Discourse of HH Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji Bhagavatha Bhakthi Saptaha – Day 1- February 19, 1996
Written by Radhakrishna on February 19, 1996
Proofread and edited by Girishwar Brahma Saraboji Kaveripattinam on 18th June 2021
HIS HOLINESS SRI SRI GANAPATHI SACHCHIDANANDA SWAMIJI BEGAN
THE DISCOURSES IN ‘BHAGAVATHA SAPTHAHAM’ ORGANISED BY
THE MYSORE MAATRU MANDALI IN THE ASHRAM.
Whenever the affairs of Man are in bad state, the humanity has to suffer because of its own mistakes. It can be due to unbearableness or tyrant governments and oppressions and natural calamities. The same humanity hopes for a deliverer and a saviour, who saves humanity from the evils of the yuga. The man of the hour or divine birth is an Avataara. An Avataara looks like human. But He is God incarnate in flesh and blood. He behaves like a man, enjoys and suffers like all other men. The Avataar comes for a purpose.
The Dashaavataars supplied the godly energy to mankind. The spiritual force is supplied to mankind when it is weak due to selfishness and accumulated evil karma for generations on the earth. The evils effects will start destroying wholesale all the good on the earth by wars, famines, revolutions, and whatnot. When the collective karma reaches an unbearable state, an Avataar appears. We must read the great story of an Avataar, that is, Sri Rama. Sri Rama Avataar is magnificently explained by VALMIKI.
You have Ramayana epic as given by great Tulasidas and we have great poet Kambar. But in all these, the idea of Godman in human form is emphasised. It is the idea of divine perfection in human descent. Then this descent of Godly energy revives Bhakthi tradition, manifests Gnana and Vairagya, the power of renunciation unto Godly states.
THE SECRET OF HANUMAN AS AVATAAR:
Lord Hanuman is a divinely charged Being of the highest order, and holds a sacred spot in the Epic Ramayana. If Rama is an Avatar then Hanuman too. Hanuman belong to PANCHABHOOTHA TATVAS (Power of the five elements). HANUMAN IS THE AVATAAR OF BHAKTHI, JNANA, AND VAIRAGYA.
In Ramayan Epic, Rishi Valmiki sings the glory of Rama as Avataar. It is Poorna Avataar (total Avataar). It is a complete descent. We should respect Hanuman who represents Bhakthi to Rama and service-mindedness. It should however be noted here that a devotee’s (a Bhagavatha’s) veneration is a matter of personal taste for veneration, aptitude to rise to great ‘feelingful’ state and to hold onto sense of values and many other values. Tulsidas imbues total energy to Lord Anjaneya (Hanuman) as Avatar and energy of the Five elements. Therefore in Valmiki Ramayana also, LORD HANUMAN IS PRE-EMINENT AND PARAMOUNT.
Whenever you listen to story of Hanuman you will acquire new energy to have faith and devotion to the Supreme lord. Hanuman’s childhood, growth, and his plays are most appealing to those who revere Ramayana. In this epic, there is both PARAMATMA (Supreme soul) and PARAMARTHA (Supreme ideal depicted). Innumerable great saints sang on Rama and Hanuman and pictured them to hearts’ content. In the Hindu spiritual tradition, role of Ramayana as epic is vital. It lives as long as Sun and Moon live.
The Great Valmiki was once a bandit of the worst sort and lived by crime. He lacked any spiritual instinct and trusted his wife and children so much that one day, sage Narada wanted him to find out whether his wife really loved him. Valmiki believed so and went home to find out. “O my dear lady, I am earning all these for the family out of criminality and murderous life to keep you all happy and contented. Will you share the burden of or the result of my sins too?” Then the wife replies in negative saying that earning was his duty, and she was not ready to partake any sin etc… Valmiki asks his children and gets the same answer. Then he understands that there is not a soul who can share his sinning nature and its results, let alone his family. He listens to SAGE NARADA AND PERFORMS severe penance to get over the sinful nature. A great mound envelops him (that is called Valmika or Anthill) and later he is named Valmiki. Valmiki reflects our own lives. He is a transformed soul by the grace of Sadguru. Narada stood beside him as his Guru. How lucky is he!
Such a Valmiki tells the story of HANUMAN. Therefore it is Hanumadvilas or Vayunandana Vilas. Anjanadevi or Punjikastala was an Apsaras (celestial maiden). She had no offspring out of Kesara. After the Mohini Avatar of Lord Hari, a potential energy came up after this Avatar (Sri Swamiji called it Tejas) and the whole world did not know where to place this energy except for Vayu (Wind God). Shiva energy (Hari) is being carried by Vayu, and whoever got tainted or touched by this waft of energy would become very potential. So one day, Shiva Tejas, which was carried by Vayu, touched the lap of Anjanadevi and entered her. Thereby, Vayuputra took birth as ANJANEYA (son of Anjani). Three hundred and thirty three billion devathas blessed Anjaneya as a child. He is Maruthiprabhu.
Sri Swamiji tells about BHAKTHI IN NEETHIMALA. Since birth, Anjaneya has Bhakthi. He is incarnation of devotion to mother and father, and most energetic. He leaped into the solar system to eat up the SUN, THINKING THAT IT IS A FRUIT IN THE SKY. His childhood is great. He is an unusual child. In order to tell how devotion is inculcated in Anjaneya, let me give this example:
YADYASTI TE PREMA JAGADVIDHAATARI TUCHCHAM KATHAM SYADIHA VASTU KINCANA; SPRSTAM PRIYENAMBARA KHANDAMEVA HI PRIYAM PRIYAYASTU VIYOGAKALIKAM
(IF YOU HAVE REAL LOVE FOR LORD, THE CREATOR OF THIS UNIVERSE, HOW CAN YOU CONSIDER ANY OBJECT WHICH REFLECTS HIM AS MEAN IN THIS WORLD? EVEN THE HANKY (a handkerchief – CLOTH) TOUCHED BY THE LOVER APPEARS SWEET TO HIS BELOVED DURING THE DAYS OF THEIR SEPERAT1ON.)
Even a small cloth becomes valuable and great possession to a lovelorn fiancee specially when her lover is away from her. That cloth brings the sweet memories to her and so she preserves it and gives a kiss to it and loves with tears and she cannot bear the pangs of love. In the same way when we see even a particle of sand, it should bring before our mind, thoughts of the favourite lord, the creator of everything in the Universe and we should weep out of joy and become anxious like the lovelorn lady for her beloved. The almighty lord is the only security in the world. We have to love the lord as our beloved. Did not Parvati do penance, and got Shiva? Did not Laxmi do penance for her beloved Hari?
So also when lord Narayana took the Avatar of Sri Rama, he ordered many devathas to take birth either before or at the same time when the lord incarnated or even later. The grand drama opened up. Vaishaka bahula dashami day Anjaneya was born. Vayu power manifested in Hanuman (Anjaneya). Indra got wild over Anjaneya because he wanted eat away the Sun. Indra used his weapon and hit Anjaneya on the face. Anjaneya’s face became contorted. Vayu deva takes the child to the cave and protects it. Vayu the father becomes angry and stops working. There is no air means there is no fire, water, space and nothing. Panchabhutas became still. Oceans became dry. Earth started rolling in a weird way.
Vayu deva Praana deva… Serva Jeeva saara bhava… Swamiji sings. Twam prtyaksham brahmasi…etc… Ojo bhrajonanubhavathi.
According to Yoga, Vayu is in Pingala nadi. We know Vayu Bhandana or holding of Yogic ari. Whoever does Pranayama with BHANDAS and praises the lord, floats in the internal air of this body and merges in the eternal air, understands the secret of Hanuman. We are living in the BRAHMANDA. We are already in Brahman. We live in Godly energy. All devathas praise Pranadeva Vayu. Balanjaneya gets many many boons unasked. The most mischievous of creations is the monkey Anjaneya. Nobody in the earth could control his activities. Devathas bore with him. Rakshasas ran away from him. Rishis were afraid. Bala Hanuman (baby HANUMAN) would disturb the Yagnas of the Rishis. He would eat the sacred rice to be offered to fire (havis). Rishis thought they should chastise him and punish the child.
Swamiji tells us that Education should be combined with politeness. Beauty should be with good and noble character. Swamiji tells the story of Koushika the great seer who scorched two birds by sheer look. Koushika is learning lesson from a dutiful and faithful wife, and also from Dharmavyadha the butcher who considered his parents as gods. Serving parents is most important and to live by them is a great opportunity. We should not be like Koushika.
Hanuman is cursed by the Rishis that he should lose his memory as far as his enormous strength is concerned. Anjaneya therefore should be reminded of his strength.
Sugreeva, the royal monkey, seeks the help of Hanuman. Vali fights with his brother Sugreeva. Sugreeva stands for righteousness. Vali is wicked. Vali stands for Adharma (unrighteous and unwise conduct). Therefore, Vali gets destroyed later by lord Rama. Hanuman lives by Sugreeva. One day when Ravana was carrying Seetha after abducting her, a bundle of ornaments was thrown down on earth near Sugreeva’s cave. Anjaneya got hint of it.
Rama identified one day Hanuman only by the ear ornaments (Kundalas) granted by Sun god.
Darshan of Rama and Lakshmana by Hanuman is a great event. Swamiji explained that in a beautiful way. Anjaneya forgets the past when he sees Rama. Old impressions fade away. Where is the need for old and unwanted impressions including the sorrows? We should not live by old disappointments. Praachina durghanda… nivuruthihetu… live in the present… Husbands and wives fight even after several children, thinking of previous times. We should forget the past and develop positive thinking. Live in good satsangs and live by god. So also Anjaneya only thought of
Bhakthi (Love for Rama) and lived in that love throughout. Hanuman is lucky to have Lord Rama and vice-versa. Lord Rama introduced himself to Anjaneya in full. It is the drama played by the lord. Vande Santham hanumantham… (Swamiji sings).
Hanuman’s role in regaining the kingdom for Sugreeva is well known in Ramayana. As a minister, Hanuman reminds Sugreeva of his royal duties. As a servant of Rama, Hanuman is absolutely faithful and loyal. Lord Rama lives in his heart. Hanuman alone knows the secret of Seetha’s location. Hanuman is well aware of Sampaathi and Jataayu. Jai Jai Kapeesha Hanumanta!
When Rama gives a ring to Hanuman to carry it for Seetha as a sign of identification, Hanuman doubts. (But he takes it anyway, which would prove to be The Identification, later). He passes the tests of Swayamprabhadevi, an apsaras. He wins over Surasa, the serpent demoness. He defeats Simhika, the demoness who captures shadows and kills. He enters Lanka, defeating the demoness Lankini. All these obstacles are crossed easily by Hanuman.
Hanuman finds it difficult to locate Seetha. First of all, he has not seen Seetha in person. He imagines the form of Seetha, which Sri Swamiji explained beautifully quoting shlokas.
Sri Swamiji narrated, what can be described as, the fantasy land of Srilanka, Ravana’s abode. He also narrated the beauty of Mandodhari (Ravana’s wife). Sri Swamiji explained the state of Hanuman with Kumbhakarna and Vibheeshana, when he encountered each of them. Hanuman had to suffer at the hands of Kumbhakarna but heeds to the great devotee of Vishnu, that is, Vibheeshana.
Because Hanuman had fully surrendered to Rama, whenever he had any difficulty in tracing Seetha he was guided by Rama at every moment. Many many feelings of Hanuman were explained by Sri Swamiji now.
When Hanuman gets illusion, confused by Mandodhari (Ravana’s wife) as Seetha, He yet chants Rama’s NAME AND NAME ALONE TO SAVE HIMSELF…… Sreeram Jayaram Raghunandana…… Hanuman’s grace is bestowed on us when we chant his name. He is nearer to us as our own breath. He lives in the sushumna naadi. Hanuman’s prayerfulness and the attitude of Bhakthi should be practised by all of us. He is the best example of strength and conviction. He is bound to his regular duties. A duty bound monkey. Ultimately, Hanuman is Divine grace itself. We should not think of death. We should challenge death. We should increase our Prana power. With a weak body and sensuous mind it is not possible to practice yoga or spiritual truths. We need blessings of Hanuman. Even to acquire control over mind and practice spiritual resignation we need Hanuman’s blessings. Even in the midst of strenuous spiritual life we should remember Anjaneya.
Hanuman suffered, but eventually located Seetha in Ashoka vana. Sri Swamiji explained that great location Ashoka vana. Power and spiritual energy of Ravana is reflected in that Ashoka garden. Ravana is a great devotee of lord Shiva. In order to understand the discourses of Sri Ganapathi Sachchidananda Swamiji you must be familiar with our puranic literature to a certain extent, and then you will profit from them.
Lord Hanuman is the essence of the Ramayana in a way. We offer our prayers to the sacred feet of Hanuman. Immoral tendencies and instincts go away from within us if we really pray to lord Hanuman in total faith. Here is an occasion when Sadguru is telling us about the greatness of Lord Hanuman.
PAVANA THANAYA SANKATA HARANA MANGALA MURUTHI ROOPA. JAI HANUMAN JI KI.