Speech of HH Sri Datta Vijayananda Teertha Swamiji – Subrahmanya Shashti – December 17, 2015 – Mysore
Compiled by Shruthi Jagadish
(Livestream recording does not have the speech from the beginning)
May all diseases be cured, may you all be blessed with good progeny and auspiciousness. I pray to Lord Subrahmanya for all your wishes to be fulfilled. Today is Subrahmanya Shashti. The Shashti that comes in Kartheeka masa is special, but the Shashti in Margashira masa is very significant. Even in Shravana masa, we celebrate Chaviti and Panchami. In Kartheeka masa also, Panchami is celebrated. Shashti day in both Krishna Paksha and Shukla paksha are dear to Lord Subrahmanya.
But the Shashti in Margashira masa is the Happy Birthday of Lord Subrahmanya Swami. Today we are celebrating His birthday. On this day of Margashira Shashti, those who carry the Kavadi, and offer the materials for the ablution with a feeling of offering their own Self, Lord accepts their offering in the form of Abhisheka and Alankara and blesses them abundantly.
Today, the incarnation of Datta, our Sadguru, has Himself carried the Kavadi here. With that Kavadi, we have performed the Abhisheka. It is indeed our great fortune. Lord Datta is said to be the Guru of Lord Subrahmanya Swami. In Thiruchendur, there is a place called Valli Guha (cave). These days it is called Valli Guha, but once upon a time it was known as Datta Guha. It is said that Lord Subrahmanya Swami received Upadesha from Lord Datta here. When such Guru Himself is now carrying the Kavadi and performing Abhisheka, we must follow.
Why should we perform Abhisheka? What do we gain from it? Is it necessary to pour all these materials on the idol? What is the use of doing it? Such stupid questions must not be asked. Those who are devotees must not pose such questions. Shastras, Vedas all state that on the day of Shashti if you carry the Kavadi and do abhisheka, it will bring you good fortune. When it is said that good will happen, it must be taken positively.
You should not ask, ‘How will it benefit? Why is it beneficial?’
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Vedas are the Command (Shasana). No one should violate the command of the Vedas and Shastras. But our mind, or the intellect poses these questions on why we should follow these practices, why engage in this Karma. To get answers to these doubts, we ask questions. There is nothing wrong with that. You can ask questions. But whom should you ask the question? You can ask Sadguru your questions. Only He can give us satisfactory answers. But He will ask you to keep the explanation aside and follow what is told as it is good for you. So we should only keep doing what is told. When it will only bring good to us, why hesitate? By doing this Kavadi Seva, our health improves, skin diseases are remedied, problems in the nervous system are resolved, heart ailments, blood related diseases are healed. Problems related to bones are also cured, mental illnesses are also cured. Adhi-vyaadhis will be removed.
When this has been told by all great men out of their own experience, we should only happily follow their path and reap the benefits.
Questioning irrelevantly like this is not accepted in other religions. If you pose such questions, you will be shunned. Do you find anyone who says, “I’m an atheist, but am still a Muslim?” Impossible! But you will find people who say they are atheists but Hindus. This is a very sorry state! You want to know the reason for everything, as if you are a big scientist. You will not get answers for everything. If you ask, “Is the Lord in that idol?” He is present if you say He is, otherwise He is not. So when it is said He is not in the idol, it is only for the person saying so, not for everybody. It is his karma that he believes so. But those who believe in the Lord’s presence in the idol will see Him not only in the idol, but feel His omnipresence pervading the entire world. How can the omnipresent God not be in the idol? He is present within us as the light in our hearts. He is present in every cell of this body. But we do not have the capacity to feel His presence this way. Hence we say see Him in your heart. This is easier.
Similarly, Sri Swamiji has consecrated the divine light, it is not ordinary. Subrahmanya Swami means Jyothi (light). That too consecrated by our Sadguru. In all Subrahmanya Swami temples, today, Subrahmanya Shashti is celebrated as a big festival. Lord Subrahmanya is very fond of Abhishekam. It doesn’t mean that just getting a packet milk and pouring it on Him will please Him. You must get the milk, take it in the Kavadi. Milk symbolizes our ego, our mind. We should tie this to the stick called Bhakti and offer it to the Lord. When one makes an offering with this feeling, God accepts it wholeheartedly. Today Sri Subrahmanya Swami has very happily accepted all our offerings and is showering his blessings on us. May all ailments be cured and may you be blessed with good health, strength, knowledge and devotion to Guru. I pray to the Lord for all your wishes to be fulfilled – it could be for getting children, have marriages performed, or achieve harmony in the family, or anything else.
Jaya Guru Datta
Sri Guru Datta
Vetrivel Muruganukku Harom Hara
Marakata Subrahmanya Muruganukku Harom Hara
Sachchidananda Muruganukku Harom Hara
Dattapeetha Muruganukku Harom Hara
Jai Bolo Subrahmanya Swamiji ki Jai!
The Mrittika (mud) and Bhasma (Vibhooti) that have been used in the worship will be given to all. Use the mud while taking bath.
Sri Guru Datta