Aug 10, 2016
Speech of HH Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji - Sri Narahari Teertha Swamiji Aradhana - August 10, 2016 - Mysore
Compiled by Smt Hira Duvvuri
Jaya Guru Datta
Om Sri Narahari Teertha Swamine Namaha.
Should I speak in Kannada, Telugu, or English?
Today we are remembering Swami. It has been 25 years. It is like the Silver Jubilee. He had great ideals. Swamiji follows his ideals and has also passed them on to his own followers so that they also follow the same ideals such as revering the Vedas, honoring brahmins and the scholars of Vedas, helping the needy, being truthful, and dedicated to the task at hand. These qualities were ingrained in him. He inherited them from his ancestors. These were not acquired by practice. He performed Yajnas and Yagas without animal sacrifices. Scholars of all four Vedas are familiar with Yajnas and Yagas, and how to do them without harming any animals. They know about Poundareeka.
Swami was not a priest by profession. He took up the profession with the intention of preserving the Brahmin culture. Although he and his ancestors were Veda Pundits, he did not consider the priestly profession as something beneath his dignity. There was a need in the region for a priest and so he filled that need. Whatever knowledge he had, he shared with the others. By performing rituals of atonement, he washed away the blemish of doing the duties of a village priest who receives remuneration for his work. By giving away to the needy whatever he received from others, he kept himself pure and untouched by greed. It is Dharma to protect our Dharma, it is our righteous duty.
Narahari Teertha Swami insisted on receiving his Sanyasa Deeksha from a descendent of the Sringeri Math. It was a challenge for me to find a suitable person in that lineage who could do this ritual for him. He did not want to follow the path of gradual liberation. He was adamant. One blind, old disciple in that lineage was finally found in Chittoor district. He was one who had directly received his Deeksha from the Guru of the lineage that Sri Narasimha Sastry sought so insistently. This person was brought in a car to the ashram. After he arrived here, I told him of my father’s wish to receive Sanyasa Deeksha from him. The man refused. I had to beg and plead with him. Finally, on the banks of river Kaveri, Swami was initiated. Swami was very stubborn. If he decided to do something, he would not budge from his stand, no matter what. He would not stay in one place. He would come here to the ashram but leave again soon thereafter. He gave away everything he had. He would borrow money to feed the poor. He taught his son Nanjundayya, and his followers also, the same dictum. Whoever comes must be fed, even if one has to take a loan. He was very handsome until he received the Sanyasa Deeksha. If you look at his old photographs, you will agree. On the day he received initiation, he told me that in forty days, his appearance would change dramatically.
No one understood his words. I had an inkling of what he meant. He wanted to take on the sins of everyone. He said if he asked me to give him my sins or the sins of my devotees, I would refuse to do so. He lived here in a small hut inside the ashram after he was initiated. When I asked him why he has become like this, (with blotches of white on his skin), he said because I would refuse if asked, he pulled all the sins out of me out of his own powers. He told me not to be afraid. Within a week his appearance changed. For forty days he followed a vow of silence. He was not talking to anyone. He hardly ate any food. He remained inside his small hut. He insisted on doing his mantra japa and reciting the Upanishads. Although I am Swamiji, I did not immediately understand the significance of his words. Then I pondered over them and realized that he had some grand plans. After forty days, when he opened the door of the hut and stepped out, his whole body had turned white. Whether you believe my words or not, it actually happened. Subrahmanya and some other old devotees have seen him before and after. They can attest to this fact.
See, from being so good looking, how he has become like this, in just 40 days. Such a thing is impossible for anyone else to do like this, deliberately. Maternal uncle and one who gives his daughter also is called guru. I called him Thatha garu and he is my guru. After the change occurred, he told me that he took the sins of all my devotees. I demanded why he did so without my permission. He said, seeking permission would not have made it possible for him. The deed was done. He said I took your sins also. Should I have cried or laughed, seeing his body like this? Tell me. Because of his immense sacrifice, I shed tears of joy. Such a quality you do not find anywhere. Like performing Purnahuti, he sacrificed his own body.
All of you, who have conducted this event today are most fortunate. You are blessed. He was exceptionally good at doing Shaktipata/transmission of spiritual energy. He possessed much secret knowledge but never disclosed it. He acted as if he were just an ordinary priest. He is such a great soul. I should have been at the Adhishthana in Jayalakshmipuram today performing this ritual. I was not well since the past few days. We even arranged for a helicopter to take me there and bring me back. But it was cancelled. After Sanyasa Deeksha/vow of renunciation, he did not belong to any place. He is everywhere. In all feelings he exists.
The devotees from Akiveedu have arranged this function. He came during his last days to see me, when it was not easy for him to move about. You will see the 3 min. video now. It is a surprise.
Sri Guru Datta