June 9, 1996, Sunday
On the occasion of the thirtieth year of the establishment of the Ashram,
a simple function was held in Datta Peetham. Sri Swamiji entered this place
on 6.6.'66. Sri Swamiji reminiscised the services of the devotees who have
been associated with the Ashram activities eversince its inception and blessed
such of those devotees who were present today with special prasadam. On
this august occasion, Sri Swamiji revealed His samkalpa of donating an ambulance
van to the Mysore city Police department. Sri Srinivasan, the commissioner
of Police of Mysore participated in this function as the chief guest.
Sri Swamiji addressed the devotees and said that before He established this
Ashrama, He used to conduct His activities in a locality called Kesare in
Mysore. The word Kesare means muddy water. Sri Swamiji explained that this
Ashrama has come up just as a lotus comes out of muddy water. "The
aim of this Ashrama is to relieve the fatigue (Shrama) of the devotees"
He added. He said that it was more important to kindle the spiritual feelings
in man than establishing colleges and huge hospitals. He also said that
it was His mission to function as a spiritual mobile hospital, catering
to the spiritual needs of the seekers all over the world. Sri Swamiji urged
the devotees to faithfully follow Svadharma (one's own dharma).
Sri Swamiji remembered the devotees who have worked hard for the establishment
and growth of Datta Peetham and blessed them. Sri Swamiji recalled how the
Datta Temple was constructed in the spot where once 'Saraswati Peetham'
stood.
Sri Swamiji finally spoke about the purpose of donating the ambulance van
to the Police and said that it was to ensure that the victims of road accidents
be transported to the hospital without any delay.
On 16 June, a function was held to bid farewell to Sri.C.S.Radha Krishna,
who was to undertake a tour of the USA and Europe to spread the message
of Poojya Sri Swamiji. On this occasion, Sri Swamiji specially blessed Sri
Radha Krishna.
Consecration of Dattatreya Temple in Coimbatore.
Sri Swamiji performed Kumbhabhishekam of Dattatreya temple in Coimbatore.
Sri Vamshi Krishna Ghanapathi has filled in the following report of the
visit of Sri Swamiji to Coimbatore.
25-6-96
Sri Swamiji arrived in Coimbatore in the afternoon. His previous visit to
this place was about 20 years ago. In response to the request of Sri T.K.Pattabhiraman,
a leading industrialist and the chairman of the local Kamakshi Temple, Sri
Swamiji consented to consecrate the newly constructed Dattatreya Temple
in the Kamakshi Temple complex. The evening satsang was held in this complex.
Sri Swamiji, before commencing the satsang session, went round the temples
and had the darshan of Lord Ganapati, Ayyappa, Lord Narayana accompanied
by the Ashta Lakshmis, Guruvayoorappan, Lord Rama, Panduranga Vitthala and
the Navagraha Temple. Poojya Sri Swamiji selected an episode from the Ramayana
for today's discourse. Narrating the instance of Hanumanta's return after
successfully accomplishing the task entrusted to him-that of verifying Seeta's
presence in Lanka, when Lord Rama embraced him. Sri Rama said that he would
give nothing in return to Hanumanta. Sugreeva and others were shocked to
hear this. Then Lord Rama explained-"when does anyone require a favour
? In hard times or when one is in danger. When such a situation never comes
to you(Hanumanta), what is the use of a return favour ?" Sri Swamiji
said- "the words of mahatmas hold great hidden meaning and therefore
it is not proper to take their words lightly. Many people undergo terrible
mental agony because thier mind is filled by dirty thoughts. Even the Almighty
seems to teach us the means to get in to the Samsaara and stay stuck there.
Did He not describe to Abhimanyu-still in the womb then- the means of piercing
the Padma Vyooha and not the method of getting out of it ? That Abhimanyu
was 'Veera Abhimanyu' (brave Abhimanyu); we are all 'Samsaara Abhimanyus'
(Abhmanyus drowned in Samsaara). The only sure means of escaping all this
is 'Divya Nama Sankeertana'. Sri Swamiji stresses this fact wherever He
goes. Such is the greatness of the Divine names."
Around 8:45, the Poornahuti of the homas performed in connection with the
consecration ceremonies was offered in the Divine presence of Poojya Sri
Swamiji. After this, Sri Swamiji installed the Dattatreya Yantra with His
sacred hands.
26.6.96
After Srichakra Pooja in the morning, Sri Swamiji blessed all the Ritviks
who had actively participated in the consecration ceremonies under the able
guidance of Sri Pudukkoti Bhairava Shastri. After the poornahuti of the
homa conducted in connection with the installation ceremonies and at 9:30
a.m., Sri Swamiji carried the Pradhana Kumbha(main pot containing the sacred
water) and performed Kumbhabhisheka. Later, addressing the devotees who
had gathered there, Sri Swamiji said -"Lord Dattatreya being consecrated
here will be responsible to ensure that the blessings of the Kshetrapalaka(presiding
deity) reaches the devotees. Prayers and worships which can not be, for
some reason, completed, will still yeild full merit by worshipping Lord
Dattatreya. I am praying to Lord Dattatreya on behalf of all of you to this
effect".
Sri Swamiji later came down and performed Abhisheka to Lord Dattatreya with
the water from the sacred pot and with other articles like milk, curd, honey
etc.. Sri Swamiji blessed Sri Pattabhiraman(the person responsible for the
construction) with the rare previlege of performing Pada Pooja. In the press
meet held in the evening, Sri Swamiji explained about Raga Ragini Vidya
and music therapy. After this, Sri Swamiji conducted Divya Nama Sankeertana
in the Kamakshi temple.
"The worship of Lord Dattatreya is very tough because the seeker faces
difficult tests even before he begins his worship. The mind also will start
wavering. It is very difficul to overcome these hurdles and only the seekers
of the calibre of Kartaveeryarjuna can emerge successful.
"If you decide to undertake some good work, you should set out in that
direction immediately. Once a brahmin went to Dharmaraja to ask for some
donation. Dharmaraja, who was very busy then, asked him to come the next
day. Arjuna, who was sitting nearby began laughing at once. It was highly
uncharecteristic of Arjuna to have laughed like that in front of others.
It amounted to insulting his elder brother. Dharmaraja asked as to why Arjuna
laughed. Arjuna replied that he was pleasently astonished at the confidence
of Dharmaraja, who was so sure that he would be alive the next day to carry
out his promise he made to the brahmin. Dharmaraja immediately realised
his mistake and called the brahmin and fulfilled his promise then and there.
Similarly, we should never postpone our good projects. On the other hand,
we should try to postpone fighting and such other bad deeds as long as possible.
By this, the anger will come down and bad intentions will vanish".
Sri Swamiji performed Sri Chakra Pooja in the morning
of 27-6-96 in Sri Pattabhiraman's residence. Pada pooja was performed at
the residence of Sri Balakrishna, the chairman of the Coimbatore Stock exchange.
On His way back to Mysore, Sri Swamiji breifly stopped over at Erode, where
He visited the residence of Sri V.Arun Kumar. Sri Swamiji reached Mysore
at 7 p.m. that day.
Ramayana Saptaha at Mysore
Sri Swamiji began the discourse series on Ramayana on
21.7.96. in resposnse to a long standing request of the kannada speaking
devotees that Sri Swamiji should conduct a series of discourses in kannada.
Throughout the week long schedule, the following events took place daily.
A brief music concert with compositions on Lord Rama during Srichakra Pooja
in the morning, Rama taraka Homa, and Abhishekam to Lord Shiva. In the evenings,
the discourse session used to be held from 6:30 till 9:30 p.m.
At 4:15 p.m. on 21.7.96, the Ramayana Saptaha was fromally inaugurated by
Sri R.Venkataraman, the former President of India. Speaking on the occasion,
Sri Venkataraman said that the Ramayana was the greatest of all epics in
any language. He said that it was and will be relevent at all times and
added that it was indeed a great fortune to all the devotees that Sri Swamiji
Himself had decided to conduct a week long discourse series on Ramayana.
Sri Swamiji said that it was rare to find a scholarly person in the field
of politics and that it was sill more rare to find a person of the calibre
of Sri Venkataraman. Sri Swamiji remembered late Dr.Sarvepalli Radhakrishna
and Dr.Shanker Dayal Sharma, the present President of India. "Though
everyone knows the story of Rama, I am conducting this saptaha to stress
the deeply hidden aspects of Ramayana" Sri Swamiji added.
Later, Sri Swamiji commenced the series of discourses with the episode of
Sri Ramayana Avatarana. He dealt at length the life of Valmiki, the author
of this great epic and narrated the whole Ramayana in a capsule form- starting
form the inception of the epic to the episode of Seeta disappearing in to
the ground. Sri Swamiji also narrated as to how Lava and Kusha, the sons
of Lord Rama were singing the glory of Ramayana.
During the course of seven days, Sri Swamiji narrated the whole Ramayana
under different headings such as -Sri Rama Janana (birth of Lord Rama),
Seeta Kalyana (marriage with Seeta), Sri Rama Vanavasa (Sri Rama's stay
in the forest), Seetaapaharana (abduction of Seeta), Seetanveshana (search
for Seeta), Sri Rama Pattabhisheka (Crowning of Sri Rama), Uttara Rama Katha
etc . Throughout the week long discourse sessions, Sri Swamiji rendered
several of His compositions in praise of Lord Rama. It was indeed a treat
to the ears. On some days, the discourse went on till 10:30 p.m.
On 29.7.96, a question-answer session on Ramayana was arranged in which
the devotees were provided with an opportunity to clarify their doubts on
some difficult aspects of Ramayana. Sri Swamiji answered more than 50 questions
on that day. Sri Swamiji even answered some of the questions by way of songs
and bhajans ! At the end of this session, Sri Chandrashekhara Sharma, a
renowned scholar and the receipient of 'Asthana Vidvan' title, rendered
a beautiful composition about the Ramayana and Sri Swamiji.
Guru Poornima
On the occasion of Guru Poornima, special celebrations took place in the
Ashram on 30 July. The sacred Pavamana Homa and Tailabhisheka to Lord Dattatreya
took place in the morning. In the afternoon, "Sri Guru Stuti Mala",
a book containing 108 verses in praise of Lord Dattatreya was released.
Who could have known that Sri Venkateshwara Rao, one of Sri Swamiji's teachers
in His childhood was present in the gathering ? When Sri Swamiji called
out the name of Venkateshwara Rao, the whole gathering was stunned. How
could Sri Swamiji remember a person who taught Him alphabets nearly 45 years
ago ? Even more surprising is- How could Sri Swamiji possibly know for sure
that this man, who was visiting the Ashram for the first time was sitting
amidst the huge crowd ? The book being released was a rare manuscript lying
in the house of a Datta devotee living in some South Indian town. It took
7-8 years to publish thes manuscript. What a co-incidence ! Look at the
good fortune of this person- Venkateshwara Rao, who, on the sacred day of
Guru Poornima, had the darshan of the Guru and was asked to release book
about Guru Datta ! The ways of mystics are mysterious indeed!
Later, Sri Swamiji released the booklet titled 'Hanumat Sahasranama' published
by the Vishnu Sahasranama Parayana Samiti of Mysore.
Sanjeevini Ambulance
The van which Sri Swamiji had promised to the police department arrived.
It was named as Sanjeevini (life giver). This van was formally handed over
to the police at 11:30 a.m. Sri Kempaiah, the new comissioner of Police,
who received the van keys from Sri Swamiji, praised Pujya Sri Swamiji for
His generosity and humanity and promised that the van would be put to proper
use. In His speech, Sri Swamiji wished that no road accidents should occur.
This van was offered by Sri Y.Rama Mohana Rao in the fond memory of his
departed mother. Sri Swamiji blessed the donors for their gesture.
The students of the Veda Pathashala of Ashram performed Pratyaksha pada
pooja to Sri Swamiji in the evening. In the satsang session, Sri Swamiji
explained the importance of the guru. "In ancient days, one could accomplish
everything by the power of the mantras. Gradually, because of the evil effect
of Kali, the mental capabilities of men decreased. It has therefore become
necessary for people to serve the Guru through the other two means- physical
service and financial service. Only then they can accomlish something.
Without Guru Seva, no spiritual practice is complete. How long should one
serve the Guru ? Till one leaves the physical body." said Sri Swamiji.
As if to make these words more authoritative, Sri Swamiji sang the Gurvashtaka
composed by Sri Shankaracharya and explained its meaning. With this, the
Guru Poornima celebrations concluded.