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The prayers were led by the senior most Mullah (priest) of the Moslem community in Mysore. Sri Swamiji too participated the function and performed Namaaz with the other Moslems. The emotionally moving event started at around 4 PM when the Moslems started to arrive in Ashrama and they washed their hands and feet and entered the Universal Prayer Hall. At 5.45 Moulana Mohammed Hayath, Sir Khaji of Mysore arrived. The aged and noble looking person is the senior most Moslem in the area and is the justice dispenser.
Sri Swamiji then arrived in the prayer hall. The prayer hall was decorated with huge white clothes as stipulated in the scriptures. A decorative figure of Mecca adorned the white clothe wall. Sri Hafeez Nizamuddin led the Qhirath (recitation of verses from the holy Koran). About 500 devout Moslems sat on the ground as the prayers were recited. Moulana Shakouth Ali translated in to English the readings from Koran.
Sri. H.V.Prasad, have the welcome speech. He spoke of the significance of the event and its impact on the bettering of relations between the two communities. He also spoke of the Moslem teacher of Mata Jaya Lakshmi (mother of Sri Swamiji) and His influence on her. Precisely at 4 minutes past 6 PM, all the members ate fruits and broke their daily fast, which they have been doing in this holy month of Ramadan. Sri Swamiji too sat with them in the dining hall and took fruits to symbolize the break of the fasting.
Then everyone assembled in the prayer hall again. Then Zia Ulla Khan gave a wonderful discourse in Kannada outlineing the importance of Ramadan festival. Moulvi Dr.Syed Khudratulla, former principal of Ali Farooquia College, Calicut, gave the English version of the speech. Then the former vice chancellor of Mangalore and Goa universities, Mr.Sheikh Ali gave a wonderful English speech in the basic tenets of Islam. Then all the dignitaries were honoured and Sri Swamiji s much awaited speech came.
Text
of Sri Swamiji's speech:
Salaam Alikum Jaya Guru Datta. Today¹s event brings to my memory, my mother.
In my lineage, the influence of Sufi saints were there. In Kannkan village or
in Mekedatu there was a Sufi Saint. His name started with Noor. He was said
to be 110 years old. Some of the aged persons here today may have heard of him.
He is said to have imparted teachings of Koran to Jayalakshmi Mata. He made
her read Koran in the morning and Bhagavatham in the afternoon and used to say
that both are same.
A few days ago we received the rare copy of Bhagavatham book in which handwritten
songs composed by Jayalakshmi Mata are there. Many of the songs written by Jayalakshmi
Mata were inspired by the teachings of that Sufi Fakir. Since that day, we remember
and cherish that relationship with Moslems. So great was the influence of that
Sufi Fakir, that the house in Mekedatu has strong influence of Islamic architecture.
In 1976, Swamiji was in Arabia and was staying very near Mecca. Swamiji also
visited Kuwait and was the guest of a Nawab there. That Nawab used to say that
Swamiji was not for one religion or faith but for all religions in the world.
The daughter of that Nawab painted the portrait of Swamiji and got a prize for
that painting. Swamiji remembers Koran many times during speeches. Even the
first prayer of Ashrama has the mention of Koran and Masjid and says that all
types of prayers be it Praarthan for Hindus, Namaaz of Moslems or Prayer of
Christians, all are same. Today¹s speakers are saints and show the true nature
of humanistic values.
All religions say the same. Propagate peace and have peace inside. Be good to others. If you are a Christian, be a good Christian, If you are a Moslem, be a good Moslem, If you are a Hindu, be a good Hindu. God does not say which religion you should practice. Masjid, Temple, church all receive prayers. They all are the same. The Almighty in every one is one and the same. The goal is the same for the whole humanity. There are many paths to reach that goal. Each path has its own characters and rules. Without causing conflict within oneself or to others one has to tread that path to the Almighty. This is a great space. There are spiritual practices in all the religions. Hindus also do fasting. In Sanskrit fasting is called ³Upavaasa². It means to live nearby. It is a practice to live near by God. Fasting brings us discipline. The sense organs are careful in those days of fasting.
My mother used to read Koran for me when I was 11 years old. Swamiji visited Yemen, Oman and Dubai recently. In 1984, Swamiji was in Egypt also. The person who welcomed Swamiji blurted the title of Swamiji as ³Mysore Maharaja² instead of ³Guru Maharaja². Swamiji offered prayers in the most important mosque in Cairo. Then, Swamiji had removed the Tilak (red dot on the fore head), thinking other Moslems may feel irked. But the Nawab, was unrepentant and requested Sri Swamiji to put the Tilak back. Swamiji heeded that advice and wore another Tilak. Swamiji sat and prayed for a long time. Even in Malaysia, Swamiji has many Moslem friends. A noble Moslem from Malaysia who held an important post in the Government visited Ashrama in the eighties and wanted to sleep in Sri Swamiji¹s house. When Swamiji was in Kuala Lumpur, a healing music concert of Swamiji was held and a mosque in front of the concert hall was praying with the outside public audio system in full volume. When requested to reduce the volume, the Mullahs happily turned down the volume. You may not believe it. The main wooden Mantapa, which Sri Swamiji uses for Daily Sri Chakra Puja was made by a Moslem. It is very sacred to Sri Swamiji.
Swamiji was asking that you all come here and end your fast for the day and receive food and do Namaaz. We all are not different. We have taken birth in different houses only to know that we all are inter related. This knowledge comes only when you are spiritually inclined. I am happy to see you all in this auspicious month. The Almighty is the only one. The name Universal Prayer hall has realised its name today. I am very happy that you all came today. We end the fast and recommence eating. There are no messengers of God. All are born equal. If that is threatened, then one looks for trouble making. We also consider that the almighty is formless and quality less. This is the final word of many religions. The former president of Trinidad, a devout Moslem, still comes and meets when Sri Swamiji is there. There should be no distinction between Moslem or Hindu or Christian.
My wish to see all of you has been realised. The two persons to whom Sri Swamiji asked the function should be organised and it has already been realised. May the organisers be blessed.
Jaya Guru Datta Salaam Alikum²
The Moslems clapped thunderously after hearing the speech The community leader Taaj Mohammed Khan gave Sri Swamiji a shawl, and a sliver plate. Radha Krishna Gave vote of thanks and expressed the deep happiness all enjoyed this evening.
The visitors went to dining hall for dinner. Here Sri Swamiji went to everyone and gave a small bottle of Attar (good smelling oil) and a cap, which he had brought from Yemen.
The programmes concluded at 8.30 PM.
PHOTOS
OF THE EVENT......CLICK HERE FOR THUMB NAILS.
CLICK HERE FOR FULLSIZE PHOTOS