Speech of HH Sri Datta Vijayananda Teertha Swamiji at the event of Chaitanya Archana on the auspicious occasion of Sri Appaji’s 71st Birthday Celebrations, June 23, 2013 – Nada Mantapa Mysore
Jaya Guru Datta!
Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Sadgurubhyo Namo Namah !!
I offer Pranams at the lotus feet of Pujya Sri Swamiji on behalf of all the awardees & all the devotees seated here. Today, it is a wonderful occasion for all of us. I think this is the time to experience, not to talk. But Swamiji, ordered me to speak a few words.
We all have heard about Dasha-avataaras. They are ten incarnations of Maha Vishnu. Amongst them, Krishna-avatara is known as Jnana-avatara. Why? Because Krishna taught us Bhagvad Gita, all the essence of Upanishads. Once, Lord Krishna was in His Puja room, that is where He worships. At that time, Narada Maharshi came there and saw Lord Krishna worshipping a box. Narada asked, “O! Krishna, what is the box, what is there in the box?” Krishna said, “It is my Puja idol.” Then, Narada prayed to Lord Krishna, that He wanted to see what is there in that box. Krishna agreed. He opened the big box. Another box came out from that box. Likewise, box in box, box in box, box in box. There were so many boxes. Finally, came out a little tiny box. Narada was surprised, “O! It is a small box. What is there?” He again prayed to Lord Krishna, “O! Lord Krishna, show me what is there in the box.” Then Krishna opened. We don’t believe, when we read, when we listen to these type of stories. But, when Krishna opened that, there was little mud in it. Narada was again surprised. He asked Krishna, “What is that? “ Then Krishna said that this is the mud of the scholars’ foot prints. It is Holy mud. This is the reason, Krishna is known as Jnana-avatara.
We sometimes think as to why we were not born during the times of Lord Rama or Lord Krishna. We need not worry, for we are seeing Lord Krishna here, Lord, Sri Rama, in front of us in the form of Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji.
Yesterday, it was a wonderful day for all of us. We cannot forget yesterday’s evening in our lifetimes. It was a wonderful experience, seeing Appaji in the wonderful turban taking the honorable Doctorate. I saw walking Goddess Saraswati in Sri Swamiji yesterday.
Coming back to the story, Narada asked, “O! Krishna, why are you worshipping this mud? What is the secret behind this? ” Then, Krishna said, “My incarnation is Jnana-avataara. I came to earth to spread the knowledge. I came in this incarnation, to show people, how to worship, how to respect scholars. That is my main aim in this avataara. That is why, I am known as Jnana-avatara. Whenever there is lack of knowledge, whenever there is lack of respect for scholars I will be born as Sadguru.” This is what Sri Krishna said. This is not my final incarnation, I have come in. I keep on coming. These were Sri Krishna’s words.
Today, Pujya Sri Swamiji blessed all the scholars. We only study. But here, these scholars studied and have taught so many people too. Studying and teaching. Adhyayana and Adhyaapana. Doing and making people to do. That is their life. That is the reason Swamiji named this function Chaitanya Archana. This is not award function. Swamiji named it as ‘Chaitanya Archana’ – worshipping that energy. Only great souls like Swamiji does Chaitanya Archana. We, all the Datta devotees, should know about Chaitanya Archana. We all should proudly say about this.
Few minutes ago, I was talking to Rama Ghanapati ji. He was telling that he requested so many government officials to organize such a function. He said no one listened to him, but he never asked Swamiji. But, Swamiji is doing this wonderful job. Triveni Sangama is the Sangama – confluence of a merging place of three rivers, but this is mega Sangama, the confluence of Jnana, Yoga, Nada and Shastra. When Swamiji started Veda Exams in our ashram Avadhoota DattaPeetham 20 years ago, from that day our Rama Ghanapati ji is serving. He lives in Varanasi. You know how tough it is to travel from Varanasi to Mysore? He never bothered. Swamiji ordered me, I am coming. Whenever we call from Veda Paathashala, asking him whether, he is coming for Veda exams or not, He says, “Ok, I am coming.” Only one answer from him that is “Ok, I am coming.”The association of Rama Ghanapati ji with Dattapeetham is tremendous.
Our Shastra Nidhi, Devanatha Acharya ji, He is a great scholar in Shastra, Nyaya Shastra. Nyaya is very tough Shastra, Tarka Shastra, Vedanta Shastra. He taught so many children, so many disciples and he is still teaching. He is a wonderful scholar. He always joins in Shastra Sabha. Every year we conduct it during Datta Jayanthi with Swamiji’s blessings. We are all very happy that he is blessed by Pujya Sri Swamiji with Shastra Nidhi. We are all very happy.
In many Peethas they honor Vedas and Shastras. We know that. But, if at all there is an Ashrama, there is a Peetha and there is a Swamiji for Nada, that is our Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji, our Sadguru. Whenever we remember Swamiji, what comes to our mind? Nada, Nada Chikitsa. Many many things come in our mind, because Swamiji is everywhere. Swamiji is in all the fields. But Swamiji’s music, Swamiji’s Nada, Swamiji’s Bhajans are special, that we all know.
Yesterday we listened to T.V Gopal Krishnaji. He is 82 years old. And such a wonderful voice, such a powerful voice he has. Yesterday it was a wonderful experience for all of us. Swamiji came there. Swamiji remembered His Guru Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavatar because when Swamiji was living in a small hut, without any invitation Bhagavatar ji came to Swamiji and he sat in front of Swamiji and sang for Swamiji. That was his devotion. We all are happy, our T.V Gopal Krishnan ji is here and he received Pujya Sri Swamiji’s blessings.
Veda Nidhi, Shastra Nidhi, Nada Nidhi and very special award that is DattaPeetha Bandu, K.R Prasad ji. He is our Godfather of our Accounts of Dattapeetham. He gives special suggestions, when Swamiji did Sankalpa to start various trusts for the ashrama, Swamiji called him lovingly and Swamiji asked how to start a new Trust, what are the clauses. He suggested. He is a big Scholar. He is not only a Chartered Accountant, but, he has a great interest in our Yoga, Veda and Shastra. Whenever we meet, we discuss Vedanta. I read Vedanta but he experienced Vedanta. That is what I see in K.R Prasad ji. He is 81 years of age, I think. Swamiji is very happy that he is here today.
One more special award is Jayalakshmi Mata Puruskara. This is a very very very special Puruskara, very special award. I must unveil a secret here. Many Peetadhipathis, many Swamijis, I don’t take anyone’s name, many Swamis in this world, they are afraid to take their parents’ names also. I don’t know why. What is wrong in it? They have given you birth. You have to remember them always. You have to bow down. You have to worship. You have to serve them. ” Matru Devo Bhava, Pitru Devo Bhava, Acharya Devo Bhava, Atthiti Devo Bhava”. This is the Upadesha that we get from The Vedas. We only listen to it and forget. But, Swamiji in His Childhood listened to His mother and He is practicing in His actions. He awarded our Kolli Krishna Kumariji with Jayalakshmi Puruskara. This is a special Puruskara. We have Jayalakshmi Mata Nitya-annadana Trust, Jayalakshmi Mata Annapurna Mandiram and today we have Jayalakshmi Puraskar. Many awardees who got this award from Sri Swamiji are sitting here. I pray Pujya Sri Swamiji to bless them all.
Aasthana Vidwan, our Prasad ji, Swamiji likes to listen to his Mridangam. We saw in Shivaratri, Swamiji went and sat there. Swamiji asked him to play and play more. He was playing. Swamiji said at that time, “he is not playing, he is talking through Mridangam.” He plays Mridangam that smoothly! Gaurinath ji, as Manasadatta just now said, he is a devotee from his childhood. He loves Swamiji a lot, I should say, he loves Swamiji. He loves Swamiji’s voice. Once after Swamiji’s Bhajan session in Vijayawada Ashram, he was still sitting. Everyone went out of the ashram, he was sitting there, I went to him and asked, “Why are you sitting here?” He said,” I am in meditative mode after listening to Swamiji’s voice. I went into meditation. My mind is so peaceful. – he said. He loves Swamiji’s voice, and Swamiji’s bhajans.
And our Rama Sharma ji, Swamiji just now remembered his devotion. Whenever he talks in T.V channels he starts with Jaya Guru Datta, Sri Guru Datta and Swamiji’s name and then he starts.
And we have Chandrashekhar ji, a great scientist. Their family built Sri Rama temple in our Kamareddy Ashram. He is a great scientist but he has a great interest in Swamiji’s spiritual field and religious field. He comes to Swamiji to take Swamiji’s blessings. Swamiji is also great scientist, great doctor, and great director. Maybe that is the reason Swamiji recognized him and blessed him with Aasthana Vidwan award.
20 years ago, Ashrama was always beautiful. I came 27 years ago to Mysore Ashrama in 1985. When I entered into Ashrama, I decided I am not leaving Ashrama in my lifetime. I am going to settle down here in the Ashrama. That was the beauty of Ashrama. Ashrama was always beautiful and it is always beautiful. Swamiji takes care of Ashrama very well. We all know that. But some places of Ashrama like Moolika Vana, Bonsai garden, Nakshatra Vana were not like this 20 years ago. Our Jagdish ji and Suma ji did a great service in Moolika Vana and Nakshatra Vana. I pray to Pujya Sri Swamiji to bless their family with great health, wealth and knowledge.
We need not to say anything about our Subrahmanyachari, because, whenever we see the Gigantic Hanuman, we remember Subrahmanyachari, our sculptor.
Many people say fusion is in. But, I don’t find any fusion in that. That is only confusion. Swamiji says He likes fusion music. This is Fusion Sabha. Fusion Sabha means like Sangama, merging of all the different fields here. Scholars, they are coming to Swamiji. I pray to Pujya Sri Swamiji to bless them all. This Chaitanya Archana Swamiji is doing here is a wonderful service.
Once a question araised, which is greater? Which is the most powerful among Greatness and Goodness? Goodness is powerful than Greatness. In Swamiji, we see lot of Goodness. That is why, Swamiji is inviting all these scholars and blessing them. Once again, praying to Pujya Swamiji to bless you all. I conclude my speech.
Jaya Guru Datta !
Sri Guru Datta !!
Compiled by: Swarnaprabha Y.S.