Sri Swamiji’s discourse during Satsang in Vijayawada on 2nd February 2003

From 6th of this month we will discuss about the 18 Sacred Devi places. There will be nine days of Devi discussion. But the coming days we will discuss about the Devi Peethas. What is a Peetha? Is it a holy seat? Expensive seat? IS it the seat of a Peethadhipati? No. Peetha means heart. Peethadhipati is one who has won hearts. Peetha also means truth, permanence, faith, and protector of all that is righteousness. Now a days there has be excessive use of this word Peetha. There are Peethas in every nook and corner of a town. Peethadhipati’s primary duty is to protect the Dharma and to exhort the people to be in the path of Dharma.
In the story of Daksha Brahma, mother Goddess jumps in to Homa kunda and gives her life up. Then Shiva comes and performs Taandava Dance and wherever the parts of the holy body of mother goddess fell on earth, we consider these places as very sacred and Devi Peethas. We shall also discuss the spirituality of these places. Normally when ever we say temple, our mind starts to prepare the wish list to be prayed for. Wishes about family, career, children, their future and so on. But we have to transcend this attitude and discuss and progress in the path of spirituality. Only then do we go to Devi Loka happiness.
We are using the body as an instrument to gain material happiness. No. It should not be so. It is a great instrument to reach Godhead. In Datta Darshana book, this subject is discussed in length. The questions of reasoning for creation, family, birth and death. The incarnation of Datta is to solve all these questions. Our life is like the golden dust stuck to a lump of wax. God created this life cycle to perform Karma and to aspire to transcend higher. Karma performance is the only antidote for the removal of past Karma. Life and birth is an answer for that. One who seeks refuge in Sadguru finds answers to the paths available and the lessons to reach the goal. The whole life cycle has been to realize the carnal and materialistic happiness. When we perform Karma without any sense of attachment to the results, we are on right path.
Raja Rajeshvari is represented in the form of Sri Chakra and the Bindu on top of it. Sri Chakra worship is gaining popularity. There are many versions of it. Sumeru. Bhupura, Rekha Chitra, Ardha Meru etc., We as Datta devotees should come to temples with a higher sense of purpose. It should not be just to perform Puja by paying money. It should not end up with our taking Arati, sipping Teertha and taking Prasad and leaving. We have to gain higher purpose in life and get answers to our inner questions. Swamiji has been assiduously encouraging people to seek that higher purpose by various means. Bhajan compositions and singing is an important aspect in that form. Bhakti Mala too is spreading that message.
Let us sing one such Bhajan now. It discusses that greatness of her form and the variety in her.
Sri Swamiji sings “Devi Viraadroopa Vainatti Neeku”
Oh Mother!!! I always pray to you with a distressing and trembling voice. It tries to hide the depression and pain. What pain is it? Bodily pain? Is it pain for Atma? But there is no pain for Atma. I pray that you Bless me to pray you with happy mind. Let me not pray you to yield me boons for silly wishes. May I get Dosa tomorrow? May I get bus ticket tomorrow? May I get a seat in this collage. These are general types of wishes. We should change ourselves.
Mother goddess is prayed with a mental Puja here. We compare the universe to be her ornaments. It is not the normal Puja you perform at home. The Puja you perform with a small string of flower maala, small uneatable bananas. No. It is not so. Namaskaara is a great symbol of your refuge in His power. 12 Surya Namaskaara is a great exercise. It removes many of your excessive calories you put on. I have to tempt you with food. So, let me compare. If you perform 12 Surya Namaskara, you can drink 5 more coffees, 3 more Chapaatees can be eaten. Isn’t it interesting? Isn’t exercise useful? Exercise is like over hauling your system. Swamiji urges you all to be physically fit. Only then can you get better concentration. An unfit body can be a great impediment in the path to God. We have to ensure that our body is exposed to Sunrays. Sunrays, river baths, walks, going to nature spots helps you. See the tribal people living in forests. They live in unity with nature. They don’t get regular health check ups or they are not tormented with silly or bothering diseases. Those living in cities are very sensitive. They are over sensitive. They are mentally not strong. Sri Rama when he was a child, he was the darling of his mother. Vasishtha when he took him for lessons made the young prince to sleep in the hard floor. The child Rama’s mother brought a chariot full of soft beds and fruits. But the teacher was strict. He said that this would be of great use later in Rama’s life. Child Rama was never made to feel that he was an emperor’s son. Like wise I urge you all to lead a tough life. Don’t succumb to the demands of a soft life. Don’t let your life to be dictated by comforts and luxuries. Reading Puranas and learning about the difficulties Pandavas, the Rama story should inspire us to be strong to face any type of difficulties that may befall. The stories are great gems, which should be preserved. Swamiji’s speeches too are of the same category. When you understand these lessons in all its hues, then only does your life full fill it’s happening.
Heart is a great machine of God. It needs no effort from you. Whatever you do to it by way of by pass surgery or stent or balloon angioplasty, it still requires that it beats. Heart says LUB DUB. But your mind says DUB DUB (Dubbu is Money in Telugu language). Probably one-day scientists may create a fully functional heart. But they can never replicate feeling of a human being. There are many robots in research labs today. We are also a type of robot. We are using over polished rice today. What nutrients does it contain? None. So, how can I expect you t o be strong? In USA, Oxygen bottles are for sale. There are oxygen bars where you can go and breathe pure oxygen. Why is it happening? Because of our scant respect for nature. Let alone acting responsibly, we don’t even think responsibly towards nature. Over dependence is killing people. You depend on your maids to come and do all the housework. If you don’t wash clothes, vessels or clean the house, how can you be physically fit? If you do all these works, you can easily expect a healthy end of your life. You wont need artificial life supports. Over dependence on coffee, sleeping pills etc., We are feeling lost amidst this vast artificial life of ours. I request you all to respect nature and eco system. Develop health habits of caring nature. Have devotion to nature. I don’t mean take cold shower and tremble. No. Don’t interpret it in its strictest sense. Devotion means full surrender with total love. It does not mean doing Namaskara every minute. No. Namaskara gives support for Bhakti. But it is not Bhakti itself. All these exercise of Namaskara, going to temple, Puja, Singing Bhajans, listening to spiritual lectures are aids in life to help you. But it is not the end. Means can never be the end.
Some one asked why more temples? We need several more. We need places that make us to remember that we are under a higher force. These serve as reminders. They are pointers in life.
Don’t miss the Kumbhabhishekam. Don’t say, “I don’t have time”. Many old devotees in Vijayawada feel that Swamiji has forgotten them. No. I don’t forget. As soon as you enter the premises, your vibrations reach me. Many times in Mysore Swamiji used to instruct the kitchen about t he number of people they had to cook to feed. That is because Swamiji would get vibrations of your intention to come. Swamiji ignores you to create more interest in the activities. That is all. So that you yearn to get more attention.
Participate in all the activities and share the happiness. I sing one more Bhajan and conclude today’s speech.

Jaya Guru Datta