Sri Swamiji's Tour Report

Vikrama Yugadi Celebrations in Hyderabad
The Yugadi celebrations in Hyderabad Ashrama were marked with various spiritual discourses, music concerts and Pujas.

Pujya Swamiji arrived in to Hyderabad Ashrama on Dindigul road on 4th evening at 7 PM. The trustees of Hyderabad Ashrama received Pujya Swamiji with happiness and devotion. The Ashrama wore a festive look and the newly built prayer hall with its new additional extension to accommodate more people looked spectacular with decoration and cleanliness. Pujya Swamiji gave a small discourse and blessed the massive gathering.

5th April 2000 – YUGADI Festival
Pujya Swamiji performed Sri Chakra Puja at 5 AM in the morning and conveyed New Year Blessings.

More than 20000 people had the sacred opportunity of having New Year Darshan and offer Pranams to the Sadguru Padukas. Pujya Swamiji sat for Darshan from 5.30 AM till 2 PM. It was a rare sight to see thousands of eager devotees braving long queues and heat for this sacred purpose. All were given Annadanam on this New Year day.

In the evening, Pujya Swamiji adorned the newly built stage. Sri K.Chandrashekhara Sharma, erudite scholar and Datta Peetham Asthana Vidwan performed the ritualistic reading of the important aspects of this year Panchagam (Almanac).

Pujya Swamiji then sang the New Year YUGADI BHAJAN The mammoth audience actively participated by loud singing.

6th April 2000 - Music for Meditation and Healing
Sri Swamiji visited the newly acquired land (adjacent to the present Ashrama) and performed Bhumi Puja and announced the intention to build an old age destitute centre, which would care for the neglected old people. Sri Swamiji named this project as "AMMA VODI" meaning Mother1s Lap" This would be a facility where neglected old people would be housed and would have necessary special facilities that are needed for the aged. A special committee was formed to handle this social project of Datta Peetham. People were very enthused by this announcement by Sri Swamiji.

In the evening Pujya Swamiji gave Music for Meditation and Healing concert and blessed the newly built hall with the vibrations of this concert. Before the concert commenced, volunteers assisted the sick in getting vantage seats to properly listen to the concert. Over twenty thousand people had assembles in the Ashrama for this eventful evening. Pujya Swamiji played the Bhajans - Pahi Pahi Gajanana, Shankaram Shankaram, Shambho Shambho Nada Tanum. Tani Avarthanam among the percussionists was quite long as Pujya Swamiji spent quite some time in the audience.
The concert concluded at 9.30 PM.

Pujya Swamiji left for Kama Reddy on 7th April at 3 PM for inauguration of a Datta Temple.

Sri Swamiji’s Programme in Kama Reddy and Vijayawada
His Holiness Sri Swamiji’s trip to Kama Reddy this year has special significance as the 7th Nava Natha Pratishtha (Dattatreya Pratishtha) was performed. Fruits of adversity are sweet- says the proverb. This indeed, has become true in the case of Trustees and Devotees of Kama Reddy.

Kama Reddy, a small town with a population of 1 Lakh approximately, is 100 km from Hyderabad. This town, located in the Telangana Region of Andhra Pradesh, which is militant violence infested, has a few Datta Devotee families. This small group of devotees, over the last 3 years, have overcome a lot of hurdles from different quarters and completed the construction of a new Temple Complex (for Daam Dattatreya, Anagha Devi, Maha Ganapati and Gouri Devi), Guru Nilayam, Annapoorna Mandiram, Free Clinic, Priest Quarters.

After Chaandramaana Yugadi (Lunar New Year day) celebrations in Hyderabad, Sri Swamiji has arrived in Kama Reddy at 8 PM on 7th April 2000. The exuberant crowd received him with the traditional Purna Kumbham and Nada Swaram. Welcome Speech in Sanskrit, by the Scholars of Oriental College was followed by Sri Swamiji’s benedictory speech. Later Sri Swamiji inaugurated the Guru Nilayam, which was finished in a record time of 40 days. Earlier today, the team of Pundits from Datta Peetham started the rituals for the Consecration of Sri ‘Daam’ Dattatreya, Anagha Devi, Maha Ganapati and Gouri Devi. Yaga Mandapa Devata Puja, Agni Pratishtha, Kalasa Sthapana, Pancha Gavya Adhivasa, Jala Adhivasa, Lalita Sahasra Namarchana were the main events in Yaga Sala (Special ceremonial pandal erected for the conduct of Consecration Ceremonies) today. Prior to His arrival in Ashram, Sri Swamiji has inaugurated Tyagaraja Hall, a small auditorium built in the premises of Oriental College in the town.

The next day 8th April witnessed a large gathering attending Sri Swamiji’s Srichakra Puja, Maha Snapanam in the morning and Pratishtha Homas, Dhanya Adhivasa to the deities and Sri Swamiji’s Divya Nama Sankirtana.

On Sunday, the 9th April (Chaitra Sukla Panchami) Pujya Swamiji performed the Yantra Pratishtha for all the deities at one minute past nine in the morning during Vrushabha Lagna Punya Kaalam. This was followed by inauguration of Free Clinic, Annapoorna Mandiram, Narasimha Kuteera. After Srichakra Puja Sri Swamiji gave Prasadam to donors and those who rendered service. At 11.50 AM, amidst Sacred Vedic chants by scholars and Mass Chanting of "Jaya Guru Datta" by thousands of devotees, His Holiness performed the Maha Kumbhabhishekam to Sri ‘Daam’ Dattatreya Kshetram. In the evening Sri Swamiji’s Divya Nama Sankirtana had the devotees spellbound. Before concluding the programs for the trip, Sri Swamiji announced that May 18th, the Vaisaakha Poornima will be the date for Mandala Abhishekam and inaugurated the Sasvata Puja Scheme.

On 10th April, Sri Swamiji has departed from Kama Reddy early in the morning for a Vijayawada. The travel to Vijayawada, 360 km from Kama Reddy some unscheduled stops over en route, at Tadbund Anjaneya Swamy Temple, in the heart of Hyderabad, Sri Kshipra Ganapati Kshetram(Ashram branch) in Vijayawada, Sri Datta Rameswaram (Ashram Branch) in Manginapoodi, a beach side hamlet in Coastal Andhra Pradesh, Sri Atrivarada Dattatreya Kshetram in Machilipatnam, Datta Digambara Kshetram in Gandigunta. The huge crowd gladdened by the surprise visit, warmly received Sri Swamiji at all these places. These visits were also marked by Review of construction activities of Sri Rajarajeswari Temple in Vijayawada, inauguration of Gosala (Cattle shed) in Datta Rameswaram, Benedictory address in Machilipatnam Ashram. The day’s hectic schedule and travel of nearly 500 km ended at Sri Jaya Durga Teertham, Ashram Branch on the banks of Mighty River Krishna. As Sri Swamiji had made a Sankalpam to perform Sri Rama Navami Celebrations on the banks of Holy River Krishna, the programs were conducted here.

On 11th April, Sri Swamiji had personally blessed each devotee, whoever was present. In the evening, His Holiness accompanied by a few devotees visited Bhavani Island in the river.
12th April was Sri Rama Navami day. This importance of this festival to Datta Devotees was doubled by the mystifying presence of His Holiness. Thousands of people thronged Jaya Durga Teertham to witness Sri Swamiji performing Sri Chakra Puja, Rama Taraka Homa (this day’s main Homa) and Sri Seeta Rama Kalyanam (divine marriage of Sita and Rama). After morning’s Archana His Holiness offered Purnahuti for Rama Taraka Homa. Before commencing Kalyanam, Sri Swamiji narrated the Tattva of Rama and Sita and answered the self- posed riddles of Ramayana.

Sri Sitarama Kalyanam, that followed was the main event for today. The magnificently decorated stage was adorned by the life size wooden statues of Rama, Sita, Lakshmana and Anjaneya. Sri Vishnubhatla Subrahmanya Sastry, an eminent Scholar and Sri Betavolu Rama Brahmam were the commentators for the ceremony for which Dr.Chadalawada Nageswara Rao and Sri Kaja Yagna Narayana were the blessed sponsors.

Accompanied chanting of hymns Sri Swamiji tied the nuptial knot to Sita Devi on behalf of Rama at half past 12 noon, the prescribed time for conducting Kalyanam and offered pearls and Akshata to deities. In the evening, Dolotsavam to Sri Swamiji by the devotees was the finale to the day’s colourful programmes.
His Holiness left to Chennai to bless the Devotees on the eve of Vishu the Tamil New Year’s day, by night train.

After celebrating Tamil New year in Madras Ashram, Sri Swamiji left for Western Samoa.
(report by Sri H.V.Prasad & Sri Vamshi Krishna)

Sri Swamiji’s visit to Portugal & Russia
Sri Swamiji undertook a short trip to Portugal and Russia. Leaving Mysore on 17th May, Sri Swamiji stayed in Faro (in Portugal) in the residence of Sri Ravindra and Hema Patel. The picturesque area of Algarve which is well known all over the world for its beauty and hospitable climate gave much needed rest to Sri Swamiji. Half a day was spent in the calm waters of the Atlantic Ocean on a sail boat reminding us the event of Vascodagama’s epic journey of finding a sea route to India.

After spending a day (20th) in Lisbon, Sri Swamiji proceeded to Moscow in Russia. During the three days stay there, Sri Swamiji went around the city and walked around observing Mouna (silence).

Sri Swamiji returned to Mysore on 25th May.
(report by Sri H.V.Prasad)