Speeches of HH Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji – May 3, 2020
Sookti
Compiled by: Parimala Eshwarla
Shat dōṣāḥ puruṣēṇēha, hatavyāḥ bhūtimicchatā,
Nidrā tandrā bhayaṃ krodaḥ ālasyaṃ deerghasootratā ǁ
The person desirous of prosperity and success should instantly abandon the following 6 bad habits – sleeping excessively, speaking harshly, fearing every trivial situation, being excessively angry, being lazy and spending too much time pondering over even trivial decisions.
Bhuti means prosperity. The term ‘prosperity’ does not imply only material prosperity. Intelligence, good health, name and fame, gentleness in speech all these are divisions of prosperity itself. They are known as ‘places where Lakshmi resides’.
Everyone aspires that Lakshmi (Goddess of prosperity) must come to them. However She showers her blessings only on a select few. It is not out of anger towards us that She doesn’t come to everyone. If our actions and behaviour are totally in tune with dharma, She will shower her grace upon us. She will shower her blessings and compassion limitlessly upon us.
What should we do then to obtain Lakshmi’s grace? In the form of 6 qualities, this sookti defines what should and should not be done.
The first among them is excessive sleep. A healthy man needs just about 5 to 6 hours of sleep. Children should not sleep beyond 7 hours. Whatever time you go to bed, you must wake up by Sunrise. There are many who sleep till late morning. It is not healthy.
Sleeping beyond the prescribed time limit is nothing but a vice. Excessive sleeping is a tamasic trait. We must keep distance from tamasic traits. There are some who claim to sleep merely to get some rest. There is no truth in this statement! Stopping the work on hand and taking up another task itself is rest. Mother Lakshmi will never reside in that person who sleeps during Sunrise and Sunset times.
The second is harsh language. Goddess Lakshmi resides in auspicious words. She will not reside in the person who uses abusive speech, unnecessarily condemns others, mentally hurts his siblings, friends and relatives through speech and speaks in an insulting tone.
Being terrified of everything is not good. Elders say that Goddess Lakshmi marries the person who is courageous and bold. Dhairye sāhase lakshmih- it is said. Being terrified of everything is also considered a mental ailment by doctors. Those who are scared to strike a conversation with others, those who spend every minute in tension fearing doom, can never accomplish anything in life. They are scared to eat as it could be poisoned. They are petrified of everything. Goddess Lakshmi will never reside with such a person.
The fourth is anger. Although the words ‘kopa’ and ‘krodha’ externally appear to convey the same meaning, there is a subtle difference between them both. Kopa is fleeting anger. Krodha means eternal anger. Such a person spends his entire lifetime fuelling that anger, seeking revenge and has a violent tendency. At times saints also get kopa but never krodha. Goddess Lakshmi does not aspire to stay with those who are eternally angry (krodha). Krodhah Lakshmi-nivārakaḥ- said our elders. In Sri suktam it is said, – alakshmih me nashyatām.
The fifth quality that keeps us away from prosperity is laziness, procrastination. Such people never complete any tasks. They are too lazy to bathe, to pray and at times even to have their meals. Goddess Lakshmi will never reside in the house of a man who is lazy.
The last among the qualities that keeps Lakshmi away is deergha-sūtrata i.e. taking extremely long to make even the slightest, trivial decision. A wise man is he who takes the right decision at the right moment. Mūdhāh paścimabuddhayah- it means, fools take the decision after the task is complete. Due to this, they face endless difficulties.
Once, a middle-aged man, had to visit the neighbouring village on some assignment. He had to cross a river. When the coracle he was travelling in reached the middle of the river, water began to seep into it. The owner of the coracle signalled him to take the huge log that was in the boat and to jump into the river and save himself. Having indicated this, the owner jumped into the waters to save his life. The traveller was in a dilemma- should he or should he not jump into the waters? Unable to make any decision, he kept throwing out the waters that had entered the boat. But by then water began to seep in heavily into the boat. The boat began to sink. Not knowing what to do, and unable to think clearly, he forgot the instruction given by the owner i.e. to hold on to the log of wood. He blindly jumped into the water. He lost his life.
For this reason, elders say, Samśayātma vinaśyati. Wise men take only a moment to make a sensible, right decision. Fools think for a very long time. Therefore Goddess Lakshmi resides with that person who is sensible and wise. But not with the person who thinks and thinks for long only to make a wrong decision.
Message in Bhakti TV Program telecast on May 3, 2020
Compiled by Jaya Akka Akkanapragada
Śrī mahāgańapatayé namaha
Śrī sarasvatyé namaha
Śrī pādavallabha narasimha sarasvati
Śri guru dattātréyāya namaha
Jaya Guru Datta.
Like all emotions, we also experience devotion. when this bhakti bhāva increases in us, people around us also benefit. Love and affection slowly turn into bhakti. Therefore, without love, bhakti cannot exist. Bhakti is the love we feel for Paramātma. It is not the worldy love of desires which result in anger.
Bhakti śāstra says that bhakti can only be unlocked with gñāna as the key, with the blessings of the Divine. There are many stories in Bhāgavatam, Ramayana and the Purāńās which tell us about great devotees who had immense love for the Divine.
In this time of difficulty, we must all set aside our differences, and forget about our likes and dislikes. Now is the time to be friendly, find out who needs help and support them. we must be supportive and help protect the society. That is our goal.
When we think of friendship, we remember Arjuna and his love for Krishna. Nara Maharśi and Nārāyańa are reborn as Arjuna and Krishna respectively. No matter how many difficulties they faced, the Pāndavās always upheld dharama. They had Sri Krishna’s blessings because they had bhakti. Just thinking about such great devotees bestows merit (punya)
dharmam vivardhati yudhiśthira kīrtanéna
pāpam prańaśyati vrukōdara kīrtanéna
śatru vivadhaśyati dhananjaya kīrtanéna
mātrī sutau katha yatām na bhavanti rōgāha
Contemplating on Dharmarāja (Yudhiśtira) increases our dharma buddhi. By contemplating on Bhīma (Vrukōdara) our sins will be washed away. When we praise Arjuna, our enemies will be destroyed. By discussing about Nakula and Sahadeva, we will gain good health. These are the benefits of contemplating on the great devotees. Let us discuss about Arjuna in a little more detail.
When natural calamities strike, we must contemplate on Arjuna. When there are heavy rains with thunderstorms and lightning, and we are scared, we chant
arjuna phālgunā kirīti pārthāni
Even if we do not know all these names, in times of floods, just chanting ‘arjuna phālguna’ is said to be enough. How did Arjuna become so powerful? The answer to this question lies in the udyōga parvam of the Mahabharata.
eśah nārāyańa krishnaha
phalguńāśca nara smrutaha
nārāyańo naraścaiva
satvam ékam dvidākritam
To protect devotees and to ensure welfare of the world, Bhagavān takes many avatāras. To ensure the world’s well-being, Sri Hari took the avatār of Nara Maharśi and Nārāyańa Maharśī in Badarika ashrama. In dvāpara yuga, these Maharśīs came back in the form of Arjuna and Krishna. One Śakti became two parts. We may think Arjuna and Krishna are one, but by taking two forms, the Lord is teaching us the importance of bhakti.
Once, a brahmin came to Arjuna seeking help since someone had stolen his cows. Arjuna was in a fix whether to follow the rule laid down (for him personally) or to help the Brahmin get the cows back. Finally, he decided that helping someone in distress in the kingdom (prajāséva) was more important than following a rule that applied only for himself. Worrying about following a rule which applied to him would only be selfish, so he decided to help the Brahmin. Yudhiśtira was pleased with Arjuna’s decision and said that since Arjuna’s act was done to uphold dharma, he need not suffer for breaking the rule.
Arjuna said
na vrājena charét dharmam
iti ne bhavataha śrutam
na satyāt vicaliśyāmi
satyéna āyudha mā labhét
“Oh brother, I have learnt from you that in matters of dharma excuses should never be made. Since I truthfully obtained these weapons, I must atone for breaking the rule.”
Arjuna performed great penance (tapas) and had the vision of Lord Shiva. Shiva blessed him with the weapon pāśupāstrāńi. The other gods also blessed him with various weapons. Arjuna also emerged victorious in the tests which Urvashi subjected him to. Because he was in complete control of his senses, even the curse which he received (during the one year in disguise) became a blessing. Arjuna was not just an accomplished warrior, but he also always upheld dharma. This is why Sri Krishna offered his sister – Subhadra’s hand in marriage to Arjuna. From then on, they became brothers-in-law. Arjuna became Krishna’s ātma and vice-versa.
God always makes devotees his family members. Krishna gave up svargaloka for Arjuna, and Arjuna was willing to give up his life for Krishna. Their bond was so strong. Arjuna’s unwavering devotion to Krishna earned him a place in God’s heart.
When the war was about to begin, both Arjuna and Duryodhana went to meet Krishna who was sleeping. Duryodhana thought himself a very great man, and could not imagine sitting at the feet, so he sat near Krishna’s head. Arjuna with complete devotion sat at Krishna’s feet, and felt very blessed to be able to sit at His feet. When Krishna woke up, He naturally saw Arjuna first since he was sitting at His feet. So He asked Arjuna to choose whether he wanted an unarmed Krishna or His army during the war.
Duryodhana was very worried that Arjuna would ask for the army, which would mean a sure shot victory for the Pandavas. At that point, Duryodhana only saw Sri Krishna as an ordinary person, and thought an unarmed ally would be of no use in the war. He figured the power of Krishna’s army would be more valuable. But Arjuna saw Krishna as God and said “Krishna, I want only you. There is nothing else we need. You just be by our side. We will handle the rest.” Duryodhana was so relieved on hearing these words. He went away happily knowing that he had the power of Krishna’s entire army.
People who ask God for wishes are like Duryodhana. They deem the objects they desire more important than God Himself. With this bhōgāśakti, they do not realize how much they are losing. If God asks someone whether they want gold or Him, many people would choose gold.
Krishna then asked “O Arjuna, why did you choose Me?” Arjuna replied “Krishna, there is nothing more important than You for us. Whether You take up arms or not, You are our savior. We seek Your protection. You just stand by us.”
On the battlefield seeing his teachers and relatives, Arjuna became perturbed. He said
śiśyas te ham śādhi mām tvām prapannam
“Krishna, I am Your disciple. Please advise me on what to do.” Saying these words, Arjuna held Krishna’s feet.
Arjuna’s sharańāgati – complete surrender at the feet of the Lord – benefitted the entire world. We have all been blessed with the Bhagavad Gita. Since these words were spoken by Bhagavān, this Gita is known as Bhagavad Gita. Arjuna’s greatness lies in receiving the upadeśa of Bhagavad Gita from Sri Krishna. This is why in the 10th chapter titled Vibhūti yoga, Krishna says pāndavānām dhananjayaha (10.37) Amongst all the Pandavas, I am Arjuna.
It was because Arjuna had so many wonderful qualities that he was blessed with the Viśvarūpa sandarshana – the Vision of the Cosmic form of the Lord.
yatra yōgéśvarō krishnaha
yatra pārthō dhanurdharaha
tatra śrīr vijayō bhūtihi
dhruvā nītir matir mama – Bhagavad Gita (18.78)
Wherever the Yogeshwara Krishna is present, and where the archer Arjuna is present, Goddess Lakshmi will reside there, and victory and auspiciousness will reign. When we completely surrender to the Lord, He will take care of us in times of difficulty and see us through.
Like Arjuna, if we are on the path of dharma, and if we behave in a manner that pleases Him, He will certainly bless us. By listening to this story, May the form of bhakti that you choose from the nine forms of bhakti reap benefits. May Lord Sri Krishna’s blessings be with you always.
There are a few rules (niyamās) given during the ancient times which I want to tell you about. These are very beneficial in this time of Corona.
akrutvā pāda yoho śaucam
mārga tōna śucir bhavét
This verse in Padma Purāńa says that when we come back from outside, we must first wash our feet properly.
We must completely change out of the clothes we wore outside once we come home. This has been mentioned in the anuśāsana parvam of the Mahabharata.
anyatéva bhavét vāsaha
śayanīyé narōttama
anyat rathyāsu dévānām
ārcāyām anya dévahi
The clothes we wear while sleeping, while performing puja and the ones we wear when we go outside must be different. The clothes we wear when we go to work must be different from what we wear at home. When we come home, we must completely change out of these clothes including the inner garments. Many people retain the same vest (which they wore outside) and wear a clean dhoti and sit for puja. This is of no use because all the dirt and germs you picked up from outside are still on you. in fact, when you come back from outside, you must take a bath and then sit for evening puja. If you cannot take a bath, at least wash your hands and feet properly. If all this was quoted way back in the Mahabharata, surely, they must have known what sort of dangers lay ahead in the future.
Many people criticize elders at home when they are told to wash their feet. Some argue with elders saying they were anyways wearing socks, so why should they bother washing the feet which are anyways clean? Many people wear the same pair of socks the entire day and wear them to bed even. This is not good. Many diseases spread this way.
Dharma Sindhu Grantha mentions how food must be eaten. Sometimes, when we sit for a meal served on a banana leaf, the person who is serving us will keep going back to kitchen to bring each item. They may have served one vegetable, and before they bring the rest of the items, you will finish eating this vegetable. The person who is serving will get a doubt whether the first vegetable was even served to you. Even if they serve it again, you will finish it. I do not know whether it is out of hunger or whether people think it fashionable to eat like this. Finally, only rice and salt will remain on that leaf. This is considered very inauspicious. We must wait till all the items are served on the leaf, and when the person serving says we can start eating, we must pray to Govinda. Then we can pick which items we want to taste first, and ask for a second helping of whatever we like. This is how food must be eaten.
lavańam nenjanam caiva
gritam tailam tathaiva ca
léhyam peyan ca vividham
hasta dattam na bhakśayét
Salt, pickle, ghee, oil, rice and vegetables must be served using a ladle or a spoon. These must never be dished out by hand. It is very wrong to scoop the food with the hand and serve. You must all learn the knack of using spoons and serving ladles. Any food served by hand should not be eaten because we can pick up infections such as typhoid from the ones serving us.
Typhoid is also an infectious disease, and in the olden days once they figured out how such infections were spreading, they used sūtrās like the above one to caution people. All these ārōgya sūtrās which are only given for our good health and well-being must be remembered and practiced now. Let us all be responsible and protect our lives. Jaya Guru Datta.