Report of the events held during August 19, 20 and 21st August 2005

Sri Swamiji was accorded a reverential welcome upon return to Mysore Ashrama. The program was held in Nada Mantapa on 21st August 2005 at 1 PM. A special Puja earlier in the day was performed to conclude the Lalitha Sahasranama Japa Yajna program that was launched on 26th May 2005 as part of the 75th world tour of Sri Swamiji.

Though the initial plan was to chant at least 9 Crore Lalita Sahasranama Stotram, the message spread and various temples, Ashramas across India participated in the event and when the final count was taken in the morning of 21st August, the total stood at a grand and unbelievable figure of 103 crores ((1.03 Billion). Yes. This is indeed true. Sri Swamiji performed the last Archana in front of the giant Kumkum heap, which had been used for the Archana and now decorated as a Sumeru Sri Chakra. Sri Swamiji used 1008 whole betel nuts engraved with the Mantra “SRI LALITHA” and put them on the Sri Chakra as the more than thousand strong audience chanted Lalita Sahasranama in unison. The place was in front of Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy shrine adjacent to the Ashrama prayer hall. Seeing Sri Swamiji in this unusual setting was wonderful and elevating experience.

At 1 PM in Nada Mantapa, Sri Swamiji sang some recently composed poems by him in USA. The Kannada poems have such strong punch lines and are laced with wit, sarcasm, anguish, love and concern at the unpredictable human behavior. The subjects are as varied from spiritual solace to Rocket age to stock market to Internet. The house full audience in the huge Nada Mantapa listened in stunned silence often breaking in to roar of laughter or thunderous applause.

Shri SM Krishna, the Governor of Maharashtra state (in which Bombay or Mumbai is located), Sri Tanveer Sait, minister of Karnataka for Wakf & labor, Justice Manjula Chellur of Karnataka High Court, Smt. Bharati, Mayor of Mysore were present. Sri SM Krishna inaugurated the Arka Ganapathy Kuteera Malika, the cottage building built in the land adjacent to Mysore Ashrama. This 54-cottage complex has been built in a contempory design and has been fully occupied. It will be available for occupation from this year Navaratri onwards.

Datta Peetham donated a Braille printer to the Space blind school in Warangal town in Andhra Pradesh state. Smt. Shobha of the school collected the documents from Sri Tanveer Sait, Minister.

Sri S.M. Krishna in his speech, spoke on the spiritual solace and happiness he gets whenever he comes to Sri Swamiji’s presence and likened his Ashrama visits to Bank visits only to see his Punya balance grow. Bala Swamiji was present in the function. Sri Ramana Deekshitulu, the Chief priest of the Venkateswara temple in Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams offered the Balaji Prasadam to Sri Swamiji. Bangalore devotees presented a globe to Sri Swamiji indicative of the 75 world tours Sri Swamiji has undertaken from 1976 to 2005.

Sri Swamiji in His speech spoke of difficulty of such long tours and announced that coming years will see less and less foreign tours.

Thousands of people who had come for this reception function had the Blessed opportunity to come to Sri Swamiji and offer Pranams and Prayers.

19th August 2005 was a very special day in the Indian calendar in which many great and auspicious events all came together. They were

  1. Friday – Abhishekam day for Datta Venkateswara
  2. Shravana Nakshatra – The star of Lord Venkateswara
  3. Purnami – Full moon – auspicious Datta Puja
  4. Upakarma – Thread changing ceremony
  5. Varamahalakshmi Vrata day
  6. Hayagreeva Jayanti

On this most auspicious day, Sri Swamiji offered Sahasranama Mala to Datta Venkateswara. The beautiful decoration on the Lord was exquisite and any one who stood in front of the grand idol, closed eyes automatically to firmly establish the grand form of Datta Venkateswara in their hearts.  That evening and on 20th evening, Sri Swamiji sang some Shlokas of the highly venerated Bhaja Govindam Stotram. After the program, many Audio Albums that were not available in CD format were released. They were –

1. Nava Bhakti Geetalu – Contains Telugu Bhajans recorded in 1986

2. Nava Tattva – Bhajans in Kannada language

3. Nada Chintana – Bhajans recorded in Holland in 1988. Contains the famous Bhajan Kanaka Lingaya

4. Amba Gana Vaibhavam – One of the oldest albums of Devi Bhajans recorded after Devi Navaratri celebrations in 1987

5. Dhyanam-2 – Contains continuous chanting of the sacred Mantra – Sri Dattaaya Namaha & Om Aim Hreem Shreem Shiva Rama Anagha Dattaaya Namaha – each running 30 mins.

6. SGS Shivaratri – Old recording of Sri Swamiji singing Shiva Bhajans

7. Nada Sagama – Kannada Bhajans recorded live in 1988

8. Nada Manjari – Healing Music recorded in 1988 – when Music for Meditation and healing concerts were two years old. Very special album.

9. Nama Sankirtana – The very first album recorded by Sri Swamiji in 1976 in his maiden foreign tour – in New York. A great album, which treasures the golden voice of Sri Swamiji in yester years.

It was indeed a rare event to see so many old and vintage recordings being released in one day.

On 20th Saturday, Girija Kalyanam was held in the morning. In the evening Bala Swamiji gave discourse on the meaning of Lalitha Sahasranama. He has been giving daily discourses on this topic as part of the Chaturmasya Program (the two months a year when an ascetic stays in one place and lectures to the interested). He will continue to stay in Mysore Ashrama till full moon in September (18th). This program started on Guru Purnima day in July.

Indeed the three days were beautiful and unforgettable.

Sri Guru Datta