FLASH NEWS FROM DATTA PEETHAM - SRI SWAMIJI APPOINTS SUCCESSOR

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History was made in Avadhoota Datta Peetham today at 12.54 AM, 29th May 2004.

The Indian almanac said today was -Taarana Samvatsara (year), Jyeshtha Maasa

(month), Shukla Paksha Dashami (tenth day).

 

Sri Swamiji gave ascetic order – Sannyasa Deeksha to Bala Swami and announced

him as His spiritual successor to Avadhoota Datta Peetham. This Sannyasa

Deeksha program had commenced on 27th May at 6 AM. Erudite scholars well versed

in the ritual of Sannyasa Deeksha were administering the process.

 

At 11 AM today morning Sri Swamiji arrived at the Saptarshi Sarovara Tank. By

then Bala Swami had taken his bath and had shed the Yajnopaveetham (sacred

thread), The Shikha (hair tuft), the Kati Sutra (thread tied around the hip) and

the clothes. He had chanted the mantras aspiring for Sannyasa Deeksha and

chanted mantras renouncing his name and interest in the worldly affairs. Sri

Swamiji gave Bala Swami red color clothes. Next to be given was Sannyasa Danda

(sacred bamboo staff) an

d a Kamandalu (water vessel). The time was 11.32 AM. Sri Swamiji and the new

ascetic came in procession to the Datta Temple in the universal prayer hall.

 

At Datta temple, as the most auspicious Muhurtham – Simha Lagnam – 12.54 AM.

Sri Swamiji put a Saligramam on the head of the Bala Swami. As Prasad held the

Saligramam, Sri Swamiji poured sacred water with Dakshinaavartha Shankha (right

sided conch). This symbolized that act that Sri Swamiji considered the new

ascetic as Narayana Swarupi. Then Sri Swamiji led Balaswami in to the

Garbhaalaya (sanctum sanctorum) of Dattatreya and gave him Mantropadesha.

Emerging together after spending about 20 minutes inside, Sri Swamiji sat on the

Sri Chakra Puja Peetha and the new Sannyasi sat on a wooden seat near Sri

Swamiji’s feet. Sri Swamiji discoursed thus

 

“THIS IS THE HISTORIC OCCASION IN AVADHOOTA DATTA PEETHAM. AS ORDAINED BY

DATTATREYA, JAYALAKSHMI MATA AND NARAHARI TEERTHA, I AM HEREWITH APPOINTING THE

NEW SANNYASI AS MY SUCCE

SSOR TO THIS SACRED SEAT OF DATTATREYA, THE AVADHOOTA DATTA PEETHAM. I AM ALSO

ANNOUNCING HIS NEW ASCETIC ORDER NAME AS – SRI SRI SRI DATTA VIJAYANANDA TEERTHA

SWAMIJI. I COMMAND HIM TO LEAD A FRUGAL AND ASCETIC LIFE AND CONTINUE YOGA

SAADHANA AND LEAD THE DATTA PEETHAM IN THE COMING YEARS. I COMMAND YOU ALL TO

SHOW REVERENCE, LOVE AND AFFECTION TO THE NEW SWAMIJI AS YOU HAVE SHOWN TO ME

ALL THESE YEARS. NO ONE CAN FORSAKE LOVE. THE LOVE YOU ALL GIVE TO ME, THE LOVE

THE ASHRAMA CHILDREN GIVE TO ME IS UNPARALLELED. THIS ACT OF MINE TODAY WILL

GIVE ME MORE TIME TO REST AND WILL QUALIFY THE PERSON TO PERFORM PEETHA PUJA

WHICH I ALONE MUST DO DAILY. YOU CAN NO MORE CALL HIM BY HIS PREVIOUS NAME. YOU

SHALL ALWAYS ADDRESS HIM IN RESPECTABLE PULRAL ADDRESS AND FOR SHORT YOU MAY SAY

– BALA SWAMIJI.

 

Saying so, in a brief 10 mins, Sri Swamiji had appointed Sri Sri Sri Datta

Vijayananda Teertha Swamiji as his successor to the Avadhoota Datta Peetham.

Hundreds who had assembled in the

packed prayer hall had moist eyes by the time Sri Swamiji completed his speech.

 

Sri R.Venkatraman, former President of India was the first person to offer

respects to Sri Datta Vijayananda Teertha Swamiji.

 

In his brief address he said that devotees worldwide were surprised by Sri

Swamiji’s sudden decision and prayed that Sri Swamiji leads a long life of

Blessing devotees.

 

Devotees were let to come and offer respects to the new Sannyasin. At 2.14 PM,

Both the Peethadhipatis went to the new Bala Guru Nilayam (new house built for

the Bala Swamiji – adjacent to the old prayer hall). There they received Bhiksha

Vandanam. Sri Swamiji retired while Bala Swamiji received a stream of devotees

coming to pay respects.

 

In the evening, the Nada Mantapa thundered with a rhythm program called LAYA

DHAARA- RHYTHM SPECTRUM. Led by veteran Mridangam maestro, Sri Ummayalpuram

Sivaraman, a galaxy of leading percussionists played different percussion

instruments – Mridangam, Chandai, Moha

rsingh, Ghatam, Khanjira and Maddala – explored intricate and amazing rhythmic

patterns.

 

After the program Sri Swamiji visited the Bala Guru Nilayam again and Blessed

the erudite scholars who had conducted the Deeksha Program of Bala Swamiji.

Prominent among them were Sri Kuppa Krishnamurthy – Datta Peetha Vidyadhikari,

Sri Madduri Yajulu and Sri Kambhampati Avadhani of Vijayawada. Sri Aiyappan of

Singapore put Rudraksha Necklace around their necks.

 

Tomorrow at 06:01 AM, Sri Swamiji will officially put the new Swami on the Datta

Peetham seat in front of the Datta Temple.

 

This day was by far indescribably by words, which fail to convey the poignant

feeling that pervaded every being in the Ashrama.

 

Jaya Guru Datta

 

Prasad