Report by H.V.Prasad

At the hemispheric junction of the International date line, a historic, auspicious landmark event took place.

His Holiness Sri Ganapati Sachchidananda Swamiji stepped ashore in to the turquoise sea and talcum sand of Mounu island, a remote 6 acre speck in the cosmic South Pacific. The Millennium visit to Mounu Island just after the International date line in the Kingdom of Tonga goes down in the history of Datta Peetham as a land mark event. Sri Swamiji was in intense prayers and meditation on these days of millennium ending and beginning.

The travel from Mysore commenced on 26th December (Sunday ) at 2 PM and took Pujya Swamiji through Singapore, Auckland, Nuku alofa, Vava'u and finally to Mounu island at 11.30 AM on 29th December 99 (Wednesday). Upon arrival in Vava'u international airport, Pujya Swamiji was received by Allan Bowe, of Mounu island. The 20 minute boat ride from the shores of Vava'u brought Sri Swamiji to Mounu island.

A small group of devotees from America and Europe had assembled to receive Sri Swamiji. After alighting the small motorized boat, the only transportation to this isolated atoll, Sri Swamiji walked along the shore. Then Sri Swamiji went into the water, and sprinkled the first warm drops of the South Pacific upon Himself.

This arrival in to Tonga was the culmination of the process that started on 19th July 1997 in Grand Canyon, Arizona, USA where Sri Swamiji first inquired about the first place to see the sunrise on January 1st, 2000. He then mentioned that He wanted to be in Tonga on the first day of the year 2000 so that the first rays of the Sun would pass through the body of Pujya Sadgurudeva and radiate to the entire planet.

Tonga is a small Kingdom (and the only Polynesian Kingdom) of a cluster of 171 islands and comprises three mains island groups. The Vava'u group of islands is the most northeasterly and Mounu island, a small coral atoll, is a part of this group. Mounu island is a small land mass of 6 acres with 3 Fales (Tongan house) made of thatched palm fronds tied with coconut sinnet. Sri Swamiji stayed in Fale named Tolu. Others camped with their tents or stayed in a coconut thatched hut. The island is eco friendly and has no fresh water supply and relies on the rain water collection and solar energy. In short, Mounu island is picture perfect and the water has various hues of turquoise blue, and varying shades of green. Underneath these beautiful and tepid seas, there exists an amazing and diversified sea life.

On the day of arrival Sri Swamiji sat on a reclining chair facing the sea and and spent contemplating and quiet times in the stay there. In the evening, Sri Swamiji ventured into the sea and snorkeled around and saw the varied and amazing marine life around the island.

Good-bye to the gone by millennium

The last day of this century was spent with prayers and spending time with devotees. Sri Swamiji came around to the place where all devotees had assembled.

Sri Swamiji asked for the clothe in which names of devotees had been printed. Before Sri Swamiji left Mysore, devotees presented to Him a large white clothe in which names of the devotees had been printed. This idea was to repeat what happened when Sri Swamiji visited Manas Sarovar in 1995. Devotees wanted Sri Swamiji to use this clothe of names as he deemed fit. So, Sri Swamiji showed this clothe to those in Mounu island and then wrote with His Holy hands the names of the lucky ones to travel with Him to Tonga. Then he invited those around to write the names of their friends and fellow devotees and also asked them to write a sign or whatever diagram that came to their mind. Everybody took their turn and considered this to be a great blessing. Sri Swamiji also answered some questions on Vedanta.

In the evening, Sri Swamiji performed Sri Chakra Puja and then performed Purnahuti of the Surya Homa. Sri Swamiji then watched the spectacular sun set of the last day of this year and then proceeded to the sea and offered Arghya (ablutions)
Welcome to the new millennium

January 1, 2000

The most important day arrived. Pujya Swamiji arrived at 5 AM to the eastern tip of the island to have the Darshan of the rising sun. It was still quite dark. Pujya Swamiji sat under a tree and closed eyes in meditation. After about 40 minutes, Sri Swamiji took a stick and drew a circle on the sand around him. Thereafter Sri Swamiji moved closer to the sea and sat on a low lying rock and let the waves come and wash His holy feet. Sri Swamiji took a small silver vessel and started offering Arghyam. Then Sri Swamiji asked for the Kumkum and Turmeric bowls and made a paste of these powders and smeared them on to his hands. We all anticipated in great anxiety as on the previous two days, the horizon was clouded and the Sun rise was not visible. Today too small clouds dotted the horizon. But as Pujya Swamiji intently gazed at the Horizon waiting for the Sun to rise, these small clouds cleared away as if they were ordered to leave. The hearts of the devotees were over joyed and finally the golden glow of the raising Sun, called Arunodaya (raising of the charioteer of Sun, Aruna) who peeks ahead of the Sun rise filled the horizon and the sea glowed in the golden glow. The Sun finally came out majestically yet softly ushering the year 2000 and energizing all living organisms and causing intellect in the beings. After this, Pujya Swamiji slowly moved back to the circled place under the tree and started to dig the sand. Making a small pit, Sri Swamiji was circling his Hand in that pit and then manifested several Aditya stones (clear quartz round stones with the image of Sun God etched in them). Then he called some of the devotees around and blessed them with them. Then after searching the pit again, Sri Swamiji manifested a huge Aditya ensconced in Gold and showed that to the Sun God who shed his kind and soft golden light on the manifestation.

Pujya Swamiji commenced the Sri Chakra Puja on the small platform that was built for that purpose. Devotees were continuously chanting Aditya Hridayam (special Sanskrit chant on Sun God) as the priests chanted Aruna Mantra from the Vedas. Later Pujya Swamiji Himself offered the Mulika Teertha (holy water from the service mixed with 32 herb powders) to all the devotees. This was a great Blessings as Pujya Swamiji permitted them to touch His Holy Feet and perform Namaskaram. Surya Homa was performed and Pujya Swamiji offered the Purnahuti and then in a brief speech conveyed His Blessings to the world and its inhabitants.

Pujya Swamiji took a bath in the sea and poured water on all those around Him and Blessed them.

The sacred cloth

During the Navaratri celebrations (October 1999), Pujya Swamiji permitted that devotees could give their names and these names would be written on a white Vastram which would be carried to Tonga by Pujya Swamiji. On 1st January 2000, Pujya Swamiji would leave this Vastram in the ocean and pray for the well being of all Devotees. Tens of thousands of names poured in from four corners of the world and these names were printed / written on a white Vastram. The Vastram was carried to Tonga and on 31st December 1999, Pujya Swamiji himself wrote the names of the persons who were fortunate to join His Holiness in this epic pilgrimage to Tonga. Then Sri Swamiji ordered all those persons to sign their names on the Vastram and further asked them to write along the names a diagram or a sign.

On 1st January 2000, Pujya Swamiji left by boat at 4 PM. During the short journey of 10 minutes, Pujya Swamiji tied this long clothe like a flag to a rod in the boat and hugged to the clothe and closed His eyes in deep contemplation. The boat was stopped after 10 minutes and then Pujya Swamiji slowly left the Vastram in to the depths of the Pacific Ocean.

Visit to Malaysia

Sri Swamiji reached Singapore on 9-1-2000 and from there proceeded to Malaysia. The Malaysian devotees at the airport gave him a warm and reverential welcome on 14-1-2000. In the evening Sri Swamiji visited the newly constructed Ashrama in Kuala Lumpur.

On 15th January, Sri Swamiji inaugurated the new premises of Malaysia Jnana Bodha Sabha after offering Poornahuti of the Vastu Homa conducted in that connection. The devotees celebrated Pongal festival and made their offerings to Poojya Sri Swamiji.
After Srichakra Pooja on 16th January, Sri Swamiji inaugurated the web site – GBS.MALAYSIA.ORG - created by the devotees of Malaysia. After this, a screen saver CD containing about 200 photographs of Sri Swamiji was also released. In the afternoon, Bhajan singing and dance competitions were conducted in Sri Swamiji’s presence.

Sri Swamiji left for Madras on 17 January. After Srichakra Pooja on 18th, Sri Swamiji left for Mysore, where thousands of devotees had gathered to take part in the Paduka Sparsha programme to be held on the 19th.

The Paduka Sparsha was a grand event. It started at 8 a.m. and went on non-stop till 3 p.m.