Speeches of HH Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji – May 10, 2020
Sookti
Compiled by: Parimala Eshwarla
Ahō prakṛtisādṛśyam ślēṣmaṇō durjanasya ca I
Madhurairvṛuddhi māyāti kaṭukairupaśyāmyati ǁ
This sookti explains the similarity that exists between phlegm and wicked people. Just as intake of sweets causes mucus to build up, likewise sweet words, not only fail in bringing the wicked on track but in fact, instigate them further towards wickedness. Just as pepper and other pungent/ hot foods are used to reduce phlegm, only with harsh words, the wicked will mend. Either they will obey or fall in line says this sookti.
This sookti brings to memory another saying which says that the goat, which is meek and soft is offered in sacrifice but no one will dare to offer in sacrifice a tiger.
This sookti is applicable for all ages- more especially for the present times.
How can he, who obeys instructions given in normal life, ever be wicked? In Telugu there is a saying which means, ‘A human being obeys when he is told, an egg needs to be whacked once before it obeys’. But, we can says that perhaps the pet animal may obey with one whack, but surely the wicked minded will not obey even after that!
‘Corona may take away your life. Remain indoors. Do not come out’- what can we do about the person who refuses to listen to this advice when given kindly? Police have no choice but to beat him and send him home.
The police use a ‘police language’ by which they get the burglars to reveal the truth. Only when they resort to that language, the burglars listen. Using kind, soft words will not have any impact on the burglars.
Initially police resort to usage of harsh, piercing words which itself cause some burglars to begin to speak. When this fails, the police resort to using their stick as this is far more effective in extracting the information. When even this fails, they stop supplying food. Extensive starvation makes them ready to talk.
Wickedness is deeply ingrained in the wicked minds. To get rid of these vices that have stuck deeply like grime to their minds, sour substances need to be used. Sour liquids cut through grime. Unless he is scrubbed thoroughly with this sour liquid, it is difficult to remove the grime stuck to him. Likewise, unless and until harsh language is used, wicked person does not mend. Using harsh techniques to reform a person finds mention even in vedas.
When speaking about demons, Vedas and Shastras use very harsh terminology. Even the ancient poets have also condemned them using harsh language. All Subhashitas (ancient Indian sayings, sooktis), focus upon praising the virtuous and condemning the wicked.
Our speech must be based upon the circumstances. Rama did not use the same language when dealing with Bharata and Ravana, did he? In the battle between Krishna and Salva, when they were engaged in verbal duel, Krishna used harsh, offensive language. Such offensive, threatening language should be reserved only for the wicked. It fails when used upon the virtuous.
This sookti teaches a beautiful health tip. Black pepper has the ability to remove phlegm from the chest. It can cut through the mucous trapped in the throat and cause it to be thrown out.
Eons ago, when red and green chillies were not available, pepper powder was the only ingredient to make the food hot.
India, the country that has supplied many divine medicines to the entire world, has also supplied pepper which is noted for its extensive medicinal value. Although pepper is grown in many countries, the variety that is grown in India has profound medicinal uses.
Our meal should consist of all the 6 tastes. Nowhere do our Scriptures exhort us to eat only bland food devoid of any taste. At the same time, extremely hot and spicy foods are a bane. Every taste must be in balance.
When suffering from common cold, the person should increase intake of pepper in the form of pepper tea. This reduces the phlegm. A little pepper must be consumed daily as part of our food. As the habit of regularly consuming pepper faded with time, the Lord, in the form of pongal dish which is offered as Naivedam in Dhanurmasam (mid-December to mid-January) has ensured that we consume some pepper.
Let us preserve and continue our ancient traditions. Let us drink hot water, hot milk, keep surroundings clean and follow all healthy habits. Through this abidance, let us lead happy, healthy lives. Diseases will not approach us. We must listen to the directions given by our elders.
Message in Bhakti TV Program telecast on May 10, 2020
Compiled by: Jaya Akkanapragada
Śrī mahāgańapatayé namaha
Śrī sarasvatyé namaha
Śrī pādavallabha narasimha sarasvati
Śri guru dattātréyāya namaha
āpadāpama hartāram dātārām sarva sampadām
lōkābhirāmam śrīrāmam bhūyō bhūyō namāmyaham
Praying and thinking about Sri Rama at all times will make all problems melt away. The mind is purified, and one also feels very courageous when they simply chant His name. We will also develop the thought to always lead a righteous life. Since Rama personifies Dharma, our goals and ideals will also become good and we will aspire to undertake more dhārmika work. At this time, we must develop such traits.
Rā which is the prāńa beejākśara from the aśtākśari mantra and Mā which is the jīva beejākśara from the pancākśari mantra combine to make the Rāma tāraka mantra. We develop three views when we worship Sri Rama – dhārmika, upāsana, and tātvika driśti. By following dhārmika driśti, man’s life improves. With upāsana driśti, bhakti and love for God will increase. Tātvika driśti helps one understand Paramātma’s tatva. These are the benefits one gains by worshipping Sri Rama.
Since dharma is very subtle, sometimes when we are in a difficult situation, we do not know what to do when one text says we must do one thing, and another text suggests the opposite. When we face doubts like these, we must take Rama as the ideal, and follow His example. This is why we all must read Ramayana. If we carefully observe the path followed by Sri Rama as Balarāma, Kousalya Rama, Ayodhya Rama, Daśaratha Rama, Raghurama, Sitarama and Kodandarama, we will find ways to get out of tricky situations. We will also learn how to emerge victorious and gain happiness.
By following dharma, Sri Rama was an ideal householder, an ideal child, an ideal sādhaka and an ideal yogi. We can also see the traits of a good son, a good brother, a good husband and a good king in Sri Rama. Therefore, Rama is dear to everyone. By learning about Rama and trying to be like Him, we will learn how to fight adharma, and protect our own and those who depend on us, as well as help society. Look at any Rama upāsaka (one who worships Sri Rama) – they are always happy, they get along very well with all their friends and family members, and they also keep the environment around themselves very positive and clean. Any work that is entrusted to them is carried out very well, and they spend their time being happy and content. Even the dévatās help those who worship Sri Rama.
Sri Rama sacrificed His life for the well-being of the world and won the hearts and affections of all beings.
śrīrāma rāma rāméti
ramé rāmé manōramé
sahasranāma tattulyam
rāmanāma varānané
Sadāśiva Himself said that by constantly chanting rāmanāma, He gains ānanda (bliss). Even chanting this sloka once is equivalent to chanting a thousand names of Mahāviśnu.
Just before SriRama’s birth, there were many auspicious signs in the world. Seeing this, Vasiśta named Him Rama so that by chanting His name, the entire world would benefit. Therefore, we must all chant Ramanāma. By chanting His name, all difficulties will be solved and the world will be peaceful and happy. Even Ratnākara – who was simply chanting ‘marā marā marā’, his life was transformed and he became Vālmiki Maharśi.
By chanting Rāma’s name, Tyāgarāja Swami (one of the three great composers of the musical trinity) had the vision of the Lord. Where Valmiki Maharśi’s Ramayana comprises 24,000 verses, Tyagaraja Swami composed more than 24,000 compositions in praise of the Lord. Kancherla Gopanna who was known as Rāmadāsa achieved rāmamantra siddhi. In this way, many great devotees who kept constantly chanting rāma mantra, attained Him.
rāmō vigrahavān dharmāha – Rama is the very embodiment of Dharma. If Dharma took a form, it would be Rama. We constantly hear that Rama is Dharma, and Dharma is Rama. How did this phrase arise? Who said it first? It was not the Gods or Munīs, but a demon named Mārīca who said these words. Mārīca learnt of Rama’s greatness and became a devotee. When he urged Ravana not to antagonize Rama, Ravana turned on him and said he would kill him. Mārīci decided that it would be better to die at the hands of Sri Rama, and agreed to do whatever Ravana asked of him. By being constantly in fear of Rama, and chanting His mantra, he learnt about Rama’s greatness. Mārīci narrates the greatness of Rama in arańya kānda of Ramayana.
When Viśvāmitra was performing a yagña, the young Rama used an arrow to kill a demon named Subāhu. He used another arrow to fling Mārīci far away into the sea. From then on, Mārīci started thinking of ways to destroy Rama, and came up with a plan. One day, he called two of his friends and told them of the plan. They all turned into wild animals and started leaping towards Sage Viśvāmitra’s ashrama. Young Rama was adjusting the arrows in His quiver, and from a distance observed the wild animals. Seeing their behavior, He realized they were not animals. Just as they were about to attack Him with their horns, Rama quickly moved aside and used two diamond-like arrows on them. The two arrows immediately killed Marīci’s friends, and the third arrow drove him far far away. No matter where Mārīci turned, the arrow followed him. With great difficulty he somehow escaped from the arrow, and then understood Rama and what He stood for.
Rama had spared him, because there were some traces of bhakti in Mārīci. In great fear of Rama, Mārīci realized that he had been spared, and slowly gave up his demonic ways. He donned the clothes of a sādhu, and started performing penance. The demon became a Muni.
The reason why they ask one to close a nostril while performing penance is because the Brahma nādi is present between the ida and pingala nādīs. With practice, during prāńāyāma, one learns to control the breath between these two nādīs, and raise the brahma nādi upwards from the mūlādhāra. This is why we breathe alternately from both nostrils. This is the meaning of tapas.
Once a priest asked the person performing puja to hold his nose. The fellow held the priest’s nose. The priest had to say “not mine, hold your nose.” Maybe while chanting mantras in future, we will have to clearly tell people what has to be done.
In constant fear for his life, Marīci performed tapas all the while chanting Ramanāma. Not knowing when Rama would come for him, he saw Rama in every tree, every anthill and every stone in the forest. When Ravana came to the forest after hearing Śūrpanakhā’s words, Mārīci tried in several ways to dissuade him. That is when he said “rāmō vigrahavān dharmāha”
Rama mantra had the power to transform Mārīci from a demon and utter such beautiful words. Realizing that Ravana was not willing to listen, Mārīci decided it was best to die at the hands of the noble Rama instead of the wicked Ravana. He took the form of the golden deer and died at the hands of Rama.
Ramanāma is so dear to Hanuman.
yatra yatra raghunātha kīrtanam
tatra tatra kruta mastakānjalim
bhāśma vāri paripūrńa lōcanam
mārutim namata rākśasāntakam
Wherever Ramanāma is heard, with tears of joy flowing from His eyes and hands raised in namaskāra, Anjaneya Swami will be present. The smritis say we must pray to Swami. If we want to please Anjaneya Swami, we must chant Ramanāma. With Rāmadūta’s help, Ramaprabhu will be pleased.
Rama’s greatness is unparalleled. It has been described in so many languages. It is impossible to count the number of times Ramayana has been chanted.
Rama never once said that He was an avatāra of God. He always said He was Daśaratha’s son. People ask questions such as why even though Rama is so great, He hid and killed Vāli from behind. There were two reasons for this. One, if anyone faced Vali and fought with him, half their strength would go to Vali. The second reason was that the entire forest was next to Ayodhya and was therefore under Rama’s rule. Therefore, any being which was unrighteous had to be corrected. Rama did not kill Vali, He only shot him with His arrow since Vali behaved very badly with Sugreeva, and kidnapped his wife Tara. Sugreeva had been very loyal to Vali, but Vali behaved very poorly with him. Rama could not ignore all these unrighteous deeds of making the queen a slave, behaving like an animal and killing many sādhūs. He had to teach Vali a lesson. A monkey can have many wives, but why did Vali take his brother’s wife? Since Rama was the king of the forest, He had to restore dharma.
Someday, I shall sing the bhajan Rāmude Dharmamu (Bhajan ID – 2016) for all of you. Vibheeśana was a demon, but because he sought refuge in Rama, Rama protected him. Ravana did not ask for forgiveness, but when he was tired in battle, Rama asked him to go home and get some rest and come back again the next day. The eighth verse of this bhajan says that by then under Rama’s rule, the entire world was under His protection.
Let us listen to the children sing daya rāni dāśarathi rāma by Tyagaraja Swami.
This year because of Corona, we were all unable to celebrate SriRama Navami. May He be compassionate and forgive us. We have worshipped You wherever we are and believed our homes to be Your temple. Please forgive us, and save us from this difficulty.
We all must be as careful outside as we are at home. Do not share spoons and eat from each other’s plates. Do not shake hands with others and maintain social distance.
Sri Guru Datta. Jaya Guru Datta.