September 8, 2013
Speeches of HH Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji (highlights) – September 8, 2013 - Vijayawada
Morning after puja
Jaya Guru Datta. Naa Chilukalu, నా చిలుకలు - the fantastic book has just been released in Telugu language in Vijayawada on this auspicious day of Swarna Gowri Vratam. It was earlier released in English as My Parrots. It contains information never before learned or imagined by any of us. It explains the importance of birds in human life, and the relationship between man, the yoga chakras, the planets, the dates, the seven musical notes, Guru and parrots. O man, you are caught in the cage of worldliness, the parrot laughs, happily singing and speaking even when caged. Protecting and serving birds saves and safeguards humanity, Swamiji has declared. Please support His efforts to rehabilitate injured and abandoned birds, and to protect the endangered species of parrots by sponsoring the Shukavana project in Mysore.
The mellifluous music CD by world renowned Sri Vishwamohan Bhatt has just been released. All Swamiji's bhajans in the CD. He came to America also and played the Mohan Veena (Guru Purnima). Naa chilukalu has been inaugurated. We think, ordinary parrots. Sukataatam taponidhim - Taata is Suka (Parrot). A parrot in Mysore ashram calls Swamiji, "Tataji". Tata means a seer, a treasure house of wisdom. over 150 million views of Shatashloki Ramayana 30 minute video have taken place globally on the Internet, in over 150 countries. People viewed it with great concentration. Many had the video playing nonstop 24/7 on computers, laptops, phones, televisions, in homes, Internet cafes, and shops. It protected many from major calamities such as natural disasters and accidents. It was a spiritual revolution. These days we create revolutions for many minor issues. Well and good. But very few make the determination to follow the spiritual path and perform austerities such as writing the name of Rama 10 million times. We must seek God's refuge for success in any endeavor. Without timely rains, pure air and water we cannot survive. The Lord of Time, the Creator of this Universe is being forgotten. Regardless of religion, or preference for the deity, one must seek God. It appears as if among Hindus there are most number of atheists. You may get upset with Swamiji for saying this. Many have fake devotion. We don't revere our own belief systems and traditions. I have traveled the world over and over again, and speak from my own experience and taking direct evidence.
This is not book research. It is a very lamentable situation. We think we are very devout. But when our wishes are not fulfilled, we denounce God. If a marriage fails, we also abuse the priest, the hall owner, the astrologer and the chef who helped in the marriage. They will all become afraid to give help in the future. Is this arrogance?, is this lack of faith?, you decide. Whose fault is this? You inquire as to where the mistake lies. Why is this ill-nature prevalent? No one has a pure mind. A questioning attitude regarding parents, Guru, what is to be done? How to rectify this problem? Each has to correct individually. Each should feel from within that all our near and dear should flourish and prosper. A spiritual leader will always preach harmony. We have no right to convert to another religion. God has placed you in a religion for a purpose. If you are insistent on changing religion, die soon and be born in the family that belongs to your chosen religion.
I visit Christians. I am very fond of them. But I do not allow them to change their religion. I have many Muslim friends. I have had milk from their cows. But I have not given up my Dharma, or my beliefs. I have stayed at the homes of Jews, Muslims, and Christians and those of other religions. But I did not eat meat there. God gave us a certain lineage. We must maintain it. We must follow God's command. Otherwise it is a sin. So many crores of views of Shatashloki Ramayana because even Jews have listened to it. My parrots have made it possible. Why are there such significant colors, what is the relationship of parrots with the zodiac signs? 145 parrots are raised by Swamiji. Why do parrots talk? Swamiji has researched. Swamiji has visited a 80 year old parrot in USA. Even in sleep you do not chant, Rama. In its breath, in its sleep, a parrot chants Rama and Hanuma. As you breathe, you must chant mantra given by Guru. Make a habit.
Evening after release of postal stamps
Jaya Guru Datta.
Releasing stamps to honor an ex employee of the postal department, as EDDA, extra departmental delivery assistant, is an honor to the Vijayawada ashram. My devotee, Sudhakar, the Post Master General of Andhra Pradesh, is always smiling despite all troubles. He is a very ardent devotee. He has done tremendous service to Guru. In USA they release postal stamps, why is it not happening in India, he lamented. Swamiji is still a postman, who carries your messages to this day. You have no promotion, Brahma has declared. We gave you the position of Guru, not further promotion for you, although I made several attempts to escape from this human world. I am stuck here. The department is very strict about minor details also. So many documents are required for me to earn my Rs.40 salary during my service in the department. After the advent email it is rumored that postal department is going downhill. It is not so. When computers crash, we all have to finally only depend on the post office. It is our friend, never to be forgotten. Even if you don't exchange news of welfare, you can at least send greetings. Pigeons used to spread wings and carry messages as postmen. A swan carried love messages back and forth between emperor Nala and Damayanti. A parrot in the form of a Vedic scholar carried Rukmini's message to Krishna. Suka Brahma is son of Vyasa, and he became the Guru even to his own father.
You must always distribute your joy with others. Share your food. Share your feast. Invite unfortunate persons, hungry persons, and feed them. Instead of shouting at the hungry persons for staring at you with eyes like owls, give up your own meal and satisfy that person's hunger. That will earn you great merit.
You must draw out other people's pain and reduce their trouble. Parrots do this. That is why I like them a lot. One of my parrots always calls me Tataji, which is another name for Suka Brahma who gave King Pareekshit Liberation in just 7 days. It is such a sweet sounding call. If we are reading Ramayana, Bhagavatam, and Mahabharata today, it is all because of the service rendered to humans by parrots.
Everyone should acquire the postage stamps released by the government of India postal department in Swamiji's name with his picture on them. Swamiji had once worked in a very humble capacity in that department, in his youth. Don't say, "What will I do with postage stamps? Who will I mail letters to?" Exchange birthday greetings with one another at least.
A parrot in the home protects you from evil spirits, like a dog. It prevents bad dreams and all negative influences. You may not understand its speech, because it speaks in its own language. You don't need to keep a parrot as a pet. Even if you keep a photo of a parrot with Swamiji, it will give you immense benefit and protection. Such pictures are available in Mysore ashram.
Swamiji used to throw fistfuls of chocolates in the early days, in the 1960's. Those who caught several of them would keep them all for themselves and eat them up, and not share with those who missed. Those days I used to scold devotees who were greedy like that. You may keep two for yourself and distribute the rest to others. Nowadays, I don't say anything. I tell them okay, take take. I don't chastise them. In Trinidad, when Swamiji throws down chocolates, the devotees who catch them, distribute to all the devotees who missed, and would finally say, "Enough, Swamiji, everyone got." Such attitude makes me very happy.
One boy went to the store and purchased puja materials and placed them in a bag and was walking home on a busy street. His foot hit a rock, he tripped and fell down on the street. All the materials fell out of the bag and dispersed in different directions. The people who were nearby, quickly grabbed whatever items they could for themselves, and walked away. Nobody stopped to help the boy to get up or to gather up and put the materials back in his bag. Most people here are of that same bad nature. When will this mentality change? You must help others. You must share with others. You must be honest. You must never covet what does not belong to you and take away what does not belong to you.
When a house is on fire, instead of bringing water to help put out the fire, people quickly rush into the house and grab whatever items they can lay their hands on, and run home with it. Is this the way to behave?
When a dead body is seen, when they see gold ornaments on the corpse, the first instinct of many people is to quickly *** them away and keep them. You must give up such a negative spirit. You must share what you have with others, who do not have. You must develop a helping nature. You must give up miserliness and greed. You must be sensitive to proper sentiments.
Today is Swarna Gowri Festival. A special globally favorite bhajan will be sung. Gowree taaye Sankara jaaye - bhajan meaning summary - O Mother Gowri, the consort of Siva, you glow with the radiance of innumerable Suns. Please protect me O Goddess, your form is very auspicious and you radiate the emerald glow. You protect the good natured and punish the wicked. You remove inertia, you give joy to Indra. You remove the fear of rebirth. You are pleased by bhajans.
Swamiji is giving you a great opportunity. Swamiji may or may not read emails, but regular letters by mail I definitely read after they are sorted by Prasad or Phanishree. We have our own ashrama post office pincode, 570025. How many have used this for sending mail? Everyone must take the stamps and write to Swamiji with your return address. Now you send your address because many give donation and leave without giving an address. Among those who send mail, we will send secret gifts to 3 persons out of a selected 100. We will keep multiplying this number. Do this for a year, no complaints about Internet, Puttu, as you did for MMS videos. Now no chance for any complaints. I wish that Vijayawada should win the prizes as they won the first two prizes in Nandana Contest. For how long will these stamps be available? Only in Vijayawada? No, they will be available statewide for some time. Now you are thirsty for the stamps. Quench your thirst. Write that you heard my message and write the message and the bhajans that I have sung. Have you bought the book, Naa Chilukalu? Have you started reading the book? We have a parrot hospital where doctors are offering free service. Veterinarians can offer their services. There are nine planet parrot. You serve them to get rid of all your sins. A parrot at home always chants Rama even though it may sound differently to you. You don't have to raise or adopt a parrot. At least keep a photo at home of Swamiji with a parrot. It will benefit you.
Ramadas and Purandara Dasa in their devotional songs, spoke highly of parrots. Our intellect is a parrot. Our body is the cage. Please chant Rama Rama, we must teach it. But we chant, coffee, coffee, tea tea first thing in the morning. One grain of rice, when a crow sees, it caws, to invite other crows to share with others the precious food. Same thing with a chicken. If one crows, so many others come to share. We are greedy. We drive others away and want everything for ourselves. We hide our food and eat, including roasted peanuts, like a mouse. They stealthily eat a banana and throw out the peel to disclose the secret eating. You don't have to particularly feed the birds. Just shake the hand of the remnants of food for them to eat. You don't share even a morsel with others. What do you lose by sharing? If the other hungry person satisfies his hunger, it is such a blessing for us. Instead of sharing, we scold the others for asking us for food. You blame them for not bringing their own food. Share your joy and your food, take away the pain of others. Swamiji loves birds for this reason. Valmiki saw the two birds and when the hunter killed one of them, the other bird gave up its life. Ramayana's source is this incident. If we have Ramayana and Mahabharata today it is because of birds. Hundreds of birds circled around Swamiji's head and that incident gave the impetus for the Shatashloki Ramayana Yajna. A post office represents parrots. I cannot thank Sudhakar enough for his valuable service. We must all acquired these stamps. It is like a collection item, you can mail to others or to yourselves and then preserve them. Or mail to Appaji in mountains of mail for His birthday or Navaratri, or Datta Jayanti or Sivaratri, with your own message in a letter.
Gowramma talli - bhajan - meaning summary - O Mother Gowri, you are our mother and the Mother of all the worlds. You are the beloved of Siva, who shares half His body with you. We worship you. We sing your praises. We will obey your command all day long. We perform your austerities, we keep our focus on you, we remain with you lifelong. Ganapati is cradled lovingly in your lap. Subrahmanya rides on you for piggyback joyrides. You are the mother who chases after us to cuddle us. Please protect our children, our kith and kin. Sons and daughters-in-law serve you. The associates Pramatha Ganas serve you. On the peak of Mount Kailasa you enjoy the company of Lord Siva. You bring great glory to your mother's home and to your husband's home. Please grant prosperity to both my mother's and my mother-in-law's homes. Please bless us with wealth, and virtues. You are the treasure house of both. Please bestow upon us comforts here in this world and Liberation in the hereafter, O beloved of Siva, the embodiment of Sat -Chit-Ananda.
It seems I promised that I would sing a bhajan upon the request of a winner amongst 36000. So I sing now.
Kasi Kasi Ganga Sangata Varanasi - bhajan - meaning summary - Please protect us, Kasi, the holy city, who are ever in the company of Ganga the sacred river. You are known as Varanasi. You protect us from deluge and destruction, you are the consort of Siva, and are praised by all the gods. Gods reside permanently in you. Those who give up life at Kasi at once obtain Liberation, getting rid of all sins. You are famous as the great cremation ground. You bestow supreme bliss. You grant Sat, Chit, and Ananda, Truth, Consciousness, and Eternal Bliss.
Sri Guru Datta