Points in Sri Swamiji's speech
in T. Narasipura on 7th February 2001 during the auspicious
Kaveri River Kumbha Mela
- The
physical body, which is a great boon from Iswara, moves because of
his wish.
- This
physical body is made up of the five elements (earth, air, water,
fire and ether). Good and the Bad happens to this body because of
the previous, accumulating and future Karmas.
- It
is the Iswara who performs the Karmas.
- Iswara
influences the creatures of this world through the forces of the planets.
- That
is why astrology indicates the movements of the planets to decide
when to do a good / auspicious deed.
- In
the hoary Vedas, we can find the information on the movements of the
planets and their influence on the humans.
- The
names of the planets indicate their form and work.
- Surya
got the name "Savitha" because he causes the creation.
- Likewise
Saturn is also called as "Manda" (slow) because he is very
slow in changing houses.
- Since
Jupiter influences the intellect of the living beings, he was called
as Guru or Brihaspati.
- Jupiter
influences the water on our planet.
- Since
earth has much water, the influence is more on the rivers.
- Good
thinking is important behind any development project.
- That
too for those in the path of spirituality, development means proper
influence on the intellect.
- Brihaspati
controls the power of intellect.
- In
a human body the increasing power is yielded by Ether, wind, Fire,
water and predominantly earth principle.
- To
observe the subtle influences of these five principles, several prayers
and rituals are prescribed.
- We
can observe the influence of fire principle by Homas and Yagas.
- Pranayama
helps to understand the air principle.
- We
can understand the sky principle by pondering over the power of the
Paramatma (almighty)
- To
understand the principle of water (Jala Tattva), the scriptures have
advised us to perform river bath and sea bath.
- Bathing
in a river, while pondering and deeply thinking about the subtle principles
of the creation, brings us special feelings and experiences.
- Since
humans depend on gravitational force, the planet Jupiter exerts special
influence on intellect when he (Jupiter) enters certain star constellations.
(Entering a star sign).
- This
influence on the intellect can be good or bad. We cannot escape this
influence. Like we use medicines to remove diseases, this influence
needs to be removed with another principle.
- When
Jupiter planet enters the star sign Virgo, his influence causes Jupiter
waves in Krishna River. This event is called as Krishna Pushkara.
- Since
Jupiter changes star signs exactly once a year, this Pushkara event
happens once every 12 years. This event is called as Pushkara Snaana.
- Likewise
when Jupiter enters Vrishabha Raashi (Taurus), The Ganga River Pushkara
happens. Then the Angels from all worlds come to the Ganga River to
bathe.
- Mela
means, coming together or meeting. Jupiter entering Vrishabha Raashi
(Taurus) can mean that the Angels are meeting or coming together in
Ganga River.
- This
Kumbha Mela is done the sacred town Prayaag. It happens once every
12 years. This once in 12 years happening when happens 12 times, it
means 12 x 12 = 144 times. So, 144th Kumbha Mela year is
very important. That is why it is called as Maha Kumbha Mela or Purna
Kumbha Mela.
- The
Kumbha Melas are done in four important centers. They are (1) Haridwar,
(2) Prayaag, (3) Ujjain, (4) Nasik.
- The
celestial being Garutmanta (vehicle of Lord Vishnu - eagle) while
bringing the pot of Amrit (nectar) to release his mother from slavery,
kept that pot of Amrit in these four places. Hence the Puranas (scriptural
mythology) says that Kumbha Mela needs to be done in these four places.
- We
too have become slaves of our body made of the five principles. We
have neglected the spiritual nature of our body. We too need release
from this slavery. To get released we need to do certain acts. Going
to Kumbha Mela is one such act.
- In
India there are many mountains. Himalayas are great among them. The
other range, Vindhya, also is important.
Once upon a time, it was considered that the region north to
the Vindhya Mountain very pious and the region to the south, the place
of demons. Hence saints and sacred people avoided the southern region.
- Who
to come and bless those in the south?
- To
help those in the south, God made the Vindhya Mountains get ego. With
this the mountain started to grow uncontrollably.
- Saints
felt that sage Agastya was the only person who could stem the ego
of the Vindhya Mountain and sent Agastya. The ego of Vindhya was curbed.
- At
the same time a king Kavera by name performed penance to get liberation.
- Brahma,
the creator gave the king the boon that his daughter would liberate
the King Kavera.
- Thereafter
Kavera got a daughter, Lopa Mudra. Sage Agastya married this girl,
Lopa Mudra, daughter of the king Kavera. This girl assumed the form
of water.
- Agastya
carried her around in his kettle and once gave it to his disciple
to hold the kettle for some time. This disciple could not bear the
weight and dropped it and the water flowed out.
- The
daughter of Kavera started to flow as a river. The king Kavera took
bath in this river and was liberated.
- Like
Ganga River took birth because of Lord Shiva, the river Kaveri was
born from the powers of the God Brahma. Sage Agastya with the powers
of his penance gave river Kaveri the powers of Ganga's piety and removal
of sins.
- Hence
Kaveri is also known as southern Ganga River.
- So,
the charting of Jupiter planet's movements is observed and on special
circumstances, bathing is recommended.
- Hence
we all have assembled here today to bathe in the sacred Kaveri river
and to pray for the removal of sins and to proceed in the path of
goodness and sacred.

Sri
Swamiji, Sri Bala Gangadhara Nath Swamiji of Adi Chunchana Giri Ashrama
(right),
Sri Tiruchi Swamiji of Kailas Ashrama (white robes) are in the Agastyeswara
Swamy temple
in T.Narasipura. The Lingam produces water from its central hole and
is given to all as Teertham.
Sri Swamiji near the wooden pillar (Dhwaja Sthambha) which is very old
and worn out.
Sri Swamiji has undertaken the work of reinstalling a new pillar.

Their Holinesses leave lamps in sacred Kaveri river on the day of
Kaveri Kumbha Mela.
Jaya Guru Datta
Collected by Prasad
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