Dattajayanthi, 2002
Speech of HH Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji on Dattatreya Jayanthi - December 19, 2002 - Mysore
The Datta Jayanti celebrations entered the final day and the most important day. The Full Moon day and the Margashira Purnami (Full Moon in the month of Margashira). Early in the morning, devotees performed Anagha Vratam in the Universal prayer hall.
Sri Swamiji performed Sri Chakra Puja with the Moola Virat Datta idol in the altar (Brought from Sri Swamiji’s meditation room). The majestic golden idol received the worship and prayers.
After the Sri Chakra Puja, Sri Swamiji performed Tailabhisheka to Kaalagni Shamana Dattatreya idol in the Datta Temple. There after Sri Swamiji performed Tailabhishekam to the silver procession idol of Dattatreya. This idol was placed in a silver plate in front of the temple. After Sri Swamiji completed, devotees came in a line and performed the Abhishekam themselves. They carried a steel tumbler containing the gingely oil. They were requested to look in to the oil to see their reflection and pour the oil on Datta idol. Sri Swamiji who sat behind the idol assisted them to pour. They received a small bottle of the Abhishekam oil and a sweet (Tambittu Unde) as Prasadam. This sweet has been prepared as Naivedyam to Datta ever since the temple inauguration in 1977.
At 11 PM when the public Abhishekam was over, Sri Swamiji spoke thus:
Today is Datta Jayanti. I have already told what Datta means. Datta means Gift. Datta is self submission. I have already explained the full meaning of Datta Stava many times. Datta Stava is a great composition having Upanishadic thoughts. It fulfills desires and wishes. The three days of Datta Jayanti are Brahma Deepa, Vishnu Deepa and Shiva Deepa. Brahma kindles the energy to think. Vishnu represents protection of the Body. Shiva is the remover of internal enemies. Datta’s concept refers to our Body. Like Ramayana is compared to body, so is Datta. Anagha is Yoga Mata. She is also called Anagha Lakshmi. She gives wealth. Not money wealth. But wealth called knowledge. In these three days we performed Mantapa Utsava, Pallakki Utsava, Ratha Utsava and Teppa Utsava. What are they?
Mantapa Utsava refers to our body structure. Placing the Lord in the depths of heart is Mantapotsava. The Mantapa is empty before you put in the idol. To understand the Advaita philosophy properly, we have to understand Dvaita philosophy first. Dvaita is I and You. From there, the understanding of Advaita comes. Mantapa Utsava has great inner meaning. Next is Pallakki Utsava. Pallakki (Palanquin)’s structure has two wooden sticks on the side and a chamber in the centre to place the idols. The unison of Jeevatma and Paramatma (The two wooden sticks) creates the supreme energy (Dattatreya). It is not a mere ritual.
Rathotsava (Chariot festival) refers to that which are mobile and immobile. They are two idols viz. Moola idol and procession idol. The Rathotsava refers to our journey from birth to liberation. This journey gets help from intellect. Rathotsava should be compared to our spiritual journey.
Teppotsava (Raft Festival or boat festival). When we were born, we were in water first i.e. the mother’s ***. Likewise, we were Jala Charas (water creatures) before. We place the idol in the boat or raft and go around in a pond. It is the prayer to release us from this birth and death cycle. We also pray for the unison with ***. The world ends with Pralaya. Then Brahma comes in a singular form. This is the essence of the four rituals.
Only when we see the rituals in their symbolic form do we understand its greater inner meaning. This will increase our devotion. Then comes the inquisitive mind. From that inquisitiveness comes Jnana. You may have rich friends. But they won't help you unless you ask. Jnana with out devotion is hollow and egoistic. Firstly it is not proper that many try to sell it. The false promises and such claimants are false Gurus. Let me tell you a story. A fox goes to a river. A crocodile catches it. The wily fox pretends and tells the crocodile that it has caught the trunk of sunken tree instead of the fox’s leg. So, the crocodile lets it go. We all are crocodiles and the fox is like a Guru. We tend to get fooled easily. The real thing is always difficult to attain, while the duplicate is easy to get and is packaged shiningly. We are led to make a wrong choice. Package (container) is not important, the contents are important. Idol worship and likewise Karmas and rituals are done because of my love for you. You have good devotion, turn it into Jnana. Many of our rituals are mechanical, you come and pour oil on Datta. But what was your devotion doing? Datta gets poured and I am satisfied only if you get the training.
All activities in Ashrama are spiritually oriented. The funds from the Tailabishekam today are going to the Communication Handicapped School. Many of us are deaf. Listen to me and get it cleared. Swamiji makes you participate in Pujas so that your money goes to such projects.
The news seem deadlier as each day goes by. It is full of confusion. I’ve stopped seeing the news and reading the newspaper. Sometimes I look at the share market so that devotees earn to spend it again on charitable works.
Datta’s teachings are great. It is philosophy and no particular religion. Tripura Rahasya is a great text, Datta’s teachings for Parashurama. It is only knowledge.
Puja is for Chitta Shuddhi which leads to Jnana which in turn leads to Moksha. Vairagya is not running away from responsibilities. It means being responsible to your own actions.
Datta Stava was brought to light in recent times by Vasudevananda Saraswati, an incarnation of Datta. Now Swamiji is spreading Datta Stava.
Ashrama is primarily Yoga Kendra. Secondly it is Karma Yoga Kendra. Karma Yoga leads to Jnana Yoga which leads to Vairagya.
Karma Yoga will happen as long as I will live, as long as new people keep coming. Everything I do has a great secret behind it. But remove your attitude of suspicion. Then only you can start to really believe. Don’t compare me with other Swamis. My incarnation’s intention is different. I don’t want to start big colleges and schools. My social works are small, varied and fulfilling. Manava Seva is Madhava Seva, service to humanity is service to ***. Everyone is interested in Manava Seva, and you are forgetting Madhava (***). You are committing an offence when you forget Madhava (***). Have blind faith that - whatever Swamiji does is for your good only. I can see through those who come for help. I can see if it really helps them and if they want to help others also. You cannot see it. So help me in doing these charitable activities.
I am a public person. Even my parents didn’t raise me. I want my works to be blemish less. I don’t need or want any Karmas and rituals. I do all this for you, for you sake. I am Digambara and Avadhoota. I can disappear any day. You all think that you are serving me, but in reality I am serving you.
Ashrama has everything. Nada Mantapa gives Nada Yoga. Swamiji gives Jnana yoga. Homa is Karma yoga. Get the essence of these and succeed.
Sri Guru Datta
So, Saying Sri Swamiji concluded His divine words. Then, Sri Swamiji gave Deeksha to Raju Ramanathan of Chicago and renamed him "Datta Yogi Raja" and ordained him to spread the message of Sri Swamiji and Lord Dattatreya.
In the evening, the Saptarshi Sarovara pond was exquisitely decorated for the boat festival. The Pond had been scrubbed clean and the water looked aqua marine green and was very clear to reveal its depths. Twinkling lights lined around the perimeter of the pond. A freshly painted boat with a Mantapa on top awaited the arrival of Sri Swamiji. First came the Datta idol in a procession led by the priests chanting Veda Mantras. The idol was placed in the boat and one lakh (One hundred thousand) wicks in thousands of lamps were lit. This is called Laksha Deepotsava (One Hundred thousand lamp festival). Sri Swamiji arrived at 7 PM and sat in the boat. The boat made nine circles slowly. Different bands played Bhajans. The atmosphere was divine. Then Sri Swamiji spoke from the boat and asked all to look at the sky and have Darshan of the Poornima Chandra (Full Moon). A lovely moon, decorated the sky with its bright and almost sun like radiance. For many it was like Sri Swamiji was sailing in the sea of moon light. The glow from the lamps and the wafting boat lent a sense of ethereal to the atmosphere. Sri Swamiji said that the nine rounds in the pond reflected and symbolized the nine months a soul spends in the *** of a mother and it reflected development and progress towards light.
After the boat festival, Sri Swamiji arrived in Datta Temple for the final Kakadarati in the festival. The Moola Virat Datta idol was placed in the front of the Temple and sixteen lamps were prepared for Sri Swamiji to light. As Swami Manasa started singing the Kakadarati Bhajans, Sri Swamiji lit one lamp after the other. The hall lights were dimmed and the radiance of Datta in the lamp’s glow made everyone speechless and forget themselves. The whole crowd sang along with Swami Manasa and the powerful Bhajan singing added to the spirit of the moment. Sri Swamiji performed Mangalarati and the crowds chanted Datta Stava.
Sri Swamiji spoke and said people should start to do Kakadarati at home every evening as it signaled the day’s end with the memory of Lord and that the seven special Kakadarati Bhajans composed by Sri Swamiji have in its meaning the entire story of creation of the world and the life story and great qualities of Dattatreya. Sri Swamiji prayed for Datta’s Blessings for the entire world, the humanity, the animal and bird world.
Jaya Guru Datta, Sri Guru Datta