The Datta Jayanti programmes started on Dec 9, 2000, with Pujya Sri
Swamiji performing Sri Chakra Puja in the prayer hall. Sri Swamiji
giving Datta Deeksha to over one thousand people followed this. They
were given a dry coconut to carry home and an Shweta Arka Raksha to
tie around their wrist for the three days of the Datta Jayanti festival.
Sri Swamiji performed Puja to the new silver door of Datta temple
and performed Pancha Amrita Abhishekam to the Datta idol in the Datta
Temple (The Dattatreya in Mysore Ashrama is called as "Kalagni
Shamana Datta"). Then the Utsava Vigraha of Dattatreya (procession
idol) was taken in a procession to Nada Mantapa. There, Mantapa Utsava
(Placing of the idol in a wooden Mantapa (altar) was performed).
Later
prizes were distributed to the winners of Bhagavad-Gita competition
and Neeti Mala recitation competition. Sri Swamiji lauded the efforts
of the "Sri Ganapati Sachchidananda Vidya Samsthe school staff
(public school run by Ashrama in the town of Mysore) in the conduct
of the competition and the keenness of the students who participated
in it. Later Sri Swamiji released the Video compact Disc on the movie
"Ashta Lakshmi Vaibhavam", a full-length movie on the eight
aspects of Goddess Lakshmi. This VCD also has video of Pujya Sri Swamiji’s
visit during the millennium to the Tonga kingdom in the Pacific.
In the evening at 5.30 PM, mass singing of the Kakadarati Bhajans
(seven Datta Bhajans composed by Sri Swamiji for each day of the week
and sung in the evening) Hundreds of new people and musicians from
Mysore participated. They were trained in singing the Bhajans by Dr.
Padma Murthy, a renowned scholar of music and an ardent devotee of
Sri Swamiji. The overall show was very impressive with the singing
of the Bhajans in chorus was very melodious to the ears. Sri Swamiji
performed Kakadarati to the Datta idol during the singing.
10th December 2000 – Sunday
After the morning Sri Chakra Puja at Nada Mantapa, Sri Swamiji performed
Poornahuti of Pavamana Homa. A book written by a devotee "Sri
Kalluri Sri Ramulu of Rajamundry in the philosophical topic "Jnana
Vasishtha" was released by Sri Swamiji. A programme was held
in Nada Mantapa to pay homage to Sri Swamiji for successfully completing
50 foreign tours to spread the message of Music for meditation and
healing, Kriya Yoga, Datta Tattva and the ancient knowledge of India.
Hon’ble Justice Sri Venkata Rami Reddy, Chief Justice of Karnataka
State High Court attended the function. He presented to Sri Swamiji
a small plaque. It has the name and date of birth of Sri Swamiji in
Arabic. Sri. H.V. Prasad gave a speech in Kannada outlining the impact
of the 50 foreign tours of Sri Swamiji. Sri. Kuppa Krishna Murthy
and Prof. Krishan Kumar spoke in Telugu and English respectively.
To mark this occasion a huge idol of Lord Dattatreya (9 feet tall)
was specially commissioned for this momentous occasion. The sculptor
Sri. Durugadda Ramakrishnama Charyulu was honoured on the occasion.
The Chief Justice in his speech praised the Ashrama and its activities
and prayed Sri Swamiji for a peaceful world.
After the unveiling of the statue Sri Swamiji explained the reason
for naming the gate as "Hanuma Dwara". Sri Swamiji said
"In the early days of Ashrama, it was only me and a watchman
called: Hanuma, who was very dear to Sri Swamiji. After his demise,
Sri Swamiji named the gate of Ashrama as "Hanuma Dwara"
indicating the importance of simple people. In the evening Chariot
festival took place in the road around Ashrama. Later, Kakadarati
was sung in the prayer hall.
11th December 2000 – Monday – Full Moon Day – Datta
Jayanti.
Today was the actual Datta Jayanti, the day of Datta’s birth.
Being full moon day, Datta Homa was performed. Sri Swamiji then released
a small book called "Ishwara Darshana" in Telugu language
outlining the yearn of a devotee for Sadguru’s grace. Then Sri
Swamiji blessed devotees of all countries who were visiting Ashrama.
Then Sri Swamiji spoke on the importance of Datta Jayanti. Thereafter
Sri Swamiji came to the Datta temple and performed oil Tailabhishekam
to Dattatreya idol. Thousands of devotees participated. It was a rare
sight as Sri Swamiji allowed devotees to perform Abhishekam on the
Datta idol.
Anaghashtami Vratam was conducted at Nada Mantapam.
In
the evening Teppotsavam (raft festival) was held and Sri Swamiji seated
with the Datta Utsava Murti idol in the raft went around the Saptarshi
Sarovara 9 times.
Thereafter
Kakadarati was held in Nada Mantapa and the programmes came to a wonderful
end.
Jaya
Guru Datta.