Aug 2, 2015
Speeches of HH Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji - August 2, 2015 - Frisco, TX USA
Speech in the morning
Wonderful, nice session, today's bhajans. Appaji's Bhajans, Keertans are like daily medicines. You must chant and practice. Teach your friends, children, relatives, and neighbors also. Please give encouragement to children. You must give support whether it is bhajans, music, or dance. You also participate. Try to know, understand the meaning of Bhajans. These are not simply composed as some poets compose on demand. Each bhajan is different, composed during specific activities, festivals, and circumstances, with special experience and with devotion.
If you refer to the book Bhajana Yogamu - Vivrti in Telugu (English translation is available) you will then understand the meaning. Download the Bhajana Mala App. Don't miss. Give to all your friends as a gift. All those who own a Smartphone must have it. Having this App. functions as doing seva to yourselves and to Swamiji. Each bhajan was composed under very critical situations. They emerge spontaneously out of certain intense experiences of Swamiji. Other scholars and poets, even when requested by Swamiji, do not wish to edit or make corrections in them.
Bala Swamiji, Kuppa Krishnamurthy, and other poets have been asked time and again by Swamiji to look over the lyrics and make any required modifications. They all insist that Swamiji's compositions must remain intact in their unique style. They agree to only resolve any mix up of different languages like Kannada, Telugu, and Tamil. They will not stir up and contaminate Swamiji's lyrics with their own style of writing. They refuse to meddle with the lyrics composed by Swamiji. They say that by Swamiji's inspiration, they may compose some lyrics on their own, and give credit to Swamiji, offering those at His lotus feet.
They say that Swamiji's Telugu bhajans are perfect. Sanskrit Bhajans are many in number composed by Swamiji. They were shown to a great scholar called Bala Ganapati Bhattar. He is no more. He said to Swamiji, it is better if You tell me directly that You do not wish to have my services. I wish to live at least until the consecration of the Datta Temple. After that I will leave this world. You keep asking me to edit your writings. Don't force me to correct your writings. I may be a great scholar. But for every mistake You think You have made, I will give the exact meaning of those same perfect phrases. Every request You make, that I should correct Your mistakes, will reduce my lifespan by one year. It is very wrong for me to make any changes in Your compositions.
Rani Krishnamurthy Sastry and his son Rani Subbaiah Deekshitulu are great scholars. They are proficient in all Sastras. The father's knowledge is equivalent to 10-12 Ph.Ds. He is no more. What you compose is perfect as per the time and circumstance, he used to say. You coin new words and phrases for which I can give the exact meaning. You are enhancing the vocabulary of our languages. You are a creator of a new language.
Different languages use different dialects and ways of pronunciation. Based on tradition, the idioms and expressions will be different. The accent will be different. In Tamil, they say Maga Ganapati for Maha (great) Ganapati. They do not have the sound 'ha' in Tamil. Kannada people make fun of the Tamil pronunciation because in Kannada language Maga means son. How can Ganapati be addressed as Son Ganapati? Whose son? They ridicule. The accent is such.
In Swamiji's bhajans, sometimes to express the proper meaning, Swamiji specifies the different stanzas for their distinct meaning, metric requirements, and gives the work to Vamsi and others to complete the text. They struggle with the assignments and give the product. Swamiji then makes adjustments and finalizes the script.
These bhajans which were rendered here are all direct spontaneous creations of Swamiji. You are all very lucky. You are rendering songs from the Bhajana Yogam. These are Kali Yuga's Bhagavad Gita, Bhagavatam, Bhakti Samrajya (Kingdom of Devotion), these are Kali Yuga's Upanishads. All deities are present in them. One child of mine, I still address her as a child although now she is grown up, sends me bhajans daily. So far she has sent me hundreds of bhajans. We upload those on Vimeo. I am hoping that the rest of you will also follow her example. Every single day, sing a bhajan and send it to the Houston group. Sing in the temple otherwise, and Ramakrishna Rallapalli will record ten songs at one sitting. They will record and send them periodically to Swamiji, by uploading on the specially created Vimeo account. When you open the vimeo account, the first song will be the one sung by Gayathri. She is sitting here. Daily she sends me Swamiji's bhajans sung by her. Great singer. I knew her since she was a baby. Daily she sends trusting that Appaji will certainly listen to her singing. 100s of them she has sent so far. I cannot but listen to her singing. Do continue, my child.
Because of her effort and persistent gesture, I have now created a special Vimeo account. She did not know how to send videos. She has only been sending audio files with her photograph. Hereafter, send videos. Sing here in Dallas temple also. All the children should do the same, with shruti. It may be vocal or instrumental. All must do this recording. Young and old, all are urged to sing and record to be sent to Swamiji. The best songs will be selected and uploaded on the Vimeo account. It the songs are not good, they will be set aside. Swamiji will listen once. Of what use is it to sing before a wall? Sing before Swamiji's photo at least. Swamiji's main subject is Bhakti Yoga, Yoga of devotion, Bhagavatam, and Bhajans. Make the songs short. Do not repeat the lines. Each song must be less than 2.5 minutes. Yesterday I was given a necklace. I offered it to Hanuman. Now I give to you, Gayathri, my child. Why such a huge reward for such a small service? I want to impress upon everyone how much power/Mahima there is in this type of service. I am doing this to encourage all the others to follow suit. Just remember that. Send video songs to Rallapallis of Houston. They will upload them on vimeo under the account, 'Bhajans Arpan'. Those in the USA may send to Houston. Devotees in India may send them direct to Mysuru.
During the Kesare days, when Swamiji sang the bhajan Pahi Pahi Gajanana, thousands of devotees followed. I did not want so many people to crowd the present Mysore ashrama. That is why Sri Datta Venkateswara Temple was built. On Vaikuntha Ekadasi day, all those devotees come to the temple for darshan. 1.5 lakh people come during the 24 hour duration. In Vijayawada, when the loudspeakers on the streets played Swamiji singing the bhajan Amba Bhavani Sarade, it used to create a traffic jam. The police requested that we do not play on the loudspeakers on the street, because people are stopping to listen, blocking the flow of traffic. In Trinidad, after 11 pm it is their law that no loud speakers should be used. When the song finished and it was 11 PM, the devotees shouted, "Once more". If Swamiji just touches a musical instrument, they applaud. I love the West Indies devotees. Now I love Frisco.
This temple is All in one. Only a canteen is needed for the convenience of devotees. I requested Prakasa Rao to convert the Hanuman Cultural Center into a canteen, by obtaining the necessary permits. We will all come for idlis and other snacks. I will bring my retinue as the first customers at the canteen. People who come for Swamiji's darshan should also have some good food available. Bathrooms are there already. This big hall may be used for weddings, upanayanams, and other functions.
Gold coins used in worship of Hanuman are still available. Please take them at the Registration desk after making payment.
Participants in the Hanuman Chalisa Marathon non-stop chanting event for 24 hours may pay 20 dollars to get a certificate of participation direct from the Guinness World Records. For the Australia event also you may get, if you had participated. You may obtain the certificates by contacting Venkat Pydimarri or Chundu Srinivas. They are collecting the money and the details. (for the Australia event, please contact Ramaprabhu Vempati). If you want as a remembrance, book now. Collect later on.
Sri Guru Datta
Speech in the evening
All are well? Have you eaten? Want food? Come come. Come quick. This is how my parrots greet me every day. They mimic the speech of the visitors to the temple, how they talk, how the babies cry. The police whistles of the security guards they mimic. They mimic so well that the security guards inquire whether we have a security guard upstairs in the Guru Nilayam. Telephone ring tones are reproduced by them perfectly. Shuka Vana hero this one parrot is. Bhajans it sings. Just like the musicians.
The weekend rush at Shuka Vana is unbearable. Not sufficient car parking is available for visitors to the ashram because the spots are all occupied by Shuka Vana visitors. One and only Parrot Park in the entire world with 308 species of parrots all housed inside one aviary. 1200-1300 birds total we have there. Some other species of parrots live only in frigid zones. They cannot survive in Mysore's climate. They are in New Zealand. Not easy to tame them also. They live in the mountain regions. Like Eagles. Every weekend it is festive in the Mysore ashram. Now Swamiji has divided the premises into two sections.
I watched today my birds on Skype. Greeted and conversed with them. When Swamiji practices playing the flute, the parrot also practices. If Swamiji is not practicing, it asks him to play sa ri ga ma pa da ni (musical notes like do re mi fa so la ti). Jaitra disbelieved when I told him this. But it demonstrated in his presence. He had to be convinced. The parrots speak and sing just like humans. In the afternoons the parrots ask, had lunch? They call Swamiji, Rama, Namassivaya, and one of them shouts, calling Swamiji, Raaraa..... Come quick, my dear. My birds speak like that.
The parrots offer food to Swamiji in his mouth before lunch. He must open the mouth and accept the food. Otherwise they get upset. When they are not looking, Swamiji spits it out. They are such good friends. Is Swamiji missing them? I do not miss anyone or anything. There, when I am in Mysore, I talk about Dallas. I describe all the activities taking place here. Wherever I am, that is my world. All are my relatives. I get installed and established in every place I visit, as if it is my permanent residence. That is why, the organizers, they fix future programs for me always. They keep me moving.
Shreyas (a teenage artist) played the flute beautifully. Wonderful. He is already very good. His future is bright.
You must eat well for better playing. It is very beneficial for health to play mouth instruments. Players of such instruments avoid heart problems. Blowing action prevents asthma troubles. Prevents loss of memory. It helps one to remain without depression. Remain happy. No need for giving concerts. Home practice is enough.
A mistake made by many parents is that they arrange for an Arangetram (stage debut) for their children after they have learned just four kirtanas (classical music compositions). Very few dances the children learn, the bare minimum and the children are made to do their debut on stage.
Six hours nonstop those who can dance well, they may do their Arangetram. Same thing with violin, flute, and vocal artists. Earning some vidwat/expertise is very important. Ability to sit for long hours without changing position is important. 3-6 hours at least. No fidgeting. Endure discomfort without showing it. Legs will remain there. You must endure the suffering without displaying it. Youth must avoid changing positions frequently. You must be determined. Massaging one's arms and legs in public is not good. Make a habit of sitting for six hours steadily. Jaitra has leg pains and back pain but he endures. Running for drinking water, running to the bathroom, getting distracted, during programs must be avoided. Looking for praise and comments from others should be avoided. Focus only on performing your art. Watch only Swamiji, not others, if you are performing in his presence. Focus on the microphone, not on the expressions of the audience. Do not expose your own mistakes, when you make them, by making a face. Learn proper stage etiquette. It is very important. During the Hanuman Chalisa non-stop chanting for 24 hours, the children sat the whole night. I am very happy. They must also remain steady. Stage actors also should follow the same rules. Focus on the foreheads of the audience. Not their eyes. Eye expressions will distract the performer. Audience will think that the actor is looking at them if the actor looks at their forehead. One must appear natural in front of the camera. Do not look directly at the camera. Only in the beginning one feels very self-conscious. Later, one gets used to performing before a camera.
Do not entertain pride at all. Not even a trace. Keep getting annoyed that you are still not good enough. Only then you will improve. If you become overconfident and proud, then you destroy your own skill. Your progress stops. Rani Krishnamurty Sastry was like that. At age 89, he was still learning new things. Tyagaraja Swami felt in his old age that his Shruti/pitch or tone was not quite perfect. In his advanced years he still felt inadequate and dissatisfied with his voice that with the Tambura Shruti it was not merging perfectly.
In music and its practice, learning is never enough. That is why Swamiji calls his concerts, Raga Sagara/Ocean of Music. No one knows an ocean's hidden treasures. The Titanic, the aircrafts which have fallen into the ocean, many have never been found. The ships which have gone down to the depths of the ocean at the Bermuda Triangle, those ships have not been found yet. Huge mountains are there under the sea. Great valleys are there on the bottom of the ocean. Raga/musical scale itself is an ocean. Cannot measure its depth ever.
Today Swamiji is testing his voice. For a week Hanuman gaverest, keeping me busy with much other work.
Soon the first Saptaha/seven day discourse begins. If the first one is good, only then, Swamiji will conduct the second one. Otherwise no. I declare it right now.
Sloka. Vahantu Bhajan: Srikara dheekara Not bad, the voice is cooperating. Bhajan: aim hreem Sreem This is not a Bhajan. It is a mantra. 18 days after surgery (during an automobile accident Swamiji's arm suffered an injury) Swamiji performed a miracle concert in Switzerland.
Inside telephone booths in that country, they play this song. Those who open the door to use the phone, hear this song. So they keep listening. The line of users stopped moving.
The Town Hall people requested Swamiji to perform a concert in Switzerland. The date was announced. All the arrangements were made. Prasad called and informed them that Swamiji cannot come because of the injury and the subsequent surgery. He cannot play the synthesizer. The accompanying group of artists will come, along with Dr. L. Subramaniam to do the concert. Swamiji is in ICU. He cannot lift his hand. The man asked Prasad, How long have you known Swamiji? Prasad replied, I grew up with Swamiji, since childhood. The Swiss gentleman told Prasad, you do not know Swamiji. He will certainly come. He will play the concert. A backyard plant's value you do not know. Swamiji definitely will come. Prasad said, it is not possible.
Swamiji convinced the doctors that he would travel. They agreed. But he cannot play. We will arrange the stage so that Swamiji may pose for pictures. Full house that day in that concert hall.
Swamiji traveled by a special flight. Cannot move the hand. Cannot touch the keyboard. Five doctors accompanied Swamiji, including Dr. Nityananda Rao, the leader of the group. They ensured that Swamiji does not strain the arm. No movement. Swamiji walked. Flew in the special helicopter. Everything was set on the stage. Swamii said, I will just touch the keyboard for you to take photos.
Swamiji had practiced this song a lot. It contains all the secrets about Mother Goddess, of the Tripura Rahasya (profound scripture), and the Devi Sapstashati (700 verses on Devi). Swamiji placed his hand on the keyboard. He was not going to play. He quickly removed the bandage on the arm. What happened next? 16th day after surgery he left India. This was the 18th day. The musicians missed his company. They had not heard him for so many days. Suddenly Swamiji began playing the synthesizer. He never stopped. Keeravani raga he played. It was a torrential shower of music. Steel rods were placed inside his arm. Was he in pain? A challenge it is to even move the arm under such circumstances. All were amazed. L. Subramaniam was aghast. He was just staring. He was told to play. He played. Swamiji played on.
Swamiji's music played that night in Switzerland is available on the Music of the Mystics album. Everyone must download it from iTunes. Shankari album has the vocal rendition of this song. You may download and listen. The doctors could not do anything. They were helpless, just watching with jaws open. That night doctors struggled to keep Swamiji comfortable. They attended to the injury.
The next day, Swamiji had to travel to a cold place up in the mountains of Switzerland for a program. There, it was very uncomfortable. You know that such a surgery for such a wound and cold weather do not go hand in hand. They took me to such a place the next day. Cold weather makes such injuries hurt more. This is a tremendous healing bhajan. I am remembering all those incidents now, while singing this song.
3-6 months of physiotherapy is required for normal movement to be restored after a surgery like that. Swamiji experimented on himself by playing this song. The stanzas should be sung all together continuously, to get the correct meaning. One should not break up the lyrics into parts.
Bhajan: Guru Purnima Yesterday's song. I could not sing then this new song. I sing now.
24 hours they were at it non-stop with the Hanuman Chalisa chanting yesterday. They were singing, and playing instruments. Percussions also. Disciples of Ramanujam, Jaitra, and Mani. All remained awake. When I went inside, were they all there? Anyone slept? Anyone left? No.
Swamiji gave them great energy for each person to sing or play for 2-3 hours at a stretch, in the group that led the chant. They performed. A lesson they learned. That such occasions will arise in life. A milestone in their lives that children accompanied Swamiji as he sang the Hanuman Chalisa. All participants will get certificates. Request them now as one lot. You will not get another chance like this. With Guinness World Records we got recognition. All of you go and register. My wish is that everyone must get the certificates as a keepsake, for your children and grandchildren to feel proud of your achievement. That certificate is worth ten Ph. Ds. We came in the Guinness World Records, you may proudly tell all your near and dear ones.
Bhajan: Marakata Hanuman This is Dallas' special bhajan. Keep singing this here often. Very simple, catchy tune. This Bhajan when you sing, all deities are praised. All are included in this one song. Sing it once before bedtime for a complete prayer.
'Like' sgsbirds page on Facebook. Many have not done so yet. Ganapathy sachchdananda page also. Karyasiiddhi hanuman page also. You do it. Get others to do it also.
Harati song: Koti surya Tvameva Kayena vacha
Sri Guru Datta
Compiled by Smt Hira Duvvuri