Pujya Swamiji inaugurates Datta Peetham branch in Sri Sailam on Deepavali 2018
Inauguration of Datta Peetham branch in Srisailam
- Deepavali 2018
Pujya Sri Swamiji visited the sacred Jyotirlinga Shiva Kshetra & Ashtadasha Shakti Peetham Kshetra of Sri Sailam from 5th to 8th November 2018.
Pujya Sri Swamiji arrived at noon of 5th and inaugurated the Datta Peetham branch in Srisailam. The sprawling prayer hall built in Srisailam would be greatly revered by devotees.
Upon arrival, Sri Swamiji was received by devotees and Sri Ramachandra Murthy Executive Officer of Srisailam temple and other officials. Sri Swamiji offered Purnahuti of Pratishtha Homa and and then proceeded to the dining hall (ground floor of Ashrama) and offered Arati to the Hanuman Murti that was installed. Then, at the first floor of the building, Sri Swamiji unveiled the inauguration plaque, opened the doors of prayer hall and walked to the stone mantapa that housed a marble Murti of Dattatreya Swami. Sri Swamiji offered Arati to Dattatreya while devotees chanted Datta Stava. Sri Swamiji gave a discourse and recalled the days of Sri Swamiji’s childhood when he visited Srisailam. Sri Swamiji said the Ashrama is open for devotees and spiritual and religious programs.
The Ashrama is situated on slope and rocky one acre of land. A two story building stands at the end of the land. Ground floor is kitchen, dining area, a Hanuman Murti in Mantapa, caretaker quarters, office & public conveniences.
On the first floor is large prayer hall measuring 5400 square feet. In the center of the prayer hall is a stone Mantapa and marble Dattatreya Murti. To the left of the hall are dormitory for visitors and to the right are four cottages.
Pujya Sri Swamiji and Sri Bala Swamiji stayed in Sri Sailam Ashrama during this stay.
Being Hasta Nakshatra day, in the evening at 5 PM Sri Swamiji visited the Mallikarjuna Swami Jyotirlinga Shiva temple in Sri Sailam Sri Swamiji was received at eastern temple tower by Sri Ramachandramurthy, Executive officer and chief priests of the temple with Purnakumbha, Veda Swasti & Sri Mallikarjuna Swami Prasadam garland. Sri Swamniji offered Arati to Ratnagarbha Ganapathy and then witnessed the evening Arati to the sacred Jyotirlinga - Sri Mallikarjuna Swami. . Sri Swamiji later offered Abhishekam to the Shivalingam. Later, Sri Swamiji took Darshana of the reflection of the temple Kalasha in the water body to the north of the temple and the Bhairava shrine. Sri Swamiji then visited the Bhramaraamba Devi Shakti Peetha temple just behind the Shiva temple. Sri Swamiji witnessed Kumkumarchana and prayed for Loka Kalyana.
At 7 PM, a Swagata Sabha was held in the new Ashrama premises. Sri Murali Krishna compared the Rameswaram Sri Sailam, Mahakaleswar, Varanasi, Kedarnath and Mount Kailas as the Six Shatchakras of Sri Swamiji and alluded Srisailam to be the Swadhishthana Chakra. He traced the historical importance of Sri Sailam in Sri Swamiji’s life as the place where Sri Swamiji received ShoNa Vastram as he was bathing in Krishna river. Sri Sailam is the place where Dattatreya Swami performed Tapas. Sri Sailam is the place where Adi Sankara did penance and wrote the two immortal works - Soundarya Lahari on mother goddess and Shivananda Lahari on Lord Shiva. Sri Sailam was among the few places where both Jyotirlinga Shiva temple and Ashtadasha Shakti Peetham Debi temple exist in one place. He profusely thanked Sri Swamiji for blessing devotees by building an Ashrama branch in Sri Sailam.
Sri Madhusudan -devotee architect of Sri Sailam Ashrama was honored. Sri.Kolli Babu - contractor builder of the Ashrama and Sri Kanta Rao - Caretaker of the Ashrama were honored.
Sri Swamiji in his discourse blessed the services of Sri Y.V.Chandrashekar and Nimmagadda Muralikrishna in the development of Srisailam Ashrama.
On 6th November 2018, Sri Swamiji performed Sri Chakra Puja. In the discourse, later, Sri Swamiji urged devotees to listen to Mahalakshmi Ashtakam regularly thrice a day. Sri Swamiji also urged devotees to memorize the Ashtakam as it removes inner and exterior enemies.
In the afternoon Sri Bala Swamiji arrived in the Srisailam Ashrama.
In the evening, Sri Swamiji sang Bhajans on Ganesha, Devi, Dattatreya and Shiva.
Sri Swamiji discourse during Bhajan session -
We should not sleep during sun rise and sunset Many people suffer from long term diseases. They should make a practice to be up by sunrise and Chant 12 sun god names. I even explained stories on Sun God - Surya Deva . I did Saptaham on Surya Deva also. I recited the greatness of sun god and Surya Namaskara and the yoga of Surya. We won’t exist without sun god. Norway, northern regions of Europe and Mexicans greatly revere sun god. Mayan civilization worship sun god. I performed a Sankranthi in Chichen Itza Sun temple. I climbed the stairs of the temple and offered sun worship. For millennium sunrise I went to Tonga. It is a difficult journey to reach that island. Amazing place it was. It was a 27 hour journey to reach there. That island has no electricity or fresh water. It was difficult trip. On January 1st 2000, I observed new year millennium Sunrise there and performed Surya Homa.
Shriyam ichchet hutaashanaat - Worship fire God for wealth
Jnanamichchet maheshwaraat - Pray Shiva for Jnana
I am just a ladle. I don’t take any taste. I just serve. I am a ladle. All I do is serve you. My only prayer is - you all should be well.
Sun is worshiped for health
Agni for wealth
You will get Knowledge from Praying to Shiva
You will get Moksha from praying to Janardana
I have completed my Tapas and Nama Smarana. I do now for your sake. I sing only to make you sing. I always lead a kindergarten of singing. I always try and teach. At least at one point of singing, you will gain concentration.
I don’t look at time. I know when to lead you to sing. I only do Nama Upadrashta, Jnana Upadesha. Either three minutes or three hours, intention is the same. To show you the bliss of Namasmarana.
If you look at Swamiji as an ordinary human being, I will be so. All I do is for your sake. If it was for me, I don’t have to do it in public. Puja, discourses and Bhajans are the food cooked by me to serve you. You are the recipients, the audience, the beneficiaries of my cooking. I alone know the art of cooking what is needed for you. Some of you eat, some don’t. It is your karma that dictates it. Some eat fully, some are disinterested. What can I do ? I can only cook and serve. If you are a Satpaatra, you will receive my food with gratitude, eat fully, digest well and go towards Moksha.
Let us sing shiva and Hari Nama Smarana.
Bad people, bad habits, bad thoughts, bad life style have to be annihilated . Rama did not preach Shanti and ethics to Ravana.
Did krishna do Abhyangana to Narakasura ? No.
Lakshmi Devi removes inner and outer enemies. Do Lakshmi Ashtaka without fail thrice a day. Morning and afternoon and evening. Memories it. It will help you to remove your enemies.
On Deepavali, Amavasya - 7th November, in the morning Sri Swamiji listened to Bhajan singing by Hyderabad Bhajan Brindam.
Sri Bala Swamiji went around Srisailam to have Darshana of Sakshi Ganapathy, Hatakeswara Shivalinga, Phaladhara falls, the sacred spot where Jagadguru Adi Sankara preformed penance and composed Sivananda Lahari and Soundarya Lahari Stotrams and Shikhara Darshana from a hill from where the four temple towers of Sri Sailam are visible. It is considered that viewing just the temple tower of Srisailam earns much merit. Many devotees followed Sri Bala Swamiji to these places.
In the evening, Pujya Swamiji performed Sri Chakra Puja & Dhanalakshmi Puja in honor of the Deepavali festival. Devotees offered Deepa Danam. Sri Swamiji’s Deepavali message was:
Shivaaya Rudraaya Namah
Today Lakshmi Puja is performed. There is not place devoid of the presence of Lakshmi. She manifests as courage, stability. Thus she is the basis of our existence.
To contemplate on her, touch the middle spot between your eye- brows. In yoga tradition, this is called Bhru Madhya. Make it a point to touch this spot every day according to your traditions.
The materials suggested for this Tilaka/ Bhasma too have some intrinsic value. Carry a small container to keep your Bhru Madhya occupied. By smearing the spot, you are touching the sacred spot of Lakshmi. It is her place in the human body.
Now onwards, if you are coming to Ashrama it is mandatory to keep your forehead smeared. (Don’t keep your forehead blank. It is as if the forehead is licked by stray dogs. This is a famous idiom in Karnataka.)
Even widows or widowers can have Homa Raksha or Vibhuti. For those beauty conscious damsels, stickers are available.
The intent is to keep your forehead decorated. By touching the forehead many times a day, you should also remind yourself about the factor of Goddess Lakshmi, who is the source of stability and prosperity.
The significance of Vibhuti is manifold. Once Sage Durvasa happened to visit the heaven. He was well received by the celestial, as his anger was well known. Durvasa in his conversation, wanted to know the lateral events that are in vogue or scheduled. The assembly of deities have mentioned about the incidence of Naraka Kuupa- large hell pit which may not even have a bedrock. Many creatures undergoing various excruciating punishments yell a lot with pain.
Durvasa was curious to visit the state of creatures ensnared and entrapped in the hell pit.
The tradition mentions that this mortal body is not suited to undergo the punishment. It will have a Bhoga Shareera, whereby the creature has all the experience without a formal physical body. Those who killed creatures for their enjoyment, food or fancy will have their route cut out to reach the hell. Don’t be a parasite. Don’t steal other’s property. Don’t abuse women, parents and pious people, to avert.
Deities had led the Sage to the hell pit, to have a glimpse of creatures in the hell. Each sin has a different set of punishments. Between each punishments, this hell pit stands as the remand home. Who could measure the extent of their Karma?
Durvasa peeped into the hell pit. Incidentally, some particles from the Vibhuti smeared on the forehead of the sage, had fallen down in the pit. By surprise, the entire environment transformed as heaven. The suffering has vanished and the creatures were enthralled by celestial music.
The celestials have realised that the Vibhuti from the forehead, the place of Lakshmi is the source of this transformation. That is the power of Lakshmi. Bottu - is the name in Kannada and Telugu. On this day, you have to take oath that you won’t let your forehead to be empty any time, especially when you go out from home. It would be easy to recognise you.
In fact, I get disgusted to see such faces of gents who shy away from following the tradition.
More over, this tradition would elicit a smile from Sadguru. Your traditions may differ. Make a vow on this Deepavali.
Maha Lakshmi would bless you. Don’t forget to recite Maha Lakshmi Ashrama and Ashta Lakshmi Stuti daily.
Later, Sri Swamiji gave 1 rupee coin used for Lakshmi Puja to all devotees. Thousands came in queue and received the unique blessings from Sri Swamiji.
On 8th November, being first day of Karthika Masa, Sri Swamiji took Darshana of Sri Sailam temple Shikhara and proceeded to Sakshi Ganapathy temple at the outskirts of Srisailam. It is believed that every visitor to Sri Sailam who takes Darshana of Sri Mallikarjuna Swami has to visit Sakshi Ganapathy Temple while leaving Sri Sailam. It is believed that Sakshi Ganapathy is the witness to one’s Srisailam visit. Hyderabad Ashrama.
Sri Bala Swamiji went to Sri Mallikarjuna Swamy temple to perform Abhishekam to the sacred Shivalingam.
Annadanam was performed on all days in Sri Sailam Ashrama.
