AvadhootaDatta Peetham

Sri Guru Datta Vaibhavam

Day 1, August 1

Sri Ganeshaya Namaha
Sri Saraswathyai Namaha
Sri Pada Vallabha Nrusimha Saraswathi
Sri Guru Dattatreyaya Namaha

Sri Ganapathi Sachchidananda Sadgurubhyo Namo Namaha !

From today, during this 12th chaturmasya, as the first saptaha, we are going to listen to Sri Guru Datta Vaibhavam. Today Datta Shodasa Laksha Homa also started and the good news is that we completed first one lakh homam today. During such ausupicious occasion we all are going to listen to Guru tattva and Guru Datta tattva. Firstly, let us pray Lord Ganapathi.

From tomorrow we will start by 7 pm and finish it by 8.30 pm. Because we are in the outskirts of the city, we must start early and complete early. All of you try to attend on time and try to listen to Guru Datta tattva.

Gurur Brahma, Gurur Vishnuhu, Gururdevo Maheshwaraha, Gurur Saakshat Parambrahma, Tasmai Sree Guravey Namaha !

Sri Guru Datta Vaibhavam ! Sri Guru Datta ! Jai Guru Datta ! Lord Datta likes these names. In our Datta family, in the Datta lineage, in Avadhoota Datta Peetham Pujya Sri Swamiji cultivated the habit of starting a conversation by saying Sri Guru Datta, Jaya Guru Datta. When someone greets you with Jaya Guru Datta, how much ever busy you are, atleast you must greet them back by saying 'Datta' if not Jaya Guru Datta. You must atleast say Datta in your mind.

Many people have a practice - they neither respond to Hello or How are you! When they say how are you, respond back saying I'm fine, how are you ? That is a culture. There is no need to complicate life. What will you lose if you greet them back. At least there is some one who is enquiring about you. When asked say that you are doing well. Even if you are not doing good, your condition will improve. In Karnataka, they say always be 'Sakaaratmaka' - which means start anything with 'Sa' which indicates positiveness. 'Na' indicates negativeness. Start anything with positive attitude. In Telugu script, 'sa' from far appears like 'na' and vice versa. Isn't it ? Sa and Na look alike in telugu script.

I'm missing Yoga Vasista very much. Im very happy about Hyderabad Chaturmasya. All the devotees are happy and even I'm happy. But only one short fall of missing Yoga Vasishta. It has become my prana.

If you ask me to talk about Yoga Vasishta all day, I can do that. If I'm allowed to read it whole day, I'm very happy. I don't feel like speaking anything else. Swami Narahari teertha blessed me greatly by providing this book but for devotees its a little difficult if I don't talk anything else. Not everyone can understand Yoga Vasishta. It is a great book that attracts everyone. Its equal to Sadguru! I'm missing it. Except that, everything else is fine. If that is there, the whole day goes well. If I do not read it or talk about it, I feel some void and incompleteness. Reading it is different from talking about it. I feel more happy talking about it. With it, is is 100% happiness. That is the power of Yoga Vasistha. It has great upadesha.

It says, there is always a fight between Fortune and misfortune. One is Karma from previous birth and the other is current birth's Karma. These two fight like a ram (a male sheep). Who will win ? Which ever is properly fed will win. If you do good deeds in this birth, that ram will win. If you don't do anything in this birth and live without faith in Sadguru, then the ram in the form of your previous birth's karma only will win. Your previous birth is over. You are what you are currently. Try to gain victory with your current tendencies. So be Sakaratmaka- positive. If someone says Jai Guru Data, instantly respond with Sri Guru Datta. I believe some one in their office made a call and said Jai guru datta, the person at the other end, said ther is no one by that name! But this person who called mentioned its not a name, its a way he greets people. The person who received the call was extremely happy that some body is still teaching this culture and came for Sri Swamiji's darshan. Where ever you are, proudly say Jaya Guru Datta whether in railway station, bus stand, airport or even in bathroom. Guru Gita says, Dheerga Dandam Namaskuryaat, Nirlajjo Guru Sannidhou.

Dont feel shy. Don't bother about people around.
For prostrating to Sadguru, there should be no shy. We feel shy for what we should not. We should be shy or ashamed if we do something wrong. As was mentioned in the sankalpam yesterday, Gnanathaha, agnanathova sakruth asakrut krutaanaam sarvesham papaanaam....our mistakes done knowingly or unknowingly, we should fear if we do something wrong if we speak wrong of Sadguru or hurt elders in the house.

But what do we do ? In the house, we apply tilaka (bindi) and while going out, we remove it. For such things we should feel shy. We are born in this country. We have to follow our Dharma. Be strong in that. For such strength, we should improve Guru bhakthi. We must pray Guru to make us walk on the path of Dharma. There are many benefits by having a Sadguru and the main one amongst all these is He makes us walk on the path of Dharma. When we get on to the wrong path, Sadguru is the one who pulls us into the right path.

There was an old man who had extreme memory loss that his family had to tattoo his house phone number on his arm. Once he was missing. Some body put him on a bus and told him to get off at the next stop and that someone from his house would come to take him. Surprisingly, his grandson happened to be near the bustop and he took his grandfather home. Everyone in the house asked who directed him to get into the bus. This man told it was somebody with a long beard! This is a recent happening.

Likewise, when we miss our path, we must pray Sadguru to put us on the right path. Only then this birth will be fulfilled. Else, what is the use ? Just by travelling we would not reach the destination. but the journey would continue.

To reach Hyderabad, if you take the Bangalore route, it doesnt help. Based on varied times, we may have different wants. but at all times, irrespective of anything, its very important to stay in the righteous path. We must pray to be on the right path always. We may be hungry and need food, but that is for that moment. You cannot carry food around always. But Dharma is needed at all times. Guru is the one who makes us walk on the path of Dharma. If you are student, disciple, follow Sishya dharma. If you are a husband, follow dharma of husband. If you are a wife, follow dharma of a wife. If you are a child, follow the dharma of children. Since, Guru puts you on the path of dharma belonging to that particular category and shows you the light of dharma, He is compared with Sun as He lights up our lives.

That Guru Tattva, we are going to listen to from today. There are many names but Sri Guru Datta is the name He likes the most. This Datta naama was given to Kartaveeryaarjuna. He would give darshan just by remembrance. Datta Stava says ' Smartru gaami Sanovatu'. This is mentioned in Datta stava like a crown. Smartha is the one who remembers.

For us, loss of memory can be both a boon or bane. What is not required, stays in the mind. We should know what to remember and what to forget. We remember cinema stories but we dont remember Social Studies subject. We would have just heard the story of an old movie from someone. We remember that life long. Yesterday's lesson, we can't repeat one single line.

If we can't make out what becomes a boon, and what becomes a bane, they interchange. We should not let it happen. Smartrugami means one who follows, takes care of one who remembers, He is Datta. Like the way a cow protects its calf, Sadguru protects His disciples and devotees. That is Smartrugami Sanovatu. Since anyway He protects us, we can't demand that. It is your dharma to pray for it. Sanovatu.. May He protect us. We must beg, pray for it. You can't demand food from mother who is sick with fever. She has been doing it for ages. Without enquiring about her health, what if you demand her to cook ? A child is given pocket money. He saves it and takes a portion of it and buys a cake for his mother's or father's birthday. Whose money is he spending ? He didn't earn. Like wise, we also are spending whatever is given to us by the Lord. It belongs to Him.

Twadeeyam vasthu Govinda Thubhyameva Samarpayeth !

O Lord ! I'm offering the ones given to me by you to you only ! This is not mine. Having this feeling is very important. Else we will ruin with ego. It is of no use if you give it with a feeling of mine. A land is donated. It is useful for many. If you have to be benefitted, you must donate without ego. Since you have donated, recognizing this trait of sacrifice in you, Sadguru removes your ego out of affection on you. Some devotees donated this land to the ashram and because of that today we are observing Chaturmasya here. The merit of this Chaturmasya will definetely go to the donors of this land for generations together. We purchased some land. Who ever helped in this also will get this merit.

Datta appreciates our satkarmas and will follow us to protect us. That is why Smartrugami Sanovatu. Smarana.. do not forget to remember Him. Remembering Him is itself a path, which we must not move away from. Never lose your track. Else the entire journey has to be undertaken again.

Hence keep chanting Jaya Guru Datta Sri Guru Datta. There is no count for this. Has anyone kept a count of how many times you have said 'Jai Guru Datta' in your life ? Will you start from today ? No, don't do that. Unknowingly we are doing Ajapa Japa. This has great merit. Ajapa Japa has to be done only with Guru's initiation, with His consent only. Else you will lose interest on your daily activities. This is good in one way but since you have your responsibilities as the member of a family, you must fulfill them. You are a householder and you must complete your duties. You cannot engage in Ajapa japa since you have to follow your tasks. But the mantra you've taken from Guru, you must sit in one place and chant. you cannot keep moving around and chanting. You must take a sankalpa to perform a specific number of times of the mantra and sit and do it. Only then you will get that merit. If you are very much interested in the mantra given to you and that you can not live without chanting it, you can chant the Guru mantra also at all times, but it would not add to your count. We do not know how many mantras we have not chanted right! In between if some one talks or thinks something else, it cannot be taken into the count. Japa or mantra when done by sitting at one place only can give merit. You must sit steady in one place and chant. Are you listening carefully ? This will come to use some day. Nothing pertaining to Jnana/knowledge ever goes waste. Knowledge is useful at some point of time in life. It would be required today or in future.

So, smarana when becomes ajapa japa gives greatest merit. Since you are praying for the grace of the deity of the Mantra, it is essential to sit and chant. To do ajapa japa - non-stop, Sadguru's permission must be taken.

But Hanuman Chalisa you can chant at all times. Hanuman chalisa is Maala Mantra. Such stotras can be chanted at all times since Sadguru has given this Upadesha in this manner.

But the personal mantra given to you as an Upadesha must be done exclusively. But we need to remember lord at all times, for that say Jai Guru Datta. Sri Guru datta. This itself is ajapa japa.

If you come across your enemy, say Jaya Guru Datta ! The enemity between the two will go away and he becomes your friend - because, he made you say one nama of Jaya Guru Datta and such nama will be of use for you at some time or the other.

Remove negativity from mind. It removes all your tensions. Your mind will be peaceful. If this negative feeling is held for long, it harms your health.

What do we get from Guru? Everything! Some one asked a person, you have been going to Guru for so many years. What have you gained? This man then started thinking -"yes, what have I got". He went to Guru and narrated the question and asked him for answer. The Guru said, next time tell him, " The question itself is wrong, He should ask "what you've lost because of Guru". This is strange, why would we want to lose anything!! But there are many things we want to lose, that have been with us across births, but have not been able to get rid of it! ***, greed, anger, desires. It is not easy to get rid of these.
The disciple was extremely happy!

4 things are very important in life. Maithri, Karuna, Mudita Upeksha.
Maithri - friendship. It is important to know whom you are making friends with. Develop friendship with Sadguru with Buddhi, that you gain.

How have we transformed after coming to Sadguru. Have we become purer, clearer ? Life is different from livelyhood. We have many ways for livelihood, but not for life. We must be detached. That stage comes only with Sadguru. Hence we must associate with Sadguru. Always chant His name - Say Jai Guru Datta! He will come to your rescue! This is a rule He has imposed on Himself! Say loudly JAI GURU DATTA! With your mind firmly fixed on Him, say SRI GURU DATTA!
SRI is a divine name! Using it as a prefix, it enhances the respect accorded since it is indicative of Knoweldge, lakshmi. By saying Sri, it grants different types of lakshmi. Lakshmi is not just money.
Lakshmi is Siddha Lakshmi, Moksha Lakshmi, Jaya Lakshmi, Saraswathi, Sri Lakshmi, Vara lakshmi prasanna mama sarvada !
It is Astha lakshmi. It stands for victory, prosperity.
So when addressing someone, get habituated to call Sri. But these days, instead of Sri we are using Sir. It is just one letter interchange. Sir has come from Sri.

Sri is combination of Sha+Ra+Ee. Sha indicates Shiva or Shambu who gives us auspiciousness. Ra indicates agni or fire who destroys our sorrows and sins. Ee indicates Maha Vishnu who gives us knowledge. Sri has many meanings and this is one of them.

Sri Guru Datta !

After Sri it is Guru. For the meaning of Guru, I have to explain Guru Gita for another 2 Chaturmasyas! First chaturmasya we talked about Guru Gita for 90 days, I couldnt complete it. we had to rush through the last parts. We can't measure its depth. It sounds very familiar and we think whats the great thing about it!

Ati parichayaat avgnaha santata gamanaat anaadaro bhavati
malaye bhilla purandhree chandana taru kaashtham indhanam kurute

Familiarity breeds contempt!
Its like a guest who stays for too long at your place. If you go once in a year you are treated like Athidhi Devo Bhava ! First day the food cooked is delicious with many varieties. From day 2 onwards it reduces. Finally the host ends up telling that he is travelling out of town, when will the guest leave.

Nothing should be overdone. Everything should be in limit. It applies to home also amongst family members. Even humor should not be more. Excess humor led to a war in Maha Bharatha. Hence, it is said Ati Sarvatra Varjayet !
So when it comes to Guru Gita, many ignore it saying we know, we chant it daily. But do you understand it ? A tribal in the forest cuts sandalwood tree and uses it as fire for cooking. She sees it daily and doesn't know its value. Similarly, we too not knowing that Guru Gita is as precious as Sandalwood, we are insulting it.
It doesnt mean that we are pushing it away. but if we do not make right use of Guru Gita, understand its meaning, it amounts to insulting it.

If you are having a good cell phone, a smart phone and you dont know how to use it, and you dont see the wonderful messages sent by Swamiji, it is as good as insulting your phone. You must make the best use of anything, else it is like insulting it. Similarly, if you are not gaining the best out of Guru by seeking what is supposed to be, it indicates that you are insulting Guru.

What should be gained from Guru ?

Gukaraschad andhakarasthu
Rukarasthannivarakaha
Andhakara vinasithvaat
Guru rithyabhi dheeyathe

This is the definition of Guru given in Guru Gita. Gu indicates darkness. Ru is light. We just spoke that Ra is agni's seed letter.

Thus, Guru is the one who dispels darkness. The one who shows us the way. We are stuck somewhere in life and are unable to come out of it. During such time Guru comes as 'Mama Dehi Karavalambam' by taking us into His hands.

Jai Bolo Sadgurunatha Maharaj Ki jai !

The place that we give for Sadguru in our life cannot be given to anyone. In Karnataka there is a practice called Guru Tambulam. In this practice, during the family functions like weddings, birthdays etc, an invitation to Guru is given first before inviting others. Datta devotees practice this. If tomorrow is wedding, guests are invited today, just one day before. When asked they say, we couldn't get Swamiji till today. We could invite Him only today and now we got to rush to invite all others. I appreciate this practice of Datta Devotees. In case, if Swamiji is far and we could not go, then what to do ? Take that invitation and samarpana aside, put that in your puja room, offer flowers on it and pray to Sadguru that you are unable to go and invite Him personally and pray that He comes and takes that invitation. Definetely you would receive prasadam from ashram in some form or the other the same day. This happened to many devotees. This is how Guru protects us directly and indirectly.

Then, Datta in Sri Guru Datta Vaibhavam... Who is Datta ? For the welfare of the world, to remove our problems, who have offered Himself to us is Datta. When Manavas, Danavas and Devatas were in troubles, they heard the sound 'Da'. What is Da ? Each one of them understood the meaning of Da in a different way. Datta, Danam & Daya - offering, donation & compassion. Inspite of all these three, in man when these three co-exist, only then he is fulfilled. So Sri Guru Datta ! Datta teaches us Danam, Daya and indriya nigraha. Datta is a title and not a name. How should we call you ? Athri maharshi didn't name Him. Who is Athri ? Manas is athri. What kind of Manas ? Trigunaatheetha !
Athri always resides as Atma Swarupa. Anasuya Bhavanmathihi !

Buddhi - intellect is Anasuya Matha. Jealousy disappeared in intellect is Anasuya. Jealousy refrains us from growing. We must cross this. When the stage of growing beyond Trigunas is united with an intellect which is jealous free, the Lord Himself arrives there and such lord is Dattatreya. He resides inside us. Such Datta's glory we are talking about. He is all pervasive. Everything is He. He is the reason for everything. He is truth. He is Atma Jyothi. All else is Maya. He is Atma Chaitanya. He is Datta. We are going to talk about this Atma Chaitanya for seven days. His mahima, leelas, compassion everthing comes in this. He appears as mother, father, friend and everything. There is nothing in this world apart from Him.

Vedanta vaakyeshu sadaa ramanthah
Bhiksha anna maatrena cha thustimanthah
Vishokavanthah karunaika vanthah
Kaupinavanthah khalu bhaagyavanthah

If we need to speak about Guru, we must first speak about Vairagya. There is no Guru without vairagya and there is no vairagya without Guru. You can't get Guru if you don't have Vairagya. If you have come here today all the way, leaving behind your activities, traveling for 40- 50 kms, it is out of vairagya you have come here. It is not a simple thing. This vairagya comes only from Sadguru. This itself tells the kind of merit that we are gaining. Since you have come here out of this vairagya, you are enjoying the nector of satsanga here. Else you will miss it.

Vairagya is abhaya. All else are fears. Abhayam is not just the mudra. It is only an indication. By seeing that mudra, we become fearless. What kind of fear do you lose ? You become confident that you can live the life of Vairagya. Others dont have that. Only those who are in the path of Sadguru have this vairagya. You must increase this vairagya. Students should gain vairagya on entertainment. Employees should gain this vairagya on unwanted stuff. Only then, they can work properly.

There is no world without vairagya and there is no Atma Tatva without Varaigya. So today, we started by saying Kaupinavanthah khalu bhaagyavanthah. We shall continue the rest tomorrow. I don't plan to say specific things. What ever Datta makes me talk, I will talk. Dont have any expectations. I'm just a tool in His hands. Take what ever comes as Sadguru's words.

Jaya Guru Datta !