Sri Swamiji in United Arab Emirates
21Nov – 27 Nov 2003

Sri Swamiji visited the Arabian Peninsula for the third time in Nov 2003. This was an official visit at the request of hundreds of devotees settled in the Arab Emirates.
United Arab emirates is made of seven states like Dubai, Sharjah, Abu Dhabi, etc.
On 20th Sri Swamiji left Mysore after at 3 PM and arrived in Bangalore Ashrama and camped overnight.
On 21st November morning Sri Swamiji left by Air India flight to Dubai at 5.15 A.M. The reception in the Dubai International airport was warm and many devotees had come to receive Sri Swamiji.
November is a mild month – weather-wise. It was not hot and quite cool. The dry and arid desert is now undergoing a silent green revolution. Hundreds of miles of roadside trees have been planted with drip irrigation system in place to ensure that the right amount of water and nutrients are fed. The expatriate community constitutes over 70% of the total population of about 50 million. Indians forming the majority of the expatriates.
The arrival day saw devotees having Sri Swamiji’s Darshan in the villa and Sri Swamiji resting the rest of the day.
On 22nd Sri Swamiji visited houses of devotees living in the area of Dubai and Sharjah (about 40 mins from Dubai). In the evening Sri Swamiji traveled to Abu Dhabi and devotees performed Pada Puja to Sri Swamiji in the house of Sri Yeddanapudi Viswanatha Rao and Smt. Sarada. Sri Swamiji remarked that he was in UAE because of Smt Sarada’s constant prayer time appeals. Sri Swamiji also permitted the devotees in UAE to register organization like to DYCs of USA and Europe.
The next day (23rd) Sri Swamiji visited devotee houses in Abu Dhabi. Late afternoon Sri Swamiji listened to Namaz Prayers and was looking a nearby mosque for a long time. In the evening Sri Chakra Puja was held in a community hall across the house. Over one hundred devotees were waiting for Sri Swamiji’s Darshan. Dr.B.R.Shetty well known in the Indian community welcomed Sri Swamiji with a garland and he lit the lamp and spoke about Sri Swamiji’s greatness in his home state of Karnataka and was immensely happy and welcomed Sri Swamiji on behalf of the Indian community in United Arab emirates.
Sri Swamiji spoke and said that the visit was a rare one because Sri Swamiji was planning to spend the entire November in Mysore without any visits and that Dattatreya had planned this and that is why he was here in this country. Sri Swamiji expressed happiness that He was finally seeing all the people who were so much looking forward for this visit.
Sri Chakra Puja was performed.
That night Sri Swamiji returned to Dubai. It was well past midnight.
On 24th Sri Swamiji visited the Sindhi Community hall in the city centre and participated in the Anagha Vratam. Sri Swamiji spoke on the occasion and said
“Vratams are needed spiritual growth and explained the concept of the four Purusharthas viz., Dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksha. The personal ones are the second and the third (Artha and Kaama) which have the barriers of Dharma and Moksha on the two sides. These are the final goals and all our Vrathams and Pujas are for those haughty goals and not for normal materialistic life system. Many do lengthy Puja for passing in exams or for getting jobs and these spiritual practices only strengthen your character and will not yield to such material wishes.
It is wrong to assume so. You all have come away from your motherland. Many times you will be wondering why you are here and of it is all worth it. Destiny has brought you here and be happy where you are and Sri Swamiji Blesses you all.
Anaghavrata is a unique Puja where you will do the Puja to Dattatreya and Anagha Mata. Dattatreya is the trinity God where Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva came together and Blessed the world. The Ashta Siddhis are the children of this divine couple. They symbolize the steps of wonderment we go through in our lives.”
In the evening Sri Swamiji went on a boat ride on Dubai creek, part of the Arabian sea.
Later Sri Swamiji performed Sri Chakra Puja in the Sindhi Hall and while doing the Puja Sri Swamiji explained the symbolism and the tradition of the Sri Chakra Puja.
This was followed by scintillating Bhajan session. The UAE crowd, many of them were listening to Sri Swamiji singing live for the first time were immensely happy.
On 26th November 2003 (Wednesday) Sri Swamiji performed Sri Chakra Puja again in the same venue as previous day and spoke to devotees about the organizational matters.
In the evening Music for Meditation and Healing was held in the Indian Consulate auditorium. Sri Sinha the Indian consul general lit the inaugural lamp and Sri Vasu Shroff, prominent Indian in Dubai offered garland to Sri Swamiji. Mrs. Sinha honored the artists. Sri Sarma of Dubai welcomed Sri Swamiji. Sri Swamiji played music for over two hours and the main raga was Seemantini Priya. Holding a crystal wand, Sri Swamiji walked amidst the audience and healed people. This was the first ever Music for Meditation and Healing concert in the Arabian Peninsula.
At the end of the concert Sri Kumar offered Vote of thanks and Sri Y.Viswanatha Rao of Abu Dhabi who were chiefly responsible for this visit of Sri Swamiji to UAE offered garland to Sri Swamiji. He was Blessed by Sri Swamiji with a Rudraksha Mala. Sri Swamiji greeted the people with Eid greeting.
It was special that Sri Swamiji should chose to spend time in Arabian lands in the special time of Eid fasting by the Moslems. One could see that Sri Swamiji went in to different plane whenever the Eid prayers were offered from different mosques.
On 27th morning Sri Swamiji cut a cake offered by devotees. The icing on the cake had a message requesting Sri Swamiji to return to UAE again and again. Sri Swamiji spoke at length about the harmony that is needed in an organisation’s smooth function and more so in a spiritual organization.
Sri Swamiji left Dubai for Bangalore that afternoon at 12.45 by Air India and arrived in Bangalore at 5.45 PM.
Sri Guru Datta

Sri Swamiji in Dubai. The famous Dubai creek and the mega developments in Dubai are seen behind Sri Swamiji
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Sri Swamiji looks at the mosque in Abu Dhabi from his room
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Sri B.R.Setty lights lamp in Abu Dhabi.
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Sri Swamiji enjoying a boat ride in Dubai creek
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Sri Jaitra Varanasi of Avadhoota Datta Peetham explains about Datta Peetham activities to Dubai devotees
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Sun sets over Arabian sands but silhouettes the greenery and sky scrappers and also giving enjoyment to Sri Swamiji.
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Sri Sarma of Abu Dhabi delivers welcome address in the healing music concert in the Indian consulate in Dubai on 26th November 2003
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The healing music concert in progress
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Sri Y.Viswanatha Rao offers garland to Sri Swamiji after the concert
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Sri Swamiji addressing the devotees on the day of departure
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The message on the cake says it all - Please Bless UAE again and again. Not come again and again. Thanks