February 11, 2016
Speech of HH Sri Datta Vijayananda Teertha Swamiji - February 11, 2016 - Mysore
Compiled by Smt Hira Duvvuri
Keep chanting the Hanuman Chalisa 9 times, and 108 times the Guru-given mantra for Sri Swamiji’s good health.
Maagha month has commenced. In this month we take holy baths early in the morning before sunrise. It is highly beneficial to take a dip in a river, temple pond (Pushkarini), lake, or sea during this month, especially on auspicious days, such as new moon, days of auspicious stars, festive days, birthdays and other special days.
Those who do not have an opportunity to go to such places, need not feel bad. When you use water from the faucet (tap), chant the mantra: Gangecha yamunechaiva.. (Full prayer added by Dattavani: Gangecha Yamune cha eva Godavari Saraswathi / Narmade Sindhu Kaveri Jalesmin Sannidhim Kuru) invoking all the holy waters from sacred rivers and sacred water sources into the tap water.
When you visit holy places or holy waters, bring some back with you in bottles or cans. Store them at home. After finishing bath at home, all family members may sprinkle a few drops of that sacred on the head. After that, you should not apply shampoo and wash it off. Leave it there till you take a bath next time. If necessary filter the water using a thin cloth.
This is a very auspicious month. This is the month in which Sivaratri occurs. Maa+ agha means it destroys all our sins. Maa=removes. Agha=sins. This type of bath increases our energy or power (Shakti). Positive vibrations are absorbed by such a sacred bath taken during the Maagha month.
Although it is chilly in the morning, to take a bath in holy waters before sunrise during this month is a very spiritually beneficial accepted practice.
It is good that we have resumed the Yoga Vasishtha discourses during this auspicious month.
Jaya Guru Datta