Speeches of HH Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji – April 23, 2020
Compiled by: Jaya Akkanapragada
Speech after the puja to Lakshmi Devi at Mysore
Śrī Mahāgańapatayé namaha
This Corona is teaching all of us a nice lesson. I now doubt whether this isn’t nature trying to teaching us all a lesson. Man has made some mistakes because of which Mother Earth is very very angry. In Africa and California and then in Australia there were calamities which were never witnessed before. We did not pay attention. We were not careful then. Many animals started dying. Even then we did not pay heed. Big influential leaders held meetings and suggested that factories and industries should lower emissions. Someone even suggested that if you cannot reduce factory output, at least shut down the plant for one day every week. The factory owners replied saying that if such large machinery were shutdown, it would take 3 days to bring it back. Saying this, they found a loophole, and went back to operating the way always did. They can do anything. If there is a repair, do they not shut down?
Now we see the Ganga river is so clean! Unless one spent crores of rupees, such large scale cleaning drives would not have been possible. The Prime Minister and the government are doing so much, but it is not enough. There are lakhs of boats plying in rivers, so many aeroplanes in the skies and trains, buses and cars everywhere. Now people are so scared for their lives, they’re sitting at home. Nothing is more important than life, no factory, nothing else. This we can clearly see now. Life is the only thing that matters. This is what Mother Nature has taught us all. We didn’t listen before, so now we are paying the price. Water is purified now, and Mother Nature is at peace. All the birds and animals ae happily frolicking around.
Look at us. There are no weddings, no crowds, no festivities. Did we really ned this? We have brought this upon ourselves. It is very strange how everyone is sitting at home because they are scared for their lives. This is all Mother Goddess’s krupa – Her Grace.
Many people on the occasion of Earth Day tell others to use water sparingly and not to fell trees. But these are just token messages. If everyone switches off lights for one hour, if everyone stopped riding scooters and other motor vehicles for half an hour also it is enough. If flights can be delayed, so that the skies are clear for a half hour, if trains can stop running for one hour, the air would be cleaner. There will be so many benefits. Scientists know all this very well. But everyone has been so busy in the rat race, they had no time to spare and implement any of this. Now with Corona, everything has come to a standstill. Forget Corona. We do not know how many more epidemics will come in the future! There are many dangers ahead. I am not saying all this to scare you. We have taken Mother Earth for granted and treated her very badly. At least now, we must act with care. Let us prevent unnecessary pollution.
The Cauvery river is so clean now. Shimmering crystal clear water – and all this from just 21 days of lockdown. I don’t understand why buses ply throughout the day and night. It is so difficult for people in cities to sleep with all that noise pollution and smoke everywhere. If they can just stop buses plying at night, it will be so beneficial. Even if we can take all these measures once a month, it will make a big difference. At least now I hope right measures are taken. In My lifetime, I have never seen nature sparkling like this. Always remember that purity and cleanliness is life. That is longevity and health. I am praying to Goddess Lakshmi to cure this Corona soon.
In addition to sending food supplies in trucks, we have also made arrangements to feed the poorest of the poor people in Mysuru who have no means of earning a living right now. There are accompanying musicians who cannot support their families. There are also 150 very poor Brahmins who depend on performing rituals to earn a living. We have made arrangements to provide food for all of them. Whatever you all are contributing for puja seva, I am spending it this way. The more you participate in pujas, the more people we can feed. This is My wish, and I like doing this. If somebody eats to their heart’s content, it gives me immense happiness. When devotees used to come to the ashrama, it used to be so festive here. Now it is very dull and gloomy, so I want to provide food for others who need it now. Devotees in the USA have come forward to conduct food drives and help the needy. I pray that they be successful. May Corona incidents in the USA reduce. My blessings are with all those who are participating in these programs.
Jaya Guru Datta
Sri Guru Datta
Message in Bhakti TV Program telecast on April 23, 2020
Śrī Mahāgańapatayé namaha
Śrī Sarasvatyé namaha
Śrī Pādavallabha nrsimha Sarasvati
Śri Guru Dattātréyāya namaha
Aum Śītalā dévyai namaha
I will tell you about Śītalā Devi another time. Today I want to talk to you about panchāmruta snānam for God. There is also a tradition in āyurvéda of bathing with milk, curd and ghee. We do not use honey because a lot of it would be required, but this is practiced in Kerala. All these are extremely good for the skin according to the Āyurvéda Vaidya Śāstrās.
In ancient Indian tradition, invoking the deity and offering panchāmruta snāna is very important. This is known as pratikārādhana or Pratima. In this name, the entire Tattvam is hidden. Not everyone has the sādhana śakti to worship the One who is Omnipresent. What will one see if I say Paramātma is in you. Where will a person look?
We close our eyes and try to listen to the sounds inside our body. Some people can hear their own heartbeat. For others, they can only hear external sounds – cars honking, children crying, dogs barking, someone somewhere fighting – this is what they hear. They do not go inward. This is why as we keep meditating, we must turn our mind inwards. That is the true meaning of dhyānam.
We must practice karńa samādhi – the practice of keeping the ears open but not listening to what is going on around us. How wonderful it would be not to hear anything.
Once when I was teaching Kriya Yoga in the US, a scientist asked Me how it was possible to do karńa samādhi. He dismissed it as impossible. I replied saying “when a person is in coma, they can hear whatever is happening around them right? But when he/ she comes out of the coma, and regains consciousness, they do not know or recollect any of this. This is because nothing registered.” I remember this incident very well.
Sometimes, when a person is very tensed about something, their entire focus will be on that one issue, and they will not hear anything around them. Their child can be calling them or tugging at their hand, but they will not even register what is happening. They will be blinking, breathing and both ears will be open. Only after a great deal of effort from the child will that person suddenly be startled and register that the child is asking something. The person was completely awake, but did not register anything because they had suspended hearing. Without realising, the person practiced karńa samādhi.
But we should learn to mindfully practice karńa samādhi while sitting in padmāsana, with inhalation and exhalation being equal, and focusing on Omkāra. The scentist who was suspicious finally agreed, so I told him to practice karńa samādhi.
It will not happen in one day. You must have immense faith in Omkāra nādam. In Kriya Yoga, we also practice nétra samādhi – keeping eyes open during meditation. I teach all these when I teach Datta Kriya Yoga. There are uncountable benefits in practicing Datta Kriya Yoga.
Not everyone can contemplate on the Omnipresent. We must develop the feeling that everything I see, everything that I cannot see, the observer in me which is seeing, and not being able to see – all this is Paramātma.
From childhood till old age, man experiences many difficulties. He was one way when he was born. The faculties he had at birth are with him till he dies. Of course in between his behaviour and his appearance undergo transformations, and he may become thin and fat. But all the states of waking, sleeping, dreaming, speaking, laughing, crying, developing desires and getting angry, experiencing happiness and suffering – all this continues from childhood till old age. Once he develops interest, he achieves what he wants to do. Paramātma is holding this body, and one day He will let it go. Creation is made up of the 5 elements, which are in Paramātmā’s control, then one day He will dissolve everything.
The great Masters have bestowed a great blessing on madhyamās – ordinary people who cannot contemplate on the all-pervading Divine, by blessing them with vigraha ārādhana. This is the practice of worshipping deities in the form of idols. Our focus is automatically directed towards mūrtīs and temples, and we believe that this is where Paramātma resides. These idols cannot be created with just any material.
Maharśīs with their divine vision gave upadéśa on how devatā mūrtīs should be. Based on that knowledge which has been passed down, idols are created accordingly and are available everywhere.
Svayambhu mūrtīs which have appeared on their own, were not created by anyone. They are different. There are many temples in divine kśétrās across India for Svayambhu mūrtīs of Gańapati, Narasimha, Venkateswara, Ānjaneya, Subrahmanya, Mother Goddess and various other deities. In these kśétrās, the form of the deity may seem strange and even though it is not according to āgama (scriptures which lay down the guidelines for how a mūrti should be created), they will have more śakti than the ones designed according to āgama. And so they must be worshipped just as they are.
Siddhās – enlightened beings who come across certain dévatā mūrtīs have consecrated them in certain places. No one knows who consecrated the svayambhu mūrtīs. In Purāńās, we read about Rāma consecrating the Śiva linga at Rāméśvaram. Agastya Maharśi also consecrated many deities and established many temples in various places along the banks of the Cauvery river.
In fact, dharma was born on the banks of rivers. Man is born and grows up where rivers flow. I shall tell you all about this another time.
Siddhās – enlightened beings have consecrated crores of deities in places which are known as siddha kśétrās. Then there are sankalpa kśétrās – born from a divine sankalpa or vow. Datta Vénkatéswara Swami kśétra is one such sankalpa kśétra. It was not built for the sake of building a temple, but was born out of a divine sankalpa.
People also build temples with both selfish and selfless desires. Such temples are known as mānava kśétrās. For all these different kśétrās, the scriptures which govern how puja should be performed are known as āgama.
In every temple, no matter what happens, the śōdaśopacāra puja (puja with 16 offerings to the deity) has to be performed every day. This is being performed in all temples right now. There was an order to close temples so that people do not gather there during the lockdown. Even though temples are right now closed, the pujas as described in the scriptures continue to be performed.
We may wonder “should all this be continuing when everyone is in such difficulty? Does Paramātma not have compassion for us?” If we are alive and well today, it is only because of Paramātmā’s compassion. Otherwise we would have disappeared long ago. Sometimes I wonder if when there is a lot of rush at temples if the śōdaśōpacára puja is performed or not, but now, it is definitely being performed.
Someone once asked Me “Why is it that when we go to a temple, the main arch – Rājagōpuram has such vivid depictions of all kinds of beings?” Some of them look very strange and ugly also. Even this is mentioned in the āgama śāstrās as part of the section on how sculptures should be sculpted – in
śilpa śāstra. The carvings on the entrance signify that when a devotee is entering the temple, from this point on, he should leave all the vikārās – impure thoughts in him outside and enter the temple.
Someone asked why the Rājagōpuram is so big, but the sanctum sanctorum is so small? Your sense of ego (ahankāra) and possessiveness towards people and objects (mamakāra) is only till the Rājagōpuram. Because the santum sanctorum is so small – the entrance height will not be more than three-and-a-half or four feet. So without you realising it, you will bend your head to go inside to see Paramātma. The Rājagōpuram is so tall, so that we crane our neck upwards to look at Paramātma. if you do not bend your head while entering the sanctum sanctorum, you will hurt your head very badly, because the entrance is made of stone. We must bend our head in humility when we go in to see Paramātma. When we look up at the tall Rājagōpuram, it is with a sense of awe and wonder.
In the past, when great Kings went to a temple, they left their chariots very far away. When Rāma who was King went to see His Guru – Sage Vasishta, He would also do the same thing. The chariot would be parked far away, and the servants and attendants would be asked to wait there and not accompany the king. The royal king would take off his crown and footwear, and walk barefoot to the temple. He did not go decked in finery, but wore simple ordinary clothes.
We should not try to show off our position by taking security guards toting big guns or wear fancy footwear etc when we go to see Paramāta. This is God. You have been given a position of power to serve people, you should not flaunt it when you go to have Swami’s darshan. You must bend our head and enter.
Somebody once asked Me “Swamiji, why are we not supposed to carry a garland in our hands and go to the temple?” This is because the garland can fall down and come in contact with your feet, and you may step on it. Then you cannot offer it to Paramātma. So to avoid all this, place the garland in a basket, and carefully take it inside the temple, and offer to Swami. Similarly you should not smell or taste the fruits which are being offered.
When we are going to a temple to have darshan, we must go with the faith and belief that Swami is the One who protects us. When we go to have Sadguru’s darshan, we must have faith and remember that He is the One who shows us the path. We should not try to go there and flaunt our position or status in society. The others around will think how egoistic and haughty we are when we do such things.
When people see you, they should be amazed by your simplicity. There are many people in great positions who come here to visit Swamiji, but they are so simple. Some people behave very badly, jumping queues and creating chaos with their entire family in tow.
We must never behave like VIPs wanting a speedy darshan. You should not behave in a manner that scares the volunteers and the priests there. Only God will not fear you when you behave like this. Maybe the God should come out of the Vigraha (idol) and tell that devotee to prostrate properly, and go back into the mūrti again. I think this might happen soon.
There are certain rules to be followed while entering temples. One must be respectful, wear traditional attire because that Deity is the head of our family. When we go to Him, we must not go all decked up in fancy clothes and make-up and applying perfume. Whom are you trying to attract by dressing like this? You are not going there to give a sermon. You are going there to offer your prostrations.
You must make it a habit to practice yoga, so that you can bend and offer prostrations. There are many people who cannot bend 80% of their body and prostrate. Their tummy comes in the way, or they have knee pain or back ache and cannot bend. They do all strange actions instead of prostrating. Why are you coming to see God? You can stay at home instead. If you are coming to Paramātma, it should be with an attitude of complete surrender.
The all-pervading Paramātma who is protecting all of us is the one who is responsible for the wealth and position in society we are enjoying today. So what difficulty is there in offering Him what He has given you? Think about how you were ten years ago, and how you are now. Ten years ago you were selling vegetables in the market. Sometimes you even tried making a little money selling whatever you could. Now, ten years later you enjoy great power and live in a big house. Should you not do something for the larger good of the masses who have voted for you? You must not misuse this power.
I am saying all this because I want to tell all of you that when you enter a temple, you must be a certain way. When we enter the temple, we are taught many things. This body itself is a temple. We must remember this while doing pradakshinās – circumambulations. There is a way to break the coconut. It signifies quashing the ego. I will tell you more about this another time.
Jaya Guru Datta. Sri Guru Datta.