The Shivaratri celebrations commenced on 3-3-2000 with the conducting
of Girija Kalyana as has been the practice in Datta Peetham since many
years. The event was conducted by the Vedic scholars of Datta Peetham
and thousands of devotees took active part in it.
Venkatamakhi
Memorial:
In
the evening, a special function was held in the Nada Mantapa in respectful
memory of Sri Venkatamakhi and Saint Tyagaraja (great saints and scientists
of Indian Classical Music). Their portraits were placed on the stage
and were beautifully decorated. Sri Swamiji inaugurated the celebrations
by lighting the lamp placed in front of the portraits.
Datta
Peetham had invited two scholars to speak about these music saints.
Sangita Ratna Sri B.V.K.Shastry of Bangalore spoke about Sri Venkatamakhi,
while Sri V.Subrahmanyam (belonging to the family of the great Veene
Sheshanna) spoke about Saint Tyagaraja. Sri Mahadevappa, the Asthana
Vidwan of Datta Peetham and one of the important co-ordinators of the
event garlanded the speakers.
Over one hundred musicians who were seated on the stage (singers and
players of musical instruments) sang the most famous ‘Pancha Ratna
Kritis’ (the five precious compositions) of Saint. The audience
was treated to more than two hours of sublime music.
Shivaratri
4th
March was the all important Shivaratri day. The day began with fire
worship by Poojya Sri Swamiji. Sri Swamiji commenced the Agni Pooja
around 7 a.m.. Standing in the fire pit amidst blazing flames for nearly
15 minutes, Sri Swamiji completed the traditional fire worship. Thousands
of devotees witnessed the auspicious event. After offering Poornahuti
(final offering), Sri Swamiji brought out a Sumeru Srichakra, a quartz
Shivalingam decorated with Nagabharana (snake-like ornament), a big
Eka Mukhi Rudrakshi (a rare type of Rudrakshi containing a single cleavage),
and another Rudrakshi resembling Lord Ganesha.
Sri
Swamiji then performed Pooja to the idols that were brought out of the
fire. Holding them in His hands, Sri Swamiji spoke about the important
events that were in store in the year ahead. Sri Swamiji also suggested
remedies for the ill that were to affect the world.
Sri
Swamiji’s Shivaratri Message
Om
Namah Shivaaya! The year ahead is called Vikrama (according to Hindu
Calendar). It is a year in which defeat and victory are intermixed.
It is the year which is coming after a difficult and testing year called
Pramathi. Pramathi means that which is attended by dangers. Pramathi
is the outgoing calendar year. The forthcoming Vikrama year will be
terrible. Natural calamities seem to be on the rise. The year will also
see many untimely deaths.
Volcanoes
will appear in the least expected places. There will be increase in
Badabagni (submarine fire) and the oceans may produce noxious air. The
year will see people developing ugly and unnatural tendencies in their
minds and attitudes. There will be defeats too. However, there will
be victory in the end.
A
new type of disease will appear. The remedy for this disease will be
scarce. Although there will be increase in vegetation, the year may
see a situation when of some medicinal plants may become extinct.
We
are in the age of technology. There may be turbulence in it. There are
indications of recovery in the end.
The
27 stars along with another star- these 28 heavenly bodies will experience
terrible turmoil. This will cause turmoil in the minds of human beings
also.
People living in south-east and west will undergo suffering. Those living
in south-west may also suffer.
There
will be prosperity in business and trade. But, there will be decrease
in agricultural yield. Human beings will strive very hard for artificial
happiness. However, the result will be a zero. The problems that crop
up due to the pursuit of artificial happiness however will have the
tendency to be dangerous.
‘Whatever
you have been telling has been frightening and disheartening. Is there
nothing positive and good?’ Goddess Parvati is asking Shiva at
this moment. ‘At the end of today’s fire worship, Mother Goddess
has manifested in the form of Sumeru, a precious single-faced Rudrakshi
and another Rudrakshi resembling Ganesha have been bestowed. Is there
no respite from the troubles and turmoil that you have just now professed?’
– Parvati is asking Lord Shiva.
Lord
Shiva is saying, ‘Where there is danger from fire, there is going
to be abundance of water too.
Where
there is disease, there is the energy to tolerate it too. Where there
is a new kind of problem, there will be a solution too.
I
have professed much danger to the world, but, the secret is that I will
provide protection for those who take shelter in Me. This itself is
the remedy. I will give protection to all those who worship me in the
form of an idol, or in the form of Dharma, or in the form of social
service and so on. I do not differentiate between forms of worship.
Continue to do whatever good work you are doing. If you are doing service
to mankind, do it as though it is an act of worship.
I
have no form. Those who deny (my existence) are in fact worshipping
me only. In reality, I am myself an atheist. I am one who has nothing.
To those who feel that I am non-existent, I will demonstrate I am non-existent.
To those who feel that I exist, I will demonstrate that I truly exist.
It is not my style to demonstrate my existence to those who deny it
and to demonstrate my non-existence to those who believe in my existence.
This is because, I am the originator of both attitudes. No one can assign
any feelings to me. Those who do so are missionaries and others who
earn their livelihood by doing so. I protect even those people.
I
cause realisation to dawn in the minds of those who negate my existence.
On the other hand, to those who say I exist, I show that nothing exists.
Mine
is a self driven intellect. Whoever approaches Me do so because it is
my divine plan.’ This is how Lord Shiva is answering Goddess Parvati.
Goddess
Parvati says ‘This creation is yours. Do as you have planned. But
I have a request to make. Many beings are drowned in ignorance. Give
them knowledge even as they are experiencing sorrow. When they are experiencing
happiness, remove their ego and selfishness’.
Today
is an auspicious day when Parvati is pleading Lord Shiva for the welfare
of mankind.
Now,
all of you chant – ‘Om ayim hreem shreem shivaraama anaghaa
dattaaya namah’ (Sri Swamiji made the devotees to chant this mantra
two times.)
Ayim means Saraswati (goddess of knowledge). Hreem is Shakti (energy).
Shreem is Lakshmi (goddess of prosperity). Anagha means one who removes
sins. Datta means one who has presented himself. Rama means one who
prevents the sins from re entering. Keep chanting this Mantra continuously.
May
this mantra pacify the fire catastrophes. May it pacify the dangers
due to water. May there be peace in the solar system. May there be peace
in stars. May everyone get the energy to face hardships. May everyone
be blessed with the capacity to understand the Almighty in the right
perspective. May the efforts to gain self-confidence be successful.
May everyone develop respect and love towards the Guru and motherland.
After
the discourse, Sri Swamiji performed Srichakra Pooja.
After
the Pooja, Sri Swamiji released some of the publications of Datta Peetham.
They were:
1.
Live in Berlin – CD containing Sri Swamiji’s Music for Meditation
and Healing.
2. Live in San Jose – CD containing Sri Swamiji’s Music for
Meditation and Healing.
3. Journey to year 2000 – a video cassette containing Sri Swamiji’s
tour to Tonga Islands.
4. Dattatreya Ek Poornatva – Marathi translation of ‘Dattatreya,
the Absolute’.
5. A book in Kannada containing 108 Bhajan compositions sung by Sri
Swamiji, for which Dr.Padma Murthy has provided musical notations.