AvadhootaDatta Peetham

At sunrise early this morning Sri Swamiji offered the morning prayers to the 18feet Monolith Dattatreya installed atop the Circular temple at Ganagapura followed by milk ablution to Marakata Dattatreya and the Ruby Padukas that were consecrated by His Holiness yesterday (on the auspicious 13th Feb, 2011).During Sri Chakra Pooja Children from the TKH School rendered bhajans composed by Swamiji. After the message Sri Swamiji gave Padasparsha (touching the lotus feet) to all those who have chanted Aksharalaksha Mantra (Mantra chanted so many lakh times as many as the number of syllables or letters in the mantra. For e.g. Na mah Si va ya has five syllables. It should be chanted minimum 5 lakhs or half a million times). 

Sri Swamiji’s message - 
This year and every year a number of children from Government as well as the private schools are actively participating in the bhajan competitions conducted in Datta Peetham. Even children from Gulbarga are also participating. Nearly children from 24 districts in Karnataka had come in the previous year. They come as a team with their own accompanists, stay in the ashram for two days. The event takes place with a great grandeur and is generally organized during the non-rush days. Many people from Andhra are not aware of these. In Chennai about 200 schools are participating in the Bhajanotsava. Even eminent singers and graded and senior artists are participating in the Keertanotsava – classical rendition of bhajans composed by Swamiji. Swamiji wishes to see these children from Ganagapura also participate in this event. Prize is not important, participation is important. This participation will always remain a beautiful memory and will encourage one to achieve greater heights in future. This is a good hobby, a good companion. It is better to train children to play some or the other instrument like Tabla, Violin, Veena or Keyboard. It will bring in peace of mind, a calm disposition, devotion and discipline in one’s life. One need not be devotee to sing bhajans. Most professional singers are not devotees. They sing mechanically. Devotion gradually creeps into one who sings or plays a musical instrument. It doesn’t matter even if one chooses film tunes to begin with; one would slowly begin to enjoy devotional numbers as time passes by. One will certainly reap immense benefit from singing songs esp. bhajans or playing musical instruments. The song teaches us harmony; the song teaches discipline and calmness, it is a good companion. Even dance for that matter is good exercise for children. It improves health and memory. Even just humming a song could bring immense benefit. 

Yesterday was a very auspicious day. All of us witnessed the rare Mahakumbhabhishekam. See how fast the time is passing away. One day has already rolled over. Time does not wait for anyone. Hours will roll by. Sun will rise and set but today’s sunrise will never recur again. Years will roll by one birthday followed by another but they will never be the same. Caution is to make appropriate use of time. These events that happened today, these words that are being uttered by Swamiji today, this ambience will not happen again. The only exception to this rule is the Mantra given by Sadguru that will remain through all your births. It is a natural tendency to forget past events. We do not even remember dishes at yesterday’s lunch. What to talk of big events? We forget our own kith and kin including Mother’s face or Father’s face if we don’t see their photos. We must keep reminding the forgetful mind by showing a picture or photo. Surprisingly however, when we see the idol of a deity like Lord Venkateshwara or Lord Dattatreya, the image is installed in our mind for years together and we can visualize it whenever we close our eyes. Such visualization is possible because the reference object is eternal or true (Sat). Such experiences are unforgettable. Repeated reinforcement also ensures that we remember the image. An important reason why we forget things we see or eat is because they have themselves lost their original form and have entered the intellect with different attributes in an altered form. Unchangeable eternal forms like deities; repeated chanting of Mantra that is blessed by Sadguru can never be forgotten because of the reinforcement to the mind that is naturally occurring with constant worship and chanting. Guru Upadesa is therefore the powerful one that comes to one’s mind even at the time of death. Owing to the high influence of bad karma one may even forget the mantra at the time of death or even his deity’s name or form may not appear. One should constantly pray to the almighty to avert such an adversity. That is the real boon one should seek instead of petty desires like a male child, a bungalow, a vehicle, money or bank balance etc. The intensity and commitment that we display in desiring for petty things should be diverted to aspiring for the Guru’s grace and divine grace. We should pray to the almighty to grant us strength not to seek such desires”.

Bheeshma who had the boon to die when he wished to, was lying on the bed of arrows waiting for the auspicious time to die, calls upon Dharmaraja and other Panadavas and advices them about righteousness and the intricacies of governance for three long days. He then prays to Lord Krishna for a peaceful journey. A pertinent question is why did he die when he could have healed himself and lived longer? 

Swamiji said -
“Bheeshma was a great soul- there were several things that were running across His mind at that time. (1) May be he considered there could be no better time than this to die - such a great chance of a righteous war, death at the behest of Lord Krishna. (2) The chance to go back to his Mother from where He had come because of a curse and the chance of redemption from the curse as well as redemption from bondage of the soul (3) May be he did not want to become an obstacle for the kingdom going into the hands of the righteous king Dharmaraya (4) May be he considered his presence would make Lord Krishna to withdraw Himself from advising the Pandavas since he as their grandfather was still alive and was being considered the eldest (5) May be he would again get entangled in the attachment to the kingdom albeit this time on the righteous side of the Pandavas, but nevertheless it is an attachment which must be foregone sometime (6) May be he got the clearance from Krishna to do so. (7) May be he was confident that his services are no longer required (8) After having drunk the Patala Ganga that sprung with the arrow of Arjuna , is it wise to live further? (9) After having received Upadesham from Krishna Himself for salvation, is it wise to live again?” – Such were the many thoughts that ran into Bheeshma’s mind. Finally after concluding to let go his soul out – he was about to depart on this very day of Ekadasi, when Draupadi shouted, “Stop your thoughts! You old man!” Everybody including Krishna was shocked at the rude behavior of Draupadi. They tried to console her but she was not convincible. Some thought it was some trait of Mother Goddess Shakti that was manifesting in her or some trait of Fire (her origin) that was manifesting in her, that was responsible her rudeness. Finally Bheeshma called her and asked, “What is your grievance Draupadi?” 
Draupadi retorted “You have been teaching Dharmaja for the past three days while all the celestials are standing, Lord Krishna is here. You drank the Ganges. You chanted the Vishnu Sahasranama and also listened to it once again. Still you shall not leave the mortal body unless you have cleared my doubt”. 
Bheeshma asked, “What is your doubt”

Draupadi replied furiously, “On the day in the Kings court, I was humiliated amidst all of you by attempting to remove my clothes. You stood in silence head low. Should I consider this your incapacity to instruct people of your side or your method to show displeasure over the happenings? Alternatively you could have asked Bheema or the Pandavas to break the head of the misdeed doer. You didn’t say this? You could have ordered Arjuna to fight back. You didn’t. Your behavior of indifference for all the happenings was awful? This behavior was very unpleasant for me. Is this Dharma? Only my Paramatma Krishna came to my rescue then. He saved my prestige. Was it that you did not protect me because you wanted Krishna to protect me? Was it that you stimulated me to call Krishna? Was it that you were trying to stimulate the Pandavas by your silence? Was it that you were waiting for some speck of spontaneous reformation in any of the Kauravas? You don’t have to answer in detail grandfather. Just say, Yes or No. I will be convinced.”

Bheeshma replied, “You have questioned me and answered it yourself partly. One thing you have forgotten. You are not an ordinary human. You are divine. You know the reason, you could have said it, but you didn’t because you probably wanted me to speak about it. I was bound to the Kauravas (as their servant), eating the food and salt given in their kingdom. So I had no choice but to obey them. I had promised to them to be on their side. I did not have the liberty to speak then. Now all my debts to them are cleared. So I speak the truth now. I have drunk the Ganges now and have become pure and redeemed of all bondages and have been impregnated with the esteemed capacity to speak to both parties.”

Draupadi prostrated to Bheeshma and said, “Please forgive me for my impudence. I have asked this question only to explain to these people seated here beside you. I know that the event that happened in the court was not just a humiliation to me but was also a disgusting humiliation to you and even to Lord Krishna. In lieu of this behavior the remaining Kauravas are also destined to have a horrifying death for their unrighteous attitude and actions. Even the blind fellow Dhritarashtra would not be spared. Though he was granted the divine vision by Krishna, he too did not realize the folly. He is not just blind physically but also intellectually, which is pitiable”. 
Bheeshma was very happy with the reply of Draupadi and happily departed the body chanting the Gurumantra on this day of Ekadasi. He is great soul who gave us the Vishnusahasranama (thousand names of Vishnu).

*********