Inauguration
of Birthday Celebrations
Sri Swamiji
performed Srichakra Pooja in the morning in Nada Mantapa. Priests from
the holy pilgrimage Bhadrachala offered the sacred Shesha Vastra of
Lord Ramachandra to Sri Swamiji.
This marked
the beginning of the 57th Birthday celebrations of Poojya Sri Swamiji.
Speaking on this occasion, Sri Swamiji said that to overcome ego is
the greatest Sadhana. The special Homas connected with the temple consecration
were going on in Garuda Mantapa. Thousands of devotees from various
parts of India and abroad were doing Nama Sankeertana.
His Holiness
Sri Chinna Jeeyar Swamiji, who arrived around 10:30 a.m., was received
reverentially by the scholars of Datta Peetham with Poorna Kumbha and
was led to the Dattatreya Temple. Here, Sri Swamiji heartily received
Sri Chinna Jeeyar Swamiji and personally showed the various temples,
Nada Mantapa, herb garden and other places. Sri Vishwesha Teertha Sripada
Swamiji of Pejavara Mutt arrived at 11 a.m.. He was reverentially received
with Poorna Kumbha.
The three
Swamijis then moved on in a procession to the wonderfully decorated
Garuda Mantapa amidst thunderous applause of the devotees. After seeing
the temple complex ready for consecration, the three Swamjis proceeded
to the stage where the inaugural function was arranged. The two guest
Swamijis lighted the lamp to mark the beginning of the 57th Birthday
of Poojya Sri Swamiji.
The three
Swamijis then unveiled the inauguration plaque of the Venkateshwara
Agama Vidya Kendra. His Holiness Sri Vishwesha Teertha Swamiji and His
Holiness Sri Chinna Jeeyar Swamiji addressed the huge congregation of
devotees and expressed their appreciation about the monumental task
so successfully undertaken by Poojya Sri Swamiji.
Delivering
the benedictory address, Sri Swamiji expressed happiness about the two
Swamijis visiting the Datta Peetham to take part in the celebrations.
Sri Swamiji also narrated the chain of events that took place during
the past three decades that eventually culminated in the construction
of Venkateshwara Temple. Sri Swamiji remarked that hitherto Datta Peetham
was an abode of Lord Brahma, the giver of Knowledge, and Lord Shiva,
the destroyer of sins and that now it had become an abode of Lord Vishnu,
the fulfiller of all legitimate desires. ŒGoddess Parashakti, manifesting
in the form of Srichakra is blessing every one¹ Sri Swamiji added.
After the
inaugural function, Sri Swamiji performed Panchagavya Adhivasa of the
idols. In the evening, Sri Swamiji conducted scintillating Divya Nama
Sankeertana in the Garuda Mantapa. Poornahuti of Navagraha Homa was
performed in the Yagashala. After this, a folk troupe from Tanjore (Tamil
Nadu State) gave a wonderful display of folk music and dance.
Procession
- 21-6-99
A huge
procession of Lord Venkateshwara was taken out on the main streets of
Mysore. The line of devotees which was over a kilometer long walked
along with the idol for the entire length of the 7 km long procession.
The procession
started at 9 a.m. and concluded at 1.30 p.m. Balarama Gate situated
to the north of the famous Mysore Palace, the spot from where the procession
was to begin wore festive look one hour in advance.
Sri Swamiji
arrived exactly at 9 a.m., and performed Pooja at the Ganapati and Anjaneya
temples situated near the gate. Sri Swamiji offered Arati to the small
idol of Lord Venkateshwara (which was found on the shores of the sea
in Machilipatnam) placed in the palanquin on a beautifully decorated
elephant and set the procession in motion. The announcement vehicle
led the procession. Behind this, the guards of honour group followed.
A special van named as ŒNada Prasara Ratha¹, beautifully decorated by
the Hyderabad devotees followed, playing the audiocassettes of Sri Swamiji.
Behind this came the folk troupe of Karnataka, displaying dance and
playing folk music. This was followed by a van decorated to look like
the Ganapati Temple, with a beautiful idol of Lord Ganapati in it. After
this came another group of folk arts. Behind this, a huge tableau resembling
the Venkateshwara Temple, with a life-size idol of Lord Venkateshwara
in it followed. Just behind this was a big group of Datta Devotees,
holding the Datta Peetham flags, singing Bhajans and hailing the Lord.
A Tibetan music group, playing melodious Tibetan Music followed this.
After this came a vehicle decorated in the shape of a swan, which carried
the idol of Goddess Rajarajeshwari. In this vehicle were seated the
Vedic Scholars and students of Datta Peetham, chanting the sacred Vedic
hymns.
A vehicle
decorated in the shape of Nada Mantapa, in which the Bhajan troupe of
Datta Peetham was seated, singing Bhajans non-stop followed this. Two
decorated elephants followed this. On one of the elephants was placed
the Moola Virat Idol of Lord Venkateshwara. Sri Swamiji standing in
an open-top vehicle followed this, smiling at the devotees and encouraging
them. Behind Sri Swamiji¹s vehicle, dignitaries and important persons
of the city followed. Thousands of people watched the procession as
it marched through the most important streets of Mysore. Some local
traders had arranged cool drinks at certain places to quench the thirst
of those taking part in the procession. Many local leaders offered garlands
to Sri Swamiji. The members of Kanyaka Parameshwari Temple in Ashoka
Road and the staff of Maharaja Sanskrit College offered garlands.
The line
of devotees, which was about a kilometer long at the beginning of the
procession, grew two-fold as the procession moved on. When the procession
ended at 1.30 p.m., the devotees were still looking fresh and energetic
although they had walked a distance of about 7 kilometers.
It was
the first instance when Sri Swamiji had taken part in any procession
in Mysore since establishing the Ashram more than three decades ago.
The citizens of Mysore exclaimed that next to the Dasara Procession,
this was the biggest procession that they had ever seen in Mysore.
When the
procession finally returned to Datta Peetham at 1.30 p.m., Sri R.Venkataraman,
the former President of India and the Chairman of the Celebrations Committee,
welcomed Sri Swamiji at the entrance. Earlier in the day, before leaving
to take part in the procession, Sri Swamiji performed rituals connected
with the consecration. He also performed Ksheera Adhivasa of the idols.
In the evening, Sri Swamiji offered Poornahuti of Sudarshana Homa and
Shanti Homa. He also performed Srichakra Pooja in Garuda Mantapa.
At 9 p.m.,
there was a folk dance programme by Sri Sridhar Jain and his troupe.
The chief priest of Tirupati Venkateshwara Temple, Sri Madambakam Srinivasacharya
and Sri Utpala Satyanarayanacharya, a famous Telugu poet participated
in today¹s celebrations. Rain God¹s Blessings A strange incident took
place today. Usually it rains during June in Mysore. Keeping this in
mind, all precautions had been taken in the arrangements in Datta Peetham.
Even the temporary pavilion Garuda Mantapa was also erected in such
a way that rain water did not seep in if it rained. Metal sheets were
used as roof. It used to drizzle for a while every day.
On the
morning of 21st, the day of the procession, the sky was full of dark
clouds, threatening to disrupt the programme. The organizers were apprehensive.
To the pleasant surprise of everyone, as the sun rose, the clouds cleared
even though there was no strong wind to drive them away! The procession
took off in the pleasant morning sun.
Sri Swamiji
disclosed the divine secret behind this happening during the evening
discourse. The organizers had approached Sri Swamiji with their apprehension
the previous night and had pleaded with Him to somehow avert the imminent
danger of heavy downpour the following day, the day of procession. Sri
Swamiji did not say anything. He calculated within himself and realized
that the planetary positions indicated heavy rains. At 2 a.m., Sri Swamiji
came out of His residence and stared at the night sky. It was full of
low hanging clouds, ready to come down. Sri Swamiji silently meditated
and invoked Varuna, the Lord of rain and implored Him to hold back.
However, much Sri Swamiji requested him Varuna did not seem to co-operate.
Disgusted, Sri Swamiji said to Varuna, "All right. In my subsequent
birth, I will take the form of a woman and be with you for forty days.
But please do not cause any havoc for the next 40 days until the Mandala
Pooja period is completed. All of a sudden, the clouds seemed to clear.
Sri Swamiji Himself narrated this episode in the evening discourse.
(As this report is being prepared today, i.e., 13th July, there has
not been any rain in Mysore). On 23rd June, Sri Swamiji disclosed some
more information about this. "Being a woman means to be like a mother.
Because Gods are born on their own and do not need a womb, I have to
show motherly love to Varuna for forty days during the next birth" Sri
Swamiji said. The ways and words of Siddha Purushas will always be very
strange. It is more so in case of Avatara Purushas like Sri Swamiji.
We may not be able to grasp the full meaning of the episode Sri Swamiji
narrated. However, there can be no doubt that all His actions are directed
at the good of the world.
22-6-99
After Srichakra
Pooja in the morning, Sri Swamiji released a book containing the commentary
written by a renowned Telugu poet Sri Utpala Satyanarayana on the original
treatise - ŒGajendra Moksha¹. Seva Pavani Trust of Hyderabad has published
this book. The commentator offered the first copy of the book to Sri
Swamiji.
Sri Swamiji
spoke about the greatness of the original treatise ŒGajendra Moksha¹.
After this, Sri Anantaramaiah, revered as ŒAndhra Vyasa¹ gave an enlightening
discourse about Dharma. At 11 a.m., Sri Mattur Krishna Murthy of Bharatiya
Vidya Bhawan gave a discourse in English.
Sri Swamiji
blessed him with a golden chain. The Chairman of the celebrations committee
Sri R.Venkataraman also addressed the gathering. After this Sri Swamiji
spoke and explained the method of worshipping and the importance of
doing Pradakshina (circumambulating).
Poornahuti
of Mahalakshmi Homa took place. After this, Jaladhivasa of the idols
was conducted.
In the
evening, other Adhivasas were conducted. Sri Swamiji inaugurated the
Hundi in the new temple premises. At 8 p.m., Sri Madambakam Srinivasacharya
delivered a lecture on Vaikhanasa Agama. Sri Swamiji blessed him with
a golden bracelet. On behalf of Datta Peetham, Sri Kuppa Krishna Murthy,
the Vidyadhikari felicitated the scholars engaged in Parayana of scriptures
in the temple.