I am very happy listening to the children from different schools singing now. Sri Swamiji has composed Bhajans in various styles for use by different types of people. Bhajans are like gems.  You can choose the one you like. They can be used for folk dance, for ballet etc. Several senior musicians are singing these Bhajans on Radio. Several towns are conducting Bhajan competition. Sri Swamiji has permitted Bhajans to be adapted to different folk styles. Some Bhajans are strictly Sanskrit based. Some are MANI PRAVALA type – combining words of different language in  one Bhajan. Some are rural folk singing type. Some Bhajans are composed with spoken style for ease of understanding. It is common for Vaggeyakaras (composers) to compose in one type or style of composing. Many times, just by listening one can identify the composer of a particular composition. Sometimes, it is not possible also. Even if you take the case of Sri Swamiji’s compositions, you may notice that many compositions are based on the need of that particular period and for the need of the  hour. Sri Swamiji did not write Bhajans in a leisurely manner – sitting under a tree, belly full and ready to write. The writings of Sri Swamiji are need based. It may appease a Pundit or a tune may cause a dancer to tap his feet.

What are they? Keertan? Bhajan? Padya? Gadya? (Different forms of literary body). They sometimes assume the form the performer’s style. For more than 7 years, devotees of Madras have been organizing Bhajan competition among schools. More than 30 schools have participated in the competitions. The Madras Ashrama wears a festive look in the day of competition. Several senior classical musicians actively participate in this much-looked forward event. Even these great senior musicians like Sri Swamiji’s compositions.  It meets their critical eyes too.

         I am very happy that Smt.Bala Saraswati has been enthusiastically arranging the  Bhajan competition among schools here in Vijayawada. I am happy that the music teachers in these schools too are supportive of this activity. Let me stress here that these Bhajans are not only literary forms; they also are good for the health of the mind and body.

         Sometimes devotees wonder is – Sri Swamiji’s advise to listen to tapes – are any good to a sick person. Many bring X Rays – MRI scans  for Sri Swamiji to see. But what does Swamiji do? He does not  look at them and tells – listen to music tape. It is the  spiritual energy that is working there. A new comer may find  it all difficult to understand let alone believe. Sri Swamiji’s  reactions are exactly as in the Bhajan “NAMMARAADU AMMO  NINNU DATTA DATTA”.

         If you believe  Sri Swamiji to be a good captain of the ship, then confidently  step in my boat. Once the journey commences, it is my command  that works. Not your wishes and wants. I decide how to steer  the boat depending on the weather conditions.

         I am very happy  that Sri Vidya Sagar Sharma has written the Book “DATTATREYA  SARVASVAMU” in Telugu. It is amazing book with great collection  of knowledge material on Lord Dattatreya. I am also happy that  Sri Narasimha Rao has translated in to English. This is a great task. I am yet to see the manuscript. But I can feel the Tapas  he went through to translate the difficult Sanskrit terminologies.  It  is also voluminous – having more than 1200 pages. We need  to carefully publish it. It will be invaluable to all the Upasaks  of Dattatreya. We shall see how to publish it. Devotees must  come forward to print it.

         Today we released  the DVD of 4 hours of Telugu lecture on the meaning of Datta  Stava shlokas. This will bring Sri Swamiji’s lecture directly  to your homes.

         I convey my  Blessings to those who could not come in the morning. HAPPY NEW  YEAR. More than 14,000 people came for Darshan this morning.  Many are still here. I pray Datta to Bless all this year. I pray  Datta to give Blessings for happiness, patience, affection, and  Guru Bhakti –Patriotism – family responsibility.

We have stepped in to the New Year. Will anything change? Even  if Rama became the emperor, the farmer has to work hard and grow  vegetables, the housewife has to grind and pound the rice. It  will not change. Lord Rama will not work for them. So, time waits  for no one. Your basic responsibilities and duties never change.  New times bring new possibilities. That’s all. What we  call as old – were new – at once. The mother in law  was a daughter in law once and the same daughter in law will  become a mother in law in future. So, as said in the Bhajan “YUGA YUGA YUGAMBULU”, we have to develop love and affection for those who are not as fortunate as us. Yesterday some one  several times asked me “What should I do Swamiji?” I told him “Go, buy 200 blankets and donate to homeless people  who sleep on streets. He was stunned. But the importance of this  act dawned on him. He was so happy to do it. I urge you all to  be more considerate and help others. Look around you and help  in the small way you can. It can have a great impact. Actually – such  small help bring great results. Feeding a hungry person is also  a great act. Help others in your own small way. Pass on this  good quality in others. After all what you give, belonged to some one yesterday and it will belong to some one else tomorrow.  You brought nothing. You take nothing with you. Even God does  not take the Abhisheka you do to Him. He leaves it for you to  take it as Prasadam. We go to a stone temple, pray the deity  carved in stone and offer prayers from our stony hearts. We urge  that Stony God to yield to requests of our stony hearts. Is it  not ironic? Sri Swamiji’s recent poetry book is full of  such ironic incidents. Attempt to change your hearts from that  of stone to a heart of feeling and compassion. To fully enjoy and sensibly understand a great drama, you not only must see  the character, you must become the character. Then only can you  be a responsible viewer. Some people are so innocent that they  do not even feel or understand if they are scolded. Only a bad  person can understand a bad deed. If you don’t know how  to commit mistakes, you can never recognize mistakes. Only when  a person knows how to steal can catch a thief. A police is fully  trained to think – how a thief thinks. That is how they  can solve a case. This is my principle. Swamiji is an artist in  many fields. Swamiji is a master of such feelings and that is  how I can get the feeling of the people around me. If there are  four five people around, I get feelings from each of them, an  artist, a ruler, a miser etc.,

         My new year  message is

Concentration and Meditation are very important this  year. Try to be contented. You will be happy. Sadguru Kripa  will be with you.

Now chant the three Stavas

Jaya Guru Datta – Sri Guru Datta