By the evening of 18th December, the Universal Prayer Hall in Datta Peetham wore a look of a mosque. Three sides of the inner walls of the Prayer Hall were covered with white cloth and was decorated with red roses. In the central part (just in front of the shutters near Homa Kundam), the white cloth was so well decorated that it looked like a mosque. 400 odd muslim brethren assembled in their traditional dress, sporting caps. Sri Swamiji, clad like a muslim himself was seated on one side of the Prayer Hall. He too was wearing white clothes and a cap. On the other side of the hall, on the dais were seated important muslim religious leaders of Mysore. Many dignitaries of muslim community participated as chief guests. Hundreds of others were seated on the mattress spread on the floor.

Sri H.V.Prasad, the Executive Trustee of Datta Peetham welcomed the gathering. Janab Javed Hussain offered garland to Parama Poojya Sri Swamiji on behalf of the Muslim community. Elders of the Muslim community were honoured with Datta Vastram. Explaining the importance of the function, Sri H.V.Prasad said that it was indeed a matter of utmost pleasure that Sri Swamiji had decided to arrange an Ifthaar party for the muslim brethren. He also said that Poojya Sri Swamiji kept Datta Peetham always busy and buzzing with some activity everyday. "Achieving religious harmony is an important objective of Datta Peetham" Sri Prasad said.

Later, Janab Kudrat Ulla Saheb, a distinguished guest spoke about the importance of the month of Ramzan. He said that the real meaning of observing austerities during Ramzan was to achieve control over the sense organs and to fix the gaze on the Almighty. He remarked that Sri Swamiji’s teachings were highly stimulating and thought provoking and that Sri Swamiji’s friendly and compassionate nature should be emulated by everyone in the country. He thanked Sri Swamiji for having taken the initiative of organizing such a congregation.

After this, all the Muslims prepared for Namaz. Sri Swamiji too descended from His chair and sat with them and joined them in their Namaz. After a long Namaz session, Sri Swamiji addressed the gathering.

Sri Swamiji’s speech
Salamwalekum. Jaya Guru Datta. I am reminded of my revered mother Mata Jayalakshmi. Our family was very close to Sufi Fakirs. You have heard about Mekedatu near Kanakapur. There was a Fakir there, who lived for 110 years. They used to call him Noor. He lived in a town called Channapatna for about 40 years. Some of you might have heard about him. He was one of the mentors of Mata Jayalakshmi. He used to tell Mata Jayalakshmi "Child, read the holy Kuran in the morning and the sacred Bhagavatam in the afternoon. Both are same".

A few days back I found a copy of Bhagavatam which my mother used to read. A thick book. She has written many poems in Kannada language about the Bhagavatam. She has also written poems that reflect the teachings of that Fakir. As a mark of respect to that great Fakir, we have built a big building resembling a mosque in Mekedatu.
We visited Kuwait in the year 1976. There was a Royal Family which had great respect for me. Their daughter was highly devoted. The head of that family once told me, "Swamiji, you do not belong to one religion. You belong to all religions". He had met Swamiji to tell about his ailing daughter and seek blessings. She was a good painter too. She had painted a portrait of Swamiji even before seeing me! That painting even won a prize in some painting exhibition.

The daily Ashrama prayer stresses the oneness of all religions.

Baiballu madhyetha kuraan madhye
Shaastreshu Vedeshu puraana varge
Yatkeertireka viratam sughushthaa
Tameka devam sharanam vrajaamah

The Almighty being praised in the holy Bible, the holy Koran, the sacred Bhagavata is one and the same. We are all one. Flowers are many, but Puja is one. Cows are many, but milk is one, languages are many, but feeling is one. All great men have preached the same message. They are saints, noble persons and enlightened persons. They have been guiding us. They always say, "you take any religion, the same fundamental essence is the same. All religions urge us to follow Dharma, to always speak the truth, not to torment others. The Almighty has given us this wonderful human birth. In whatever religion you are born, be in that religion and strive to become a better person. Become a more religious person. If you are a Christian, become a better Christian. If you are a Muslim, become a better Muslim. If you are a Hindu, become a better Hindu. All are same. The blood is the same."

Igirju masjeeda sumandireshu
Prayer namaaz archana panktibhiryam
Archanti gaayanti cha yadgunoughaan
Tameka devam sharanam vrajaamah

Some call it (the place of worship) as Church while some others call it Mosque. Some say Temple. The same God is everywhere. All traditions and all codes of conduct are there only to help man to understand God. Different people have different abilities. Some walk, some swim, some run. What difference does it make? No problem. The ultimate goal is the same. Every religion prescribes some austerities. Like the Ekadashi vow during which one observes Upavasa.

"What is Upavasa? The general meaning is fasting. The real meaning of Upavasa is ‘to stay near God’. To think about God. On that day, the Indriyas (sense organs) have to be kept alert, yet under full control. It is not enough if just fasting is observed. All the Indriyas must fast. Koran also advocates such practice especially to be observed during Ramzan. My mother used to tell me about such things from Koran. I was barely 12 then. That is one of the reasons why I developed some sort of affinity for Muslims. The upbringing has helped me to gain friendship wherever I go. Even during the recent visit to Oman, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Yemen and other places, I experience the same friendship. So was the case when I visited Egypt in 1980.

"A royal family from Malaysia is known to me. The head of that family had even visited the Mysore Ashrama. He was a chaste Muslim. He had a strange desire. He wanted to stay for one day in Swamiji’s residence in Mysore. "I will sleep on an ordinary mattress" he said. One day, he actually landed in Mysore and stayed here for a few days. He had some heart ailment. Afterwards he was cured of it. His family members are Swamiji’s followers even today. He loved Swamiji’s music. "You practice your religion. You may do anything. Still I will follow you. For me, You are a music doctor" he used to say. He has helped a lot for our center in Malaysia.

"Once a public programme was arranged in Malaysia. It was a music concert. Just next to the concert area, there was a mosque. The people of the mosque had changed the position of the loudspeakers so that the music concert would not be disturbed. I sent words through my devotees telling them that they need not change the position of the loudspeakers. You know what their reply was? You will be surprised to know it. They said, "there is going to be a concert in the evening. Our prayers may be very loud and it may disturb those attending the concert. We know Swamiji is giving a healing concert. We don’t want to disturb who have come for healing." Such was their co-operation.

When I asked them "why are you showing so much consideration?" they said "you display such a great feeling of friendship; therefore, we want to reciprocate it."

For me, the whole world is one. I want everyone to experience that feeling. You will be surprised to know that the wooden Puja Mantap in the Ashram was prepared by a Muslim. I performed the first Srichakra Puja in that Mantap. I value friendship very much. I wanted to see all of you during your auspicious festival. I strongly feel that we were all living together in some birth. We have taken birth now in different families and in different places. That’s all. In fact, that’s how the Jeevis keep moving. From one place to another. Everything is the play of the Almighty. ‘Tameka Devam Sharanam Vrajaamah’ – God is one and only one. All religions say that. He is omni potent. I was actually surprised to see the decoration here today. I am very happy that you have come here today. The Almighty will bless everyone. We must always pray to the Almighty Lord for His blessings. He is everything. Our methods are different, that’s all.

In Pittsburgh, our center has been established by Christians. In the West Indies, there are a lot of Muslims who have helped establish our center. The President of Trinidad & Tobaga, Mr.Noor Hassan Ali invites me to his residence whenever I visit that country.

"I wanted to see you all during this auspicious festival month. I am very happy that you have come. You will be surprised to know that the first load of bricks to build this Ashram was supplied by a Muslim. About 25% of Muslims in Mysore know about Ashram. Even among those sitting here today, many have worked for the Ashram in different capacities. I am very happy. I am very happy because I got an opportunity to see Muslim saints. May God bless you all.
Jaya Guru Datta."

After the function, an Iftaar Dinner (Muslim traditional dinner) was arranged in the Annapurna Mandir. Sri Swamiji distributed Iftaar Attar (traditional Muslim perfume) to all.
It was a three hour programme attended by more than 400 muslim brethren. Everyone felt very happy about the function.