November 1, 2015
Speech of HH Sri Datta Vijayananda Teertha Swamiji on the occasion of Karnataka Rajyotsava - evening - November 1, 2015 - Mysore
Sri Ganesaya Namaha
Sri Saraswatyai namaha
Sripada vallabha Narasimha Saraswati
Sri Guru Dattatreyaya Namaha
Sri Sri Sri Ganapati Sachchidananda Sadgurubhyo Namo namaha
Jai Kannada matege Jai. Sri Bhuvaneswari matege Jai
We are celebrating the Karnataka Rajyotsava today.
Even the Amrita-like rain is blessing us. It is a good sign for our state.
Every year we celebrate this event in the ashram. Swamiji is here sometimes or He is elsewhere sometimes. Wherever He is, without fail He remembers it and He celebrates.
We celebrate it here every year. 300-400 ashrama residents are there, from all over the country and all over the world. All of them learn to speak Kannada as per Swamiji’s command.
One must learn the local language. We have today a small celebration.
This morning Nagaraja had not come, as he does every year on this day. Santamma asked me if we are going to celebrate the Karnataka Rajyotsava. I said yes, in the evening we have a celebration. Nagaraja had been sick but he came. He knows about Swamiji. He wants more of the Mysore people to know about Him. Dignitaries Sri Raghuram and Sri Giri (or Guru) Gowda are here. I call him Guru Gowda because he is diligently spreading the love of the Kannada language amongst the public. We should be proud to be the citizens of Karnataka.
The present day youth feel that it is great to speak in English because of globalization. Learn English, but revere your mother tongue. In sorrow you think of your mother and call out, Amma. It is Kannada language. It is very close to our hearts. Speak only Kannada at home. All over the ashram signs are there reminding us to preserve our language and our culture. Kannada language develops our culture, which includes our food habits, behavior, and how we generally conduct ourselves. Ours is the best culture and ours is the best language in the world. It is very pleasing to hear. Practice speaking it. Karnataka state dances on Kannada. The language gives us joy. Learn it, preserve it, and practice it. Take a vow to speak in Kannada.
Mother Goddess is described in the Lalita Sahasranama as “bhaashaaroopa”. It means Language is her form. Swamiji has composed many beautiful Kannada Bhajans. Foreigners sing them effortlessly in America, in the West Indies, in Malaysia, and in many other countries everywhere.
In South India, Tamils have a great love for their language. In their cities all the signs are only in Tamil. Even if they know other languages, they insist on speaking only in Tamil. We, in Karnataka need to develop that kind of fervor. That is why 80 per cent of the people in Tamil Nadu speak only in Tamil. In Kerala 70 per cent speak. In Andhra only 50 per cent are literate in Telugu, meaning they can read and write in Telugu, in addition to speaking. In Karnataka, there is only 40 per cent literacy in Kannada in Bengaluru. Our script is ancient. It must be preserved. Many people speak in Hindi also.
Karnataka is lagging behind. The situation must change. Read the Kannada newspapers daily to keep up and stay in touch with the language and its expressions. We eat the food of this land, and drink its water. We must maintain and preserve the language and culture of this land.
In Tamil Nadu, for those who come from the interior towns, the city dialect spoken in Chennai sounds strange. They require translators due to the strong influence of English on the city dialect. We lose our culture this way. It poses a danger.
Victory to Bhuvaneswari Mata. The state colors are Yellow and Red, representing the auspicious colors of Mother Goddess, colors of Turmeric (Haridra) and Kumkuma. They are the colors in the flag. Let us all try to preserve our language and our culture. Pray for the blessings of Mother Bhuvaneswari and Sadguru Sri Swamiji.
Let's us now sing a few Kannada bhajans.
We must steady our minds and practice Nada Yoga.
Nectarine rain we have on this special day. It is an auspicious indication. We celebrate our ashram’s 50 anniversary next year. The following year we celebrate Swamiji’s 75th Birthday.
Victory to Mother Bhuvaneswari.
Let us sing all Kannada bhajans.
Sri Ganapati Jai ganapati
Bhuvanagala palisuva Bhuvaneswari – she is the Mother who protects our Karnataka State.
Mateya madilu
Sakalaadhaara roopini nee - This bhajan gives the address of Mother Goddess. It lists all the places where she resides. Ratipatipriya, the phrase in the song is also the name of the raga.
Jwaaleyalli née
Bettada Thaye chamunde
Jeevake Jeevanu
Hanuman belongs to Karnataka State. He is our ***. He was born near Hampi, and lived on the banks of the Pampa Lake there.
Jaya Guru Datta. Sri Guru Datta.
Compiled by Smt Hira Duvvuri