Feb 24, 2013
Speech of HH Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji - Bangalore - February 24, 2013
The parrot that Goddess Meenakshi holds in Her hand is one of the incarnations (avatar) of Lord Shiva. Further, it has in it a significant aspect (amsha) of Lord Vishnu. In Telugu, parrot is called ‘Rama chiluka’. The word ‘Rama’ has been prefixed to it as this bird eternally recites the name ‘Rama’. Moreover, it pronounces this name ‘Rama’ very clearly. Parrot is the only being that brings out the sound from its abdomen. All of us speak from the throat. Attempts should be made to understand the language of the parrots although it is very tough. On the face of it, it appears as if the parrot is terribly shrieking/ shouting.
In one of His incarnations, Anjaneya swamy (Hanuman) took on the form of a Garuda bird. Even to this day, in the place Pakshi-teertha (located in Tamil Nadu), vultures/ eagles (Garuda) come every day without fail and carry the offerings that have been made there, to the forefathers (Pitr Devata). Those who have visited this sacred place of Pakshi-teertha will be aware of this.
In general opinion, crow is considered to be very inauspicious. Anything that has been touched by a crow is considered to be bad. Such thinking is completely wrong. In fact, the melody that subtly exists within the voice of a crow cannot be found anywhere else. We are put off by its hoarse cawing. But deep within, lies its melodious voice. Among birds, crows are incredibly the most intelligent (buddhi). The second place goes to the parrot.
To be frank, the first place in intelligence (buddhi) goes, not to the crow, but to the special bird Garuda. This Garuda can be aptly titled as ‘the incarnation of wisdom’ (buddhi avatara). This special bird refrains from eating meat. It is not so easy to spot this bird either. It makes itself visible only during times of Kumbhabhishekam.
Lord Indra, the Lord of heaven has a parrot as His mount. Lord Manmatha, the Lord of desires has a parrot as his vehicle. Two birds were the root cause for the epic Ramayana to originate. When Valmiki Maharishi saw the hunter mercilessly killing the male bird, He recollects the story of Ramayana. He understands about the pain of separation and the subsequent grief that it causes.
Srimad Bhagavatam originated because of a parrot. Lord Shiva was once initiating Parvati Devi into the Supreme Essence. At that time, an egg was accidentally dropped off in that vicinity by its mother and father who were flying away in fright from there. The parrot within the egg heard the entire essence that was preached. Lord Shiva was very angry when he realized that the bird had heard the initiation that was meant only for Parvati. He wanted to destroy the bird. The bird escaped and was later emerged in human form, from the fire that Vyasa was creating. He was Suka Brahma (with a parrot head). He brought forth to this world the entire essence of the conversation between Shiva and Parvati, that he had heard while in the egg (***). This essence is the Bhagavatam.
It is said that the kingfisher bird (lakumika pakshi) has the knowledge of current astrology and of current happenings. Likewise, the Taitareeya Upanishad contains in it references to the Taitareeya birds (pakshi). These taitareeya pakshi have taught us the Upanishad itself! They have taught us ‘language’ through the medium of this Upanishad. There are many birds amongst these, which have a connection to music (naada).
Next you may question as to why Swamiji, who has so much knowledge about birds, chose to keep quiet for so long in this matter? Let me state here that I have never been quiet about this matter. Wherever I have gone, a bird would always be seated by my window. No one has ever paid attention to this fact. Whenever I had to stay overnight at someone’s place, a bird would come to visit me. In West Indies, a Garuda would await my arrival and thereafter would lay an egg. After a fortnight it would fly away together with its little one. I would feed the little Garuda. Even presently in ashram they are raising a little Garuda. It is very rare to find this bird. It resembles a parrot.
To obtain information about the book that is being compiled about birds, Swamiji has approached, in India, almost all those persons who are raising birds either as pets or for sale. I have found many such persons even within this city. Many amongst them are Muslims. After securing all the information, Swamiji began this small project. As a part of this, many birds have been brought to the ashram. This small project itself costs lakhs of rupees. There are many primary donors for this project.
When Swamiji took on the computer project, so many computers had to be purchased. Today this project is running successfully. Every day one MMS is being sent. Messages sent from ashram are being viewed by hundreds and thousands of people across the globe. Towards this project, a team consisting of about 30-40 persons was formed. Even if 2- 3 people are absent at any given point of time, the work goes on smoothly.
Under no circumstances does Swamiji’s task ever come to a halt. Never ever be under the impression that you are the fundamental support for any work that Swamiji undertakes. Never think – ‘I am the key member. If I don’t report for work, the work will come to a halt’. If you are not available, someone else will get this chance. Remember that if you miss the opportunity to do seva, you are the loser. You should come forward and avail of the opportunity to do seva. Do not wait for a formal invite. If you want importance from Swamiji, if you seek recognition from Swamiji, then it is the end. Swamiji will not give you any seva.
At any point of time, there are always many persons eagerly awaiting the chance to offer seva. The number of people available for seva always exceeds the requirements. Why then should Swamiji chase you to get the work done? Does anybody let go off the meal that has been already served in a plate and instead choose to stand in a long queue to get a small bowl of food? Your demands are exactly akin to this. You want Swamiji to give up the ready sevaks and chase you. You come and join the queue and seek seva. I will not keep waiting for anyone.
The Hanuman temple in Mysore cost almost 2 crore. The money came on its own. You may wonder why Swamiji says that such a large sum came on its own. This is to state that without any effort of my part the devotees are themselves getting all this done. Likewise, people themselves should participate on their own in this bird project. This Shuka Vana (bird aviary) is not open to public. It is only for members.
The birds in the aviary are being taught to speak multiple languages as part of integration. When a question is asked in Kannada language, the bird is being trained to reply in Tamil and vice versa. This is being experimented. The birds are being taught to sing bhajans. It requires tremendous patience to train these birds to sing. Many devotees enthusiastically arrive to train them. Finally, all that they accomplish is having a good meal in the ashram and returning home.
It is not so easy to train them to speak/sing. In one sitting, the person should spend 4-5 hours. To get them to sing the first two words ‘Paahi paahi’ from the bhajan ‘Paahi paahi gajanana’ melodiously, it took two months. Once this is mastered, it will catch the next word quickly. (Swamiji shows the video of a parrot singing ‘paahi paahi’ very tunefully). I was not supposed to show this video until the learning is complete but then I showed it. You must have noticed that its voice is so melodious, so sweet. It sings so tunefully. Its voice is like that of a small baby. We are so lazy that we do not even bother to teach our kids this ‘paahi paahi’. This particular bird that is being trained to sing is not of gentle nature. It is cruel. Yet the lady who is training the bird is patiently imparting the training to it.
The birds should be handled with care. Each and every time before a bird is touched, hands should be thoroughly washed. In its absence, infections will spread from us to them and vice versa.
COmpiled by: Parimala Eshwarla