Pujya Sri Datta Vijayananda Teertha Swamiji in Trinidad
Pujya Sri Datta Vijayananda Teertha Swamiji (PujyaSri Bala Swamiji), arrived in Trinidad on April 10th after completing His trip to Dallas. Sri Bala Swamiji was received at the airport by Trinidad ashram trustees and made the hour long ride to the Carapichaima Ashram. Hundreds of devotees welcomed Sri Bala Swamiji at the ashram by singing bhajans and playing drums and the event was broadcasted Live on a radio station. Bala Swamiji gave a short message to the radio station and proceed to the main Temple hall to give darshan to the awaiting devotees.
On the morning of April 11th, Pujya Sri Bala Swamiji performed purnahuti to Maha Ganapti Homa and performed Sri Chakra Puja. Trinidad bhajan group sang bhajans during the Sri Chakra Puja.
Sri Ramesh Maharaj, President of DYC Trinidad welcomed Sri Bala Swamiji to Trinidad on behalf of the devotees and profusely thanked Pujya Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji for sending Bala Swamiji for the ‘Hanuman Day of Prayer’ and Sri Rama Navami events in Trinidad. Sri HV Prasad, from Datta Peetham later spoke and mentioned how as soon as we enter the gates of Trinidad ashrama it feels like being in Mysore Ashrama, as such is the power and blessings that Pujya Appaji has instilled in the Trinidad ashrama. He spoke about how this trip of Bala Swamiji happened and said that as soon as Pujya Appaji heard about the Sri Rama Navami programs in Trinidad, He ordered Bala Swamiji to visit Trinidad as Pujya Appaji was unable to visit. Pujya Sri Bala Swamiji then gave his discourse. In his discourse, He mentioned how Trinidad ashram feels like an amalgamation of various Indian ashrams, how He has more appreciation to Pujya Appaji’s strenuous travel to make the trips to Trinidad and His compassion and love towards Trinidad devotees. Bala Swamiji remembered his first trip to Trinidad in 1995 during the Jana Rakshana Homa and that Trinidad was his first foreign country visit. He mentioned that we have to like what Sadguru likes as He has shown a wonderful path of Namasankeertana, Yoga and Meditation and getting a Sadguru in one’s life is the greatest blessing. This being a Guru Day, Sri Bala Swamiji blessed all the devotees with the Holy teertham.
In the evening, Sri Bala Swamiji started the four day discourse on Sundara Kanda which included various shlokas and bhajans. Sri Bala Swamiji later released two albums, first was Divya Namamrutam: Vol 3 CD which contains recordings of bhajans and abhangs from the late 1960’s and 70’s in Sri Swamiji’s youthful and sonorous voice. Second was Sundarakanda MP3 CD which contains recording of all 3300 Sholkas of Sundara Kanda by Sri Bala Swamiji.
On the morning of April 12th, Purnahuti for Maha Ganapathi Homa and Sri Chakra Puja were performed by Sri Bala Swamiji. Trinidad bhajan group sang bhajans during the Sri Chakra Puja. Children from Bala Datta school had darshan of Sri Bala Swamiji. Sri HV Prasad read the preface by Sri Bala Swamiji in the Audio CD of Sundara Kanda which was released. Pujya Sri Bala Swamiji later gave his discourse, and explained how recording Sundara Kanda was a ‘Pareeksha’ (Test) as it took nearly two years to complete the recording. Sri Bala Swamiji said his inspiration to record Ramayana came during his previous stay in Trinidad where he was ordered by Pujya Sri Appaji to do the recording and mentioned the important chapters that need to be listened. In the evening, Sri Bala Swamiji continued with the discourse of Sundara Kanda.
On April 13th, Sri Rama Navami was celebrated as ‘Hanuman Day of Prayer’ in the Trinidad Carapichaima Ashrama. Devotees and Pundits from across Trinidad joined these celebrations which started at 5 AM with Hanuman Chalisa and Bhajans and continued through out the day. On this sacred day, Pujya Sri Bala Swamiji arrived at the main temple and performed Sri Chakra Puja. Sri Bala Swamiji then performed purnahuti to the ‘Sri Rama Taraka Homa’. Later, Sri Bala Swamiji went to Sri Ram Mandir which is enshrined inside the sprawling Hanuman compound and performed Puja to the deities of Sri Rama, Sita Mata and Lakshmana. Sri Bala Swamiji then continued His discourse on Sundara Kanda on the stage that was installed near the Karya Siddhi Hanuman.
In the evening around 5 PM, Sri Bala Swamiji performed Abhisheka and Aarti to Karya Siddhi Hanuman and blessed the 108 families who were performing Hanuman puja around the 85 Ft Karya Siddhi Hanuman. Sri Bala Swamiji later graced the Bhajan Concert by Neval Chatelal and various artists. Several dignitaries attended this concert including, State Senator Khadijah Ameen; Mr.Kamal Raj, from High Commission of India in Trinidad; Member of Parliament, Mr. Rudranath Indarsingh; Member of Parliament, Dr. Bhoendradatt Tewarie; Member of Parliament, Barry Padarath. Senator khadijah Ameen spoke about the cultural diversity of Trinidad and that we should not just have religious tolerance but religious participation by various communities, freely and with love and affection. Mr. Kamal Raj spoke about the virtues and qualities of Lord Hanuman and thanked Sri Swamiji and organizers for the program. Ramesh Maharaj, President of Datta Yoga Center Spoke about how His Holiness Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji and Sri Bala Swamiji helped spread and sustain Sanatana Dharma in this country. Pujya Sri Bala Swamiji spoke about how he felt presence of Sri Swamiji during the events and that we should take example of Lord Hanuman and develop our devotion through service and seva. He later narrated a story about how Lord Shiva kept two letters in the Shlokas for himself and that those letters were ‘ Ra Ma’ and that Lord Shiva likes Sri Rama Nama. A message from Puja Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji was played on the giant screens adjacent to the Hanuman. Sri Swamiji expressed his happiness over the Sri Rama Navami programs and remembered how Trinidad ashram and devotees are always close to His heart. Sri Swamiji mentioned about the Maha Rudra Yaga next year and asked devotees to come together for its celebration. Neval Chatelal and various artists presented a unique two hour concert of Sri Swamiji’s bhajans. Sri Bala Swamiji went up to the podium at the end and blessed the artists and the Sri Rama Navami programs concluded around 10 PM.
On the morning of April 14th, Pujya Sri Bala Swamiji visited the shrines of Lord Sri Rama and Lord Satyanarayana. Sri Bala Swamiji later climbed up the stairs on the western side of the Hanuman shrine and performed Puja to the lotus feet of 85 Ft Karya Siddhi Hanuman. Bala Swamiji then performed Purnahuti to the Maha Ganapati Homa and sprinkled the Holy water on the devotees that participated in the Homa. Sri Swamiji then visited the shrines in the main temple and performed Sri Chakra Puja. Bhagavad Gita Students in Trinidad ashrama chanted dhyana Slokas, Chapter 12 and Chapter 14 from Bhagavad Gita during the Sri Chakra Puja. Sri Bala Swamiji later gave a wonderful discourse and mentioned how Pujya Appaji is a silent teacher; where his teaching methods are unique and He is teaching us things every second. Bala Swamiji narrated the story of Dhruva from bhagavatam, on how Dhruva wanted to hug Sri Maha Vishnu and how he was attracted to Maha Vishnu’s conch and later how he got blessed by Maha Vishnu by his devotion. Bala Swamiji mentioned we should act with reverence as Dhruva with our Sadguru Swamiji. Bala Swamiji explained a stotra from Dhruva Stuti
‘Vaasreva vathsaka manugraham katharosmaan’, similar to how a cow nourishes it’s calf and takes care of it, Pujya Appaji waits for his devotees and blesses them and Appaji wants to "see us win" and succeed at life by learning Bhagavad Gita. Sri Bala Swamiji said our body is like a vehicle and we have come from the supreme soul and we have to travel in this body and make use of it by learning and understanding Bhagavad Gita. Spirituality is not about being grim but being happy and leading a dharmic life. Sri Bala Swamiji called on devotees, trustees to get ready for the Maha Rudra Yagam being planned next year and await the return of Pujya Sri Appaji to Trinidad, where Trini represents the trinity of Lord Dattatreya and Dad is our Pujya Appaji. Later, devotees were blessed to come in line and receive Sri Chakra Puja and Tailabhisheka Prasadam from Sri Bala Swamiji.
In the evening, pujya Sri Bala Swamiji concluded the Sundarakanda discourse in English which included scintillating bhajans . Sri HV Prasad summarized the Trinidad trip of Pujya Bala Swamiji and thanked Pujya Appaji for blessing Trinidad with this trip of Bala Swmaiji. Ramesh Prasad, President of Trinidad Carapichaima ashram expressed the gratitude and love for Pujya Appaji and Bala Swamiji on behalf of all the Trinidad devotees.
Sri Bala Swamiji left for Houston later in the night for a short stopover on his way to India.
