Inauguration speech of Sri Swamiji
18th Evening Speech of Sri Swamiji
Guru Purnima Speech of Sri Swamiji
Large photo of Sri Swamiji's sacred feet after Pada Puja

Sri Swamiji arrived in Datta Retreat Center on 17th July 2005 to participate and lead teh week long Guru Purnima Celebrations. Since Sri Swamiji had decided to hold the very important Guru Purnima festival here, was keenly looked for as the highlight of this USA tour of Sri Swamiji.

The unity hall measuring 5000 sft had been completed for inauguration. Sri Swamiji was taken in a horse carriage led by Nada Swara pipe musicians to the Datta Temple. After Arati to the various inter religious deities like Dattatreya and Anagha Devi, Buddha, Jesus Christ, Sri Swamiji was led to the entrance of the impressive Unity Hall. Along with the main donors, Sri Swamiji entered the unity hall by untying the ribbon. It was an amazing feat that the hall was construced in a few months. Sri Swamiji offered Purnahuti of teh Vastu & Ganapathy Homa and then performed Sri Chakra Puja in the central shrine room of the hall. The members of the Datta Retreat Center, Ramana & Meera Laird, Padma Turk, John Wilkins, Nancy Murray and many others welcomed Sri Swamiji with a beautiful garland and a welcome speech. Sri Swamiji spoke on the occassion. Click here for the speech
That evening Sri Swamiji sang Bhajans and the new wooden prayer hall reverbrated with the sacred Nama Sankirtana sound vibrations.

On Monday evening Sri Swamiji sang Bhajans and spoke (click here for the text of the speech)

On Tuesday morning Lalitha Sahasra Nama chanting was held. Sri Swamiji visited Mercer town and by chance we found wonderful person, Mr.Jerry, a 83 year old stamp colelctor who had an amazing collection of stamps on India from the beginning of 19th century. He had stamps issued by England, France and the Ductch when they were in India. There was even a Trimurti stamp (Dattatreya) issued by Dutch. In the evening Sri Swamiji performed Sri Chakra Puja and Bhajans The power ful Bhajans reminded one of the recent great Bhajan session in Baton Rouge.

Datta Retreat Center was found in 1986 when Sri Swamiji discovered the three healing rocks which he named as Brahma rock, Vishnu rock and Shiva rock. They all look like giant Saligramas. Many commented that the Center looked like Mysore Ashrama in the late sixties. full of green trees and no buildings. Sri Swamiji lived in the solitary trailer vehicle (a large van which has a bedroom, bath room and kitchenette). All others had to live in tents in the woods. the bath rooms were basic and was out door type. Slowly one by one basic structures came up. The temple was built first with Datta and Anagha statues installed. This was the first wooden temple built under Sri Swamiji's auspies. The temple was buily by the Amish community who follow traditional life style in great contradiction to the American life style. Later years saw construction of a small prayer hall, a wooden Guru Nilayam, a kitchen and now the unity prayer hall. All constructions in the Ashrama are wooden.

On Wednesday morning, Kaliji conducted Tri Yoga Classes. In the evening after the Sri Chakra Puja, Sri Swamiji's Bhajans centred on the wonderful chanting of the Guru Brahma Mantra.

On 21st July 2005, Thursday, the Guru Purnima celbrations commenced at 9 AM with Sri Swamiji being received by members of the Jayalakshmi Mathru Mandali who led to the Unity Hall. During SriChakra Puja, Sri Swamiji offered white rice as Tarpana. This white rice was distributed as Prasad to the devotees. Sri Mishra, head of Astha TV in United STates and Mr.Jerry, Former Mercer county commissioner and Mercer town's former Mayor. After respectfully receiving Blessings from Sri Swamiji, Mr.Jerry who came to know about Sri Swamiji just 48 hours earier spoke and mentioned about the energy and radiance he felt in Sri Swamiji's presence. He had donated his priceless stamp collection on India to Sri Swamiji. Dr.Prakasa Rao, Chairman of Datta Yoga Center and Mrs.Nandini Rao, President of Jayalakshmi Mathru Mandali performed Pada Puja to Sagdurudeva on the auspicious and sacred occassion of Guru Purnima. More than 500 persons in the audience participated in the Pada Puja by offering Puja Materials on the small PADA (Sri Swamiji's feet) they all had in front of them.

Audio book CDs of Datta Darshanam, Sri Swamiji's life history and Guru Samhita - all read by Smt.Heera Duvvuri were released. Commommoerative souvenir book, 9 Audio CD set containing old Bhajans of Sri Swamiji was released.

Donors who supported the activities and developments at Datta Retreat Center were honored. Sri Swamiji spoke and gave the Guru Purnima Message. . (click here for the text of the message).

At 2PM, 24 hour long peace Mantra chanting commenced in the Datta sancturary. Participants chanted the sacred "OM AIM HREEM SHREEM SHIVARA ANAGHA DATTAYA NAMAHA mantra. At 5 PM, Cultural program were held. Several disciples of Kuchipudi Dance Master from Eluru, Andhra Pradesh state, Sri K.V.Satyanarayana gave dance performences. Cindy and fellow devotees sang a song "We are a family" from the 70's group Sister Sledge. Ashok Yankaran from Canada sang Bhajans. Lanka Children played wonderful drama on Bhagavadgita Upadesha with Arjuna and Krishna Chanting important Shlokas in Sanskrit and speaking the message of the Shloka in english. Smt.Radhika Upadrashta sang her Telugu language composition on Sri Swamiji which compares Swamiji to a potter, goldsmith etc., Volunteer boys put up a rap show singing spiritual rap songs imitating famous artists. The dance by very small girls to the Bhajan "Gam Gam Ganapathy" was indeed an eye candy.

Then Sri Swamiji spoke and sang few Kannada and Telugu poems which he has been composing on this tour. Swami Manasa and Chaganti Chandru translated them to english.

Thus the Guru Purnima, the most exciting event for Datta Devotees this year in USA was celebrated on 21st July 2005 at Datta Retreat Center in West Sunbury town in Pennsylvania state.

On 22nd Swami Manasa and Kaliji took Kriya Yoga Class. Sri Swamiji met with the reconstituted board of directors of Datta Yoga Center and Blessed them to heartfully serve the Datta mission they all are involved inthe gave Darshan to many families who requested Pada Puja and interviews.

The evening Puja and Satsang saw Sri Swamiji sing Guru Ashtaka and many Gayatri Mantras. The two hour Bhajan program was filled with spiritual energy. The low and booming voice of Sri Swamiji and the slow tempo, the easy and swinging tune were very catchy and a treat to teh heart and soul.

On 24th Sunday, Sri Swamiji spoke about the good tour of the USA this year and said that he was leaving the place happily.

That evening Sri Swamiji flew to Chicago and on 25th Monday afternoon left for Germany.

Sri Ramana Laird, Dr.Prakasa Rao receive Sri Swamiji in front of the Guru Nilayam in Datta Retreat Center
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Sri Swamiji riding the traditional old style horse carriage to the unity hall inauguration
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Sri Swamiji unties the ribbon to inaugurate the Unity Hall
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Sri Swamiji walks inside the unity hall. It measures 5000 square feet
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Sri Swamiji dips his feet in the cool water of the small pond beside the Guru Nilaya
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Sri Swamiji holds the antique Dashavatara bowl which was found in Teton village antique fair.
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Devotees dance in exstasy as Sri Swamiji repeatitively chanted the shloka GURU BRAHMA GURU VISHNU on 20th June 2005 at Datta Retreat Center's unity hall
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Members of the USA Mathru Mandali offer Arati as Sri Swamiji walks in the Unity hall on Guru Purnima day - 21st July 2005
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Sri Chakra Puja on Guru Purnima day
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Arati of Sri Chakra Puja
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Sri Swamiji sprinkles Manasa Sarovar sent by Bala Swamiji through Sri Chattergoon of Canada who accompanied on the sacred tour. Here we see the Shiva Rock on which Sri Swamiji is pouring the water. The Datta and Anagha idols in front (almost invisible in the heavy flower decoration and the Vishnu rock is seen in the back). This is the sanctuary that is very dear to Sri Swamiji in USA
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Members of Datta Retreat Center offer garland to Sri Swamiji on Guru Purnima day
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Sri Swamiji Blesses Mr.Jerry, the quntessential American who gave his priceless colelction of stamps to Sri Swamiji
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Dr.Prakasa Rao and Nandini Rao perform Pada Puja on Guru Purnima
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The sacred feet Sadguru after the Gandham - sandal paste smeared and flowers decorated.
click here for a bigger image
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Sri Swamiji releases the Audio Book Cd on Datta Darshanam Telugu read by Smt. Heera Duvvuri
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Guru Purnima commommorative souvenir
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The 9 CD collection vintage Goldies Bhajans sung by Sri Swamiji in the 70s and 80s
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Photo DVD of Sri Swamiji's photos from 70s and 80s. Photographed by Ramana Laird.
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Sri Balasubramanyam of Chennai, a play mate in Sri Swamiji's childhood being honored. He spoke on the spiritual greatness of Sri Swamiji in childhood
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Sri Swamiji addresses the Kriya Yoga Practicants on 22nd July
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Members of the Datta Yoga Center listen to Sri Swamiji.
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