The day started with a unique and unsual incident. At 7 a.m. Sri Swamiji went to the Deer park in front of Sri Swamiji's kuteera where a male Deer was born the previous night at 11:30. The ever compassionate Pujya Swamiji took hold of the baby Deer, fondled and caressed it and fed it with milk. Then Sri Swamiji took the baby Deer and went to prayer hall where Maha Ganapati homa was going on. Sri Swamiji went to the Puja altar and after Purnahuti Sri Swamiji named it Ganti Meena. Then He proceeded to Dattatreya temple where Arati was done to Lord Datta. Later Sri Swamiji went back and left the baby Deer with its mother.
The procession of Raja Rajeswari in the palanquin started at 8:45 a.m. After performing Kumari Puja, Sri Swamiji started the Avarana pujas. Sri Swamiji performed today's worship with Parashakti as the principle deity.
The morning music concert was a Hindustani (North Indian style of music) vocal by Smt. Ashvini Bhide. She was accompanied by Sri Sudhanshu Kulakarni on Harmonium and Sri. Bharat Kamat on the tabla. Smt. Bhide is a well known vocalist and has performed all over India and abroad. She was performing at Datta Peetham for the first time.
Anna Archana to Parashakti was performed with Kadambam, a traditional rice dish of South India. This prasadam was given to the devotees after the Purnahuti of Parashakti homa.
The afternoon music concert was a Carnatic vocal concert by Smt. M.S. Sheela. She was accompanied by Smt. Nalini Mohan on the violin and Sri. A. Ananthakrishna on the Mridangam.
The bhajan session started at 6 p.m. Sri Swamiji sang Siddi Dootha Buddhi Natha, a beautiful bhajan on Ganapati which is also there in the cassette "GANAPATI". Then He sang a new Bhajan "SADATMIKE SADA SHIVE" . Later Sri Swamiji sang "Neevu Talli Parashaktii", a very beautiful bhajan on Godess Parashakti.
GANAPATI - audio cassette containing 10 beautiful bhajans composed and sung by His Holiness was released by Sri Swamiji. The CD version of this cassette was released by Sri Swamiji earlier at London on 7th Aug 1997 during the Ganapati festival.
Sri Swamiji explained in His discourse the siginificance of Parashakti (ultimate energy - The Universal Mother) as also the significance of fire worship, Yaga or Yagna.
Sri Swamiji's speech :-
Brahma did not provide for food to the celestials at the beginning of creation. They suffered due to hunger. Oh! what! Even the celestials feel hungry? The hunger was caused to the deities only with an intention to benefit the human race ever engrossed in worldly allurement as the performance of various rituals please celestials who always intend to bless.
If the celestials really intend to uplift the human race why can't they do so directly? What is the need of this round about procedure? One may feel so. It is the duty of the celestials to look after the well being and proper conduct of all creatures. Suppose we construct a big multi-storeyed building, will it be useful if there is no staircase? Similarly man can reach divinity step by step. Celestials enable us to ascend the steps.
If however one wants to use the lift to reach the higher storeys or if the celestials want to lift the man directly, both are dangerous. If there is failure of electricity, the lift does not function. Any one attempting to climb haphazardly slips down. Hence the celestials attempt to improve the human race systematically step by step.
Some people ask Swamiji for Hasta Mastaka Samyoga-(i.e.., Sadguru touching the tip of the head of the disciple with his right palm. This causes spontaneous transmission of Supreme Bliss). But the question is in case of an undeserving devotee who has not reached that stage, who will bear the burden of his past sins? One should face the result of past deeds oneself. That is why Sri Swamiji is arranging theses festivals with fire worship, Pujas etc. for you to participate. This is spiritual practice. Swamiji will bless you with boons for your Sadhana.
Sitting steadily and calmly for so many hours & watching the pujas attentively is by itself a great spiritual practice. Music concerts are arranged continuously to enable you to improve your concentration, which is also a Yoga. Actually, it is not Swamiji who does all these things. A great power works through Swamiji. Similarly the deities and celestials help mankind through Agni(Fire). Even Agni does not do so. Parashakti (Supreme Energy) acts through Agni.
Feeling hungry, the celestials prayed to Brahma for food. Aided by Vishnu, He prayed to Parashakti thus " Oh! Divine Mother! Please bestow your power of burning to Agni. Then he will be able to burn the articles offered to fire in Yagas and transmit the essence to the deities as their food". Parashakti said "Brahma! If I give away my power of burning to Agni, then I will be constrained to be totally under his control. I want to perform penance. Hence I can not be subject myself to his command". However Brahma and Vishnu requested Her further . Then Parashakti created a celestial maiden- SWAHA DEVI with an aspect of her power of burning to be the wife of Agni. The couple Swaha and Agni had three children- Garhapatyagni, Ahavaneeyaagni and Dakshinaagni. These are called Tretaagnis (three fires).
People perform Homa in these three Agnis, uttering Mantras adding "SWAHA". E.g., If one utters "Indraaya Swaaha" in the Homa, the offering reaches Indra. So also to the celestials. So far so good. But how about Pitrudevatas? (celestials who were our ancestors on earth). They appealed to Brahma for food. Thus Brahma created the celestial "SWADHA" to be wife of Agni. If he utters "Swadha" at the end of the mantra during homa, the offering will be transmitted to Pitrudevatas-so stipulated Brahma. Thus we observe that the two aspects Parashakti i.e., Swaaha and Swadha join Agni and enable the fire offerings to reach both Devas (celestials) and Pitrudevas.
Parashakti is called Annapurna as she feeds celestials. She is called Raja Rajeswari as she killed demons who are enemies of celestials. She is Saraswati- bestower of knowledge to all. She is Lakshmi, giver of wealth. She is Parashakti who energizes all. Thus we observe that Parashakti benefits all in every aspect. She enables the true seeker to progress further in one's spiritual practice-step by step. Pleased with the offerings through homa, the celestials benefit the people with good rains, knowledge, wealth and they fulfil the desires of the devotees.
If one performs Yoga, the entire country will be blessed with good rain. This is the specialty of Yoga. If you arrange Yoga through the Sadguru, the entire world is benefited. You also will be specially blessed. Sadguru acts as shock absorber. However, if you intend to progress directly-without performing any rituals or without Sadguru's guidance, you may have to suffer like NamaDeva. The great devotee NamaDeva used to go to Vaikunta- abode of Vishnu and was accustomed to speak to the lord. However, Vishnu advised NamaDeva to make proper approach through the help of Sadguru. Just as the celestials stipulated step by step procedure to spiritual progress, so also the Sadguru arranges various practices to uplift you. This is all the working of Parashakti. We must ever recognise that any good act performed anywhere by any people is due to the intention of Parashakti The story of Swaha and Swadha is a good example of this principle.