Aug 14, Sivananda
Discourse on Sivananda Lahari
Day 17, August 14
Jaya Guru Datta
Sri Ganesaya Namaha
Sri Saraswatyai Namaha
Sripada Vallabha
Narasimha Saraswati
Sri Guru Dattatreyaya Namaha
Sri Ganapati Sachchidananda Sadgurubhyo Namaha
Bhajan: Sri Ganapati jai Ganapati
Yesterday in the Sivananda Lahari, Sri Bhagavatpada asked, Swami, how do I offer you worship? You are all-pervasive and are everywhere; I pray that I obtain the aspects of Sun God, Vishnu, Vayu, Indra, and Brahma to offer you the five types of worship in the proper manner. To clothe you nicely, I have to become the Sun God with the brilliant golden rays; to offer you flowers, I have to become Vishnu who travels to all the worlds, to gather the suitable flowers for your worship; to apply sandal paste upon you, I have to become the Wind God/Vayu who alone is capable of carrying pure, uncontaminated fragrance everywhere; to prepare sufficient quantity of delicious food for you I need the skill of Indra; to serve you in a large enough and a proper container I have to become Brahma. Please grant me the divine nature and powers of all the above, for me to worship you to my satisfaction.
Now, Sri Bhagavatpada has a question. The poison was a flagrant, raging fire that was blinding the viewers. Instead of containing it in some place, you consumed the whole thing. Your compassion far exceeds your courage.
You have swallowed the poison to save the worlds from annihilation. Your generous and compassionate nature is beyond belief, O Lord Siva.
Today, he is going to speak more about Siva receiving the poison into Himself.
Verse 32:
Jwalogra-ssakalā-marāti-bhayadah kshvelah katham vā twaya
Drushtah kin ca kare dhruthah karatale kim pakwa jambu phalam
Jihwāyām nihitaścha siddha ghutika vaa kanta deśe bhruthah
Kim te neela manih-vibooshana-mayam shambho mahātman vada
Is it a sweet fruit or a dessert to eat, that you simply tossed it into your mouth? What were you thinking, when you just put the poison into your mouth? Tell me, O Lord Sambhu. My question is, that was not some ordinary poison, and it was not some rotten food. It was venom that was going to burn up the entire Creation. Not only the demons, but even the deities ran for their lives. They could not even stop to look at it. How did you manage to see it, take it in your hands, and treat it as if it were a Jambu Phala?
Gutikaa paadukaa sidhdhihi – is mentioned in the scriptures; a Tayattu/Talisman is prepared with a yantra and worn in the neck for protection from evil forces. Are you wearing the poison in your neck like a Talisman, or did you treat it like a small capsule to put in your throat? A sapphire is blue and beautiful. Perhaps you thought the poison will decorate your neck like a sapphire gem. Is venom a Neelamani, a blue precious stone for you? With what idea did you swallow the poison without a second thought? You are a Mahatma.
Sadguru is a Mahatma. One, who strives for the benefit of the entire Universe, is a Mahatma.
Please solve this riddle for me.
A Jambu phala/Java Plum is supposed to be a blood purifier.
We pray to God inquiring of His welfare, and requesting Him to get some rest. Such prayer expresses genuine love and affection for Him. With a mere glance Guru removes our difficulties, sometimes he takes our burdens upon Himself and suffers the pain and discomfort, and sometimes he solves our problems with a mere touch. I look upon you as a Sadguru, O Lord Siva.
I feel that I have already attained liberation, Sri Bhagavatpada says in the following verse.
Bhajan: Jyotirlingakara (Nageswara)
Namassivaya Namassivaya Namassivaya Namassivaya
Verse 33:
Nālam vā sakrudeva deva bhavatha-sseva nathirvā nuthih,
Poojā vā smaranam kathasravana-mapyālokanam mādruśām,
Swaminnasthira devathānusranaayāsena kim labhyate,
Kā vā mukthir ithah kutho bhavati cheth kim prārthaneeyam tada
This is a wonderful Upadesha/spiritual guidance for all of us.
Is it not sufficient to prostrate to you just once, worship you just once, and praise you just once? Just once if I remember you, is it not sufficient? Is it not enough to hear your glories just once? I feel the bliss of liberation by doing these just once. Just one darshan of you, is it not enough? It is sufficient.
Why do I run after all the others seeking favors? Please grant me the blessing to be able to do at least one of the above with the purest devotion.
We try to do the entire package of all these above expressions of devotion as a part of our worship/Puja.
May my devotion achieve complete maturity, like a ripe fruit that falls to the ground on its own. Please grant me this grace, O Lord Siva.
People perform worship and yet remain dissatisfied. Their total involvement was not there.
Because of some past merit, I feel that my worship has been satisfactory, says Sri Bhagavatpada.
All these deities, after many Kalpas/eons, leave their forms; even Brahma and Narayana leave their forms. Energy, the power of Paramatma/Supreme Soul is alone eternal. What is the use of following the transient powers of all the other deities? You alone are permanent. What else is there in this world called Liberation, except to think of you, praise you, worship, you, and prostrate to you?
We must pray for the opportunity to at least serve God once wholeheartedly. People may ask, is once enough?
If you touch a fire just once, does it not burn you? Similarly, just once if you attain pure devotion, it is enough to worship by mind, speech, and action. Actions by mind, speech, and by the sense organs and limbs are all important. The natural tendencies of an individual are important.
Whatever blemishes may be there in the above, O Lord Siva, please forgive and purify me.
We listen to the stories of God using our ears. When the entire body, mind, and speech, are all surrendered to you once, and if you are served with the purest devotion, is it not enough?
We pray to the lesser deities for frivolous favors. Come to the ashrama to have darshan of Sadguru. If not today, at least in a week’s time if you obtain it, your visit is fulfilled. Do not be distracted with other things.
All the secrets explained in the Upanishads are given to us here.
Bhajan: Sambhum kinkara
Like a servant, Anjaneya Swami/Lord Hanuman, always remains in attendance prepared and equipped to serve Sri Rama. I am ever ready to do your bidding. What is your next command? If we become such Kinkaras/servants, Siva will become our Sankara/giver of Bliss. Siva loves His Kinkaras.
Bhajan: Akhanda Sakti Durge ma
This morning the devotees from Maharashtra rendered excellent bhajans. I am also inspired to sing.
Tomorrow is Indian Independence Day. Happy Independence Day to everyone. After performing abhishekam to Sri Datta Venkateswara we will have the Flag Hoisting. We will be donating clothes and school supplies to some needy children. Yoga Vasishtha discourse is at 7:30 AM. Tomorrow is Friday. Please chant Sri Lalita Sahasranama. We must do a total of 1.5 crores times Parayana/repeated chanting to derive the desired benefit. May all the countries in the world be at peace. We pray for Universal peace.
Om Santissantissantihi – May peace prevail.
Sri Guru Datta