Report of Datta Jayanti 2000

 

9th December 2000 – Saturday

 

The Datta Jayanti programmes started on Dec 9, 2000, with Pujya Sri Swamiji performing Sri Chakra Puja in the prayer hall. Sri Swamiji giving Datta Deeksha to over one thousand people followed this. They were given a dry coconut to carry home and an Shweta Arka Raksha to tie around their wrist for the three days of the Datta Jayanti festival. Sri Swamiji performed Puja to the new silver door of Datta temple and performed Pancha Amrita Abhishekam to the Datta idol in the Datta Temple (The Dattatreya in Mysore Ashrama is called as “Kalagni Shamana Datta”). Then the Utsava Vigraha of Dattatreya (procession idol) was taken in a procession to Nada Mantapa. There, Mantapa Utsava (Placing of the idol in a wooden Mantapa (altar) was performed).

Later prizes were distributed to the winners of Bhagavadgita competition and Neeti Mala recitation competition. Sri Swamiji lauded the efforts of the “Sri Ganapati Sachchidananda Vidya Samsthe school staff (public school run by Ashrama in the town of Mysore) in the conduct of the competition and the keenness of the students who participated in it. Later Sri Swamiji released the Video compact Disc on the movie “Ashta Lakshmi Vaibhavam”, a full-length movie on the eight aspects of Goddess Lakshmi. This VCD also has video of Pujya Sri Swamiji’s visit during the millennium to the Tonga kingdom in the Pacific.

 

In the evening at 5.30 PM, mass singing of the Kakadarati Bhajans (seven Datta Bhajans composed by Sri Swamiji for each day of the week and sung in the evening) Hundreds of new people and musicians from Mysore participated. They were trained in singing the Bhajans by Dr. Padma Murthy, a renowned scholar of music and an ardent devotee of Sri Swamiji.  The overall show was very impressive with the singing of the Bhajans in chorus was very melodious to the ears. Sri Swamiji performed Kakadarati to the Datta idol during the singing.

 

10th December 2000 – Sunday

 

After the morning Sri Chakra Puja at Nada Mantapa, Sri Swamiji performed Poornahuti of Pavamana Homa. A book written by a devotee “Sri Kalluri Sri Ramulu of Rajamundry in the philosophical topic "Jnana Vasishtha” was released by Sri Swamiji. A programme was held in Nada Mantapa to pay homage to Sri Swamiji for successfully completing 50 foreign tours to spread the message of Music for meditation and healing, Kriya Yoga, Datta Tattva and the ancient knowledge of India.  Hon’ble Justice Sri Venkata Rami Reddy, Chief Justice of Karnataka state High Court attended the function. He presented to Sri Swamiji a small plaque. It has the name and date of birth of Sri Swamiji in Arabic. Sri. H.V. Prasad gave a speech in Kannada outlining the impact of the 50 foreign tours of Sri Swamiji. Sri. Kuppa Krishna Murthy and Prof. Krishan Kumar spoke in Telugu and English respectively. To mark this occasion a huge idol of Lord Dattatreya (9 feet tall) was specially commissioned for this momentous occasion. The sculptor Sri. Durugadda Ramakrishnama Charyulu was honoured on the occasion. The Chief Justice in his speech praised the Ashrama and its activities and prayed Sri Swamiji for a peacefulworld.

 

After the unveiling of the statue Sri Swamiji explained the reason for naming the gate as “Hanuma Dwara”. Sri Swamiji said “In the early days of Ashrama, it was only me and a watchman called: Hanuma, who was very dear to Sri Swamiji. After his demise, Sri Swamiji named the gate of Ashrama as “Hanuma Dwara” indicating the importance of simple people.  In the evening Chariot festival took place in the road around Ashrama. Later, Kakadarati was sung in the prayer hall.

 

11th December 2000 – Monday – Full Moon Day – Datta Jayanti.

 

Today was the actual Datta Jayanti, the day of Datta’s birth. Being full moon day, Datta Homa was performed. Sri Swamiji then released a small book called “Ishwara Darshana” in Telugu language outlining the yearn of a devotee for Sadguru’s grace. Then Sri Swamiji blessed devotees of all countries who were visiting Ashrama.  Then Sri Swamiji spoke on the importance of Datta Jayanti. Thereafter Sri Swamiji came to the Datta temple and performed oil Tailabhishekam to Dattatreya idol. Thousands of devotees participated. It was a rare sight as Sri Swamiji allowed devotees to perform Abhishekam on the Datta idol.

Anaghashtami Vratam was conducted at Nada Mantapam.

 

In the evening Teppotsavam (raft festival) was held and Sri Swamiji seated with the Datta Utsava Murti idol in the raft went around the Saptarshi Sarovara 9 times.

 

Thereafter Kakadarati was held in Nada Mantapa and the programmes came to a wonderful end.