Speech of HH Sri Datta Vijayananda Teertha Swamiji – Guru Purnima – July 13, 2022 – Mysore
Compiled by Jaya Akkanapragada
Jaya Guru Datta.
This is the day we look forward to have Guru’s darshan. On this day, the Guru Parampara puja is most important. We must contemplate on the lineage of the Guru today, and on every day and at every moment we must think of Guru. This is because when the Guru comes into our life, it is like a second life for us – our real life begins. The mother and father give birth to the physical body, but spiritually, the Guru gives us a life filled with gnyana such that there are no future births. The moment we first had darshan of our Guru is when we became Guru deekshitas. This is when we gained Guru deeksha (initiation).
Guru deekshām prayaccha me – is how Mother Goddess prays (in the Guru Gita).
In any initiation, there are rules to be followed. Similarly, in Guru deeksha, we must follow the path given by the Guru – how we must live, what mantra we must chant, how we should carry out our work, the path of yoga and gnyana sadhana to be followed. Since we took a vow to follow the path shown by the Guru, it is known as Guru deeksha. On that day, you receive Guru darshana and Guru deeksha.
Today is Guru Purnima. It is also known as Vyasa Purnima, the day on which Vyasa Maharshi took avatara. Sage Krishna Dvaipayana who is also known as Sage Vyasa blessed us with the light of knowledge which is the Mahabharata. We have all heard the complete Mahabharata from Pujya Appaji. Sage Vyasa also blessed us with much gnyana by way of the Puranas. He also divided and compiled the Vedas so they could be better understood by the world. Since that time, Gurus have been simplifying and supporting us. Paramatma took the form of Lord Narayana to give upadesha to Brahma. Brahma, in turn gave upadesha to Sanaka, Sage Vasishta and others, thus becoming a Guru. Sage Vasishta became a Guru by giving upadesha to Sri Rama; and Sri Rama incarnated as Sri Krishna and gave upadesha to Arjuna, thus becoming Guru. By giving us the Bhagavad Gita – which Sri Krishna imparted to Arjuna, Sage Vyasa became Guru. Shankarabhagavad Padacharya (Adi Shankaracharya) became Guru when He gave us the commentary on the Bhagavad Gita. By reviving the forgotten Bhagavad Gita and teaching it to us, Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji is our Guru. This is the revered Guru lineage, and it only continues as long as we do not let the flame of knowledge get extinguished.
When the flame in an oil lamp is about to go out, we push the wick up and add some oil. You would have all observed the mothers at home using a small stick to push the wick up, lest they burn their fingers. Getting burnt for others is foolish; similarly trying to help a drowning person when you do not know how to swim will only cause you to drown as well. Only when you know how to swim, can you help one who is drowning. Gurus usually look for a nearby rope and throw it, so that the person can hold onto it and be pulled out. In the same way, a stick is used to push the wick up. The Bhagavad Gita is the proverbial stick which the Guru is using to keep the flame of knowledge lit within us.
Deepo deepāntaram yathā – just as one lamp can be used to light another, the Guru floods the entire world with the light of knowledge – this is the Guru deepam. Guru Purnima celebrates and preserves this tradition of keeping this flame lit.
We also take up the Chaturmasya vrata today. Everyone can observe the Chaturmasya vrata, depending on their ability. If you already observe fasting on Ekadashi, and have the stamina to follow the remaining rules of fasting, and have the means and eagerness to do so, then you can observe this vrata.
There are āhāra niyamās – rules of fasting to be followed during these four months, where each month, one type of food is given up. Eating only once a day (ekabhukta), and following this vrata for four fortnights if not for four months is recommended by the Atharvana Veda.
Pakshānām śruti chōdanāt – the Vedas say a fortnight can be considered as a month.
If we can abide by these rules till Bhādrapada Pournima, we would have all observed the Chaturmasya vrata. Since Paramatma is in Dhyana during this period, all good deeds and charities taken up during this time will have multifold benefits. On this past Ekadashi (July 10th), the Lord went into Yoga Nidra. These may seem like playful stories, but this is how it is mentioned in the scriptures. It is better if we believe it as it is for our own good. The Lord remains in Dhyana Yoga Nidra until Kartika Ekadashi / Utthāna Ekādashi – which is also celebrated as Ksheerābdhi Dwādashi. The Lord specially blesses us for all the good deeds and charities undertaken during this period. In this time, our mind merges with the Lord. Since these two / four months are very auspicious, we should also think about the environment around us and without polluting our physical and mental surroundings, we must undertake this Chaturmasya vrata.
We should observe how ascetics around us are following this vrata – they perform anushthāna (religious austerities) and discourse on Dharma and impart teachings which would benefit people. This is the tradition. Similarly, after performing the Guru Parampara puja, we have a tradition of contemplating on the Vedas (Veda Vichārana). This is why every day, we discourse on the Yoga Vasishta. Since people also ask that something be taught in the evenings, therefore, from this evening, I shall be talking about Varāha Purāna. This is the conversation which transpires between Lord Varāha and Mother Earth (Bhū Devi). This entire earth belongs to Lord Varāha, as He uplifted the submerged Earth from water. Paramatma took avatara (as a boar) and is therefore referred to as Varāha Swami.
When we visit Tirupati, we must first have darshan of Lord Varaha Swami, before we have darshan of Lord Venkateshwara. The scriptures say we must pray to Lord Varaha everyday. Since this entire earth is His, we as His children must know about Him.
Mother Earth asks the Lord, “O son! All the children are going wayward and falling. How would you uplift them?” This is how parents talk about their children’s wellbeing. In the same way, they were discussing about how to improve the lot of their fallen children, and prevent them from falling again. The Mother asks many questions including about how to prevent future births. She asks if there are any kshetras that one could undertake a pilgrimage to. The lord replies and talks about Kshetra Māhātmyam and Teertha Māhātmyam. There are many kshetras and teerthas all over the world, not just in India. But since people elsewhere are not aware, these remains unknown, whilst here (in India), these kshetras are revered and protected. The Lord says there are crores of kshetras and enumerates on the important Kshetras.
Such discussions about Kshetras and Tattva can be seen throughout the Varaha Purana. This is an excellent conversation where the Mother asks, and the Father gives answers. The significance and greatness of Guru are also extolled. I wish to share a few slokas on this occasion with all of you.
There are 3 very important slokas about the greatness of Guru.
Gurau cha sati yastvanya māshrayet pūjayet kudhīh
Sa durgati mavāpnoti Dattam asya cha nishphalam
Once you have accepted One as your Guru, and He gives you a path to follow to alleviate your doubts and difficulties, you must follow that path alone and not hanker after other teachers believing something else to be good. This is not a good practice and going elsewhere and following their rituals only displays poor intellect. Not only will one not achieve his / her goal, but one’s downfall is certain.
Instead of following one path and understanding more and experiencing it, we tend to restlessly run here and there. Lord Varaha cautions us against this.
Avidyo va savidyo va guru reva janārdanah
Mārgasthōvā pyamārgastho guru eva parāgatihi
On some occasions, the Guru seems innocent and naïve, and sometimes the Guru seems to be all-knowing. Whether they seem naïve or wise, there is no other succor but Guru! Sometimes the Guru seems to walk a very beautiful path, and sometimes His ways seem questionable, but no matter what, the Guru is our only succor. Here, it seems as though Varaha Swami is describing Lord Dattatreya.
Pratipadya gurum yastu mumhā viprati padyate
Sa janma koti naraké kvacchate purushādama
Just as kings and fathers threaten because otherwise we may not listen to their words, in this verse, the lord frightens us by saying that once you have accepted someone as your Guru, if you suddenly decide “No! No! This is not my Guru” and run elsewhere, you will only keep changing tracks but never be uplifted. Since such people are fickle and cannot stick to any one path, they end up in hell.
There are many such Upadeshas where the Lord extols the greatness of the Guru in Varaha Purana. From today, we shall attempt to discuss a little bit every day. May Guru’s blessings be upon all of you and may the benefits of observing Chaturmasya vrata result in peace all around the world.
After select hymns are chanted from each of the four Vedas, the deities who were invoked during this Guru Parampara puja are requested to return to their respective abodes.
Jai bolo Sadgurunath Maharaj ki jai!