Speech
by Pujya Sadguru Deva, Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji on the occasion of
Kartika Somavara (Monday)
15th
November 2004 at Datta Peetham, Mysore
There are many atom like
particles in Bhu Mandala [Planet Earth], which is GodŐs creation. The spirit of
Shiva pervades over the entire globe, the galaxies and the Universe. Shiva
is Truth. Shiva is the
Mangalamurti who gives you joy and bliss. He is formless and is in the form of
just a Bindu (dot) but we have given Him this form. When we meditate upon
Shiva, we merge with Him and become One. What then is Shiva Tattva? The very
truth that is all pervading where sheer bliss is present is the tenet of Shiva.
Shiva thus is Satyam (Truth) Shivam Sundaram (beautiful as in the blissful
state and not in physical terms, though even physically Shiva is beautiful).
Truth is permanent, and the Atma is also permanent. It has no gender, no name,
yet it is the perennial truth. Atma is one and indivisible. There are not 3 or
4 Atmas or even plenty, there is only One Atma. There is no real difference
between you and me, since we a re all one Atma and the Atma is all pervading.
Why then do we feel the difference between one another? The Buddhi (intellect),
brings these differences and distinguishes one form the other
.
Now what is the need for
these Pujas, Alankaras (decorations) and Abhishekas, if the Atma is one? Yes
the Atma is one, but the gross bodies
are many. It is for this gross body that perceives through the senses
that such outward physical manifestations like an Idol are needed and
worshipping that idol becomes our own fulfillment of that need that created
this idol.
This physical body with
its karmic nature needs the discipline. God is our family and is related to us.
He is this and that and He is everything. God is your own opinion and you have
created Him. Even if you say He is not there even this is OK. The great Saint
Shankaracharya had even declared that it was all a cipher. Even this is a
tenet.
The sky stands by itself. This is real truth; this is also
god .Why then this childish play of Pujas, Abhishekas, and Alankaras? It is to
please that very child in you. You are children and you must follow the
discipline. Your mind has dirty questions and you need to purify the mind and
clear your confusions. An hour in the temple of with your Sadguru you will
derive that concentration and the purity that is required to reach the Truth
.The six senses have to be taught to discern the Real truth just as they
perceive impermanent truths. The body feels cold, feel the heat and the warmth,
how very true. But does it know that these are sensory only? To stretch the
argument, even Pooja is impermanent. The happiness that the sense organs give
us is impermanent. If truth therefore is permanent what is it that we are seeking?
Pure Bliss is achieved through spiritual knowledge alone. Your words are empty,
your joy your tears are all
useless. With the use of useless objects you achieve a degree of joy. If you
mistake what your senses perceive as the real truth you are in trouble. You
have no experience of the other kind of permanence therefore you think this is
the real truth. You must make the effort to experience the real Truth by going
above the sense perceptions. Puja and worship are excellent aids for this. Your
constant attention to impermanent bliss through objects is thus an impediment
to your growth. Your misconceptions need to be cleared. For example the morning
dew is so beautiful, so enticing on those lush green lawns, but can you use it
as water. Dewdrops are water, but cannot be collected. Rainwater can be collected and stored and used.
It is useful and it is real. God therefore gives us that which is useful
through Puja, which will lead us from the impermanent to the permanent.
This Puja on the first Monday of Kartika Month is
like a second Shivaratri, when we used to keep a nightlong vigil (Jagarana)
which is done to make u more alert and keep the senses alive. Abishekam or
the bath is Jala Tattvam, which is dear to Shiva. Between his eyebrows is
the Agni (fire), and Jala or water, which is thus the other element, since
finally Shiva is the PANCHABHUTA (FIVE ELEMENTS). He is Prakriti and thus
by worshipping Shiva this way we are worshipping Nature.
This
Linga of Sachchidanandeshwara is very dear to Swamiji. Swamiji blesses you - ŇMay the darkness
leave you all and the light of Gnana (knowledge) enter your lives.