Speech of HH Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji – June 25, 2018 – Bengaluru
Compiled by Smt Hira Duvvuri
Now the hall is airconditioned. So devotees are sporting shawls and sweaters. Even I am wearing a shawl inside. Earlier, during summer, it felt hot and stuffy here. So we are now sitting in cool comfort. For testing, they have kept it very cool. If there are fans, it disturbs the sound during music sessions. Lighting also is very nice. When it is cool, you don’t feel that hungry or thirsty.
Karyasiddhi Mantapa name is significant. Sundara Kanda describes Hanuman crossing the ocean to see Sita and bring back good news to Rama. Hanuman faced difficulties during his travel. It was tough finding Sita. He heard Vibheeshana, the brother of Ravana singing the praises of Vishnu. Hanuman stood at the door and listened.
Vibheeshana is a demon. He and Hanuman became acqauinted. Hanuman took a vow that until he found Sita, he would not eat or drink. Vibheeshana tells Hanuman that Sita is kept inside the Ashoka Vana. She is guarded by demons. She has become very thin. Vibheeshana gave directions how to get to the Ashoka Vana. There are many Ramayanas. Ananda Ramayana gives these details. Hanuman’s body felt hot and faint due to the despair at not finding Sita. He even contemplated suicide because he could not fulfill Rama’s mission. Sampati had given some clues. He knew Sita was there in Lanka. But she was not to be seen. Hanuman was so hot that if he were to hug a tree, it would have caught fire. Following Vibheeshana’s directions, Hanuman finds Sita. She was emaciated. Hanuman felt very sad to see her like that. Hanuman sat on a tree and watched. He saw Ravana approaching her and speaking to Sita. After he had gone, Hanuman introduces himself to Sita. He gave sufficient proof to Sita that he was in fact a messenger from Rama. He gave her Rama’s signet ring to convince her. He received from Sita her head ornament, the Chudamani. Hanuman wraps himself in leaves now, because all of a sudden he felt very cold. I remembered this story when I felt so cold after entering this hall. Hanuman felt very cold the moment he held the Choodamani in his hand. He was happy that he had good news for Rama now.
Hanuman wished to see Ravana’s court. He does some mischief to irritate the king and was dragged to the court supposedly tied with the Brahmastra, which actually had no effect upon him.
Hanuman was surprised at Ravana’s radiance. He had beautiful women surrounding him in his palace, when Hanuman had seen him earlier in the night in his bedroom. Ravana could assume any form he liked. He was very powerful.
Hanuman compared Sita’s looks to the appearance of the other attractive women. That was a mistake. He should not have done that. Sita looked like a stick wearing a sari. How did Ravana find her attractive? Why did he abduct her? She was tiny like a doll. How strange this is! He understood the secret only after the war ended.
Even during the war he was puzzled by this question. He was afraid to ask anyone. He would have got an answer from his all-knowing mother Anjana. But she was far away.
Hanuman saw Ravana’s glorious royal court. He admired Ravana’s physique and features. Ravana must have committed this sin for some specific purpose. Ravana was going to kill Hanuman. But Vibheeshana prevented his action. A messenger is not to be killed. So Ravana had Hanuman’s tail set on fire. Hanuman pretended to be troubled by the fire. But the fire did not really affect him. Sita heard this news of Hanuman’s tail set on fire. She prayed to the Fire god to keep Hanuman cool. Hanuman dips his tail in the ocean waters to put out the fire. He then felt very cold again.
He returns to Rama and hands over the Choodamani with the good news that he had seen Sita.
After a few years of suffering heat in this hall, now everyone is kept warm with shawls and sweaters. Hereafter, make an announcement that whoever plans to visit this auditorium must bring a sweater or a shawl along.
I congratulate the people responsible for this wonderful renovation of this building.
Jaya Guru Datta
Sri Guru Datta