Speech of HH Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji on Datta Jayanti – Day 2 in the morning – December 17, 2021 – Mysore
Compiled by Archana Penukonda
śrī ganeśāya namaḥ
śrī sarasvatyai namaḥ
śrī p̄ada vallabha narasimha sarasvati
śrī guru dattātreyāya namaḥ
om namo hanumate namaḥ
oṁ ayiṁ hrīṁ śrīṁ śiva rāma anagha dattāya namaḥ
I had earlier planned to do Datta Jayanti festivities at Ganagapura. The Ganagapura Samsthan devotees said that lakhs of devotees flock Ganagapura for Datta Jayanti and it might get inconvenient for devotees. Those few days would be very chaotic. Normal events would need 500-600 rooms, but your devotees would need over one thousand rooms for the event, they said. Due to Covid and pilgrims not visiting the place for two years, the businesses there likely charge higher prices, the burden of which would also fall on Datta devotees. So, they requested that we complete our program early.
Therefore, prior to Datta Jayanti, we did a Saptaham joyfully in the beautiful Ashram there. There are only Padukas of Narasimha Saraswati in the main temple in Ganagapura. There is only a very small moorti there in the back. People there do not even know of the incarnation of Datta. Swamiji felt there had to be a form of Datta there. Narasimha Saraswati is unquestionably an incarnation of Lord Datta from centuries ago. Six hundred years ago, His Padukas were placed there. Worship there is offered to the Nirguna (formless, attributeless) Padukas. You all learned about the concept of “nirguna” in Bhagavatam, Mahabharata and Bhagavad Gita. For those worshiping Brahma, for worshipers of Vishnu and of the all-pervading Shiva – for all seekers – Swamiji consecrated a huge Datta moorti atop the temple and a beautiful emerald Lord Datta moorti inside the temple about 10-12 years ago. The story of Narasimha Saraswati is also depicted inside the temple. Ever since the consecration took place, Swamiji has not been able to visit Ganagapura. Swamiji established so many kshetras around the country. Visiting each kshetra one by one would take two or three years. And then Swamiji could not travel as I was doing recordings of Bhagavatam, Mahabharatam etc. The Ganagapura, Gulbarga and Hyderabad members were clamoring for Pujya Appai to visit the Ganagapura Ashram. It had been 10 years since I went to Ganagapura. A local devotee and trustee – Ravindran Bhatt – who adored Swamiji passed away during Covid. He did not wear a mask during Covid despite repeated cautioning. He wanted to reach Datta’s abode soon and he did. His son Ratnakar Bhatt who was trained by his father now fulfills his father’s dream of serving the Ashram.
Swamiji had the desire to do Datta Jayanti programs there. When Swamiji does a program, you all know it is very big. Such a program needs Rs. 3-4 crores of expenses. There needs to be a stage for Swamiji to do discourses. There needs to be a place for devotees to sit. There needs to be food for 5000-8000 people. How can something like this be arranged quickly? We left it to Lord Datta. An ardent devotee saw Swamiji in his dream and spent 3-4 crore rupees to build a big stage in the Ashram. The devotee and his family only believe in Swamiji, no other God. They built the Mantapa in under 10 months. They did it purely because Sri Swamiji asked them to. The stage and the rooms are all very well done. There is now space there for auspicious events and for devotees’ accommodations. Also, Maharashtrians do Parayana there and there is accommodation for them as well.
Now, we saw on TV that due to the resurgence of Covid, the government has ordered that all programs in Ganagapura be canceled during Datta Jayanti. People are not allowed to gather in groups. But we finished our programs early and came back. People from many countries came to Ganagapura. I asked them to go back and not come to Mysuru again. They complied. Very few local devotees are here. Except in Badari, all Ashrams are observing Datta Jayanti these three days per Swamiji’s instruction and Lord Datta’s command. Badari is closed for the winter. All Ashramas are observing the festival and also distributing food. You must share your food. Do Annadana. Give clothes to the needy. Datta Jayanti is about serving the needy. Tomorrow, we will do Tailabhishekam. Gita Jayanti, Datta Jayanti, Hanumad Jayanti are all happening around the same time. You all know that Swamiji has established many Hanuman temples. They are all observing Hanumad Jayanti.
Many are afraid of the Bhagavad Gita because they feel they cannot understand Sanskrit. But now, it has become like a second language as kids are finding it easy to understand Sanskrit. We used to choose a foreign language as second language in school, but now kids are choosing Sanskrit. Children are also able to pronounce the Sanskrit words correctly. People are so mad about learning the Bhagavad Gita now that they feel unfit to be called Datta devotees if they do not receive a Bhagavad Gita medal or certificate from Pujya Swamiji. They feel guilty if they have not yet learned the Gita. Why cannot you learn the Bhagavad Gita? In Andhra Pradesh, the Bhagavad Gita is usually played when someone dies. There is a misconception that Bhagavad Gita is the Gita to be played at death. But now, there has been so much propagation of the Bhagavad Gita in every village. We do not need to go to every village in the state, chanting in our Ashramas is enough. Those are our villages. Bala Swamiji has done excellent propagation of the Bhagavad Gita. Our devotees have done great propagation of the Bhagavad Gita in every household. Now, after listening to Swamiji explain the meaning of the Bhagavad Gita, they have understood that it is a manual required for life. The misconception that Gita should be chanted at death is going away. Everyone is starting to chant the Gita now. I am very happy.
About 40-45 years ago, Swami Chinmayananda ji called me when I was in Kesare and requested repeatedly that I propagate the Bhagavad Gita. He felt it would be good if I propagate the Bhagavad Gita like I propagated Raga Ragini Vidya. But I did not take it to heart. About 40 years after that, I selected 140 shlokas from the Bhagavad Gita and recorded them. That album became very popular. Devotees then began clamoring for the full Bhagavad Gita in Swamiji’s voice. That has also been done.
Six years ago, I went to the United States. Of course, I go there nearly every year. The youngsters and kids there are so attracted to Swamiji. They keep following their ”Tataji” everywhere. I cannot speak English, I did no miracles, I did no tricks, nor give them any sugar candy, but they do not let go of me. Those kids would only speak English, they would not even speak in Telugu or Kannada at home. I would speak to them in broken English and they would laugh. After the bhajans and discourses, I would spend time with the children for about 30 minutes, joke with them, distribute candies to them etc. For about a month, Swamiji kept doing this – talking to them, joking about the movies, throwing them candy etc. The kids would refuse to go home. I do not know what Maya it is, they would just not leave Swamiji. The official programs would end by 9pm. But the kids would refuse to leave and sometimes stay until 11pm or 12 midnight and refuse to leave. The parents would finally request that I let them go since the kids had early morning classes and needed to wake up at 5am. I told the parents to take the kids home as I was not holding the kids back, it was the kids that were refusing to leave. A big Hanuman temple was established there. I would spend time with kids and give them candy every day during my visit. The kids had strong attraction for Swamiji. Even grownups kept getting attracted and would want candy along with the kids. Some were wondering what was going on – realizing something extraordinary was happening; some took it face value and thought Swamiji was just giving candy. We would have a vibrant Bhajan session every evening and that was followed by this session with the kids where Swamiji would give them candy or almonds or other goodies. The children were not interested in the candy, they only wanted to be with Swamiji and talk to Swamiji.
We did a 40-day program there. It is almost impossible that I do a 40-day program anywhere. I have wheels on my feet, I never stay in one place for long. When I go to public events, people are happy if I just sit for a bit. That is why people want Swamiji to come at the end, because people will stay till the end. Even great musicians including MS Subbalakshmi would request Swamiji to stay since that is the only way the audience would stay. After 25 days or so, I was angry with the kids and chided them saying their way was not good. The kids began crying. This appeared to be Swamiji’s transcendental play. The kids were sent home. Prasadi wondered why I yelled at the kids. I said I did not yell at them, in fact, I did not even know they were yelled at.
Next day, every single kid came back. One of the kids asked why Swamiji had yelled at them. Swamiji said – if you want to be with me, you should learn the entire Bhagavad Gita by heart. Then, I will be with you, give you candy, and bless you with a (pure) gold medal.
Then, they wondered how they should learn the Gita. A devotee of Swami Chinmayananda – Srikanth – was pursuing Swamiji saying he wanted to do seva. He was trained at Chinmayananda Ashram. He started the classes. The Bhagavad Gita Yajna started. That Bhagavad Gita program is now unstoppable. So many kids have learned the Gita. When our kids go to other places like Sringeri Peetham for exams, the Peetham knows even before they evaluate our children that they will receive gold medals. That is how good our Bhagavad Gita program is. Everywhere our kids attended Bhagavad Gita competitons, they won. Swamiji first attracted all the kids to Him and then had them learn the Bhagavad Gita. We continued to do candy sessions even after the kids went on to learn the Bhagavad Gita and also won certificates and gold medals.
Many years ago, Swamjii went to Delhi. Professor Kishan Kumar, who was a devotee, loved Swamiji’s bhajans. About 40 of his female students from the university would come to the bhajans sessions every day dressed in pants. They would sit in the front and listen to the bhajans. The students grew very attached to Swamiji. They are all grown up now and have children of their own. When it was time for Swamiji to leave, they asked what they could do to have Swamiji stay longer. Swamiji said – if you wear a sari and a bindi like in the Indian tradition, I will stay a couple more days.
Every one of them came back wearing a sari and bindi the next day. And Swamiji stayed longer as promised. The girls asked Swamiji why He did not direct them to dress this way right on the first day. Swamiji said – you would not listen to me if I told you on the first day. You would ask me to go back and wonder why I am observing your attire.
So, Swamiji first created an attraction and then slowly helped them understand. We should first welcome what the students like. Slowly, we need to infuse wisdom in them. We should not abruptly teach them lessons. I give candy to the children and then give them wisdom. I showed the kids the taste of Bhagavad Gita. We have a lot of material desires. We all want education, money, success etc. The Bhagavad Gita helps with spiritual and material accomplishments. When I told the students this, they developed greater interest in the Gita. These were kids who could not even speak Telugu or Kannada, but they all learned the Bhagavad Gita. Those who have not yet learned the Gita should try to learn the Gita.
I am very happy that we are doing this Datta Jayanti so peacefully. The swelling crowds and chaos are not there. People would have to sit on each other’s heads with those kinds of crowds. Datta Jayanti this time (with the smaller crowd) is like old times. Everyone must mandatorily wear the Pundareeka Raksha on their forehead (three horizontal lines to represent Lord Shiva, a U-shaped mark to represent Lord Vishnu, and a dot to represent Lord Brahma).