Dattajayanthi, 1998
Speeches of HH Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda during Dattatreya Jayanthi - December 1-3, 1998 - Mysore
December 1st
This year the Datta Jayanti Celebrations were conducted for three days, commencing from Dec 1st. Nagara Sankeertana was performed in the Ashrama before sunrise.
After Sri Chakra Puja and Ganapati and Datta Homa, Sri Swamiji released two compact discs. The first one, Live in Coventry, contains the music of the concert held in the town of Coventry, UK, during the historic Nada Prasara tour of 1993. The second CD Ganapati was the same CD released in England during Ganapati festival last year. Milk Abhisheka was performed to Lord Datta in the temple.
Thereafter, the Utsava Murthy idol of Lord Datta was brought in a procession to Nada Mantapa from the prayer hall. Sri Swamiji lighted the Brahma Deepa at the Sapta Swara Devata Mantapam in the Nada Mantapam. Nittala brothers namely, Lakshmana Rao, Satrughna Rao and Hanumantha Rao rendered "Burrakatha" a folk art performance on the Virata Parva, narrating the incidents of the period of service of the Pandavas and Draupadi at the palace of King Virata while they stayed there in cognition for one year. Sri Swamiji blessed the artists for their fine rendering. One of the artists was the narrator; the second one was the commentator and the third one gave humorous touch to the narration.
Sri Swamiji gave the following message:-
"The folk art Burrakatha is quite popular in Andhra Pradesh (South India). Burra is a Telugu word, which means the head. Tambura is used by the narrator. The head of the Tambura is linked with the name of the folk art. In the olden days, this folk art was used to propagate righteousness by narrating the moral stories of the mythology. In the recent times, the folk art is used for political propaganda and it has been degraded to a wasteful past time. However Satrughna Rao has been spreading the message of Datta, narrating the divine plays of Datta. Also Satrughna Rao has been giving his performances on the life history of Jayalakshmi Mata. In the other south Indian languages also, there are folk arts in Kannada, Tamil and Malayalam, which spread the message of morality".
Sri Swamiji directed the devotees to do Bhajan or to read the book "Datta Darshanam" or "Vishnu Sahasranamas" or "Bhagavad Gita" during these three days. He directed the audience to speak less and concentrate more on the aforesaid activities. Sri Swamiji gave the Upadesha (initiation) of the mantra "Om Dram Dattaya Namah" and asked the devotees to chant the mantra silently as often as possible. [It may be recollected that Sri Satrughna Rao was given a car by Swamiji in June 1998 during the 56th Birthday celebrations for the tours of the troupe to give performances at different places. It is for the first time that the three brothers gave the performance in the Mysore Ashrama. They could get an opportunity today to do so. Swamiji was very much pleased with the performance.
The same evening Yakshagana (traditional South Karnataka dance) was performed by Sri. Keremane Shambhu Hegde and party.
December 2nd
Before Sri Chakra Puja Sri Dendukuri Hanuman Ghanapathi rendered recital of Vedas. Smt. Lakshmi of Tenali (Andhra Pradesh) sang devotional songs melodiously. Sri Swamiji offered Purnahuti for the Ganapati and Datta Homas.
Kshira Abhishekam was performed in the Datta temple. The Utsava Murthy idol of Lord Datta was brought in a procession from the prayer hall to Nada Mantapa. Sri Swamiji lighted the Shiva Deepa at the Saptaswara Devata Mantapam in the Nada Mantapam. Sri. Ajit Kadakade of Bombay rendered Sangita Seva (music service) with the Bhajans in Hindi, Kannada and Marathi in the Hindustani classical style. He was accompanied by Sri A. Hatkar on Harmonium, Sri Santan Kinjuvade on Tabala and Sri Kishore Desai on vocal support and Tambura. Sri Sachin Wadekar accompanied on Tala (rhythm).
Sri Swamiji gave the following message:
"In the state of Maharashtra, the propagation of Datta Pantha has been established long since. The good tradition is strengthened by several saints who composed and sang the praises of Datta in all the states and in all languages. Datta Pantha is not a mere narrow cult. It shows the path to salvation to one and all considering them as the members of the Datta family. The celestial singers like Nandi, Bhrungi, Narada, Tumbura etc. have incarnated as the musician devotees spreading the message of philosophy and devotion at all places like villages, towns and cities. Kanakadasa and Purandaradasa in Kannada, Muthuswamy Dikshitar in Sanskrit, Tyagaraja in Telugu, Meerabai in Vraja (old Hindi), Namadeva and Jnanadeva in Marathi etc. The principles of the three paths to salvation are Karma, Bhakti and Jnana (the paths of action, devotion and knowledge) were propagated by these musician devotees. Further, many great souls have popularized these principles in prose, poetry, songs, music, dance, drama and folk arts. Generally, lectures on philosophy are not lightened to attentively by the commoner. Some of the great scholars are wonderful to hear. They are logical and pleasing. The orator supports one principle with a number of arguments and many quotations from Vedas, Puranas scriptures and epics. The wording is very grammatical consisting of fine phrases. In spite of all such grandeur, the layman cannot realise the message of the long lecture at the end of which he simply expresses his feeling saying "How wonderful it is". Actually not even a simple principle or saying goes deep into his memory. What is the reason? Such scholarly lectures are not easy to understand. They are tough and complicated. The attitude of the orator is not as "Let the people know" but it is only to exhibit his erudition. In contrast, the many musician devotees like those mentioned earlier sang the praises of the Lord extempore. The songs were the outpourings of their devotion and the expressions of divine joy. They are in simple words. The listeners of such devotional music remember at least a few words like "Vithala". Adi Shankaracharya is famous for his excellent books on philosophy. They are still studied by the seekers of knowledge. Yet, in the end his message "Bhaja Govindam", i.e. worship ***, sing his praises, is noteworthy. The Acharya has written several hymns like Lakshmi Narasimha Stotra, Soundarya Lahari and sets of 5 or 9 or 10 verses on the various deities. They are sung even nowadays musically. The Acharya has imbedded the tenets of philosophy in his musical verses. Thus the paths of devotion and knowledge have been blended finely by Adi Shankaracharya Similar were the methods of propagation of righteousness by Ramanujacharya and Madhvacharya, their main emphasis being devotion. While parsing ***, knowledge was also taught to the devotees. Swamiji's compositions are of three types. Those are in folklore, in medium level and high level. Some of the songs have not been sung by Him in public so far. They are of a special type. However, in general, Swamiji's songs comprise of simple and easily understandable words whether in Telugu, Kannada, Hindi or Sanskrit. Only a hungry man can eat. If one is not hungry, what is the use of offering delicious food to him? Generally the hunger and thirst of a commoner are not for good food and drink. Generally the people's taste is poor. A little of attention is enough to deserve Swamiji's grace and improve one's thirst for emancipation and hunger for knowledge. If you make one step towards him, Swamiji makes 100 or even 1000 steps towards you. If you recede by a single step, Swamiji recedes by 100 or 1000 steps. It is up to you to make efforts to deserve His grace.
In the evening Sri Swamiji accompanied Lord the procession of Datta in the ring road of the Ashrama. After the procession Sri Swamiji rendered Bhajans on Shiva for two hours.
December 3rd
Sri Swamiji performed Sri Chakra Puja and Pavamana Homa in the morning. After Homa Sri Swamiji released the Video CD of Nada Brahma and Yoga Brahma and a book containing the Hindi version of Anagha Puja.
Sri Swamiji gave the following message:-
"Once an offering is made to the Guru or ***, one must not think of it the next moment. It is sinful to do so. So also one must not publicise one's donations or services. Once a charity or donation is done by him, the devotee must think of the next service he would have to do. Also, one must not feel sorry that he could not donate anything on a particular occasion. He must also not blame *** that he could not get any money due to the lack of ***'s grace. It amounts to blaming ***. Instead one must pray to *** to enable him to make donations. It is not mere money one offers to the Guru or ***. It is only the offer of one's sins, confusions and problems he is offering along with the money. It is wise to take something given already or some dirt thrown out? So also one must not wish to take credit even for one's donations. When money cannot be donated for a noble cause, one must not worry. If one prostrates with devotion, it is enough in such cases. Swamiji is an institution. He knows how to utilise the money he receives for the different purposes. Hence one must not misunderstand the various activities of the Peetham. One must not doubt their efficacy. It is a common occurrence that a thorn is required to remove a thorn. Only a diamond cuts a diamond. Similarly a man accumulates various sins is several aspects of life. To remove the sins different methods like Puja, Homa, Abhisheka, recitation of hymns, study of sacred books and Bhajans etc. are adopted. Only these pious actions can remove the effect of one's evil actions. In other words pious action only can wipe out the sins of bad deeds i.e. only Karma can destroy Karma. Hence the devotees must perform the various rituals to get rid of their past Karma paving the way to salvation".
Tailabhishekam (Abhisheka with oil) was performed in the Datta temple and thereafter the Utsava Murthy Datta idol was brought in a procession from the prayer hall to Nada Mantapa. Sri Swamiji lighted the Vishnu lamp today at the Saptaswara Devata Mantapam in the Nada Mantapam. Datta Homa was conducted and Anagha Puja was performed in the Nada Mantapam and thereafter Sri Swamiji gave the following Datta Jayanti message:-
"Swamiji has lighted the Vishnu Deepa today, the third day of the Datta Jayanti celebrations. Datta is a perfect incarnation. He gives knowledge. It is not customary to send invitations to any one to attend this festival. Only for birthday celebrations, invitations are sent. One must realise the significance of Datta and try to come to participate in the festival. Datta is well known to everyone and that one must be enlightened by Him. Bodies are of three types namely Stoola, Sookshma and Kaarana, i.e., gross, subtle and casual. Datta relieves the devotee of the sufferings of these bodies. By His grace one will attain the state which is beyond the bondages of the three traits - Satvic, Rajasic and Tamasic. The effects of one's actions are of three types namely Ichha, Pareccha and Karma Prarabdha i.e., the deeds due to one's own freewill, effect due to other's action and as the effect of one's deeds of the previous birth. Datta relieves the devotee of these ill effects. Datta gave emancipation to the men, the celestials and the demons. Guru is the most important of all. Previously, Datta used to give Upadesha manifesting under an Audumbara tree to the deserving disciples. Nowadays, people do not have so much concentration and devotion even while Swamiji is moving about with the devotees, they are not enlightened. The people at large do not know what they speak and do. They don't grasp the teachings of the Sadguru due to lack of proper attention. There is no Samarasa (harmony) while there is more of Samara (fight) in the world. Samata Bhavana or Samatva i.e. equanimity is the teaching of Datta. Mutual understanding is the secret of happy life. Nowadays, misunderstanding is prevalent either at home, or in trade or in any activity. Hence the precious human lifetime has become wasteful for many people, who continue to be ignorant. People must understand that Swamiji conducts activities for their benefit. The devotees must follow Swamiji's instructions. The general tendency is to view the Guru as per one's own perspective. This is not proper. One must not consider the Guru as an ordinary human being. The Guru is divine. From the life of Datta, we observe that He accepts people of different types as His disciples, like the selfless devotee, Vishnu Datta, the heroic king, Kartaveerya, the sincere seeker of knowledge, Pingalanaga, the pious devotee, Prahalada etc. Datta admits to His fold an emperor or a commoner or a scholar or an illiterate or a rich or a poor man. In accordance with their level of understanding, Datta preaches to the eligible devotees. There are many problems in the world like language problems, domestic, official, health, finance problems etc. Mutual understanding is required to settle down the issues amicably. One must do one's own duty - Svadharma, properly. Try to understand the philosophy from the Sadguru directly. Here bookish knowledge without spiritual experience is dangerous. Four blind people went to an elephant. One man said that an elephant was like a pillar, by touching the leg of the animal. The second one touched its stomach and said it was a drum. The tail was touched by the third one who said it was a broom. The last one said that the elephant was a winnow by touching its large ears. Their quarrel was settled by one who revealed that the various parts of the elephant were as felt by them and that the elephant was not merely one of these parts, but has all the parts. Hence one must understand the full form. This is the philosophy of perfect knowledge preached by Datta. Let us see Unity in Diversity. The lamp comprises of the wick and oil. Let Lord Datta light the lamp of knowledge within us. Datta blesses us with the worldly welfare, knowledge and salvation. He is the Trinity in one (Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva). "Nitimala" an Ashrama publication consists of the teachings of Datta. Study it well. It is an easy way to attain knowledge. By following the teachings there in, your physical problems and mental agony can be solved. Datta has several incarnations. Only some people grasp the significance, but many people leave without doing so. One must try to follow the teachings of Datta. The principal teaching is equanimity of outlook, which leads us to attain knowledge. Whether you recite Bhagavad-Gita, Vishnu Sahasranama, or any other sacred book, whether you do rituals or whether you visit any temple, always think of Datta, in the various forms of the several deities. There are no differentials like villages or cities to Datta. May Datta bless us all! "All are ***'s children". This is the message of Datta. The purpose of His incarnation is to infuse and develop this idea in all people. It is essential for us to remember this on Datta Jayanti and hereafter".
In the evening, at 7 PM Sri Swamiji sang Bhajans on Lord Datta for one hour. Later Sri Swamiji proceeded to Raft festival in the Saptarshi Sarovara (the pond of the seven Seers), behind the Lord Venkateswara Temple under construction at the northeast corner of the Ashrama.
Sri Swamiji then left for prayer hall where He Himself performed Kakada Arati in front of the Moola Virat Dattatreya, which was brought from Sri Swamiji's personal Puja place, during which all the seven songs of the Kakada Arati were sung by thousand of devotees. This was the grand finale of the Datta Jayanti celebrations.