AvadhootaDatta Peetham

Jaya Guru Datta
About twenty five thousand devotees in Vijayawada Ashrama witnessed the ushering of the year 2009 in the Holy presence of Parama Pujya Sri Ganapati Sachchidananda Swamiji. Pujya Sri Swamiji gave Darshan to tens of thousands of devotees. Sri Swamiji sat in his specially decorated Mantapa from 7 AM until 3 PM. Two streams of people came from either sides of the stage and touched Datta Guru Padukas, took Darshan of Sri Swamiji and left. They were given sweet Ladoo as Prasadam.
In the evening at 6.30 pm, the second Gnaa-Naa-Bha-Yoga Conference was inaugurated Ghantashala Govt. Music College grounds in Vijayawada. This conference is to disseminate knowledge about Philosophy, Music, Devotion and Yoga. The conference was inaugurated by Pujya Sri Siddeshwarananda Bharati Swamiji of Siddeshwari Peetham, Kurtalam. Later, the Swamiji gave a discourse on today's subject - "Bhakti".

 

4th Decennial Celebrations mand 2nd Gnaa Naa Bha Yoga Sammelanam, Vijayawada

REPORT

This trip to Vijayawada is historical, as the 40th anniversary of the first visit of Sri Swamiji (1969) was celebrated. It was the then bustling trade town, Vijayawada on the banks of Mighty River Krishna, which hosted Sri Swamiji in 1969. From time to time the span, scope and reach of Sri Swamiji’s Dharma Prachara stretched beyond the boundaries of the state.

In four decades of its tryst with Dharma Prachara, the mission of Sri Swamiji had been ascending new heights and peaks every year. Vijayawada, had its origin in the name of Arjuna (also known as Vijaya) and his penance for mighty Paasupata. Mother Goddess Kanaka Durga is the presiding deity of the town. This holy combination of the grace of Goddess and the ensuing victory ensured that the humble beginning of Dharma Prachara by Pujya Swamiji has succeeded in the establishment of an illustrious institution. In this sojourn, many Ashramas are established in the state; many charitable projects are launched; lakhs of people are transformed and led to the path of divinity and more over an irreversible trend of piety marked thousands of family in the entire region.

Since then, it was second to Mysuru in many aspects. Those days, Sri Swamiji used to stay here for 40 days. Though, the stature of Vijayawada Gnana Bodha Sabha is dwarfed by the sheer size and potential of other places such as Hyderabad, Vijayawada retains its special place in the Heart of Pujya Swamiji, in many ways.

Chatur Dashati Mahotsava (4th Decennial Celebrations)

Hence, devotees across three generations have beseeched Sri Swamiji to permit them to conduct the festivity in a grand and befitting manner. His Holiness reciprocated with the full fledged conduct of the innovative and fresh theme of Gnaa Naa Bha Yoga Sammelanam, a conference to disseminate knowledge about our Tradition in the aspects of Wisdom, Music, Devotion and Yoga. It was well received by thousands of devotees and public from the city and nearby places and was termed by many as an epoch making carnival, long remembered for the mystic, joyous and divine participation of Sri Swamiji.

Sri Swamiji’s Mellifluous voice, Inspiring Discourses, Thought provoking Ridicule, Soulful Music, Meditative and devout Mantras and Powerful Bhajan sessions had left an indelible impression on the minds of public. This way, it was deemed that the Celebrations had achieved the objective, with the inclusion of few more hundred families into the ever growing Datta Family.

Programs
Sri Swamiji reached Vijayawada Ashrama at 9 PM from Datta Giri on 29th December 2008. Welcome Function was conducted on 30th December evening. Sri Dasari Jagan Mohana Rao welcomed His Holiness on behalf of devotees. In His message, Sri Swamiji spoke about the recent programs in Mysore and exhorted all the devotees to chant Datta Raksha Mantra.

31st December 2008

Sri Chakra Puja and Homa were conducted in the morning. In the evening, before Bhajan Session, Ramayana Discourse MP3 CD, recorded by Asthana Vidwan Krovi Partha Sarathy was released.

1st January 2009, Thursday

It was another happy New Year gala for Datta Devotees with the Darshan of Sri Swamiji. The organisers had arranged a chariot styled throne (comparable to the chariot driven by Lord Krishna) for the New Year Maha Darshana. The Queue starting at 6 AM, continued till afternoon. All along, Nava Graha Homa was conducted by the Pundits and Sri Bala Swamy performed Sri Chakra Puja in the Temple.

Sri Swamiji released a special Album called (Datta) Raksha Mantra, which contained the chanting, a short discourse in Telugu and Kannada on its significance, as New Year Gift to the devotees. Further, it was decided to make it available at subsidised cost, so that it reaches the homes of all the devotees.

The 2nd Gnaa – Naa – Bha – Yoga Conference  was organised at Government Music and Dance College in the heart of the city. Many dignitaries including profound Litterateurs Business Barons, Public Representatives and Persons of Repute attended the inauguration of the celebrations. Prior to the inauguration, Ganapati Puja, Nava Graha Puja were performed and Nava Graha Mantra was chanted for 40 minutes. Noted Journalist Padmasri Sri Turlapati Kutumba Rao (a devotee for many years) gave the welcome speech. Another senior Poet and scholar Sri Kuchibhatla Chandra Sekhara Sarma, rendered the welcome song.

The conference was inaugurated by the noted Saint and Pontiff of Sri Siddheswari Peetham, Kurtalam, Tamil Nadu – His Holiness Sri Siddheswaraananda Bharati Swamy in the august presence of Sri Swamiji and Sri Bala Swamy. Sri Maganti Subrahmanyam, Chairman of Sri Venkateswara Temple, Labbi Peta, Vijayawada conferred the Temple Prasadam on the all the seers.

Sri Devineni Raja Sekhar – Nehru (MLA), Sri Ilapuram Venkayya (MLC), Sri Malladi Vishnu (Ex Chairman of VUDA) and Sri Paturi Naga Bhushanam (Ex Chairman of Gunturu Zilla Parishat), Nasser Vali (MLA) offered garlands.

Delivering His key note address, Sri Kurtalam Siddheswarananda Bharati Swamy, outlined our magnificent lineage and the splendour of our spiritual wisdom. He  extolled the contribution of Sri Swamiji to the domain of Spirituality and regarded him as a pioneer of our times. In His message, Sri Swamiji likened the life of humans to the chores of various animals, due to never ending saga of worldly responsibilities and mundane suffering thereof. He advised every one to make use of this precious opportunity of this conference to earn wisdom.
Mayor Ratna Bindu and Deputy Mayor offered respects in the end.

2nd January 2009

Abhishekam to Marakata Rajarajeshwari was performed by Sri Bala Swamy. After Sri Chakra Puja, devotees and erstwhile organisers assembled to offer Pada Puja to Sri Swamiji to commemorate their first services. Sri Swamiji blessed all those devotees and current day organisers with Prasadam and memento. Sri MVS Chowdary, one of the oldest and longest serving devotees narrated the experiences and the saga of development of Vijaywada Ashrama. The crowd were in peels of laughter, when few past incidents were explained and further impressed about the simplicity and candour of Sri Swamiji since the very beginning. The program concluded with Chandi Homa Poornahuti.

In the evening, at the Gnaa – Naa – Bha – Yoga Conference, mass chanting of Lalita Sahasra Nama Parayana was conducted in association with the staff of Sri Kanaka Durga Temple. Books were distributed free of cost to all the devotees. Sri Swamiji spoke about Naada – its role in the achievement of the Ultimate Goal. He described the story of Visalaksha, a royal, who had used music as the principle medium of Upaasana. The concept of Swara – Raaga – Shruti – Graama – Taana – Moorchana were explained by Sri Swamiji in his discourse.

3rd January 2009

On Saturday, Children (winners of Bhajan Competition 2008) sung Bhajans during Sri Chakra Puja. Sri Swamiji blessed the children with prizes and directed that state level competition be conducted next year. Maha Narayana Homa Poornahuti was offered and Host Committee members were blessed with Datta Kankanam.

In the evening, during the Gnaa – Naa – Bha – Yoga Conference, mass Chanting of Vishnu Sahasra Nama was organised at the grounds, in association with Dharma Prachara Parishat, Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams. It was a flow of devotion and sacredness, when the 1000 names – narrated by Bheeshma to Dharmaraja were chanted by thousands of people from many organisations. 

Sri Datta Vijayananda Teertha Swamy (Bala Swamy) was the main speaker for the topic Bhakti – Devotion. Sri Venkateswara Bhakti Channel telecast the program live. In His discourse, Sri Bala Swamy explained the nine varieties of Devotion. Citing a story from Maha Bharata, he wondered about the mysterious ways of the God to protect his devotees.

Sri Audi Kesavulu Naidu, MP and Chairman of Tirumala Devasthanams, Sri C Vijaya Raghava Acharya graced the occasion and conferred Temple Prasadam on Sri Swamiji and Sri Bala Swamy. In his address, Sri Naidu reiterated the commitment of TTD, to propagate Dharma in the nooks and corners of the society and vowed that the program will be organised under the guidance of Holy men like Sri Swamiji. Secretary of Dharma Prachara Parishat, Sri Acharya explained various programs of the organisation. 
In His musical discourse, Sri Swamiji cited the example of Radha Devi, a devotee of Lord Krishna, who was so selfless in her affection to the God. He explained the Second Principle of Devotion by Sage Naarada.

4th December 2009 Sunday

In Morning, Sahasra Gala Sankeertana  - Bhajan Recital by 1000 Devotees was organised in the premises of Vijayawada Patamata Ashrama. Singers, across all ages, prowess, background, proficiency joined to sing sonorously 16 compositions of Sri Swamiji. The beauty was further enhanced, with the orchestra consisting of Veena, Violin, Flute, Kanjeera, Ghatam, Mrudangam and Taalam. Smt. Gayatri and Popuri Gowrinath had taken lead to organise this unique event, with the support of Smt. Nirmala Chowdary. Sri Swamiji was pleased with the event and blessed all the singers and teachers. It was further announced that the medals of excellence would be instituted for meritorious students.

In the evening, at the Gnaa – Naa – Bha – Yoga Conference, the topic was Yoga. Kriya Yoga Teachers, Students, enthusiasts from all over the region had assembled for a session of Yoga. Dr. Krishna Kumari, welcomed and introduced the speakers. Dr. Vempati Rama Prabhu, taught simple physical exercises and Surya Namaskara. Sri Raja Rao, instructor along with his colleague Sri Gopala Krishna of SGS Ashrama, Mysore spoke about Kriya Yoga. Surya Chandra Nadi Bhedana, Ujjayi and Seetali Praanaayaamas were practised.

Joining them on the stage, Sri Bala Swamy spoke about the effect of breathing exercises. Later, Sri Swamiji introduced 10 Mudras to the students, teachers and Public. The postures with hands (Hasta mudra) pertained to Pancha Praana of Human Body and Pancha Bhoota/Tattva (Five Elements). He advised that the Pancha Praana Mudras shall be practised with soft press of thumb with respective fingers, where as Pancha Tattva Mudras required mere touch. He permitted all those attending the function to spread this message among friends for their better health. The entire atmosphere was brimming with the positive energy of Yoga, which was enhanced by the marvellous music session for healing by Sri Swamiji for about 20 minutes.

Continuing the program, Sri Swamiji sang praises of Kundalini Shakti (Often Dorman Vital Energy Force in each body). Chorus of Sri Malladi Rama Prasad complimented the greatness of the Bhajan Session.

In the end, upon the request of Devotees, Sri Swamiji stood on the Bhajana Peetham to sing Yuga Yuga Yugambulu, Saagi Potundi. The purport of the song, (describing the futility of life, if not utilised according to the tenets of Manu) perfectly matched the occasion of bidding adieu to the grand celebrations of 40th Year Anniversary. 
He sang another Composition on Swamy Ayyappa, to the amusement of several devotees of Ayyappa, assuming Mandala Deeksha. The Four Day Program was compeered and coordinated by Vamshi Krishna Ghanapathi. Noted Sri Turlapati Kutumba Rao gave his concluded remarks and wished that Sri Swamiji conducts another such program for the benefit of all the devotees. Sri Ahobala Rao (longest serving photographer) organised an Exhibition, displaying rare photographs of Sri Swamiji in the past 4 decades. Vijayawada volunteers in association with Sri Bhaskar and Sury had arranged the exhibition and photo slide show, giving a glimpse of changing stature of Sri Swamiji’s mission. 

This ended the marvellous Carnival called Chatur Dasati Mahotsava on a high note, leaving thousands of devotees in delight.

Jaya Guru Datta

Report by Vamshi Krishna Ghanapathi