Sri Swamiji in USA, Indian Independence Day Celebrations, Hawaii, 15 - 17 Aug 2008
Independence Day Celebrated at Hawaii - 15th August, 2008
This beautiful day started with a seashore walk by His Holiness Sri Swamiji. As He was walking, Pujya Swamiji narrated special prayers and offered respects to the sea. He stood along the seashore while the divine waters of the pacific washed His feet with humility and reverence. Later, Pujya Sri Swamiji hoisted the Indian and American national flags. He wore a tiny flag on the forehead and held both the national flags in both His hands. He spoke high of the motherland India, mentioning, specially the 77 Ashrams established by Him and also applauded the United States of America as a beautiful country. He also mentioned that He missed the motherland India on this day. A group of fifty devotees present there sang the national anthems of India and America followed by salute to the national flags. Later, Pujya Sri Swamiji gave the Independence Day message. Devotees present there were thrilled by His captivating words of advice.
Today is also the special Vara Lakshmi Puja (worship of Mother Goddess Lakshmi - Goddess of wealth and prosperity). Let everyone on this planet be showered with health, wealth and prosperity. Swamiji blesses all Veda scholars and students on the sacred Upakarma day (sacred initiation into and recapitulation of scriptures). Today is also a special festival of Raksha Bandhan, a festival to show the affection of brother and sister. May brotherhood blossom in the hearts of one and all on this planet towards fellow countrymen and fellow human beings! Jaya Guru Datta! "
Sri Swamiji, later, visited Pearl Harbor, Honolulu that was bombarded by the Japanese troupes in World War II- 1941. Sri Swamiji, along with a number of devotees boarded the USS Missouri also known as the ‘Mighty Mo’- a huge warship (885feet long, 108 feet wide and 209 feet tall, 48000 tons) with different kinds of warheads, projectiles, and missiles. USS Missouri has a remarkable history of more than five decades from 29 Jan 1944 to 4 May 1998, a living testimony to the surrender treaty of Japanese troupes (2 September 1945) to the allied forces at the end of World War II, and also relates to the Korean War and the Gulf war. Pujya Sri Swamiji silently prayed on the deck of the ship for all the war victims.
Pujya Sri Swamiji visited a handicrafts show room to observe and bless the native culture of Hawaiians. Sri Swamiji appreciated the pure pearls taken out from the oysters. Pujya Swamiji visits the Ruins of Ulupo Heiau temple and Polynesian culture – The history of Hawaii dates back to several centuries, when people from different parts of the globe guided by the astrological constellations canoed into this highly fertile and volcanic area and set up a new civilization. Life of the ancient Hawaiians focused on propitiating the Gods and the various islands housed many temples invoking peace, war, health, profitable fishing and farming. Heiau - the place of worship, ranged from a small house to massive open air temples with idols, large stone platforms and numerous idols. Mapele heiau, the agricultural economy temple is related to the God Lono. Offerings of pig, vegetables and tapa (bark cloth) were made with hopes of guaranteed rains and agricultural fertility and plenty. The luakeini heiau was the large sacrificial government war temple dedicated to kuka’ilimoko (ku).
His Holiness spent some time along with the devotees at the ruins of the Mapele Heiau with a family of descendants of the native Hawaiian Queen. Pujya Swamiji said that the Hawaiian Islands were formed sometime during the churning of the milky ocean by the celestials and demons. The greeting words used by the Hawaiians like Mahalo represents the name of Shiva. There are references in the Mahabharata about some of the concepts used by the native Hawaiians. The sky and earth were considered as the parents for all beings on the earth. Mahalo and Aloha (pronounced as mah’ ah ‘loh and ah’ loh’ ha) are two important words in Hawaiian language.
Alo=presence / face / front; ha=breath i.e. the presence of divine breath. Ma= in; ha=breath; alo = face/ front/ presence i.e. may you be in the divine breath. Sri Swamiji said that Mahalo in Sanskrit would mean Lord Shiva, who is the life force. There is a definite connection between the ancient Indian civilization and the Hawaiian culture. Sri Swamiji along with the devotees offered prayers at the Mapele heiau and asked all the devotees to chant Omkara for some time. Swamiji blessed the Hawaiian native family. The native Hawaiians are battling against the corporate agencies who are trying to patent the various varieties of Taro (a tuber), that was being grown by the native Hawaiians for several centuries. The natives offered fruits to all the devotees who were present there.
Pujya Sri Swamiji took a dip in the waters of the Pacific at 830am on 16th August 2008. A number of devotees who were present with Swamiji were also blessed to take a dip in the ocean with Sri Swamiji His Holiness blessed all the devotees and mentioned that it is very auspicious to have a dip in the ocean on a full moon day and that too in the presence of Sadguru. Devotees were thrilled by this rare and unique experience. Later in the evening, His Holiness made all the devotees to chant the Mrutyunjaya mantra on the seashore in moonlight. A Homa was also performed and Pujya Swamiji blessed all the devotees with a personal audience. Sri Swamiji explained that we must learn to accept all kinds of situations in life with equanimity. Both pain and pleasure are different experiences. One must learn to accept such situations with a balanced mind and treat all of them as experiences in life.
