The unscheduled visit of His Holiness Sri Swamiji to Baton Rouge, brought
much happiness to the devotees of USA. Hundreds had congregated in the
airport as Sri Swamiji arrived from London. They chanted Datta Stavam
as Sri Swamiji received bouquets from devotees.
Arriving
at the temple, Sri Swamiji was given Purna Kumbha welcome by priests
of the temple and trustees of Datta Yoga Center. Sri Prakasha Rao, Chairman
of Datta Yoga Center introduced Sri Swamiji and spoke on the importance
of Guru Tattva Shri Daulat Sthanki, president of the temple welcomed
Sri Swamiji.
Welcome
speech by Sri Prakasha Rao
On behalf
of Datta Yoga Center USA, it is my distinct honor and rare opportunity
to introduce His Holiness Sri Ganapathi Sachchidananda Swamiji, Peethadhipati
of Avadhuta Datta Peetham of Mysore to all of you who are assembled
here. No matter how much we say, what we say and how we say about Sri
Swamiji it is going to be inadequate, incomplete and insufficient.
With that
in mind, let me begin by saying that Sri Swamiji started the Datta Peetham
some 35 years ago; built about 30 Datta temples all over the world;
established nearly 60 Gnana Bodha Sabhas; constructed one of the largest
Nada Mantapam in Asia; performed Kumbhabhishekam to Sri Venkateswara
Temple in June 1999; established Jayalakshmi Mata Nitya Annadaana Trust
which provides free food three times a day, every day - in fact it feeds
nearly 20,000 people on certain occasions; performs Sri Chakra Puja
every day; conducts Maha Ganapathi Homa every Sunday; composed more
than 3000 songs; conducts Healing and Meditation concerts world over;
sings highly devotional songs with His divine voice; established Vedic,
Vedanta, Sanskrit and high schools; conducts Kriya Yoga camps; provides
free medical attention through Ayurvedic, Homeopathy, Dental and Mobile
clinics; publishes Bhaktimala monthly newsletter in five different languages;
published more than 40 books; released more than 30 cassettes; produced
12 CDs; made more than 20 videos; engages in a number of charitable
activities; traveled to foreign countries more than 40 times; and the
list goes on. It is really difficult to describe God Incarnate, nay
God Himself. How can you describe Him? Please know that we are really
lucky, blessed and fortunate to be even born as a contemporary of Sri
Swamiji, more fortunate to be hear about Sri Swamiji, even more fortunate
to have His darshan and listen to His words of wisdom. Nothing is comparable
for having Sri Swamiji as our guide, master and Sadguru touching and
guiding our lives. Imagine how lucky you are that God Himself came to
you in the human form sitting with you and talking to you. In the Upanisadic
language Sri Swamiji is Bhuma - really great. No human concept, mind,
words, speech, and intelligence can adequately describe Sri Swamiji.
Our language is skimpy, our intelligence is limited, our perceptions
are impaired, our words are inadequate and our speech is deficient to
describe the majesty, the glory and the aura of Sri Swamiji. He is all
and all is He. Every thing that exists in the universe also exists in
Him. He is the creator, supporter and destroyer of the universe. He
is also our beloved Master, Guru, Father, Mother, Friend, Teacher, Musician,
Singer, and simply Sri Swamiji. Sri Swamiji was seen in Viswapoopa.
He was seen as Durga, Amba, Krishna, Venkateswara, Dattatreya, Ganesha
and yes, even as a crow to fit needs of His devotees. He can assume
any Roopa (form) at His will. He is beyond description. Let me paraphrase
one of the verses in Siva Mahimna Stotra to describe Sri Swamiji: "
If the earth be the paper sheet, the Ocean the ink pot, Sumeru Mountain
the pen of Mother Saraswati, who herself goes on writing through infinite
times, still she will not be able to exhaust narrating your glories,
O Lord Shiva." Or shall we say His Holiness Sri Swamiji.
Sometimes
struggles, calamities, problems and stresses are what we need in life
to realize the power of the Almighty - in our case the power of Sri
Swamiji. If every thing goes according to our desires, if we succeed
in all the attempts we undertake, and if we get all the material things
we want, do you think we will ever realize the power of God and the
grace of Guru. Pain, suffering and problems bring us closer to God.
Without obstacles, our life will be stunted, ego will be ballooned,
and arrogance will be inflated. We would not be strong and resilient.
We will forget that power of God and grace of Guru are behind every
action.
Based on
my experiences and observation, I want to express my views about Sri
Swamiji as follows:
You
ask for strength, Sri Swamiji will give you difficulties to surmount
and to make you strong.
You ask for wisdom, Sri Swamiji will give you problems to solve You
ask for wealth, Sri Swamiji will give you brains to pursue.
You ask for knowledge, Sri Swamiji will give you intelligence to acquire
it. You ask for courage, Sri Swamiji gives you dangers to overcome
You ask for seva, he will present you with a number opportunities to
participate, help and contribute.
You ask for appointment, He will give you disappointments You ask for
comfortable living, He will give you troubled situations to solve and
troubled people to help.
You ask for peace of mind, Sri Swamiji will give you stress to overcome.
You ask for faith, Sri Swamiji will give a battery of tests in life
to withstand problems
You ask for vairagya, Sri Swamiji will give you opportunities to give
up attachments to the things you cling so dearly and tightly.
You ask for surrender, Sri Swamiji will help you develop complete faith
You ask for tranquility, Sri Swamiji will guide you to do sadhana
You ask for liberation, Sri Swamiji will help you grow spiritually
You ask his blessings to solve the problem, He will teach you how to
develop patience.
Sri Swamiji's
ways are mysterious and varied. No two people will have the same experiences.
No matter what means are used, in the final analysis Sri Swamiji will
give you every thing you need and deserve but not want you want.
Once you
believe in Him, have complete faith in Him, ready to surrender, minimize
your ego, cultivate enough devotion, and develop spiritual attitude.
Then Sri Swamiji will give you every thing you need - peace of mind,
joy and bliss. His love is unconditional once you reach this stage.
Sri Swamiji
is more than all the accomplishments I have listed before, more than
description of His personality, and more than all the attributes we
can ascribe. There is some power, some light, some force, some spark,
and some illumination behind all these accomplishments and attributes
of Sri Swamiji which we cannot see, perceive, and understand. And that
is what we should concentrate upon to see Sri Swamiji. In fact He is
Nirguna Brahma - one without attributes, unconditional Absolute - beyond
speech and mind. When you think about or meditate upon Nirguna Brahma,
you should think of Sat Chit Ananda - infinite existence, infinite consciousness
and infinite joy. The embodiment of these three qualities - sat chit
Ananda - is none other than His Holiness Sri Ganapathi Sachchidananda
Swamiji. Please know He is the ONE you are looking for. Otherwise you
are going to prove the theory that the universe is round - you will
end up where you started your spiritual journey. That means you will
come back to Sri Swamiji eventually.
Before
we request Sri Swamiji to address the devotees, please remember whenever
Sri Swamiji utters any words, you must listen attentively to every word,
practice what He says, digest what you heard, and be prepared to take
every hint as a suggestion for our own spiritual growth. If you miss
the essence of His speech, fail to practice what is preached, fail to
open your heart to be filled with Amruta, the very purpose of your presence
here today is lost forever. You will never regain this moment gain.
Please pay close attention to the Masters words; for they are not repeated
again and again. At this time may I humbly request Sri Swamiji to address
the devotees who have gathered here.
Sri Swamiji
in His speech mentioned that the US devotees were lucky because the
visit was almost cancelled and was later fixed as Sri Swamiji had to
attend a function in California. It was a bonus for the USA devotees.
On 10th
evening, Sri Swamiji performed Sri Chakra Puja and sang Bhajans.
On 11th
morning, there were Pada Pujas till evening. Sri Chakra Puja was performed
at 6.30 PM.
On 12th,
Maha Ganapati festival was performed in the Temple premises. Sri Swamiji
performed Abhishekam to the Ganapati idol consecrated in the alter.
The priests chanted the Ganapati Sukta and Ganapati Atharva Sheersha.
From there Sri Swamiji proceeded to Jayalaxmi Bhavan where Sri Chakra
Puja and Siddhi Vinayaka Vratam were performed. Hundreds of devotees
participated in the Vratam. Sri Swamiji later gave away Modakam ( a
type of sweet pleasing to Lord Ganesh) to all devotees who were delighted
to receive the Prasadam from Sri Swamiji personally. Later Sri Swamiji
sang many Ganapathy Bhajans.
On 13th
Sri Swamiji proceeded to California. On 18th Saturday evening a Music
for Meditation and Healing concert was conducted by Sri Swamiji at the
high school auditorium in Cupertino, California. Sri Swamiji played
the Bhajans Om Iti Brahma Ekakshara (Raga - Maya Malava Gaula) and Saptashvarudham
(Raga - Sarasangi) as the healing melodies of the day.
Sri Swamiji
left for India from the US on Sunday, 19th evening, after Maha Ganapati
Homam and Sri Chakra Puja in the morning.