March 9, 2016
Speech of HH Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji - Solar Eclipse - March 9, 2016 - Mysore
Compiled by Smt Hira Duvvuri
(the first part of the speech is missing in the recorded video of Yogasangeeta)
Learning to chant the Vedas is not a waste of time. You may think that it is a time-waste. To learn and to retain it in memory is in itself a penance. This effort bestows great Dhaaranaa Shakti, retentive memory. Those who are endowed with it should use that talent for worthy occupations. They fail to do that. That is where the problem comes. They become worldly and treat their gift as a business asset, and go downhill. There are extremely few, who have this spiritual gift, who, as householders, still enjoy its benefit. May be one in a million. All others sell away their precious gift of penance for a mere ten rupees. They throw it away. They sell it for a pittance.
It is good to give knowledge. But these people are selling away their energy. They get married, and lose it.
Today it is solar eclipse. Some could see it. Some could not see it. It depends on the earth’s rotation. The sun also moves, but very slowly. Rahu is also a planet. During their movements, when they come in the path of one another, a shadow falls. It is described as if Rahu and Ketu are swallowing the Sun and the Moon, when they are blanketing them under their shadow.
If one steps on another’s shadow, it is equivalent to eating them up. That is why one does not step on the shadow of a great person or an elder. You should not step on Sadguru’s shadow. Avoid doing it. It is like today’s planet shadow system.
This is all like Vedanta. This Vedanta has different ways of understanding. There are different class books, and different lessons, but all using the same alphabets. In the education field, there are so many different systems, and different ways to calculate and grasp the subject.
You have all taken a dip in the Saptarshi Sarovara today. It is very good. May the impact of all bad planets release you. May you all be free from their negative influences.
Nagini will give you an English translation of the entire speech now and will publish it later.
Who are all leaving town today? I am just asking.
Vamshi, please explain about what an eclipse is, and its significance.
Vamshi:
This morning we heard the words of advice from Sri Swamiji. In the astrological texts, there is a thought-provoking line. What are the planets and what is light? Luminous and non-luminous astral bodies are referred to. Luminous bodies are self-effulgent. Non-luminous bodies reflect the light of the luminous bodies. Sun, Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, and Saturn are the seven planets. According to the solar planetary system, the earth is a part of this. Sometimes we keep thinking whether the ancient system works in tandem with modern astrophysics. Are they independent of each other or do they complement each other? How are the calculations similar? The modern physicists are aided by modern gadgets.
The distance and the angle are very important when we make a prediction. Whether the earth is a part of the solar system of planets or not, is not important. What is important is the angle of this planet on which we reside. The moon is said to be a satellite of the earth, but it is still an astral body. Mars has been born from the earth. Important astrophysicists believe that some explosion might have occurred with a great force which caused this separation of Mars from the Earth.
Mercury was once a part of the moon according to some Vedic texts. He is referred to as the son of the moon. The two have some shared attributes.
What about Rahu, the shadow planet? In a telescope it is not visible.
Some have a presence which is invisible, but keep impacting lives. E.g. suspicion of someone or fear of someone keeps haunting you and troubling you.
Some Veda mantras refer to Ketu as a comet. Ketu literally means a flag post. He is not referred to in the mantras as a planet. A comet has a peculiar shape.
What is an eclipse? We know that the shadow of the moon is causing the blanketing or shielding of the sun. Grasana means swallowing in poetic terms.
Swamiji has aptly reminded us that Rahu, the planet, is actually only a shadow. It causes the disappearance from sight of the sun.
Bhusukta gives a good description. It gives a beautiful insight as to how the planets affect our lives.
Vedas mention several other planetary systems. There are a myriad heavens and Lokas, whereas the westerners refer to only one heaven.
Shadows sometimes eclipse our wisdom to discriminate. Why are puja and japa required? They make us more diligent. That is why our elders prescribe their practice to keep the mind intact and concentrated, and not get shadowed.
Japa is prescribed during an eclipse. Many of you have done that after the morning’s ablution.
Many have the doubt whether you are praying to something physical or metaphysical, when you are praying to the sun or the moon. Landing on the moon requires placing a foot on the moon, which should not be done if it is considered a deity. Same thing applies to landing on any other planet. Some correlation must be made between the physical and the metaphysical. Surya mandala is the physical astral body. Surya is the presiding deity of it. The entire ashrama is Swamiji’s body, Swamiji says. But he is its presiding deity. He is different from the ashrama.
When we do Japa, or Upasana of offering water, we do not only look at the physical body of the Sun. The celestial body is what is seen or visualized. The presiding deity of the Sun is the same as the one who is present both in our body and the astral body we are seeing. There is one omnipresent, all-pervading divinity which is present both in our bodies and the astral bodies and we should recognize their unity while we offer prayers. That is the synopsis of the mantras we chant.
During eclipse time, what is the benefit of being with Sadguru? Does Swamiji protect you from the bad planetary influences? We are all eager to know the future. Whether you learn the prediction or not, what will happen will certainly happen.
There is a deluge in the country. One who is in a building on high ground is safe. His life is not threatened. He will have some supplies to survive on, although he may not get fresh vegetables every day. The impact of calamities is much reduced when one is with Swamiji. He provides insulation and protection. It is like having air conditioning during severe summer weather. We cannot control the planetary movements. But we use eyeglasses and umbrellas.
Swamiji gives great wisdom. Utilize it and grasp what you should do, when. The shadow planets are only covering the physical orb, not affecting the presiding deity. Although a curtain obstructs the view of a lamp, the lamp still remains lit.
Generalized predictions referred to as Gochaara are comparative and relative. It is foolish to think that a president and a beggar will both face the same level of misfortune when a country faces a calamity.
Sri Guru Datta