Pujya Sri Swamiji in Baton Rouge - September 2018
Pujya Sri Swamiji in Datta Temple, Baton Rouge
September 28th to 1st October 2018
Pujya Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji visited Datta temple in Baton Rouge from the 28th September to 1st October 2018.
Pujya Sri Swamiji consecrated the Datta temple 21 years ago in July 1997. This was the first ever consecrated Datta temple by Sri Swamiji in the United States. Baton Rouge Datta temple served as the bedrock of Datta movement of Pujya Sri Swamiji in the United States. It was in Baton Rouge Datta temple, Sri Swamiji spoke to an enthusiastic group of devotees from Dallas and gave the “go ahead” to their Hanuman temple project.
On arrival in Baton Rouge airport at noon of 28th September from Butler county airport near Datta Retreat Center, Sri Swamiji was received by Sri Daulat Sthanki & Mani Sthanki with eight police outriders who led Pujya Swamiji’s car convoy through the busy fares of Baton Rouge to Datta temple.
At Datta temple, priests of the temple, Sri.Santosh & Sri.Prasad received Pujya Sri Swamiji with temple members Smt.Indira Chillara, Sri.Suri Duvvuri & Sri.Balan. Pujya Sri Swamiji took Darshana of Ganapathy, Dattatreya & Anagha Devi, Shiva Linga, Hanuman and Navagraha deities.
In the evening, a welcome function was held in Jayalakshmi Mata Hall - opposite the Datta temple. Sri.Suri Duvvuri gave a welcome speech which encompassed Pujya Sri Swamiji’s world wide activities & features of Datta Peetham in Mysuru. Sri.Prakasa Rao, chairman of Datta Yoga Center, USA gave a speech explaining Pujya Sri Swamiji’s current US tour and the Ganesh Utsav celebrations at Karya Siddhi Hanuman temple at Frisco.
On 29 September 2018, Saturday morning, Pujya Sri Swamiji performed Abhishekam to the deities of Maha Ganapathy, Dattatreya & Anagha Mata and Shivalingam. Later, Sri Swamiji performed Sri Chakra Puja in Jayalakshmi Mata Hall. The Datta Satsang members of the temple Sri Ramnik Modha, Sri Daulat Sthanki, Sri.Balu Bhai, Sri William “Chidu” Bertolette Sang Bhajans of Sri Swamiji. Later, Kumaris. Hamsa Gayathri Mullapudi, Akhika & Akashara Venturupalli and Sreevidya Ghantasala sang Bhajans of Pujya Swamiji during Sri Chakra Puja. Pujya Sri Swamiji in the discourse narrated the story of Ajamila in Bhagavatham and said chanting of God’s name helps one to regain the path of devotion leading to Sayujya.
In the evening, Datta Shiva Raga Sagara - music for meditation concert was conducted by Pujya Sri Swamiji in Jayalakshmi Mata Hall. Sri.Daulat Sthanki lit the inaugural lamp.
Sri Swamiji played
Pranavasvarupam in Rushyaketu Priya Raga
Guru Padamu in Sri Ranjani Raga
Suvarchalamba Pranadeva in Kamavardhini Raga
Italic tune in Madhuvarshini Raga
Raga Ragini Mangala in Sama Raga
Over 700 crowded in the hall and were soaked in the divine music energies of Pujya Swamiji. The stage was decorated with blue theme representing water and the back drop was Mount Everest. The concert ended after two hours of most wonderful healing music by Pujya Sri Swamiji.Afetr the concert, Sri.V.R.Raman & Smt.Sree Raman offered thank you garland to Sri Swamiji and Smt.Geeta & Sri Ramnik Modha offered a Pagari head gear to Sri Swamiji.
As Sri Swamiji walked back to Guru Nilayam devotees lined on either side of the road and thanked Pujya Sri Swamiji for the healing music concert.
On Sunday 30th September 2018, Pujya Sri Swamiji offered Purnahuti of Ganapathy Homa performed by new temple priest Vid.Yedida Prasad and later performed Sri Chakra Puja in Jayalakshmi Mata Hall. Sri.Subrahmanya Sastry from Houston gave a Veena concert during Sri Chakra Puja. He played all seven Swara Devata Kritis on the seven music notes Sa to Ni - composed by Pujya Sri Swamiji.
Pujya Sri Swamiji in the discourse spoke about the devotion and love the devotees in showed in the tour. From Seattle to Dallas to Datta Retreat Center to Baton Rouge. Sri Swamiji said it was their love and devotion alone that keeps bringing Sri Swamiji to their midst in the US. Sri Swamiji then called twins in the audience to come and receive Prasadam. Four twins came forward. Sri Swamiji then called youngest kid who had memorized Bhagavad Gita in the audience. Four kids aged seven came forward. One of them was asked by Sri Swamiji to explain the meaning of third Shloka in sixth chapter. They young lad bravely took the microphone and said - Sri Swamiji’s Bhagavad Gita book had summary meaning for first three Shlokas of 6th chapter and narrated the meaning of the Shloka which explains the characteristics of a Dharmic person.
Sri Swamiji then called those aged over 80 to come forward. Baton Rouge devotees Sri Vasundhara & Madhava Rao Arimilli came forward. Sri Swamiji made them exchange garlands and blessed her with a Saree. The last event of this beautiful 151’s foreign tour of Pujya Swamiji had the intimacy devotees year from their Sadguru. Many devotees from Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Dallas, California had come to attend the programs in Baton Rouge.
In the evening, Sri Swamiji came to Datta temple while celestial message musicians sang Bhajans in the temple. Later Sri Swamiji graced the homes of Sri Daulat - Vijaya Sthanki & Hira - Suri Duvvuri with house visits.
On 1st October 2018, Pujya Sri Swamiji travelled Baton Rouge - Chicago to Dubai and on to Bengaluru & Mysuru.
