Speech of HH Sri Datta Vijayananda Teertha Swamiji at the conclusion of 48 hours ‘Akhand Granth Sahib’ Paath (recital) – December 24, 2010 – Mysore
Sikh & Hindu prayers & salutations
Waheguruji ka khalsa, Waheguruji ki Fateh
Guru Brahma Gurur Vishnuh Gurur Devo Maheshwarah
Gurur Saakshaat Param Brahma Tasmai Sri Gurave Namah
Gukarastram Andakarasyat
Rukarasyam Nirodhakah
Andhakara Vinashitvat
Gururudhya vibhiyate
ek onkar, sat shri akal
ek onkar satnam kartapurakh, nirmoh nirvair akaal murat
ajuni sabham, guru parsad jap aad sach jugaad sach
hai bhi sach nanak hose bhi sach..
Omkara Bindu Samyuktam
Nityam Dhyayanti Yoginah
Kamadam Mokshadam Tasmai
Omkaraya Namo Namah
With the blessings of Pujya Sri Swamiji, we are all very much blessed to have Akhand Guru Granth Sahib Paath Parayana (recital of Sikh scripture) in our Vaikuntha, in our Kailasa, in our Brahma Loka, in the presence of Pujya Sri Swamiji. After the Guru vani (Guru’s speech), shishya vani (disciples speech) is not required. They have asked me to speak a few words on the Guru Granth Sahib (Holy Scriptures of Sikhism).
As Our Pujya Sri Swamiji & Singhji said, it is not that easy to speak on the Guru Granth Sahib. It speaks about, Paramatma, the Supreme Soul & the ship & the vehicle that take us to the Supreme Soul, which is Omkara. It is very difficult to explain, talk, sing anything. It is only to be experienced, it can only be experienced. To experience, you need to listen. That is the reason here, in the Vedanta Shastra, in our Veda Parampara, in our Sadhanas, the first sadhana being Shravana Sadhana (the practise of listening). Shravana (listening), Manana (thinking & reflection), Niyama Abhyasa (regular practise). Shravana; until & unless you listen, you are not able to understand the supreme soul & the tatva (philosophy), the essence of Guru. I think that is the reason behind Pujya Sri Swamiji, arranging this wonderful, Guru Granth Sahib Akhand Parayan. We need to listen a lot. But, we don’t do that. We always try to speak, always try to question, we always doubt. To clear all the doubts, to get rid of all the confusions, we need to listen a lot. That is why Akhand Parayan is arranged in our Ashram & that too in the holy month of Margashira Masa, in which Datta Bhagavan (Lord Guru Dattatreya) took the incarnation. We are all very happy to have Akhand Parayan in Ashram. It is said, Guru is word, not the body. You need to listen to Guru Shabda (Guru’s words), Guru Vani (Guru’s speech), the words of Guru. You need to listen a lot. Then only you can understand.
Akala Purakh.. Purakh is Purusha (spirit, person or being). We know Kala Purusha, time is running, that is Kala Purusha (Kala = time). Akala Purakh – one who has no birth or vinasha i.e. death is called Akala Purakh. How can we understand Him, it is very difficult. That is the place we fall down. That is the place where we don’t understand the Supreme Soul. To understand, to know about Him, to know about Akala Purakh, we need to travel a lot, we need to listen a lot, we need to understand a lot. That is why in Guru Gita, “GukarasTwanda Karas-yaath,” “Wahe Guru, Wahe Guru, Wahe Guru,” they always say, “Wahe Guru, Wahe Guru, Wahe Guru.” Keep on taking Guru’s name, Guru Nama. Nama is name. Name is everything. “Etani Hava, Amritasya Nama Deyani Bhavanti, Aeter hava Amritatvameti.” It is said in Jabala Upanishad, “Etani Hava Amritasya Nama Deyani Bhavanti,” these names are not simple names, like we always take, these are Amrita, as Pujya Sri Swamiji said. Nama is Amrita Sagara, the ocean of nectar. Amrita Sagara; you need to dwell in it, to take bath in it.
“Etani Hava Amritasya Nama Deyani Bhavanti, “ taking His names, chanting His names, through that you can attain the Paramatma Tatva. That is why, “Gukaras Twanda Karas-yaath,” Gu stands for agyana (absense of knowledge), that is andhakara (darkness). One who removes agyana, andhakara, the darkness in our life. Rukara; Ru stands for the light, prakasha, “Rukarah Tan Nirodhakah, Andhakarah Vinashitvaat, Gurur nitya vidhiyate,” why we call Him Guru? Because He removes, He vanishes, He removes the darkness in our life, He removes the agyana, ignorance in our life. That is why, He is called Guru. Our Guru, Ganapathi Sachchidananda Swamiji, blessed us with this wonderful Akhand Parayan & they were all doing Parayana (recital), singing, chanting, very very nicely. It is heart touching, soul touching. It was so wonderful to listen in different ragas, whoever came here, whoever participated here, they felt the vibrations, they felt the supremeness here. They were all very happy & all our Ashram people are very happy, especially, Our Sadguru, Pujya Sri Swamiji is very happy to have Akhand Parayana in our Ashram & just now we listen to wonderful bhajan session, Nama Smarana session also. Swamiji sings very wonderful, we all know. Swamiji composed more than 10,000 bhajans in different languages. We request Pujya Sri Swamiji, very soon we will listen to Pujya Sri Swamiji. All the Sikh Devotees from Bangalore, Mysore, many places, you are all here, you keep coming, this is your Ashram, feel at home & I pray Pujya Sri Swamiji to bless us all of us.
Jai Guru Datta, Sri Guru Datta.
Courtesy: Y.S. Swarnaprabha