Speech of HH Sri Datta Vijayananda Teertha Swamiji – 80th Birthday Paada Yatra – May 18, 2022 – UPH, Mysore
Compiled by Sindhuri
When mind is still, when thoughts end then there are no words. I am in such a state. I am short of words now. This is the 80th birthday occasion in Shubhakrut new year. Lakhs of devotees offer their seva in various ways. When I thought what to do, I thought of what seva can a Sanyasi offer? What can we give HH who gave us everything? All we can do is burn our fat and offer ourselves. I thought of doing Pada Abhisheka to Appaji with water brought from Kaveri river. Sri Swamiji took birth in Brahmakunda in Kaveri river. In this, not only 130 devotees, hundreds of devotees have participated from across the globe by offering their minds to HH. They did walking – either Pradakshina in temple or walked in their house believing HH is with them. All of them have also performed the Paada Yatra with me. This is the most memorable moment for all of us.
Sri Swamiji took birth in Chitrabhanu year. This Shubhakrut new year, HH completes 80 years. Shubhakrut is the perfect year.
Even if we offer our whole life to Guru, we can still not pay back the debt we have towards the Guru. So, this is just a small offering.
HH took a resolve in Ganagapura that ambulances must be given. So this is the first cause of this Paada Yatra.
The second is for the health of women and children.
The next is helping the Veda schools.
The fourth is to help the poor farmers in Datta family.
The last cause is to preserve the environment. HH made a rule that the lushness should be preserved always.
So keeping all these five causes in view, we did this Paada Yatra.
When we do Pada Yatra, Dharma is protected. We have witnessed the local people on the way. HH enquired about all that also. In Malavalli, the Brahmins and workers together welcomed us. This unity is what we want.
Some could not participate. Despite all odds some others made it. One of the devotees had to take permission from Doctor and took medicines so that he could participate in the Paada Yatra. He had intense knee pain but he was determined to come. He successfully came through the whole Pada Yatra without using a single medicine that his Doctor had prescribed.
We got so many calls from HH during the Paada Yatra because HH was concerned about the rains. It rained before we started to walk and it didn’t rain much during the walk. This is all HH grace.
The entire program went so smoothly and energetically that we feel we came very soon. We feel like we gave gained weight by eating bajjjs etc on the way.
The Natureal team did great seva by planting 500 saplings. The volunteers and Natureal team cleaned the roads during the Paadayatra. The local people were amazed.
The Doctors, especially the Phsyiotherapists did nice seva. It’s a big test for drivers too to drive so slowly during the whole Paada Yatra. They also, hence got the chance do Pada Abhisheka to HH.
Wherever we went, we could have HH darshan. We all feel like it’s a dream because we do not have any pains from walking.
The police too cooperated very nicely. Some of them walked with us even without their shoes. Such was their devotion!
The Kaveri river was full too. Paada Yatra will bring lot of benefits. You may wonder when next is the Paada Yatra? It should happen everyday.
HH walks inside his room. If HE walks outside, then people will pester HIM.
Can you believe HH is 80? We can believe if HIS age is 18. It’s not about age. It’s about mind.
All must do DKY and exercises and remain healthy. We must keep our thoughts sparkling clean – this is the lesson from Pada Yatra. We could feel the what is described in the bhajan “Devi viradroopa vainatti neeku all throughout the Paada Yatra.
I felt the Pada Yatra was like Gamana dhyana – Dhyana while walking. As you keep walking, you will realise that your legs are just going and you will come to a point where your mind becomes stand still. I also walked closing eyes once in a while. That reminded me of how blind people would walk.
If you chant mantra and walk, it will give mantra siddhi and it destroys our karma. Especially if you walk for Guru, it certainly burns away all our karma.
This Pada Yatra was meant for Vishwashanti. Let’s also celebrate HH’s 85, 90, 95 and 100th years’ birthdays with such Pada Yatra.
When HH turns 100, I will be 65 years. I want to do Pada Yatra then also in the same way. Those who completed 60 years now would be 80 then. Even then, you all must be healthy to walk like this.
In the middle, HH said HE also wanted to join. If HH joins, then I should hold kalasha (water pot) and the water thereafter must be offered to Datta as Abhisheka. But, HH wanted me to fulfill my desire of doing Pada Abhisheka. Hence, HH did not join.