(Sri Swamiji's speech on Dec 25th, 1996)
Compiled and translated by Sri.H.V.Prasad
This year, Christmas and Datta Jayanti have come together. To understand
the subtle relation between the two, we have to observe the history of the
festival of Christmas. When Lord Christ was born, recording the date and
other birth details was not so developed as it is now (in those times there
were no facilities for such record keeping). But still after coming to know
that Christ was born, three wise men from the east came to see him. The position
of a star helped them to find their way to the birth place of Christ. The
symbolic stars with which we decorate the Christmas tree represent that star
which helped the wise men from the east. But these three wise men also did
not record the birth date of Christ. Thus nobody knows the exact date of
birth of Christ. The 'World Encyclopedia' confirms this. But 336 years after
the birth of Christ, December 25th was recognized as the birth date of Christ.
How was this done ?
We have torealise that the birth of great people and the movement of planets
have secret, close and important relation. Only when we accept that, we can
come to a decision about the date of birth of Christ. As per the story of
Bible, the three wise men were led to the place of birth of Jesus by a star
and planetary movements. What is meant by planetary movements ?
Jupiter is the biggest planet in our solar system. That is why it is called
as ''Guru Graham' in Sanskrit (guru=heavy, big. graha=planet). It is this
planet which is related to the intellect of humans. That is why it is called
as Guru (preceptor) The planet Jupiter, changes from one Raashi ( astrological
sign) to another once every year. During the period of its retrograde motion,it
slows down but still makes up for the slowness and on an average it changes
the Raashi (sign) every year. This change generally occurs in the last week
of the month of December. The word December is from the calendar we use today,
i.e.,the Gregorian calendar. This type of calendar system was started in
1580 by Pope Gregory XIII. The principle of this calendar is mainly connected
with the movement of the sun. In India we have both Solar and Lunar calendars.
But for all calculations and auspicious programmes we use the Lunar calendar.
Even in the west, Hebrew calendar is lunar based. So is the Chinese calendar.
Since the lunar movements and the solar movements do not coincide (match),
the lunar calendar has extra months and extra days to make it coincide with
the solar calendar. This is followed both in western and eastern systems.
In the system of Lunar calendar, the movement of moon in the star 'Mrigashira'
occurs in the month of December. That is why Indians call this month as
Mrigasheersha Maasa' (month of Mrigashira). But once in some years the full
moon in the month of Mrigashira may not coincide with the month of December.
But generally it happens in December.
Dattatreya was born on the full moon day of this month (Mrigashira month).
That is why Datta Jayanti is celebrated in December. Mriga Shira means the
head of a deer. The shape of the star represents it. It is a well known fact
that the shape of a star affects the life of the being which is resembles.
We also know that Jesus was born in a room where animals were there ( here
Swamiji means that the star Mrigashira which resembled a deer had influence
over the animals). Thus we can be sure that the birth of Jesus and the month
of Mrigashira are closely related. Thus we can safely say that Christ was
born in the month when the planet Jupiter (Guru Graha) was changing the Raashi
(sign) and the moon was moving to Mrigashira star. All these important movements
of planetary bodies can happen in December only. Each star has four quarters
(Paadas). So when the moon is in the first and second quarter, he is Uchcha
(exalted). When moon is Uchcha (exalted), his impact on the life on earth
is very high. Astrologically, for a person to be highly spiritual (like Jesus,
Dattatreya), the place of sun in his horoscope is very important. In December,
the sun will be in Dhanus Raashi (Sagittarius). On 14th January every year,
the sun moves to the next sign i.e. Makara (Capricorn). From that day (14th
January), the period of Uttaraayana commences(Uttarayana is the period from
14 January to 14 July). The commencement of Uttarayana takes place on January
14th in the system of Nirayana only (Sidereal calculations). But in Sayana
system (Tropical calculations), Sun starts his Uttarayana period in the last
week of December. The system of Sayana observes the movement of sun and
corroborates and finalises the astrological calculations of the sun. Presently,
this movement of Sun to Uttarayana happens either on 22nd or 23rd of December.
But about2000 years ago (when Jesus was born) this change used to happen
on December 25th every year. Thus we can understand from the above facts
that at the time of birth of Jesus, i.e. 2000 years ago - three important
planetary transitions took place in December. They are -
(a) The most important of the planets ,the Jupiter,
changed the star sign.
(b) Sun entered the Uttarayana period.
(c) Moon was Uchcha (exalted) in the Mrigashira star.
Similar planetary positions were in force when Lord Dattatreya appeared three
Yugas (eons) ago.
The three wise men from the east recognised this planetary importance in
the birth of Jesus Christ. Perhaps these wise men saw Dattatreya in baby
Jesus. That is how the date December 25 was finalised. It is said in Datta
Purana (mythology) that Dattatreya appears as a child, as an unmatta,
etc.etc.
In those days the three wise men from the east recognised the power of Jesus.
This day the wise men from the west are experiencing Jesus in Datta Peetham.
For the men of reality the concept of east and west are just lines in the
air.
Understanding this may not be possible in just one reading. Read it several
times and you will understand the underlying and profound concept. Swamiji
has seen in a Church in Basel, Switzerland, Jesus with three heads like
Dattatreya. This supports the above statements.
Let us understand this and from now onwards, let us correlate Datta Jayanti
and Christmas in our hearts and experience the unified divine power.
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