Sri Swamiji

 
SRI GANAPATHY SACHCHIDANANDA SWAMIJI
 
 
 
Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji
 
Sri Sri Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji, also known as Sri Swamiji, is a revered spiritual leader and the head of the Avadhoota Datta Peetham in Mysuru, India. He is renowned for his profound spiritual teachings, music therapy, and dedication to humanitarian services. Avadhoota Datta Peetham is a prominent spiritual organization founded by Sri Swamiji. It is dedicated to preserving and propagating ancient Vedic traditions and practices.
 
Sri Swamiji was born at the sacred confluence of three rivers - Arkavati, Kaveri and Guptagaamini at Mekedatu, Karnataka, India to the pious Brahmin couple Narasimha Shastry later known as Sri Narahari Teertha Swami and Jayalakshmi Maata; on May 26, 1942. A Muslim saint had predicted to Sri Swamiji’s parents that their child would have supreme wisdom and knowledge, and was destined to uplift mankind.

 

Sri Swamiji’s actual birth occurred on a rock in the Kaveri river. Sri Swamiji’s mother Jayalakshmi Mata was in deep meditation and the child was born covered with holy ash. The child was named Satyanarayana. Sri Swamiji’s mother and His first Guru, initiated Him into spiritual life. The child Satyanarayana completed his education like other children, but found that school had nothing to offer to Him. Sri Swamiji was endowed at birth with great knowledge and power. Sri Swamiji sang bhajans and kirtans for His friends and started giving Yoga classes in small village huts or on river banks, while wandering the countryside as a monk.
 
Sri Swamiji had been serving fellow humans, helping them with their problems since His childhood. Through miraculous powers, Sri Swamiji was able to understand their situations, knew their past, present, and future and helped them to overcome difficulties. Some of them became Sri Swamiji’s first disciples.
 
When divinity takes shape as a human being and interacts with us at the human level, it helps us to understand better what divinity means. That is why Lord Datta has taken a human form as Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji. His body appears to be just like ours. He walks and talks like any of us. That puts us at ease and makes us comfortable to be in his presence. But soon we realize that Sri Swamiji does not experience any of the common human ambitions, desires, emotions, attachments, or fears. He has no personal agenda. His needs are few. His level of energy is phenomenal. He is not subject to the laws of Nature.

For example, Sri Swamiji stands amidst raging flames and does not burn. For thirty straight years every year during the Shivaratri festival, Sri Swamiji has jumped into the five foot deep holy fire pit in the Ashram at Mysuru, India, to Fire worship in front of thousands of witnesses. He would pour clarified butter into the Fire. The flames would leap several feet higher than Sri Swamiji. Sri Swamiji would then bend down to pick up from the ashes at the bottom of the pit, objects gifted by the Fire God - spiritual symbols such as Shiva lingams and Sri Chakras. Sri Swamiji would step out of the Fire pit looking fresh and cool. His clothing would be perfectly intact. The flowers in his garland would still be very fresh with absolutely no sign of wilting.
 
In 1966, Sri Swamiji moved to the present site of the Mysuru Ashram on Ooty road, which in the early days was only a straw hut in a field. When Sri Swamiji first moved into the present Ashram in 1966, the land was barren and infested with cobras and scorpions. Sri Swamiji slept under the trees on the bare ground with these poisonous creatures crawling all around Him. He was never harmed. It was there, at Mysuru, that Sri Swamiji came to be known as "Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji". Since then Sri Swamiji has been helping people in his unique way. People come to His Holiness for help with their worldly affairs, or to get healed of physical afflictions, or for guidance in their spiritual practice.
 
 
Entrance of Avadhoota Datta Peetham, Mysuru
 
The main Ashram is in Mysuru, India, in the state of Karnataka. It is very beautiful and unique. It is like heaven on Earth. Sri Swamiji refers to the Universal Prayer Hall which houses the temple for Kaalaagni Shamana Dattareya Swami, as the crown of the Ashram. People from all faiths gather under its beautiful roof to follow the universal religion of humanity and eternal truth, and to worship the one God who created us all.
 
The Nada Mantapam in the Ashram is one of the most beautiful auditoriums in the world. It seats eight thousand people. In it is a unique shrine built for the seven musical notes. Each intricately sculpted pillar there resonates with the sound of a particular musical note in the scale. The auditorium reverberates with scintillating music programs performed by the best musicians of the world. Sri Swamiji declares that Music is his religion, Music is his language, Music is his soul, and Music is his expression.

The Dharma Dhwaja, meaning Pillar of Righteousness is a monolithic obelisk that depicts through a sound and light show the essence of music, religion, and universal truth. Vishwam is a museum that displays many rare and valuable artifacts from all over the world. The Sri Chakra Dhyana Mandiram, the pyramid shaped meditation hall provides unique spiritual vibrations that are conducive to healing. The Akaala Mrityu Stoopa attracts troubled spirits trapped in distress due to an untimely or accidental death, and gives them release. The towering sculpture of Moolikeswara, the presiding deity of herbal healing frees addicts from their addictions. It adorns Sri Swamiji's Bonsai garden, which is the largest in the Indian subcontinent. Sri Swamiji promotes with zeal the preservation of our flora and fauna. The Ashram houses a deer park, Gaushala and a fascinating rehabilitation center for birds - Shuka Vana. Sri Swamiji brings people of all races, religions, castes and communities together in one dining hall so that they all eat together as one family. He believes in the free feeding of the hungry. Sri Swamiji continuously extols the virtues of Annadana - Gift of Food. The Ashram attracts countless visitors each year.

Sri Swamiji can appear in his physical form in different places at the same time. People have experienced this. He was in his Ashram in Mysuru and at the same time appeared in the home of a person in Germany who later became his follower. At times Sri Swamiji suffers from an injury or an illness. Such injuries and illnesses are not Sri Swamiji's but those that he takes upon himself to suffer in place of his devotees. Sri Swamiji's suffering always coincides with that of someone in a crisis that had received protection from Sri Swamiji whether that person had met Swamiji by then or not.

Sri Swamiji enters into peoples' consciousness the moment they think of him. He listens to their troubles whether they are in his physical presence or are thousands of miles away. He clears their doubts and gives guidance through heart to heart communication. When Sri Swamiji is addressing the public, those in the audience receive different messages. Each person receives answers to his or her own personal questions. Sri Swamiji knows everyone's thoughts. He responds to each one at his or her own individual level. Many individuals in a large gathering experience a powerful direct eye contact with Sri Swamiji. It is an awesome divine experience. Sri Swamiji transmits his divine energy to those who need it through such powerful glances. He frequently materializes healing substances that benefit suffering devotees.

Sri Swamiji gives sacred gifts such as orange wristbands containing the healing root of the white arka plant, specific gemstones, or yantras which are mystic diagrams endowed with protective powers to provide powerful protection from dangers. Amazing things happen in Sri Swamiji's presence and many devotees have experience this time and again.

Sri Swamiji is childlike, divine, and unpredictable. He is multidimensional. He is a musician, a composer, a linguist, and a poet. He is a doctor, a teacher, and a psychiatrist. He is mother, father, friend, and child to his devotees. He is a world traveler, a cultural ambassador, a spiritual master, and a miracle man. The list goes on....

It is not possible to adequately describe or to fully understand Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji. The scope of his knowledge and the range of his activities boggle the mind. It is, however, very easy to love and adore him. Peace, love, confidence, and happiness radiate from him. He is not of this world. Yet he has chosen to be here with us, to
communicate, to comfort, and to cajole us back to his ways and his level of understanding.

Sri Swamiji's musical compositions contain spiritual messages, powerful seed syllables, catchy tunes, and a unique resonant harmony. His deep, pleasing tone, and His dancing fingers on the synthesizer create an irresistible experience that entertains, comforts, enlightens, and heal. Sri Swamiji performs on a synthesizer programmed with over 1,000 personally selected sounds and is accompanied by master musicians. Many of the greatest Indian musicians long to perform with Sri Swamiji or to play his music in their concerts. The blend of the inspiring compositions and the energy of these musicians is a highly uplifting experience. Sri Swamiji has been giving Healing Music Concerts - Music for Meditation for several decades now. He has world-renowned musicians accompanying him.
 
 
Sri Swamiji's Music for Healing & Meditation
 
Sri Swamiji teaches and heals through music, speeches, stories, jokes, and poems. He reaches people through public programs, private house visits, television appearances, radio talks, books, CDs, DVDs, and the monthly magazine Bhakti Mala, which means a Garland of Devotion. It is published in seven different languages. Sri Swamiji teaches also through games, movies, and riddles. He interacts with children, adults, the rich and the poor, the scholarly and the illiterate with equal ease and intimacy. He frequently appears to people even before they have met him, in their dreams.

Sri Swamiji inspires one to wonder and marvel at this Creation, and to learn from it. With short, simple, picturesque images he lifts our minds to lofty heights. Here are samples of Sri Swamiji's short, sweet, and sometimes stinging poems.

1. Within the seed is hidden a huge big tree
And within the tree is hidden, atom-like,
a little Seed: the entire universe is concealed in the tiny Subtle matter and this is a wonder, God of Gods! Sachchidananda, Lord of true bliss eternal!

2. You find yesterday's things boring today, and
Today's are boring tomorrow
Bored and dead bored, you want novelty fresh;
But the fresh becomes stale again, and bored you are;
It is like saying that breathing is a bore;
But when the nose gets blocked - then you'll see what it is! -
Sachchidananda, Lord of true bliss eternal!

Sri Swamiji preaches that the pleasures of this world are illusory. Only truth endures. What does not endure is not Truth. The transient pleasures and attachments of this world do not give us lasting happiness. In the frenzy of satisfying unending desires, one gets stuck in an endless cycle of joys and sorrows, births and deaths. Sri Swamiji disentangles us from our attachment to worldly experiences. It is not possible for a human being to gain mastery over his sense organs without the help of a Sadguru nor is it possible to gain mastery over the mind. Sri Swamiji gives us the strength to control our desires, and to overcome our anger, greed, delusion, vanity, arrogance, and jealousy. He holds our hand and leads us step by step till we are set free from our slavery to temptations and bondages.

Sri Swamiji motivates us to engage in an intense internal churning to sort out all troubling unresolved issues. Truth slowly emerges like butter. The burden is lifted at once. Sri Swamiji eases us into sacrifice and selfless service. We begin to feel joy bubbling up our hearts. Sri Swamiji induces us to accept beings and circumstances unconditionally and in all without fear. We see beauty beginning to blossom everywhere.

Sri Swamiji prays with equal fervor with Hindus, Christians, Muslims, Jains, Jews, Sikhs, Buddhists, and those of other faiths. Sri Swamiji urges a Christian to become a more ardent Christian, and a Muslim to become a more devout Muslim. He believes that one ought to remain faithful to one's own traditions and set of beliefs.

Sri Swamiji has composed a prayer in the Sanskrit language that expresses the universality of his approach and the purpose / mission of His incarnation. It is chanted everyday in all the branches of His Ashrams all over the world. This is what it means:

1. Siva and Vishnu, Ganesh the Omkar
Skanda and Devi, Effulgent Sun God - All these are your forms. Without any doubt, I seek refuge in Sachchidananda.

2. It is by your grace Sun shines upon us. It is by your law, Wind blows upon us. It is by your wish Elements exist
I seek refuge in Sachchidananda.

3. You are the Water, Fire, Earth, and Air too. You are the Space that we all come into. You are the Time and you are the Sound too. I seek refuge in Sachchidananda.
 
4. Inside a jungle, top of a mountain
Banks of a river, middle of the ocean; At my own altar, wherever I pray I seek refuge in Sachchidananda.

4. You are the doer. You are the cleanser.
You are the one who feeds all the three worlds. You are the hero of all the scriptures. I seek refuge in Sachchidananda.

5. Allah is your name. Buddha is your name.
Jesus is your name. Jina is your name.
When people call God you always answer. I seek refuge in Sachchidananda.

6. Bible and Quran extol your virtues. Sastras, Puranas, Vedas adore you.
All the worlds' religions describe the one God. I seek refuge in Sachchidananda.

7. Service in churches, namaz in masjid, Pujas in temples, prayers in synagogues -  All praise and worship one God eternal, I seek refuge in Sachchidananda.

8. Your names are countless. Your forms are infinite Glories unequaled, you're Omnipresent You are Omnipotent, and you are Omniscient. I seek refuge in Sachchidananda. I seek refuge in Sachchidananda.

Sri Swamiji daily worships the Sri Chakra, a three dimensional representation of Creation. Since he was born in the Hindu tradition, Sri Swamiji maintains his Hindu heritage. He worships all the Hindu deities that represent the different cosmic energies in Creation who all abide by the will of the one God eternal.
 
 
Sri Swamiji performs Sri Chakra Archana

Sri Swamiji promotes the worship rituals that have been preserved in India since ancient times. He declares that these are in fact extremely effective scientific procedures whose significance has now been forgotten due to the ravages of time. An example is the ritual of puja that includes abhishekam, chanting of mantras, utsavams, or celebrations, and offering of naivedyam.

Abhishekam is the sacred bath performed to the deities along with the chanting of powerful sacred syllables during worship. This is done with sanctified water, milk, yogurt, clarified butter, honey, and sugar. Other appropriate substances are also used according to the occasion. Different positive energies emanate from the reaction of the different substances, depending on the deity and the substance with which the idol is made. The sound vibrations of the mantras get absorbed into the substances that are used, and in turn produce their own specific energies. All these are absorbed by the devotees who participate in the activity either actively or passively.

There are different utsavams that are conducted for the deities during worship. They are: Mantapotsavam (offering of an altar), Pallaki (palanquin) utsavam, Rathotsavam (chariot), Dolotsavam (swing), and Teppotsavam (raft). These five represent the five elements. By balancing the elements that are within us and without, the energies inherent in them are harmonized and harnessed for our benefit.
Naivedyam is the pure food substance that is offered to God with the chanting of the appropriate syllables with unselfish reverence. This food becomes sacred and turns into prasadam. Prasadam is endowed with healing powers, both physical and mental. Accepting prasadam results in personal purification.

Sri Swamiji stresses that it is important to have a strong conviction, a firm determination, concentration, and an unyielding discipline in the faithful performance of regular puja. Spiritual progress is often hampered because of inner impurity, both at the physical and mental level. Practices such as Pooja and Yoga help to reduce the vasanas and samskaras, the unnecessary mental baggage that has been acquired and kept over many lifetimes. Much bad karma gets cancelled by such austerities. The performance of charitable deeds with a pure heart also exhausts bad karma.
 
As of 2024, Sri Swamiji has made more than one hundred and eighty three Vishwa Dharma Vijaya Yatras for the sake of establishment of Dharma across nooks and corners of the world. His first foreign tour took place in 1976. He has visited almost all the countries in the world spreading the spiritual message of peace, the oneness of God, and universal brotherhood.
 
 
Sri Swamiji preaches
 
Sri Swamiji's preachings
Here are some of Sri Swamiji's sayings:
Remember that God is your only true friend. Enjoy your wealth by sharing it with others. Constantly remember and praise God. Always remain content.

Do not ask God for anything.

Show courage when faced with difficulties. Show kindness towards all beings.

While there is still health and strength in the body, strive to free yourself from the cycle of birth and death.

Never compromise on your morals.

Patience is the greatest penance. Lead a simple life.

Give up ostentation.
 
Sri Swamiji has developed a system of Yoga that blends breath control, mind control, body control, and universal spiritual wisdom. Datta Kriya Yoga is taught in all the branches of the Ashram. It helps immensely to calm and steady the mind, maintain physical health, and promote spiritual progress. Sri Swamiji personally trains the instructors who inturn propagate Datta Kriya Yoga in remote villages, schools, colleges and work places.

Sri Swamiji frequently arranges for religious heads from different organizations to come together in his Ashram, to resolve their differences and to work in harmony towards the common goal of universal welfare.
 
Sri Swamiji builds shelters for the homeless and the aged. He runs orphanages and schools. He runs a special school for the communications impaired. He gives to those in need, during crises and natural disasters. He helps the handicapped. Every year during his birthday celebrations, Sri Swamiji felicitates individuals from different countries who have excelled in areas that help humanity.

Sri Swamiji promotes Ayurveda, the ancient science of herbal healing alongside modern medicine. He runs a Holistic Healing Center in the Ashram. He heals through Music therapy, Gem therapy, and Homa therapy. Homa, the fire ritual benefits individuals, the entire planet earth, and also the cosmic regions. The powerful sound vibrations of the sacred syllables of the mantras that are chanted during a homa, and the sacred smoke with its positively charged energy clear the atmosphere of toxins, purify the air we breathe, and enrich the rain that nourishes the earth, which in turn produces nobler human beings.

Sri Swamiji conducts classes for priesthood. He ensures that people from all walks of life receive proper training in the performance of daily worship. Sri Swamiji keeps alive the eternal universal truths contained in the Vedas (ancient works that are revelations from celestial seers). He runs Veda schools and conducts annual examinations in all the four Vedas in which students and examiners from all parts of India participate. He runs I-SERVE, an institution that promotes scientific research into the Vedas. It has been shown for example, that our ancient seers knew the science of aviation and electricity.
 
The volunteer organization at the Ashram under the guidance of Sri Swamiji conducts many humanitarian activities, including free medical camps, blood drives, feeding the hungry, and helping in times of natural disasters. Volunteers run Sri Swamiji's Ashrams under his direction as service to their Sadguru. The Raga Ragini Trust publishes all of Swamiji's books, discourses, and music. The Nada Nidhi Studio does all the recordings using state of the art equipment.

These are only a few of Swamiji's activities. It is humanly impossible to know and list everything that Sri Swamiji does for the welfare of humanity. His power and scope are beyond our imagination. Sri Swamiji's various facets are stunning and incomprehensible. He appears one moment as the King of the Universe, clad in fine silks, decked in precious ornaments, adorning a gold throne, with all the forces and treasures in creation at his command. This instills confidence in us that he can help us surmount any situation, however grave and impossible. The next moment he appears humbler than the most humble, clad in the simplest attire, comforting the poorest of devotees in their homes. Regardless of appearances, his inner core remains the same always, unperturbed, unattached, calm, compassionate, blissful, and caring.

Sri Swamiji encourages people to develop faith and devotion. He has built close to one hundred temples of Dattatreya, the Universal Spiritual Guru. Datta is the presiding deity at all of Sri Swamiji's Ashrams. Sri Swamiji has built a beautiful temple in Mysuru for Balaji, the Lord of Tirupati. The deity is known as Sri Datta Venkateswara Swami. Next to the Balaji temple is the stricking 70 feet tall Hanuman Statue on which Hanuman Chalisa is projected with the 3D Projection Mapping technology (Laser Show) during weekends, drawing hundreds of people. A unique temple is built for Sri Rajarajeswari Devi in Mysuru Ashram. A very unique collection of more than 2000 Salagramas are housed next to the Devi temple known as "Hari Sannidhi"

In Trinidad, Sri Swamiji has consecrated an eighty-five foot tall Hanuman idol. Sri Swamiji has eight beautiful Ashrams in the U.S apart from Trinidad, Canada, UK, Germany, Malaysia, and Australia. Over one hundred Ashram branches spread all over India. In Pennsylvania, USA, Sri Swamiji has discovered three powerful healing rocks inside a wooded area and built a sanctuary there called the Datta Retreat Center. He calls it the Jesus Datta Retreat Center. The Datta Temple and Hall of Trinity was built in 1997 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Datta Yoga Center, USA coordinates all the activities of Swamiji's organizations in North America.