Pujya Sri Swamiji’s Ramanavami Satsang Speech
SGS Ashrama, Dindigul, Hyderabad
26 March 2007 – 7 PMThis evening I have inaugurated the SRI DATTA HUMANE SERVICES web site. This web site is dedicated to the 1500 strong Datta Volunteers who have been selflessly serving the Datta Peetham. Recently, we had a three-day Volunteer camp in Bhadrachalam. It was a heavenly experience. Next camp would be in Murudeshwar, a coastal retreat center in Karnataka. A Kriya Yoga camp also is planned there. Kriya Yoga is very important for health. As part of the social concerns of Sri Swamiji, we have been helping thousands of people all over the world. Much of it goes un-recorded. Because I do not believe in publicizing the good, one does. The trusts established by Swamiji have been doing these noble things. Many people who need help with their school fees have been helped. In the recent camp at Bhadrachalam, six persons were selected to receive financial assistance for self-employment scheme. A weaver was given a loom of his own. A person who worked in a SHAMIANA tent house was given financial assistance to run his own SHAMIANA Tent house. In Mysore, six persons who were auto rickshaw drivers for a company were given financial assistance to buy their own auto rickshaws. The good, which one does to the society, will be carried forward by those who get the help. Who are such people? They are all around you. Next to your house, next person sitting with you – all need some help. Identifying them and helping them is important. Help with what ever you can. Help with pride that you are giving hope to a person to live his life.
How can one join? Register on the website and wait for your turn. I hereby conclude the Volunteer Purana.
I visited Ammavodi today. What did I feel there? Why am I not old enough to join this wonderful place!!!!! What good facility they have. Good bed, fan, electricity, three times food a day, doctor facility. Lucky them. Even their own children do not look after them like that. No one is ANATHA in this world. How can it be a creation of Datta is ANAATHA? He is the NATHA. So, no one is ANATHA. One who does not recognize the presence of divinity in all is ANATHA. One who does not recognize the presence of divine power in the world is ANATHA. Such persons are DARIDRA, AJNANI, and ASURI persons. We are SANATANA. We all are living in the Leela of JAGANNATHA. We are never ANATHA. One who has wealth and does not help others – such person is afflicted with ASHTA DARIDRA. One who has degrees from various universities but has no idea of divinity – such person is uneducated. What use is the university degree if it does not make one a humble person. Every day of the life is a test in the life. We have to pass each day and go to the next day’s test. I urge you all to respect the volunteers. I also urge you all to visit Ammavodi occasionally and speak with the old people there. That will bring some happiness to them. It is important that you all spend time with your parents. Don’t ever discard or ignore them. You are their energy. Take care of them. Speak well to them and make them happy. That is the character of a true person.
Sri Swamiji sings “Paalaya Gananaatha”
Sri Swamiji sings “Ramudamma Ramudu Ramyamaina Devudu”
This Bhajan has the full meaning of Rama Avathara. Since this Bhajan is in Telugu, I need not explain it.
Sri Swamiji sings “Swami Maruti Loka Palaka”
Sri Swamiji sings “Rama Nama ki Madgura Malayi”
Now Swamiji will sing the essence of Ramayana in this song. You all sing along to get the merit of Ramayana chanting
Sri Swamiji sings “Ramude Dharmamu Dharmame Ramudu” (Telugu Bhajana Yoga book 2 – Page 110)
Sri Swamiji asks great scholar Bethavolu Rama Brahmam to come and explain the Bhajan.
“Rama Brahmam’s Speech”
Bethavolu Rama Brahmam speaks of RAMAME DHARMAMU
Many of us today witnessed Seeta Rama Kalyana. This morning we could feel the energy of Rama when the Seeta Rama Kalyana took place. But in this Satsang and specifically in this Bhajan, Sri Swamiji has brought the entire essence of Ramayana.
Sage Valmiki wrote the story of Rama. Vyasa has brought the entire essence of Rama in many of his writings. Kalidasa has spoken of Rama in his epic poetry “RAGHU VAMSHA”. In India If a person has to be recognized as a poet, he has to at least write one poem on Rama. No one can better the effort of Valmiki in speaking of Rama. Surprisingly even those who met their end from Rama spoke highly of Rama.
There is no difference between Dharma and Rama. Swamiji repeats this twice in the PALLAVI. Swamiji says Rama is Dharma and Dharma is Rama. Rama is the personification of DHARMA DEVATHA.
We know that Rama followed the words of Rama. In no part of Ramayana did Dasharatha said to Rama to go to forest. Living a life as agreeable to your father’s mind is the perfect life. Rama followed the heart of his father. Not the words of his father. Who else but Rama has considered the entire empire as a blade of grass? No one has ever done it anywhere, in any civilization on earth.
After Rama’s marriage, when the marriage party was returning to Ayodhya, the great Parashurama encountered the party demanding to see the person who had lifted the Shiva Dhanas. Rama broke his ego. But did so with great humility. He opened the ego-ridden eyes of Parashurama and allowed him to go to penance. He showed great diplomacy in dealing with the powerful Parashurama. Rama recognized that Parashurama was also the incarnation of Shiva.
Many question if Rama was right in killing a woman. Why did Vishwamitra the great sage allow Rama to kill a lady demon? He did so because she was against the natural principles of live and let live. She was against the society. She was a menace to the world. While dealing with Shurpanakhi, he only cut off her nose. This was because she was not a menace to the world – but only tormenting Rama. Rama was a warrior with conscience. He killed those who troubled the world and punished mildly those who troubled him.
Vaali and Sugreeva story. Vaali was much stronger than Sugreeva. Vaali is credited with humbling Ravana. Rama knew that if he became friends with Vaali, Vaali would get his wife Seeta much easily and faster. But whether he would give Seeta to Rama or not is a different matter. But Rama respected friendship and found Vaali as a wrongdoer. To achieve Dharma, it is important to go in the Dharmic Path. Taking short cuts to achieve Dharma is not acceptable.
Vibhishana came seeking refuge in Rama’s camp. Rama conducted a meeting. Sugreeva disagreed. Hanuman felt he should be given refuge. Hanuman said that Vibhishana was helpful in his earlier search trip. Rama decided that any one who seeks refuge should be given. Rama knew that Vibhishana was the brother of demon Ravana. Rama went even to proclaim that should Ravana seek refuge, even Ravana would be given refuge.
Even in battlefield – while the epic battle between Rama and Ravana took place, the charioteer of Ravana recognizes that his master Ravana is tired. So, he took the chariot away from the battle. But this angered Ravana. Ravana ordered the chariot to be taken back to the battleground. Rama recognized the genuine need for Ravana to take rest. He offers him to end the battle for the day and allowed him to go back and rest. Even after killing Ravana, Rama ordered Vibhishana to perform the funeral in full honors an emperor deserved. Rama oversaw the entire activity. With this act, Rama showed that he was a warrior with full of DHARMA.
Rama never showed his enmity with scorn and disgust. He did not show the mean mindedness. Thereby showing that an emperor while dealing with the statecraft and battles can still achieve results on the path of Dharma.
I am humbled by the great scholarliness of Sri Swamiji’s composition. I thank Sri Swamiji for allowing me to speak about this Bhajan.
Sri Swamiji continues – I will sing a new Telugu Bhajan on Hanuman and then an Arati Bhajan and conclude today’s Satsang.
Sri Swamiji sings “Vadamalanu Vethumu Anjaneyuda”
I am moved by your devotion today. In spite of the fact that Rama Navami is being celebrated in your homes, you all are sitting here with me. Devotion requires lot of sacrifice. Devotion sometimes carries little bit of ego. The fact that ten thousand people were here today from morning till evening shows the love you all have for Swamiji. I pray Rama to Bless you with devotion laced with love. When you sacrifice to do something, there is always a chance of ego coming and saying that you are a great person and you sacrificed something to do the act of devotion. But love based devotion is stronger and pure. It is laced with innocence. Devotional acts done with a conscious mind is less than devotional acts done with innocent and love based devotion.
Sri Swamiji sings “Maruti Raya Bala Bhima Bhaktulakimmu Penu Prema (new telugu language Bhajan. Not published in any book yet as of this writing)
mAruti rAya bala bhIma
bhaktulakummu penu prEma……………Pallavianjana suthuda AnjanEya
amita parAkrama bala rAya………………..1sUrya shishyuda svaprakAshuda
vajra kAyuda nIku vandanam……………….2bhagavatOttama bhaktula kAche
bhavya rUpuda madilO nindara……………3pavana kumara mahA yOgivi
pArijAta taru mUlavAsivi………………………4nava vyAkarana vEttavu nIvu
sUkshma rUpuda nIve gativi………………5lankini mOkshaka vibhIshana priya
bhakta tAraka sachchidAnanda……………6Sri Swamiji plays DANCE TUNE
Sri Swamiji sings “Aruna Kirana Kanti Maruti” (new Hindi Bhajan- yet to be published in any Bhajan book)
Kayena Vacha Manasendriyeirva…………
Jai Guru Datta
*********