May 26, 2015
Speech of HH Sri Datta Vijayananda Teertha Swamiji - Birthday Speech - May 26, 2015 - Mysore
Jaya Guru Datta
Sri Guru Datta
Sadgurunatha Maharaj ki Jai
It is not just you and I, but the whole world has waited for this day in May to personally wish "Happy Birthday Appaji" to our Sadguru Sri Swamiji. Swamiji, Your beautiful smile attracts us, transforms us, and shows us the aim in our lives. This is indeed a very auspicious day. We are very grateful for this opportunity of celebrating Your Birthday in Your divine presence. The month of May brings VGBS (Vidyarthi Gnana Bodha Sabha), the Brahmotsava of Sri Datta Venkateswara Temple, Veda Exams and Sabhas, Nada Mantapa Anniversary, Community-wide mass weddings, and donations of Temples and such, for the financially disadvantaged. And in addition, we have the grand Birthday Celebrations. It is a full course meal served to us, satisfying us with all the delicious tastes. We cannot call it really a Birthday of Sadguru. Both the Yoga Vasishtha and the Bhagavatam say that Mahatmas and Jeevanmuktas remain on earth, in spite of not having any personal needs. They come down for our sake. Our Sadguru is a prime example of a Jeevanmukta. Out of love and compassion to uplift and show us the way, He has come down to the earth and remains with us. Datta is called Mukteeswara or Muktinatha, one who liberates. He is fully liberated. He came. We are like ants or even smaller than invisible creatures from the heights from which He has descended for us. But He came to save us.
Tuesday coincided this year with the birth date of May 26. We must participate actively in the Share your food program. Swamiji has ordered us to do so every Tuesday. Thousands are observing it all over the world. Skip a meal and share it with the needy. Not only with people, but even with dogs and birds. Water should be offered to birds. The hot climate troubles them a lot in the summertime. Feed the birds. Seeds may be given to them. Feed cats, dogs, or any other creatures. Datta blesses with ample food, all the donors who give food to others, and takes care of satisfying their hunger in all their future lives.
Every object has a certain value. But food is priceless. You simply cannot put a price on it. Even life is not as precious as food. Even a dying millionaire will survive with a morsel of stale food and will be thankful to the one who has offered it to him. We cannot give anything to Swamiji. He has given us all that we possess. He has given us the energy and the capacity for us to earn. Nothing at all belongs to us. A king has ministers, counselors, guards, the army, citizens etc. Mahatmas plan their entire retinue required for their service, before incarnating. We have all come to this earth by Sadguru's intention that we should serve Him. We must satisfactorily perform our duties. People speak about how they came to Swamiji, the different circumstances which have brought them to Him.
But it is not our doing. We came only due to His sankalpam. He intended for us to reach Him. All is His. We serve by donating food as per His directive. Hanuman likes Tuesday. It is an auspicious day for him. Swamiji and Hanuman are one and the same. If you can fast, by giving up one meal on a Tuesday, do it. If you cannot, for medical or other reasons, then do not worry about it. Give food to others. A fistful of rice used to be regularly set aside by Datta devotees as Datta Bhiksha. Now many have given up that practice. Swamiji has expressed His sadness that a good habit has been given up. Do continue. Collect food such as a fistful of rice daily and give the collection to an ashram or to orphanages or old people's homes. Share your food. Swamiji will be very happy if you do.
Every second you must be of benefit to the world. Do not think of trivial selfish needs. Do not be preoccupied with thoughts of personal profit, marriage, having children, and so on. Spirituality is beyond all of that. At age 90 the body will be weak and will lack its youthful strength. Only enough health is granted to survive at that advanced age.
Sadguru has the power to grant the fruit to you of even your limited sadhana. He shows you easy methods to earn spiritual merit. Daily give one coin for charity. It is not much. The SGS School needs your financial support. Swamiji runs schools in Bommeparti, in Mekedatu for tribal children, and in Mysuru for financially disadvantaged children.
If Swamiji wills, He can raise funds by His own effort, as we have seen yesterday. Yesterday 20 Lakhs was raised for the Hanuman Dandaka. Swamiji's intention is that everyone must get uplifted by doing some charity, or some service. Inside every hair follicle of a Mahatma there are infinite galaxies. Mahatmas have visions beyond what we can imagine.
Today you make a determination that you will give at least a little bit. We give very little. Our part is like a drop in the ocean. Sindhu, ocean versus Bindu, drop. We must pray for the capacity to give and serve. We are blessed to have Sadguru darshan today on this sacred day.
In the year 1942, at the Sangama, Sri Jayalakshmi Mata gave birth to Swamiji. In 3 days, it will be Swamiji's Birthday according to the Hindu calendar. He was born on Nirjala Ekadasi, a very special day.
Bhima, who could never go on a fast, was told by Lord Krishna to fast at least once a year on this day, if not on all 24 Ekadasis in a year. But we do not get a chance to fast on that day. Because it is Swamiji's birthday, we get a feast as prasadam. Both Brahmotsava and Nada upasana with Nada Brahma Sri Swamiji we enjoy on Swamiji's Birthday. Swamiji has made certain Sankalpams. We must serve to fulfill them.
The representatives from the group of Brahma Kumaris are here. We welcome them. Many senior devotees are here. We are happy that they are here to attend this grand function. We now pray for Swamiji's benedictory speech.
Jaya Guru Datta
Sri Guru Datta
Compiled by Smt Hira Duvvuri