April 12, 2011
Speeches of HH Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji on Rama Navami – April 12, 2011 - Hyderabad
Evening speech
Jaya Guru Datta
Bhajan: Modamodalu vandanamu Ganapayya
Today it is Sri Rama Navami. We had a preview the past three days of Srinivasa Kalyanam. It will take nine days with 3 hours in the morning and 3 hours in the evening to do justice to this topic. It contains valuable spiritual content. What is the inner deep meaning of Srinivasa, of Padmavati, of Alivelu Manga. This appears like a story about human beings. But it is not. It is a story that deals with Yoga, like the Ramayana of Valmiki, Tulasidas, Kambar, Narada, Ananda Ramayana, and Adhyatma Ramayana. There may be slight differences among them but the main story is the same. The locations may vary slightly.
When you visitMathura, every single home there has a swing with an idol of Lord Krishna in it. Every family claims that it was at their own house thatKrishnawas raised by Yashoda. They all claim thatKrishnawas their ancestor. There is nothing wrong in that claim. They all have filled their hearts with the Lord. In his name they believe.
At Kurukshetra, they tell us that Karna rested here during the battle. He spoke toKrishnahere. Swamiji has visited that place a few times. There are stone tablets, and copper engravings. There is nothing wrong. We go there as devotees. It is not our job to verify and find proofs. They show the well where they sayKrishnabathed.
In Manginapudi, known as Datta Rameshwaram, after some decades, people may say that Rama bathed there after leaving Rameshwaram and that Rama with a beard had all these wells dug, that have water of a different taste and color in each. They may say he had the name Ganapati Sachchidananda Swamiji. 2 lakh people receive annadanam here after their Purnima bath in the sacred waters. This temple has saved the town Machilipatnam also known as Bandaru from cyclones and tidal waves. That is the truth. There is no doubt about it. There is no need to search for proof. We print only what actually happened.
People forget what happened in the life of Swamiji 50-60 years ago. There are questions now. Even in 5 years we forget. Since many yugas have gone by, some minor discrepancies may occur in the scriptural narrations. It is natural.
Bhajan: Ambanu kolicina dakkanidemiti
Bhajan: Digambara digambara
Bhajan: O Kalahasti Ishwaruda
Bhajan: Ramam Ramam Raghuramam Hari
Bhajan: (New) Dandalu dandalu Ramayya
Mantra: Pratipaadya Raamasya bhavyodaya Ati kaamayaa bhaati Sri Seetayaa
This is a mantra. Those who worship Rama will conquer desire. …The Veda says, “In my heart a Pranava naada is sprouting. This monkey, this brother, are always with you. But this Sita has merged in your light. She has reached the highest position and is giving us all Sat chit ananda.
Many hundreds of devotees have asked for this bhajan today. Even Puttu Gam received a hundred requests for this.
Bhajan: Tvameva mama sharanam
The volunteers are asking for Happy Tune.
Swamiji may return in 40 days at the completion of the Mandala Puja. This Guru Nilayam is Vaikuntham, Kailasam, Brahma Loka, it is Datta’s Home.”
Happy Tune was played.
During the narration of an episode about a youngster in Chennai, who did not believe in Swamiji but was listening to the Happy Tune for many days, and was in a bicycle accident and got injured, but the doctor said he was okay, his pulse was okay, but he was not getting up .. the live webcast suddenly stopped.
Sri Guru Datta
SGS Sri Rama Navami Message for Saptagiri TV channel, April 12, 2011
Jaya Guru Datta
On this auspicious Sri Rama Navami we say, “Victory to Lord Rama!
Adau rama tapovanaanugamanam … (The entire Ramayana story is condensed here in one single verse in Sanskrit by sage Valmiki. First Rama went to the forest. He killed the golden deer. Sita got abducted. Jatayu got killed (in trying to protect her), a conversation took place with Sugreeva, Vali was killed, the ocean was crossed, the city ofLankawas burnt, and finally Ravana and Kumbhakarna were killed. That is the story of Ramayana).
When you utter this sacred name Ra-ma – when you say ‘Ra’ all the sins, whatever is inside go out. When you say ‘ma’ they cannot come back (the gate gets closed). Ra and ma stand for Vishnu and Siva. Evarani nirnayintunura? How do I decide whether you are Vishnu or Siva (sang saint Thyagaraja)? Rama is both Vishnu and Siva. He is Parabrahman Himself. It is not sufficient, any number of times you may read the Ramayana. This festival is celebrated all overIndiaand abroad with Sita Rama Kalyanam (marriage ritual). It represents the union of mind and intellect – the yoga of manas and buddhi. The energy flows upwards from the Muladhara chakra to Sahasrara chakra, through the Ida and Pingala nadis, the invisible energy channels within the human body. These two nadis represent the rivers Ganga and Yamuna, which flow separately but merge and flow as the one holy riverGanga. The two nadis join and become the Brahma Nadi. Rama led a satvic (tranquil and noble) life. He protected tapasvis, (those who were peacefully performing penance) as per his Yuga Dharma (the right values). Rama crossed the confluence and reached his destination. He merged his mind and intellect and merged with the soul.
This human body itself is the venue for the Ramayana. This body is the forest. The inner enemies of Desire, Anger, Greed, ***, Jealousy, Arrogance, and Delusion are the demons, Ravana, Kumbhakarna, and others whom Rama destroyed during his journey. He merged with his soul. To make us all understand this process of achieving union with God, not only in this Kali Yuga, but in all Yugas, this story was written. Do not think that there are only 4 Yugas. There are countless units of such 4 Yugas. So many times Treta Yuga has come and gone, each time with a Sri Rama. He is said to have ruled righteously for 10,000 years.
The Ramayana is the foundation, the basis for our lives. It teaches clearly how a husband should behave towards the wife, how the wife should behave towards her husband, how a brother should behave, how a servant should behave, how a minister should conduct himself, how even a driver should follow etiquette. It gives perfect examples of each single role that humans play in their lives. There are different versions of the Ramayana, Valmiki, Tulasi Das, Kambar, Ananda, Adhyatma and so on. They are all excellent. That is why every single person should read the Ramayana. I want to see this book in the hands of every person in this world. Just like many people always carry the Bible, the Ramayana should also be constantly read. Then even the elected officials will change their ways and will behave the way they should. Ramayana is not a book to read for passing time. It is a wonderful story. It is not meant only to use for putting up cultural programs such as dramas, dances and ballets. It is not just a puppet show. It teaches about social life. It is an authority on the subject of leading lives with the right conduct. Every student, and every member of every family should read this book.
All these Kalyana Utsavams held in temples (marriage festivals for Rama and Sita or Girija and Lord Siva, or Radha andKrishna) are not dolls play. They have great spiritual significance. Sita Rama Kalyanam takes place today not only in the famous Bhadrachalam temple but in all temples.
You may say, “Swamiji, you have told us many times that this is not all dolls play. But what about the Tsunamis that occur, and all other calamities? What about innocent people getting victimized? What about revolutions, battles, what about so much suffering? Why? Whose fault is it? Why this curse? There are so many temples, and so many gurus of different types. Why don’t they do something?”
These same questions have been asked over and over again through the ages. No matter what you ask, however many times you ask, whether the gurus answer, or keep silent, the truth is the same. You are all Datta’s friends. When something is getting destroyed in one place, something else is being created in some other place. That is the process of Nature. As per Yuga Dharma (Nature’s plan to suit the Time) these things have to happen. Just take a moment to imagine. In this cosmos, the earth itself is so tiny. It is like a minute particle. In that how small is Hyderabad! How infinitesimal is Dundigal. How much smaller are we and our problems! We all float in this enormous *** of God called Hiranya Garbha (the great golden egg). Our lifespan is so short. We quickly lose our strength, our vision is weakened. We are all in such Maya, illusion.
It is not right to say, “Do not believe in gurus. Discard all deities. Close all temples. Reject all spiritual leaders”. These traditions have been established by our age old ancestors with great vision for the wellbeing of the welfare of mankind.
Even a chain smoker, when he comes in the presence of a guru will be able to give up smoking for 3-4 hours by his positive influence. That is a pack of cigarettes not smoked! Please do not waste earth’s resources. Any time you stop at a traffic light, calculate the time and turn off the engine to save petrol (gasoline). Do not leave all the lights on at home. Turn off the ones that are not required. Do not leave the Television on all the time.
The same way, increase your longevity by doing exercise. Improve your health by practicing yoga, pranayama. We do not do these things. We have our defects. Hence calamities occur. We cannot avoid them as long as our lives are not led in a perfect way. We adjust when it is too cold or too hot. We adjust to the death of our loved ones. After about three months we get about our normal activities. Creation forces us to adjust, to adapt to changed conditions. Mother Goddess Herself, as Sita suffered so much. It is all God’s play (leela vinodam).
In every temple, people are sitting together; many disciples are sitting with their gurus, praying for spiritual upliftment. Improvement must occur in health and in all fields. Farmers’ lives must improve. Agriculture must improve. For 1-2 lakhs loans, for 5-6 lakhs compensation farmers are resorting to suicide. It is very wrong. You must stay and fight and win. Life is so precious. You cannot escape by killing yourselves. What about your families? You cannot be replaced in their lives by monetary benefit. They are caused so much pain by your thoughtless acts.
Let us all pray to Lord Rama. Let us meditate upon Him early in the morning, upon His beautiful face, and remember His wonderful qualities. Let us keep chanting God’s name, whatever we may be doing, throughout the day. Let us always remember Him. Our energy will increase. Our bad tendencies will vanish. Our weaknesses will get controlled. May Rama bless everyone!
Jaya Guru Datta – Sri Guru Datta