AvadhootaDatta Peetham

Jaya Guru Datta

śrī mahā gaṇapataye namaḥ

śrī sarasvatyai namaḥ

śrī pādavallabha narasimha sarasvati

śrī guru dattatreyāya namaḥ

dhanamārjaya kākustha dhanamūlam idam jagat |

antaraṁ nābhi paśyāmi nirdhanasya ca mṛtasya ca ||

O Rama, light of the Kakushta lineage, money rules this world. Money greatly influences man’s life. Therefore, O Sri Ramachandra, earn wealth according to your power and strength. Wealth has great power. The one who is poor is as good as dead. I do not notice a difference between two. Just as relatives burn the dead body to ashes, the society burns alive with insults and abhorrent words of censure, the mind of the poor man. This is the source shloka for the saying “dhanamūlam idam jagat”. These are words of Upadesha from Guru Vasishtha to Sri Rama in Yoga Vasishtha.

From such sayings, we should understand an important fact. There is a myth that Vedantists are incapable of earning wealth. Vedantists are not lazy. They are capable of leading the society on the right path and are adept in Yoga sadhana. They however have no desire for worldly acquisitions. Guru Vasishtha instructed that Sri Rama earn wealth. Wealth should be in our control, not the other way around. Even though Guru Vasishtha was advising Sri Rama to earn wealth, it should be noted that he cautions that one should not become slave to wealth.

dinoti iti dhanam

That which gives happiness to the mind is called wealth. Different things give joy to different people. This main intent of this sookti is to teach us that happiness relates to the mind, not to external objects. For life to be happy, one must undertake good deeds. For the country to be prosperous and peaceful, the rulers must have devotion and must practice Vedic rituals. They must arrange for drinking water wells and water tanks for irrigation. All this needs money. Therefore, O Sri Rama, gem of Ikshvaku lineage, earn money abundantly but have no attachment for it. Undertake good deeds. Money is like Prana for this life. To be happy, to undertake Dharmic deeds and to protect health, money is very essential. There is not much difference between one who is poor and one who is dead. Both of them are in pitiable condition.

Also note that while the dead may earn the pity of some people, the poor are hated even by birds and animals. They are disregarded by relatives and friends and hated even by their own children. Furthermore, the wife too turns a deaf ear to such a person, said Sage Vasishtha. One must work hard and earn minimally at least. Work as a laborer and earn a few rupees, that is fine. The dharmic, truthful and the supreme ruler Sri Rama did not need this Upadesha, but Guru Vasishtha gave this Upadesha for universal welfare keeping the common folks in mind.

Ganapati festival is very important not only in India, but throughout the world. Swamiji has made the sankalpa to do 1 lakh Gakara Sahasra Homa over five days. Everyone can participate in this as well as other events such as Annadana. Along with Sri Chakra Archana, there will be Ganapati Puja as well as Homa. All of you must participate in the events. The Homa this year is a precursor to the Koti Ganapati Yajna next year (10 million times). I came here for your sake to give you Darshan.