Aug 9, 2012
Speech of HH Sri Datta Vijayananda Teertha Swamiji on Krishna Janmasthami - August 9, 2012
Paramatma is called Avatara varishtaya - the greatest incarnation of the divine.
Both Rama and Krishna are same. Today is Krishna Janmashtami. Lord Krishna is born today. On this happy occasion, immediately if we say 'your wife is abducted', it is not good. So today we will talk about Krishna tatva, chant Ramayana dhyana slokas, and sing some Krishna bhajans.. We will do vishnu sahasranama parayana.
Krishna ashtami is also called as Durga ashtami because mother goddess is born with 18 shoulders before Krishna's birth and warns Kamsa that he would die in the hands of Krishna. Mere chanting of the word 'Krishna Krishna' is sufficent. In the word Krishna, the first syllables 'ka' and 'ru' itself will remove all our sins, remove difficulties and gives salvation. Just with 'kri' everthing is gained. So 'sha' and 'na' in the later part of the word 'shna' felt shy itseems. Such is the power of Krishna nama. So we will now sing some krishna bhajans and go to krishna nishidi puja (midnight puja) as Krishna was born in the midnight of krishna ashtami.
Bhajan om om om gam gam gam
Ramayana discourse is going on during this Chaturmasya deeksha. It should not be interrupted. So we will chant the dhyana slokas which is equal to listening to Ramayana.
Let us assume that Rama is running behind the golden deer. He too stops for a while under the shade of a tree and thinks, I have killed so many demons but this deer is giving strain to me. Let him run till tomorrow. Today we will take a long jump and go to Dwapara yuga.
On parvadina (festival) it is important to chant the names of the God of that festival. Parvalu also means the thorns of the Dandam (the holy bamboo stick of Bala Swamiji) If there are eight parvas, it is called Narayana Dandam. There are eight festivals during chaturmasyam.Krisna ashtami comes in the middle. This means Krishna gives light on either sides. He is called Jagadguru. He is the main deity for all the four orders of life Brahmacharia, Garhasthya, Vanaprastha and Sannyasa. Krishna took birth is Sandhi Kalam ( Junctional Point). We need someone's help in sandhi kalam only. A kid is admitted to school. It is a sandhi kalam for him. He feels it a great difficulty. They cry for going to school. Then comes college. It is sandhi kalam. They go happily but they find it difficult to study. So Guru's help is needed. After college, they have to decide if to join a job or PG course. This is sandhi kalam.We then need advice and take from elders. We joined in job. It is sandhi kalam. New place. Need to adjust. Then marriage. It is sandhi kalam. If married to known people fine, if to unknown people, takes time to adjust. Then children. Again sandhi kalam. Where to join them, how to grow them up. Then retirement. Again sandhi kalam. What to do, how to live, should I join another job or take rest - all confusions. So there is no retirement. Only appointment. You are appointed into spirituality. We must walk into spirituality. All these days, we have struggled for us and family. Retirement is the time for atma uddhara - self upliftment. After all this, there is one more final and important sandhi kalam. That you know. We dont need to talk about that on Krishna Ashtami. So like this, in our life we always have two paths. We need to decide which one to follow. Our maximum life is for 100 years. In a span of 100 years, there are so many sandhis. So when yuga (eon) changes, from Dwapara to Kali, how many sandhis should be there ? There will be many changes. Krishna is born to balance this as how Sadguru does in our life.
Sambhavami Yuge Yuge.. He said He willl take birth in every yuga to punish the wicked and protect the righteous. Our birth itself is a yuga. When ever we have a demon born inside us, He is there to end him. Everyone supports us in happiness. Only Sadguru guides us in troubles. He comes and protects us like a flash in our lives.
In Bhagavatham, we had to wait till dasama skanda (10th chapter)to know about Krishna leelas. Ramayana is based on one story and goes continously. But, Bhagavata every skanda (chapter) story changes. Bhagavata is like sand glass in which sand flows continously. Such bhagavata was written by Sage Vyasa. He classified the Vedas and gave to us. There are many Vyasas. Of them, Krishna Dvaipayana is important. He is dark complexioned. So, he is called Krishna and is born in Dweepa - an island. So called Dwaipayana. He saw the Krishna charitra and gave it to us. He is being worshipped as Sadguru. He gained inner peace only after writing Bhagavatam though He has written many other puranas. This means we attain inner peace only by Krishna smarana. This is Vyasa's experience. He showed many miracles and established Dharma like our Appaji. We are worshipping such Krishna today on His birthday.
This is Sraavana Masa - month of Sraavana. Sravana is to listen. We must listen, understand and recaptulate. Krishna was born in Sravana masa to remind this to us. He is born on Ashtami thithi. Ashtami removes eight types of difficulties and bestows eight types of wealth.
Krishna showed us how to respect Gurus and friends in Sandeepani ashram. He showed us how to respect parents in Devaki, Vasudeva episode. He prostrates at the feet of Devaki. Devaki asks: you are a Jagadguru, why do you hold my feet ? He says if parents are not respected, there is no life for anyone in this world and also in subsequent worlds.
He worshipped nature in lifting Govardhana hill episode. He said: first protect trees and hills. Only then, it rains. We feel scared about krishna avatara. He is a great revolutionist. He protects pancha prana.He gave energy to pacha bhutas (five elements). He protected pancha pandavas. He destroys all difficulties for us.
Bhagavad Gita begins with the words 'Dharma kshetre, kurukshetre samavetaa yuyutsavah; Maamakaah paandavaashchaiva kimakurvata sanjaya'.
The main meaning talks about pandavas and kouravas. But the innner meaning is that the body is Dharma kshetra. God gave us this body for implmenting Dharma. kuru kshetre is doing satkarma- good deeds. It also means kuru-satkarma kuru - Kuru is to do. Do good deeds. When we start to do good deeds, many difficulties block our way. Our 'Me' and 'I" feelings indicates Ahamkara - pride. Pandavas indicate satva guna. Always, there will be a war between our Ahamkara and Satva Guna. Who is winning this war ?
'kimakurvata sanjaya'. Satva guna always has victory. Krishna gave us such Bhagavad Gita.
Perform all good deeds and offer them at the feet of the Lord ! May Lord Krishna Bless you all !