June 1, 2013
Speech of HH Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji during evening session – June 1, 2013 - Trinidad Ashram
Vrata = A vow (often includes abstaining from eating certain types of food).
Jaya Guru Datta
Sri Guru Datta
Sri Maha Ganapathaye Namah
Sri Sarasvatyai Namah
Sri Padavallabha Narasimha Sarasvati
Sri Guru Dattatreyay Namah
Om Namo Hanumate Namah
Om Namo Hanumate Namah
Today is Saturday, the Hanuman Day. Many people observe Hanuman Vrata on a Saturday. Some do it for forty years, some for sixteen years & some for the minimum period of three years.
What is vrata? There are different kinds of vratas – Hanuman Vrata, Krishna Vrata, Lakshmi Vrata, Rama Vrata, Satyanarayana Vrata. What does this mean? Through Vrtata, Lord Vishnu performs miracles for the devotees. Stories of the vratas talk about kings getting victory & salvation, by observing the particular Vrata. These stories are about the glory of Maha Vishnu. Usually, after conducting the Vrata, we read the story assosciated with it.
You can also observe Sadguru Vrata, by performing worship to Sadguru’s photograph & then, reading one Sadguru chapter. Clean your body, clothes & house,observe silence & peace, eat sattvic food, on the day of vrata. Satyanarayana Vrata & Hanuman Vrata are also conducted in a similar fashion.
Many people think, vrata is all about restriction, it is very tough & rough, we can’t do it. No, it is not. King Kaartveeryaarjuna, conducted Datta Vrata daily in his kingdom. You all know about Kaartaveeryaarjuna. After every Datta Vrata, He read the stories about the glory of Datta.
Following King Kaartaveeryaarjuna, Parasurama & Prahalada also conducted vrata. Not only Indians, every human being must observe vrata, towards their Guru. Then, you will get good benefit, merit & a shining life. So, do attend & participate in Vratas. In the evening, do satsanga. Satsanga is singing the glory of Lord Vishnu, Rama’s names, kirtan. Provide food or annadana to the needy persons. Donate clothes to the needy persons. Vrata Day is the happiest day. Slowly, slowly, you can decide, as per your circumstances & capacity, a particular time to do vrata – either weekly once or monthly once or yearly once.
Since, today is Saturday, Hanuman Vrata is very important – the glory of Hanuman. You can discuss & chant the Sundara Kaanda, maybe three or four chapters or stanzas of it & then follow with Satsanga. During this process, you forget your pains & problems.
The choice of the diety is yours - Vishnu Vrata, Devi Bhagavati Vrata & many more. After the vrata, take satvic food. Eat only once, don't keep eating & sleeping, throughout the day. Then, you follow with satsang.
"Satsangatve Nisangattvam", you acquire detachments from your useless commitments. All detachments will vanish, if you practise satsanga. You will not have to think about all the garbage things. People, nowadays, don't want peace. They have their own ego, own karma, own money, own power.
This is not good. Your money, power, everything, you must spend with Sadguru. Give up everything for Sadguru & your family. Giving towards your family is necessary. You can also give towards society. Concentrate little towards your family, concentrate little towards the society, but, concentrate heavily towards God. This is satsanga. ' Satsangatva Nisangatvam'. By Satsanga, we automatically get nisangattva.
'Nisangatva Nischala tatvam.' After nisangatva, we get permanent nischala tatvam. Nischala tatvam - the feeling of fulfillment. This is my God, this is my brother!
"Nischala tatve jeevan mukti."
After experiencing the feeling of fulfillment, one gets salvation. This is simple dharma; all within your hands. Automatically then, you become saintly. Evolutions are happening continuously in your janma. It is not necessary to take so many janmas, one janma is enough. Sadguru gives guidance. Carefully listen & follow. Therefore, Sadguru is necessary in our human janma.
You all have heard about King Parikshata. We also know about Bhagavatam (Hindu scripture with stories of Lord Vishnu. No King Parikshita, no Bhagavatam. Bhagavatam was reveiled because of Parakshita King. He was cursed by a saint. He sought protection, He sought to know only about the Lord, he sought only salvation. He had only seven days more to live. Then Shuka Brahma, in the form of a parrot, preached Bhagavatam. There is another beautiful story about Shuka - the son of Vyasa & the son of Parvati Parameshwara. Swamiji has given so many examples about birds. What kind of birds, what kind of shuka, what is their influence in our birth. They may seem like small creatures, but, they are all angels. They are different angels, some have been cursed & are experiencing the curse.
Shuka Brahma preached Bhagavata to King Parakshita to attain moksha. Within seven days, King Parakshita attained moksha.
Nowadays, many enquire about Swamiji's liking & interest in birds. Yes, Ramayana has a connection with birds, Bhagavata also has a connection with birds. Shiv Purana & Taitreya Upanishad have also a connection with birds. The bird story is very different. A beautiful book in English of bird stories is to release, maybe during the birthday celebrations. You can read & understand about Swamiji’s & your connection with birds. Recently, Sri Swamiji has uploaded a video on ‘Parrots on each day of the month’, go & see. Understand what is your bird, what is your date of birth bird. This may arise interest in Bhagavatam.
Sri Balaswamiji will be able to give good lectures on Bhagavatam. If you are fortunate, He will come & speak in His childish way. He is very busy & is giving lots of lectures.
He wanted to come here. I said, “Not now, not for one or two days. Come for 15 days. I will also come then. You can give a good series of lectures on Bhagavatam or Ramayana.”
You all need MMS’s. Many people are very happy about the advices given through 365 quotes. Sri Swamiji has made 365 MMS’s. If you have an android (or IOS) phone, then you can download MMS or Sachchidananda quotes (SGS quotes). All have nice English versions. They are nice. We will definitely continue them, if not now, then later.
I told Ramesh Maharaja, this will be a short trip. He said, “Sri Swamiji, please come & stay for one day please & live as per your wish.
Between the birthday on the 26th & the 19th, there are many different works in Mysore, India. But then, Sri Swamiji is now on a vacation with birds. I am very happy - vairagya.
He said, "Sri Swamiji, I don't want to tell you to go back. You please stay for one, after that it is your decision."
Nowadays, Sri Swamiji is only giving darshan. No interviews, no Pada Puja, no house visits, but, people are still happy.
"No pada puja - its okay. Sri Swamiji in these 70 years has given Pada Puja for atleast 25 - 30 years. We will keep that energy in our house, in our minds, in our children. It doesn't matter Swamiji, we are happy with your darshan."
So, Swamiji gives darshan, every morning for half an hour. If I have the mood, then, I will sit for hours together & give interviews.
Nowadays, I am 24 hours with birds, talking to them. They are all different angels. Some birds die after two or three days. Last month, three hundred birds were given freedom. Swamiji takes some injured birds, gives them medication & then after one or two months, I'll free them. Some of the birds talk, some dance, some sing. My world is totally different. My planet is very vast.
I am not giving any recommendation, orders or permission for you to keep birds in your house. No permission to keep birds in a cage. Such permission is only rare.
This bhajan group is very nice. You can join during Appaji's bhajans. Why don't we make a CD together?
This is what I want. This happiness is what I want. Your Swamy wants this. Swamiji is very happy. "O! My child is growing!" Swamiji then feels like giving more & more, advice & suggestions to you. If your not interested, no bhajans, then, I am also not interested.
Did Sri Swamiji visit last year? A year back?
(Someone from the audience replies that Trinidad lost out on HH's darshan last year.)
It is not good. You all are not losers.
Very good, very nice Gurunilayam & Ashrama. Good, powerful vibrations are here. This is your house, your Ashrama. Come here, experience peace.
Ok, Jai Guru Datta. So, what else? Mauna - silence is also a teaching.
After Guru gives upadesha, He asks the disciples, if they wish to clarify or ask. Guru keeps asking the disciples, what they want. The chelas (disciples) were silent all this while, still they remain silent.
If you have questions, you are a human being.
If you have no questions, you are a disciple (chela). True shishya learns by silence & experience.
Any questions sir? No questions!
Today is a very busy day. I am very happy. Today evening there is Hanuman Abhisheka. Everyone is asking Swamiji to perform the abhisheka. Hanuman Abhisheka & singing will take place. This is only satsanga. I am very happy.
Jai Guru Datta.
Compiled by: Swarnaprabha Y.S.