Speech of HH Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji – on Bhagavad Gita – September 16, 2018 – KSHT, Dallas TX USA
Compiled by Smt Hira Duvvuri
Sri Maha Ganapataye Namaha
Sri Saraswatyai Namaha
Sripada Vallabha Narasimha Saraswati
Sri Guru Dattatreyaya Namaha
I have studied Bhagavatam, other scriptures, Niti Shatakams, and Hari Vamsha. Now I will start explaining the special meaning of Bhagavad Gita. It is Kali Yuga Bhagavad Gita. People now have a different way of understanding the same fundamental knowledge. Madhvacharya and Ramanujacharya also mentioned many scriptures, as did Sankaracharya. He taught prayers about different deities. Maharshis, their own Upanishads all give the same message of BG. Ahimsa, Satyam, Akrodham – non-violence, truth, and lack of anger. 10 qualities of Dharma are enumerated. My first Guru, my mother, and later, my aunt, and then Somasundaram, a scholar, made me read many scriptures daily. I had to receive food as alms, share it with the disabled at the temple, and then eat only millet cooked by my aunt. Then run to the school. I had no text books or notebooks. When other children played and left their books, I would refer to them. I used scrap papers collected from accountants, as notebooks. I studied under street lights. We had no electricity at home. As a boy of 10-11, I had to collect small change from businesses as payment for errands, and pay the school fees to students who could not afford to pay their tuition at the Municipal School. The school authorities respect Swamiji a lot, to this day. This was my daily routine. In Proddutur, we lived in a Siva Temple. I was adamant about not receiving any financial assistance from my father. Mother passed away. I had only two sets of clothing. No bed sheet to cover myself. Now children live in luxury. I slept on the bare floor. I like it. I chanted Gita slokas even as I drew water from the well for the neighbors every morning. My aunt insisted I did so. Swami Abhedananda demanded I chant verses from the Bhagavatam. I used to recite for him. I did not know about the Bhagavatam. Bhagavad Gita, I knew, because my aunt taught me. But Bhagavatam stories I could visualize on my own. As you now see the overhead screen, I could see in my computer brain. He fed me some upma. My aunt said, due to lack of food, my intestines vanished. I did not eat during the age from about 9-14. I had to distribute the food I collected by begging, and chant prayers on Siva. Somasundara Sharma arranged for me to eat in seven different homes on the seven days of the week respectively. I could not even smell the flavor of the food I collected. Such discipline I had to follow. Dr, Lakshminarayana and Durbhakula were other homes where I received once a week meals.
One day, my aunt punished me very severely. Since that day, I decided not to touch Bhagavad Gita again. I made a small error in my recitation in the second verse of the 16th chapters. I chanted instead, a verse from the Bhagavatam. My aunt poked me in my neck with a red hot iron handle of a ladle. It pierced my neck. The scar is still visible. For 3 years I gave up Bhagavad Gita. My spiritual and academic life went along simultaneously. My father was a Vedantin and became disinterested in all rituals. In the end he took Sanyasa. He left his body while sitting in Padmasana. He was my friend.
Nath translated into English my biography written by Kuppa Krishnamurthy.
After 3 years, my aunt told me to resume my study of the Bhagavad Gita. It involves a secret that I cannot share with you. It will bring tears to my eyes. When I returned to the Gita, my life changed. When I listen to each shloka, it brings me back memories from my past. I follow the message of the Gita to the best of my ability.
Wonderful programs yesterday. Very nice speeches by the scholars. My head is filled with Bhagavad Gita. I cannot explain. My breath, my body is nothing but the Bhagavad Gita. I need not explain. Go ahead. You also. Please learn the meaning. It is like Mother. She is our Mother. She is Saraswati, Sita, Ganga, Gayatri, Brahmi, Brahmavalli, Brahmini.
Today I wanted to sing the Gita as my Bhajan program. But I could not. Swamiji has many BG bhajans. One day I will sing them.
Why did I share my experience from Proddutur? It explains my friendship and the quarrel between Swamiji and Bhagavad Gita. For 3 years, I divorced myself from it. During that period, I read so many other scriptures.
Otherwise, I would have stuck to BG alone. To make me go to other scriptures, my aunt must have done this to me. To this day, I keep referring to BG regularly. Even if I get tears in my eyes, I do not leave it. You children are so lucky. You have memorized the whole Gita. I was not so lucky. I had to draw water daily from the deep well. My hands would get blistered. I had to supply water for the out of town visitors also. I was only 11 years old. I used a small brass pot to draw the water. It was so difficult to fill the big water container. The wheel that held the rope would keep the pitch for me with its drone. I don’t know why my childhood was like that for 7 years. It was like the curse of Saturn. But it was my good fortune. I am destined to come to Dallas and see you all and listen to your chanting. Otherwise, I might have gone away to the Himalayas. It feels as if the conference had extended over many days, although it was only two days.
Challa and Suneet have halped a lot. I bless everyone. May Nath be strong enough to continue his services. Never leave the Gita. I left for 3 years only to study other scriptures. Gita is our Mother. Offer your salutations. May she protect the world. May every individual learn about the Bhagavad Gita. In earlier times, every individual carried a Bhagavad Gita. Now on your IPads you keep or on your mobile phone. Take a vow that you will do it. Not many have raised hands. Everyone of you must keep the Gita on your mobile phone. Compulsory. Mandatory. Promise. I will demand to see whether you have it or not. Now the whole book is there on the app. Otherwise, I will make you carry the book itself. It will be heavier. I offer my salutations to my aunt. Also to my guru who taught me Telugu, Somasundaram.
I conclude my message.
Jaya Guru Datta