April 4, 2011
Message of HH Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji on Ugadi – April 4, 2011 - Hyderabad
Jaya Guru Datta
In this intense heat all of you are seated here waiting to listen to the Ugadi song. That is why Swamiji has come here now to sing for you. His voice is not good. There has been so much of travel, toAustralia, and then toMalaysia. Time change, weather change, and travel strain have all had their effect. You know that I am here since four O’clock this morning until just a little while ago. I did not want to let you down. It is my duty and pleasure to sing for you. Some of those who have accompanied Swamiji on these travels are still fast asleep inside. They do not know when or what to eat or when or where to sleep. But Swamiji has to come to you. He cannot stay behind. Swamiji’s body is also his devotee, his instrument. So he has to put it to use. The sense organs are all deities. They need to be respected and given nourishment regularly on time.
Anyway this is the beginning of the new Khara year. Sri Khara means Vishnu. But just Khara means donkey. It may also mean ‘cruel’. Sometimes some contradictory or negative meanings also may be there. Adding ‘Sri’ makes it good, but in truth it is only Khara, not Sri Khara.
I am going to give you a clue. This word Khara also has a special, positive meaning hidden in it. Even without adding the ‘Sri’ it contains a good meaning. Can anyone guess what it is? Have you discovered it? Without adding the seasoning (tiragamota) also, it can give a good meaning. Think about it. Once you know the hidden meaning, you will realize that Khara will protect us. When we expect difficulties, when we expect losses or diseases to occur, we take precautions. We use preventive measures, like getting vaccinated. For those who live in theU.S.unless they get vaccinated, they are not allowed to visit countries likeSouth Africawhere mosquito borne diseases are prevalent. The same way when we go to some far off places, we go prepared. We take extra clothes, money, and also arrange for our return transportation. Otherwise we may face problems.
When God gives something bad, he will always include something good also in it. When you say or read Khara backwards what is it? Rakha – means to protect and preserve, like in the Hindi ‘Rakhavale’. You must pray to God for protection. If you forget your protector, you will end up being a Khara, a donkey. Pray for forgiveness of all mistakes committed, either knowingly or unknowingly.
‘Vacchindochindochindi Ugadi raane vacchindi’ is a highlight bhajan which was composed some years ago. Yet that bhajan is heard in so many thousands of homes today, and will be shown on a television channel tonight along with other Ugadi songs composed by Swamiji. It is an evergreen song which has the lyrics and meaning that will apply to any Ugadi. You simply change the name of the year at the end of the song. That is all. All other words in the text are fixed. You cannot change them. They fit perfectly. Swamiji’s bhajans have emanated from this *** of nectar, the Amrita Kalasa known as Swamiji. These are all drops of the nectar of immortality. May be you can fix some printing errors if there are any. But other than that, the words are set to last forever.
This year’s bhajan is different. Swamiji’s bhajans are all upadesha. They contain spiritual teachings like the Upanishads. You should keep listening. Understand the meaning of the songs. Read the Bhajana Yogam – Vivritti, the books which explain the meaning in detail. If you read the Vivritti, the explanation, that will lead you to Nivritti, liberation.
At Langkawi in Malaysia Swamiji saw the footprints of Hanuman. It was an awe inspiring sight. This was something that occurred in Treta Yuga or Dwapara Yuga. You must have seen the photos on facebook. There was incessant rain for five days. It looked as if the island itself would get submerged. Swamiji went trekking. The volunteers had been training for fifteen days to go on this trek. Out of immense love for Swamiji they built a fine support structure with ladders and ropes. The place was so inaccessible. There were so many mosquitoes. They were like snakes, when they were biting. In the water were very sharp coral reefs. You could not put your foot down even.
In such a remote place there was a Hanuman Yantra carved on the huge rock. Who carved it? How? We waited for high tide so that the boat could get close to the place. Otherwise it was impossible to approach. We went by boat when the water rose. Swamiji went with the volunteers. They are not human beings. They are all vanaras. Such love and devotion they have shown. They did not want Swamiji to set his foot down on the sharp surface. One volunteer lay down on the ground and asked Swamiji to walk on top of him. Swamiji did. Later he told Swamiji that his stomach pain got cured.
Creation is very strange. Language is also very strange. Swamiji’s future program will only be announced tomorrow.
We will sing only a few bhajans.
- Ganapati devudu maaku
- Raavoy raavoy Ugadi raja
The general gist of the new Ugadi song:
Come on, O King of Ugadi! The great one who raises hopes! The great king who clips desires!
The koyal bird songs offer you drum beats, the jasmine buds offer you worship.
In the raging fires of Petrol yajna,LebanonandLibyaare up in flames
As it was making its exit, the spent year wreaked havoc in Japan
To us who bow down at the feet of Datta, won’t you please bless us with Sachchidananda?
- Venkata Ramana Sankata Harana
- Shiva Om Tatsat
The above bhajans were sung. It was announced prior to the commencement of the bhajan session that a 60 foot high Hanuman statue would soon be installed at the Mysore ashrama. The 12th year Brahmotsava would be celebrated at Sri Datta Venkateshwara Temple in Mysore from May 21-27.
Sri Guru Datta