March 20, 2005
Speech of HH Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji on Jwala Devi at Gam Dattanath Mandir - March 20, 2005 - Delhi Ashrama
Jaya Jwala Devi
How can I explain the greatness of JWAALA Devi? After Sati jumping in to the fire pit and Nata Raja dance, her body was thrown around and it fell in 52 places on earth. Of them 18 places are called as important Devi temples. They are called as Shakti Peethas. The Shloka "Lankaayaam Shaankari Devi" by Sri Shankaracharya lists the places of temples and the names of Devi presiding there. In the Jwaala temple, there is no idol of Devi. But in the Mantapa, there is only a flame burning. In the sanctum there are seven flames, which are burning since eternity. Akbar, the Mogul king heard about the place and showed disrespect to the place by getting it closed. His grandson lost his sight and in the palace, fire started to appear inexplicably in various places. Then Akbar realized his mistake and then undertook a pilgrimage to the JWAALA temple and offered pardon and prayed to her. It is all Devi Leela. The Jwaala temple is one such Shakti Peetha where mother Goddess is worshipped in the form of flames of fire. The worship is done in the Tantric tradition of Shakti Agama. I was very happy to have made this sudden pilgrimage to this great place today. I also performed Homa in one of the flames and then performed Naivedya and Kumari Puja to nine randomly chosen girls. I am really happy.
You all are here today. How did you come to know about this program? This is a wonder. You all are here because of love and respect for me. I have come here because I love and respect you all. This alone is permanent in life. Many devotees, who had miraculous cure from a dreaded disease, attribute their cure to my powers. But I attribute it to all God. I am nothing. There many Gurus who brag about their powers. Now days, Guru relationship is a business activity. Where there is love and true relation, where ignorance melts – that place is true Guru place. A bearded person, or a shaven headed person wearing orange robes is not a Guru. In that place you get experience from your heart, where you feel true love and happiness that place alone is True Guru place. Don’t go after crowd numbers or who is who among followers. The place where your heart talks and feels, that is true Guru Tattva. I always tell my devotees that they should not treat me as their Guru. I always say that your first step should be to treat me as a friend. Only after you feel me, then you should go to the second step and assume Guru – disciple relationship. Never compare two Gurus. It will only increase confusion. Internally, the entire humanity is of one single race.
Amrita has no special taste. When Amrita assumes taste, it ceases to be Amrita. If you follow a particular faith, then have full confidence in it and follow it fully.
I remember a story.
Sanaka and Sananda were great Rishis. They were great intellectuals. They visited Maha Vishnu once. They requested that they be permitted to chant Vedas. Vishnu permitted. They chanted all Mantras for hundreds of years. Vishnu patiently listened. But one day even Mantras got over. They then just made exclamatory sounds – AHA – OOH to explain the greatness of Maha Vishnu. Like wise, we can only exclaim at the greatness of this world, its inhabitants, it’s creator.
We can only be wonderstruck at the greatness of this world. We can neither improve nor harm.
I know you all have hundreds of questions. You are not the first ones. From Hanuman onwards, from Thyagaraja, the great composer onwards have such questions. Thyagaraja said in the end “MAAKELARA VICHARAMU” meaning why should I worry about your affairs, let me just follow you.
I urge you all to visit this Ashrama at least once a month and offer prayers to the Gam Dattatreya temple in this Ashrama. We have now decided to build small shrines for Shiva, Kali, Navagraha and Ram Parivar. You all should get involved in its building and inauguration.
If you have time and if God calls you, you all should visit Mysore Ashrama in the last week of May and participate in the grand celebrations that will take place from 22nd to 29th May.
Sri Guru Datta