28th October, 2003 - SWATHI Madhurapuri Ashram (4.30 p.m) Excerpts from the Benedictory address by His Holiness Sri Sri swamiji on the occasion of the release of stamp in commemoration with the birth centenary of Mataji Krishna bai Sri Swamiji has been rendering ‘Upanyãs’ (discourses), in Tamizh. This is being brought to you here. There may appear to be variations in the ‘tense’ of the language. This is due to the fact that great effort has been taken to maintain the original style of the ‘Upanyãs’. Therefore, we request you to keep this in mind while reading the translated ‘words’ of Sri Swamiji.

“Even venomous creatures understand Mahans but not Man!” ---- H.H. Sri Sri Swamiji

Sri Swamiji,

"HARE RÃMA HARE RÃMA RÃMA RÃMA HARE HARE
HARE KRISHNA HARE KRISHNA KRISHNA KRISHNA HARE HARE"

“ Normally all Sadhus speak highly of two Ashrams. Even ordinary people are able to feel the ‘sannidhya’ (the Divine Presence) in these two Ashrams. The first is Ramanashram and the second is Ãnandashram.

Who is a Sadhu? A person cannot be called a Sadhu just because he poses for a camera in a Sadhu ‘vesha’ or wears long hair on his head or sports a long beard or acts as if possessed of ‘vairãgya’ (dispassion). So, too, shedding tears does not make a Bhakta of a person. I read Papa’s books quite often and repeatedly. The incidents found in them are absolutely astounding.

Once Papa went to a Sadhu sangh in Pandarpur. There, amidst vast crowd of people, the Sadhu spoke of Papa in a very defaming manner. All the while Papa sat with a smile on his face. He even vouched for the words of the Sadhu!

However, this should not be perceived as the doing of the Sadhu but it was a Lila (of Bhagavan).

On another occasion, Papa had been invited to a devotee’s home where he was honored in various ways. Soon after, Papa continued on his wandering. He boarded into a train. The train was jam-packed and Papa was hit, pushed about and kicked by the passengers. Someone dumped his luggage on him. Papa said to the body that while it had accepted the puja of honours a while ago it should also accept this ‘puja’ of abuses.

Once Papa desired to spend sometime in a cave near a village. The villagers advised him strongly against this, as, a venomous snaked lived in the cave. Papa would not pay heed to their advice. He stayed in the cave. The next morning the villagers came up expecting to find the dead body of Papa. But, lo! What a wonder! Papa was alive and joyful! The venomous snake did indeed come but Papa to whom everything seemed Rama offered a piece of jaggery, that he had in his pocket to wet the throat that goes dry due to chanting Rama Nãma, to it. Papa saw the venomous snake as verily Rama. Papa later took the piece of jaggery touched by the snake as Rama prasad!

Even venomous creatures understand Mahans but not Man!

Once Yogiramsuratkumar was asked by his devotee of earlier days to show him his place of stay. Yogi took him to his place of stay. It was an abandoned shed, which was filled with poisonous creatures. They never harmed Yogi at all. Beasts attack only when threatened, to protect themselves. Yogiramsuratkumar’s life was threatened in various ways by the people around during the Hindi agitation period, as he was from the Northern parts of India. There was even an attempt to run a vehicle over him! Mahans remain calm even on such occasions. Only at such times can one know the true nature of the person.

Papa set out only with Rama Nãma with him! People set out on their journey with money, baggage, food and these days with credit cards. But Papa set out on his spiritual journey with Rama Nãma! He had no change of dress, had no arrangement for food. But, his tapas was such that wherever he went he was welcomed and treated well. Kabir, Samarta Ramdas, Badrachala Ramdas, Mira, Thiagaraja all sang the glory of Rama Nãma.

One can do tapas in solitude but getting to serve a Guru is rare, indeed!

You should not go out seeking a Guru for you will land up with an ‘asat’ Guru.

If you are sincere in your yearning for Bhagavãn, Bhagavãn will take you to a Sadguru. If you can attain a Jivan Mukta as your Guru and are blessed with the opportunity to serve him that verily is tapas! You need not then feel, ‘I am not doing tapas.’ You need not! Any and every one can perform tapas. But, to do ‘kainkarya’ (serve) is a rare blessing. And Mata Krishna Bai was blessed with it. A tragedy in her life turned her outlook on life and she came to Papa Ramdas. She served him all through her life.

It is because of Mata Krishna Bai that Ãnandashram has grown to its size today.

It is her centenary year. Our Country still recognizes and lauds Sadhus is shown in this gesture of our Government to release a stamp, through the Postal Department, in honour of Mataji.

Swami Satchitãnanda of Ãnandashram and I have never met physically. Yet we are in touch with each other daily, through ‘manas’. Since Swami Satchitãnanda desired me to release the stamp, the devotees of Ãnandashram have assembled here for the occasion. And I now release the stamp of Mataji Krishna Bai. "

GOPIKA JEEVANASMARANAM!
GOVINDA! GOVINDA!”

NOTE: Any discrepancy/lapse in the translated version of the Upanyasam is the sole responsibility of the person/s who translated the work from Tamizh into English.

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