March 23, 2016
Speech of HH Sri Datta Vijayananda Teertha Swamiji in the morning on the occasion of Holi festival – March 23, 2016 – Hyderabad Ashram
Compiled by Bala Aati
Jaya Guru Datta !
Happy Holi to all of you.
This is a surprise visit to Hyderabad. This surprise is not just for you. It is a surprise for me also. I have come here on some work and should leave now for Chennai, from there to Nadupalani and then to Mysore. Appaji felt very happy when said about my visit to Hyderabad. He conveyed His blessings to you all. He instructed everyone to be ready for Ugadi. Are you all ready ? Appaji will be here during Ugadi for 5 days. All of you celebrate it well. Organise everything with good coordination. I may come on 5th April.
Holi is a festival of colors. Sadguru's presence in one's life makes it colorful. Earlier, films were in black and white. Then came a technology of eastman color. Later colored gaugles were used to watch the film in color. But now LCD and other latest technology has come making it more colorful. Color for life is very much needed. Life should not be dry. Leaves fall from the trees during autumn/fall and will sprout back during spring. Similarly, Sadguru fills colours in a dry life. In this context I remember one of Swamiji's bhajan Sri Bhavani, Bhavuni Rani. It says -
ākāśamu cillulugā amr̥tamu varṣin̄cina
mōḍayinā molakavadā bhūmipaina?
It means that a dead tree also springs back with the shower of nectar. Always be positive. Never think that everything has ended. Change will definetely come. Sadguru's presence in one's life brings postiveness. Miracles do happen in life and they happen only with Sadguru. This is today's holi message.
There is a demon called Holika during Dwapara Yuga. Everyone's lives became barren There is no happiness. Holika always wanted everyone to cry. When she was dead, everyone's lives became colourful and happy. Since then holi festival came into existence. For the first time, Lord Sri Krishna sprinkled colours on Radha devi.
This is a festival to be celebrated between Guru and disciple. Holi enhances love between husband and wife. It improves family relations, between parents and children. It builds friendship. On such an occasion, on this holi, I'm so happy to be with you in Hyderabad. More than that, you all woke up so early in the morning and came here to wish Happy Holi. I'm extremely happy about it. This is a surprise visit and I told not to announce. They were worried. I told them, even if not announced, devotees will come. We have such experiences in Hyderabad. Once Appaji came to Hyderabad suddenly. Not sure how the news spread, everyone was here to have Appaji's darshan. Where there is honey, honeybees will be there. Once again Happy Holi to all of you. May all your lives sprout and may all your wishes fulfil. May you earn good wealth, may you be on good path, on the path of dharma, may children
have good education, it is exams time now. May you get good results.
Temperatures are soaring this summer. May there be timely rains. Someone prayed Anjaneya itseems. O ! Hanuma, during your chidhood, you went to sky to eat Sun, thinking it as a fruit. Please do that now because weather is very hot. Mysore also is very hot. Let us pray that there will be timely monsoon. Let us pray mother goddess that everyone be happy.
Today sprinkling colour is a tradition. But use vegetable colours. Do not use chemical colours. It is dangerous to eyes. You may lose your vision due to that. Today, we have done abhishekam to mother goddess with turmeric water. Let us use that water as holi colours. Now I will sprinkle that water on all of you. Have very short time. Need to catch the flight to Chennai. Evening there is Kanchi Peetham program at Chennai.
Most importantly Appaji is very hale and healthy and will be seeing you all soon for Ugadi.
Jaya Guru Datta !