gain merit. When we feed poor people, we must always do it with the feeling that we are offering back to Him, what He has blessed us with. By doing so, we gain puńya. Nāmadéva and many other Mahātmās would constantly converse with God.
Scientists can make many strides, but can they control the 5 elements and create grains? If a grain is created it is only because of Paramātma’s Grace. All that science can create is plastic and artificial food. I have heard that they created a plastic cabbage which no matter how long it is boiled, it never gets cooked. They have even created rice grains from plastic. I do not know who will benefit from all this. This is what happens when man creates. It can cause harm. But what Paramātma creates is only beneficial.
They are creating flowers by applying colors and fragrances. The flower never changes, and looks exactly like the ones present in nature, but if you go close and touch it, you will realize that it is not real. Only the one who does not know to tell the difference between the real and artificial rice grains, will keep trying to cook it. In countries like Japan, Korea and china, cabbage is cultivated, and it is a big part of their diet. Cabbage is very nutritious and contains a lot of protein. Even in India, it is cultivated, and a variety of dishes are prepared. Science has even been used to artificially sweeten watermelon by injecting it with sugars. Fruits such as mango and papaya are being artificially ripened with chemical injections. This is what man does. When he creates something, it hurts mankind. But look at Paramātmā’s creations. They only benefit and protect mankind.
Even if man wants to claim that he has created something, the buddhi to create has been given by Paramātma. He has blessed us with both good and bad buddhi. We believe that by offering naivédyam to Swami, and feeding others, the food is being offered to the entire world, and we are earning that merit. Nothing is ever wasted by doing this. Poor people are also fed, and so are family members. Therefore, we must aways share the naivédyam offered to Swami with others, and then only partake of it.
Bali Chakravarti was very magnanimous. He offered 3 steps of land to Vāmana. Those 3 steps became the entire Brahmāndam (universe.) even if we offer a little bit of what we have, Paramātma perceives it as Brahmāndam and blesses us with abundance. Śabari, in Rāmāvatāra handpicked and offered the best fruit she could find, and fed Sri Rāma. She gained mōkša. Vidurāni was so mesmerized by Sri Krishna, that she peeled bananas and threw away the fruit and offered Him the peel. He was so pleased with her devotion, that He happily accepted the banana peels.
When we go to Tirupati, after standing in line for so long, when we finally have the darshan, nothing else will matter. In that moment, we will not hear anything or notice anything else except at the end when someone says “Govinda, please move along.” Many people when they are in the sanctum sanctorum are so overcome with devotion, they do not know what they are doing. That is ātmanivédana. Trikarańa śuddhi of the body means offering the manas, buddhi and the sense organs or indriyās to Swāmi. When we prostrate in front of Swāmi with aśta angās or 8 limbs, it symbolizes giving back what He has given us.
When the Pāndavās were in disguise in the forest in the last year of exile, Dūrvāsa Maharśi came with 80,000 disciples to their hut in the forest. The Maharśi requested Draupadi to feed all the disciples who were very hungry. The Pāndavās had absolutely nothing. They were living in the forest and barely had anything to eat themselves, let alone any utensils or provisions to cook for 80,000 people. Draupadi was now in a fix about what to do. She prayed to Krishna to save her from this dilemma when the Maharśi and his disciples went to bathe in the river.
Krishna appeared before her and asked her to offer Him one grain of cooked rice. When Draupadi offered Him the grain of rice with bhakti, He accepted it and said “Brahmārpańam!” At that moment the Maharśi and all his disciples who were in the river experienced their stomachs being extremely full. They struggled to come out of the river. They were burping, and had to help each other come out of the river. No one could understand what had happened. They had been so hungry, and now they were so full, they could barely move.
Before eating, some people go to sleep because they feel weak. Some others go to sleep right after eating, because they feel so full. Then they wake up again in the evening, and attack 20-30 chapatis. Some people decide to fast for ékādasi and not eat rice that day. They end up eating everything except rice! They spend more time and money making extravagant food, and end up overeating. I wish along with rice, they had mentioned a detailed list of all the other items one must not eat that day. Since only rice was mentioned, our people found loopholes for ékādaśi fasting. Even with Paramātma, people use their buddhi to cheat like this. After this so-called “fasting” on ékādaśi, people then celebrate with a feast on dvádaśi saying “we did not eat rice yesterday and we were fasting all day.”
When we offer naivédyam to Swāmi, we must pray to Him to protect everyone, and make sure no one dies of hunger. It is because naivédyam and other rituals are offered without fail in temples like Bhadrāchalam that some of these kśétrās enjoy such patronage and are still important kśétrās. Strictly adhering to these temple rituals upholds dharma. Even now in times of this lockdown, all these rituals are being performed every single day. It is only because naivédyam is offered in temples that lakhs of people get to eat at least one square meal a day.
All of you must understand the significance of dhūpa-dīpa naivédyam, and the significance of performing these rituals. You must ensure that these are practiced in your homes and in the temples around you. There are some devotees who carry a picture of God with them when they travel. Before eating, they pray and first offer the food to God and then only eat. There are 2 reasons for doing this.
1. It reminds us that Paramātma is our family member and that we must offer Him food.
2. It is a prayer to Him that may no one go without food today.
When there was a drought in krutayugam, Annapūrna dévi in Kāśi is said to have ruffled her hair strands. When She did this, some strange drops fell on earth, and many grains and millets were born. You may wonder how could a drought occur in krutayuga. Natural calamities have occurred in every yuga. Varuńadéva (Rain-god) is like that. In dvāpara yuga, he made it rain so heavily that there was a flood, and Krishna had to pick up the entire gōvardhana giri on his little finger and offer protection to all the villagers.
With the various grains that now grew, the hunger of all the people in Krutayugam was satiated. Paramātma has blessed us with hunger as well as the food to satiate the hunger. We must always make sure that people around us have food to eat. Many people who were stranded in one place with no food to eat and nowhere to live, started walking on foot to their hometowns. On the way, they got stopped, and the local officials have put up makeshift shelters to provide the migrant workers a place to stay, and some food to eat. Please enquire with your respective local authorities about such places and find out what is required which you can provide. After contacting the local authorities, the MLA and MP here, we recently provided 18 lakhs worth of provisions such as rice, pulses, oil (in several trucks) to feed people who are in need of food.
It is not enough to just wave a flag and call yourself patriotic. You must find out how you can serve the nation, and help those who are helping others. Do not hurt or cheat anyone. May Bhagavān protect and bless all of us. We must all remember that Corona has come to teach us all a lesson. You must all spend time constructively and read good books and watch good programs now.
Jaya Guru Datta. Sri Guru Datta.