Speech of HH Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji – March 21, 2018 – Nizamabad
Compiled by: Smt Hira Duvvuri
Sri Maha Ganapataye Namaha
Sri Saraswatyai Namaha
Sripada Vallabha Narasimha Saraswati
Sri Guru Dattatreyaya Namaha
Govinda Paramatma is more radiant than Indra and Chandra/moon. He rides on a bird and he protect the bird species – Pakshi vahana and pakshi rakshaka. Induru/Indu Puram will be famous as Norther Tirupati. As per Agama Sastra to build a temple, it takes time. A field requires nine years of cultivation with Tulasi plants and other harvests before the area is eligible to have a temple on the premises. Here, all the requirements have been met. As per the scriptures, all the rules have been followed.
We breathe every moment only by God’s grace. Everyone must feel: i am an instrument in God’s hand. I should make myself useful to my family, my community, my town, and my district. It is very difficult to obtain human birth. It must be used to serve God. We began as aquatic species, then as four-legged animals, then birds, and finally we get the human birth. In each category, we take 84000 births. Some species have very short lifespans and limited intelligence. Many don’t have the ability to serve God. The seven musical notes represent these categories. Ma is for Man, human birth. Male and female are the two variations in Ma. Only humans have the capacity to end the cycle of rebirth. Such power God has given to the human intellect. Associate with holy saints. Pa is Parama Purushartha, the higher note takes us to the higher plane of existence. There is only one Pa. Think only of God, sing His names. Follow the instructions given by God. Serve family, community and town. Offer food for mass feeding, and observe how God eats through each of the thousands of mouths. You must experience that. There is such joy in giving. You do not get it in receiving. Nothing satisfies a being as food does. Money and gifts do not satisfy. People want more and more. No one ever says enough. Only for food, they say enough, I have had enough.
Ashrama stands for Jaya Guru Datta Sri Guru Datta, and Annadana – feeding the hungry.
Food for the hungry gives immense happiness. Hunger makes people hungry. Drink coconut water or coffee. Mind becomes calm. Irritation goes away. Give charity. For that you must earn by making genuine effort. Only then, you can fulfill your duty. Once you are done with duty, then, after reaching that level, you must rise higher. Everyone must be ready for death. No need to fear it. What is everyone afraid of? Old age. Cannot sit, stand, eat, hear, disabilities, pains, aches, dependence. People pray for painless death. Does it come easily? You must lead a spiritual life of non-violence and truthfulness. You must follow rules and be helpful to others. While young, this is a good time. When you are strong and independent, you should utilize your time to help others. Then you are rewarded with painless death. You must follow Dharma. Do your duty without attachment. In old age, avoid sorrow. Practice from now onward. I will see God in every being. I will serve everyone. I will be useful at home. I will never be a burden on another being. People must miss your presence. They should not find you unwelcome. Finally, you reach the higher SA note, Sayujyam, merging in God.
The children sang Govinda bhajans, Vedanta teachings. Edukondala Swami Govinda. How the saints pray to reach God through practice of Yoga. In Kali Yuga, we are constructing temples everywhere so that human beings can remember God and serve Him at all times in all places. Other species lack that ability to do so. God instructed Mother Goddess to be everywhere to bless us, bearing different names. Rama ordered Hanuman to be everywhere to give us spiritual guidance and protection, assuming all divine forms.
This body is a temple. God resides here. He is invisible. What is invisible is God. Rama and Krishna incarnations have ended. Paramatma is all-pervasive witness, present in all the five elements. Air is God. But you cannot keep Fire in your pocket. You cannot drink up an ocean. We must recognize the presence of God in all the five elements. We have given name and form to God. We physically serve God through Karma, through worship, visit to temples, doing pradakshina, offering Naivedyam, and so on.
Once, in Tirupati, a British officer holding authority at the temple, ridiculed the offering of Naivedyam to God. He suspected that the priests inside were eating it happily. The chief priest risked incurring sin, and decided to teach the officer a lesson. He allowed him to taste the food before and after offering to God. He could distinctly taste the difference. He became convinced that there is divine presence there, at the temple. The rituals we follow have very subtle meaning. God accepts our offerings, our worship, He listens to our prayers.
We must treat God as our family member. Keep an altar at home. Keep a Puja Room that is serene and tranquil. We each keep a big bedroom but keep God in a tiny cabinet in the kitchen, where he gets all the fumes of cooking. People foolishly and arrogantly give all kinds of excuses and justifications, quoting Vedanta. It is wrong. You must keep a proper place of worship at home. It is God who has granted you the home. You must treat Him honorably by giving a respectable place to rest. When you do the architectural drawings to construct a home, you must include a proper Puja Room in the home.
This temple construction is close to completion. It may take several months. The Telangana government also is supporting. Let us get ready and hold a very grand inauguration and consecration ceremony. Pray that your wishes are fulfilled. But do restrict your desires. Just to fulfill wishes, you will have to take repeated births otherwise. Pray with a feeling of surrender, without any personal wishes, to avoid rebirth.
Swamiji is building temples all over the world. In London, in a church, we have built a temple. In Canada, a temple will be built. In West Indies, we have a huge temple. In USA, we have a very beautiful temple. The parking space is not sufficient. Huge crowd at the Marakata Hanuman temple. I am supposed to be there now. The same Marakata Hanuman here, has dragged me here now. So powerful and beautiful. The Murthis are filled with life. After consecration, the power will be immense here.
Directly, and indirectly many have helped. Many will help in the future also. Construction Yajna is now. This is a good time to offer help. May God bless you all.
Jaya Guru Datta
Sri Guru Datta