HH Sri Chinna Jeeyar Swamy's message on Gi:tha:jyo:thi

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Respected Ramanuja Bhaktas,

 

The following message from HH Sri Chinna Jeeyar Swamy describes an

innovative approach to understanding the universal message of Sri

Bhagavad Gita, and how this is being put into practical application in

villages and cities in India. It is hoped that similar applications can

be put into practice here.

 

adiyEn rAmAnuja dAsan

Mohan

 

 

 

Sri Swamiji's message on Gi:tha:jyo:thi

 

 

Pri:ya Bhagavad Bandhu:s,

 

 

 

Jyo:thi (light) expels darkness. That darkness may be an

outer or an inner one. There are so many means through

which outer darkness can be eliminated. The expulsion of

inner darkness is possible only through Jna:na

(knowledge). By the elimination of these two, we can

make our life happy.

 

 

 

Once the darkness is removed, items present

around us become visible to us. Then, they can be used

accordingly and we can derive happiness out of them. We

are discovering numerous ways to get rid of darkness.

Lot of enjoyment can be gained in life by putting little

effort in this direction.

 

 

 

We are able to carry out difficult tasks in

lesser amount of time. Due to this, the speed in life

has increased. This is a sign of external progress only.

Along with this, dissatisfaction, impatience, pressure,

anxiety ... are also increasing.

 

 

 

This type of development while causing

good, is also amplifying the percentage of bad by ten

times that of the good. To provide the right way, we

need inner-light. That should come from the inner

strength. Strength is directly proportional to the

amount of confidence. Unlike the protection provided by

ordinary people, unlike the temporary safety, unlike the

momentary security which alters within a second, based

on the changes occurring in the people, this type of

strength is eternal, it exists always and is purposeful

only if it is presented by the Lord Himself.

 

 

 

This type of security lights up the lamp of

knowledge, enhances our mind-restraining capability,

makes us understand the nature of objects on which it is

dependent, tells us the value of life and improves our

patience. It also softens our heart. It develops a

person and makes him/her as capable as anyone else. It

fills the life with love through constant understanding.

It results in development of the soul and enhances

tolerance.

 

 

 

 

As per Sa:sthra:s, several are the teachings

imparted by the Lord to improve our mental strength via

Jna:na. But these are not available as a whole at any

single place. Also, they are so far off that they do not

even as much as touch the fringes of life. Amongst

Lord’s incarnations, Krishna:vatha:ra is the complete

one, in entirety. Sri Krishna’s teachings are in

complete form, in totality. The name given to these

teachings is ‘Bhagavad Gi:tha’. An easy means to achieve

the way of life which ought to be followed by people

belonging to any faith, any religion can be acquired

from Bhagavad Gi:tha, this is how people of all

countries adore and worship it. In offering simple means

to accomplish any goal, starting from the ambition of

people of any rank to a highly prosperous goal, the

position occupied by Bhagavad Gi:tha is an unparalleled

one. Keeping Bhagavad Gi:tha by his side, Gandhiji

earned freedom for the nation, from the clutches of the

gigantic British empire which extended from one end of

the Earth to the other, and thus became Maha:thma.

 

 

 

The victorious song which mends and

transforms those who have faith in it, and makes world

leaders out of them, is Bhagavad Gi:tha. From the days

of Arjuna to Mahatma Gandhi of recent time, throughout

the ages, the proven reality is Bhagavad Gi:tha.

 

 

 

A coin has two sides, on one side is the

face whereas the other has the cost! The face may vary

but the price never changes! With the cost remaining the

same, modification of the face, any number of times,

results only in the beautification of the coin. The

value is lost if the cost is changed. For human life,

the materialistic progress is similar to the face of a

coin which is subject to change. Its value has to be

well-guarded. The One which enhances the value of human

life, the great teachings of Lord imparting the eternal

knowledge for appropriate use, is Bhagavad Gi:tha. Only

when two sides of the coin come together, its cost can

be assessed. Similarly, materialistic progress mingled

with the knowledge of Gi:tha is desirous, and is ideal.

The religion, faith, caste, status, ranks may differ,

but we all are children of the Lord. We all ought to

live together. Progress has to be achieved in unison.

 

 

 

For the sake of show-off, getting into

clashes constantly, harassing others, loosing patience –

all these are quite undesirable. To get rid of all these

and with the expectation of moving on the superior path

of development, Vika:satarangini is presenting this

program of ours called ‘Gi:tha:jyo:thi’.

 

 

 

Bhagavad Gi:tha consists of 700 slo:ka:s,

every slo:kam can be compared to nectar, and is the

grantor of high spirits. Extraordinary success can be

attained by grasping any one out of these 700 slo:ka:s

and putting it into practice. But sweet fruits can be

reaped out of this practice only after executing it for

some period of time and not for an hour or a day or

executing it out of momentary impulse.

 

 

 

The self-confidence of ‘We can practice it

for some more days’ should arouse in us. Recently,

through the program ‘Krishnam Vande Jagadgurum’, it has

been proven that for the sake of good, all sects in the

society do collaborate. Practice through ‘Gi:tha:mrutha

Di:ksha’, if easier to put into action, can be carried

out for any number of days. This self-confidence of ‘It

can be done’, has improved. Now, the key part

of ‘Gi:tha:jyo:thi’ is to share this self-confidence

with everyone in the society and to proliferate it

subsequently.

 

 

 

This self-confidence and bliss should reach

all, including those who were left out of all our

endeavours till now – this is the foremost purpose

of ‘Gi:tha:jyo:thi’. Everyone’s wish is to follow this

continuously at least for the period of an year. All are

eager to observe this in an incessant manner, without

any interruptions in between.

 

 

 

Starting from this Uga:di, till the

successive one, let us observe ‘Gi:tha:jyo:thi’ and let

us transform the coming year and make it apt for its

name, Chithra Bha:nu! Come! Let us try to understand the

outlines of this program and visualize how to turn it

into a reality.

 

 

 

1) Let us learn four easily understandable and easy

to practice slo:ka:s in a month along with their

meanings. While reciting a slo:kam, keep a rice grain

aside.

 

2) Symbolizing 18 chapters of Bhagavad Gi:tha, form

a team of 18 members and collectively learn these

slo:ka:s. In the implications of the slo:ka:s, whatever

is apt for us, start practicing that.

 

3) Visit the houses in your area with as many

people as you can gather, and present these slo:ka:s to

them. Get their suggestions on how to put these slo:ka:s

into action.

 

4) You will be provided with

two ‘Abhya:sapattika:s’(work books). Record the progress

you make in these.

 

5) With 4 slo:ka:s in each month, knowledge of 48

slo:ka:s will be yours in an year. We are giving these

48 slo:ka:s to you in the form of small books. Let us

distribute these small books and the Abhya:sapattika:s

in all the houses.

 

6) For those who require it, we will provide these

48 slo:ka:s in the form of a cassette. Those who are

incapable of reading can listen to these cassettes and

learn using the cassette.

 

7) In our city, we will all gather either in

someone’s house or in a temple. Performing the

Pa:ra:yana of the 48 slo:ka:s, studying

the ‘Krishna:shtakam’, performing Sri Krishna Puja,

chanting Krishnam Vande Jagadgurum for some time,

describing one slo:kam in a week - these would be the

main responsibilities of the gatherings.

 

8) Unity amongst students – all the small and big

schools in your area should be guided. These slo:ka:s

and the ‘Gi:tha:jyo:thi’ programs should be introduced

to them. They should be encouraged to memorize these

slo:ka:s. These books and Krishna:shtakam cards should

be presented to them and competitions should be held for

them. Students should be encouraged in drawing pictures

also. The slo:ka:s will be provided as separate book.

These also should be given to them and they should be

invited for drawing contests. For all such competitions,

at least a month’s time should be granted. Recitation -

for children below 10 years of age, learning the slo:kam

and its meaning by heart - for children below 15 years

of age and talking about the slo:kam for five minutes

without any break - for others, such events should be

conducted. Essay-writing and elocution competitions

should also be organized.

 

9) For students, youngsters and teenagers, as many

health awareness camps as possible should be organized.

As a part of these, teeth protection camps, eye check-

up camps and nutritional food awareness camps should be

organized.

 

10) Maximum feasible health awareness camps should be

arranged for women.

 

11) As many as possible, animal health awareness camps

should be organized.

 

12) To pay attention to the bhajans and ko:la:ta

brunda:s in the temples of our areas also forms a part

of our program.

 

13) It is our duty to try and see to it that, from a

small house upto a big bungalow, the Gi:tha: Grantham

and Lord Sri Krishna’s photo is present in all houses.

 

14) All those who are observing ‘Gi:tha:jyo:thi’ will

place a ‘Hanumadhwaja’ on their houses.

 

15) A set of 108 villages participating in a ‘Gi:tha:

Go:shthi’ will be named as ‘Dharmakshethra’. At least

108 ‘Dharmakshethra:s’ will be formed throughout the

nation. These will spread the ‘Gi:tha:jyo:thi’.

 

16) After knowing the details of the programs being

conducted in all 108 villages, we ourselves will visit

one particular locality where the program would have

been performed most successfully.

 

17) During this occasion, the people participating in

Gi:tha: Go:shthi, Bhajans, ko:la:ta brunda:s, all such

devotees also will arrive here. While arriving, they

will get the baththi:s dipped in ghee along with them.

We will perform a pa:ra:yana of those 48 slo:ka:s and

perform Sri Krishna Puja collectively. Then we will

light the lamps brought by everyone and keeping

these ‘Ghruthadi:pa:s’ as the witness, we will pray the

Lord of Lords to bless us, our family, our locality,

bless us in looking after our sasyasya:mala nation,

bestow happiness, eliminate anger, shower divine love,

instigate self-confidence, bless us with the fortune of

contributing something towards the progress of the

nation.

 

18) This way, after the accomplishment of the 108th

DharmaKshe:thram, we, along with the devotees from all

108 places will gather at Thirumala. The Chief of

Kaliyuga, The Protector of Arjuna, Remover of all

sinners, The Extremely Pious One, at the Lotus-Feet of

such Lord Venkate:swara, we will all get the baththi:s

dipped in ghee. Similar to what was done at our

Dharmakshe:thra:s, we will perform a pa:ra:yana of those

48 slo:ka:s and perform Sri Krishna Pu:ja collectively.

Then, we will light the ‘Gi:tha:jyo:thi’.

 

 

 

For betterment of all and the welfare of the nation,

bless us with the power necessary for establishment of

peace all over the world, we will pray Lord

Venkate:swara to bless us, as we are His children, and

to make us move ahead together.

 

 

 

This way we will prove the name ‘ChithraBha:nu’ to be

apt for the coming year. This is for everyone. This

belongs to everyone. Hence, we will follow. Come! Let us

reach everyone. Move! Visit the nearest Vika:satarangini

and collect the details, which they are longing to

convey. Make use of their service.

 

 

 

 

Jai Sri:manna:ra:yana !