Datta Kshetra Yatra - Gannavaram, Andhra Pradesh
Sri Pada Vallabha
Gannavaram
is a tiny village 19 kms away from Vijayawada. It is 200 yards from
National Highway number 5 connecting Madras to Calcutta. There is a
big airport right in front of the Ashrama ( It is perhaps the only
Ashrama in the world which is nearest to a airport). Ashrama here started
in 1990 by late Ekambareshwara Rao. It has a prayer hall, Guru Nilaya
(1998), priest quarters, watchman quarters, Bore well, Garden, Children
play area. Moolika Vana (herbal garden) is being developed.
Datta Padukas were established in 1992. Sri Swamiji called it Sri Pada Vallabha
Datta Kshetram. The present activities in this Ashrama include Annadanam program,
Anaghashtami Vratam every month, Important festivials are observed. Abhishekam
and Kakadarati every day. Anybody can perform Abhishekam to the Padukas.
Sri Swamiji visited this Ashrama on 3rd January 2003. Arriving at 4 PM, Sri Swamiji permitted few devotees to perform Pada Puja. Sri Swamiji inaugurated a free weekly dispensary on 3rd January 2003.Later there was Sri Chakra Puja. Bhajans were performed thereafter. Sri Swamiji spoke thus"
Sri
Swamiji’s Speech – Gannavaram Ashrama – 3 January
2003
Don’t demand. Don’t worship with desires. Worship with the prayer
that God gives you what you deserve. Devotion is not business or barter oriented.
Pray for more devotion. Learn from the devotion of Savitri of Mahabharata story.
When you have full and proper devotion all your life’s requirements are
met automatically because he takes full charge of your life. That happiness
and solace is unmatched. That is the type of devotion proposed in Guru Gita.
Don’t pepper your devotion with Desired. It is my wish that all the devotees
in this Gannavaram village develop such devotion. Many here don’t have
it still. Many still harass the priest here with more Prasadam to be given.
Many look at others how they pray. When you come to pray here, don’t
look where your flowers were decorated by priest or where he kept your coconut.
Many worry about the baskets they bring Puja materials. Some worry about the
footwear they left outside. They come, pray and worry about chappals. This
is wrong. Why come for this? God is in your house also. Worship there and enjoy
life. Don’t go to temple because others go. Or don’t stop going
because some people you don’t like go there. Go there and pray that they
get good mind to heal relations. Don’t entertain conservative mind. Don’t
entertain inauspicious mind. Come without expectations and enjoy what you get.
You don’t need Pada Puja, Homa or Sri Chakra Puja. Some do it because
they want it. Don’t worry that you cannot do it. You too get the same
Punya (merit). I wish that the Gannavaram devotees get this devotion. May the
Datta Guru Padukas in this Kshetra get more devotion. Come and use this Ashrama
and its facilities. It is meant to assist you with your spiritual journey.
You all must have heard that Sri Swamiji is establishing a very special Devi
Temple in Vijayawada. It will be inaugurated on 6th February. The idol of Mother
Goddess Raja Rajeswari is made of an emerald type green stone. There will be
Rahu Kaala Deepa Dana every Friday morning.
I remember the services and dedicated mind of Ekambareshwara Rao who donated
this place and developed it.
The more you sing the better you sing. The Prana leaves without notice. So
sing and enjoy. We indulge most of the time in worries. Worthless worries.
Develop a habit to be happy. You feel unhappy if your TV does not work or if
electricity goes off during an important cricket match. We live in a world
of artificial worries. Saint Ramdas said that the name of Lord Rama is greater
than that of sweetest grapes. Shall we enjoy the sweetness of Datta Nama? Sing
along
Sri Swamiji sings “Datta Mithai”
This fruit of Datta Naama is abundantly available in the world. It is also
a great succor. The more you chant the purer it becomes. Nobody can steal it
from you. Not even your husband. That is why we have introduced the writing
of mother goddess name “SRI MATA”. Books are available and write
as many possible before the Devi temple inauguration in Vijayawada Ashrama.
Utilize all available free time for this purpose. Introduce this to others
also.
Sri Swamiji sings “Gundeyenadi Gootilona Datta Deepam”
Devotion is a pre requisite to any Yoga program. It is like salt in food. Devotion
is the pinnacle for knowledge. Knowledge without devotion is like salt less
food. What is Idol worship? How does an idol look? It stands there motionless.
It stands in the same posture since its installation. It does not move or change
its posture. If it really happens, people think it is evil possessed and stop
coming to that temple. God in the idol form never eats the banana you keep
for Naivedyam The poor tiny banana. You take it back home after Puja, mix it
with honey and eat it. Why do we do it? Why do we go and stand in front of
an idol? There is a principle in this concept. Vigraha Aradhana gives you Nigraha.
Nigraha means containment. Containment of your desires and the like. We go
to a temple because we are not given any another attention there. There is
nothing but God related activities there. There is a less chance of you doing
something else. Most of your life is spent in sleep. Many sleep in cinemas
too. Many go to cinema theatres to escape from visits of relatives. We have
more probability of attaining concentration in a temple than in any other place.
Going to a temple should be a weekly or daily event. You should feel guilty
when you don’t go. You go there to attain concentration. The Bhajan just
sung speaks about the greatness of this concentration.
Sri Swamiji sings “Shankaram Shankaram”
The devotees of Gannavaram had made 2000 oil lamps and had arranged them in the SGS logo pattern and a gaint OM. Upon conclusion of Bhajans, the lamps were lit.
Sri Swamiji announced the Sankalpam to construct a Datta temple in Gannavaram Ashrama in future. Devotees showed enthusiastic support to the project. Sri Swamiji left Gannavaram Ashrama by 8 PM and returned to Vijayawada Ashrama
The
serene sorroundings of the Ashrama. The Panaroma stretches miles and
miles of paddy fields
Sri
Swamiji in the garden
OM
and Ashrama logo formation in oil lamps
Sri
Swamiji on the stage - Blessing
Matru
Mandali members requesting Sri Swamiji for a Datta temple in the Ashrama