Temple - a place to Foster or Hinder Devotion? Chicago Datta Devotees

[Guest guest]

This message is to let other devotees know the problems faced by Shri

Datta devotees in Chicago, USA to continue thier Datta Puja at HTGC -

Lemont Temple.

Emails of HTGC trusties:chitrahartv, " Shashi Kaveti "

<shashikaveti, " Amrish Mahajan "

<amahajan, " Manisha Makwana " <makwanam1,

roberoi, RPampati, " Thayamkulam Ramachandran "

<tramach, " REDDY L BHIMA "

<reddympi, " Prasanna Reddy " <prasanna_reddy16,

sukanya_415, " Rohini Udupa " <rsudupa,

sveerabahu1, rsbabu8303,

subvemuri, " upendra hotmail " <upendran,

sudharao1, " Ashutosh Gupta " <ashug,

Glnreddy

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Om Draam Dattaatreyaay Namah

Digambara Digambara Shripad Vallabh Digambara

Avadhoot Chintan Shri Gurudev Datta!

Shri Gurudev Datta!!

Shri Gurudev Datta!!

 

Dear Devotees, friends, brothers and sisters

 

Wish you Happy Navratri and Vijaya Dashami

 

We are Lord Shri Dattaatreya's devotees from Chicago suburbs. We do

Shri Datta Puja every thursday at Hindu Temple of Greater Chicago-

Lemont-USA. We celebrated Shri Datta Jayanti in Dec 2005 (first

time), also Guru purnima in july 2006(first time).We do Datta Bawani(

Shri Rang Avadhoot Maharaj-Gujrat), Karuna-Tripadi and Shri

Dattaatreya strotram ( Shri Vasudevanand Saraswati -Tembe Swami),

Datta Bhajans and Lord Shri Datta Abhishekam and Aarti. We devotees

from Gujrat, Maharashtra, Bengal,UP, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and

other southern Indian States. These are followers of different Gurus

of Lord Shri Datta.

Last 2 years we are successfuly doing Samuhik Sankalp of 1.25 million

(12.5 lakh) Jappa " Om Draam Dattaatreyaay Namah " . This year also we

have taken same Sankalpa to be completed by Shri Datta Jayanti(dec

3rd2006

 

On this auspicious occasion of Victory over Darkness, some Asuri

vrutis are trying to take over Devik vrutis in the " HINDU (?) Temple

of Greater Chicago (?) " at Lemont. Shri Datta Puja was started in

January 2006 at HTGC-Ramalaya. Shri Datta Murti Abhishekam,

ashtotar-namavali,Datta Stava,Karuna-Tripadi,Datta Bavani, Mantra

Jaap , Dhun,, Nam-sankirtan and Bhajans takes place every Thursday

from 7:30 pm till 8:30 pm. Devotees gather to take blessings of Shri

Guru Dattatreya Bhagwan. This regular puja and devotion since last

Nine Months has Awakened(Jagrut) the Lord Dattatreya as Bhakta Kam

Kalpdrum. More than hundred devotees have taken benefits and number

is growing. Devotees attending shri Datta Puja have felt inner

peace, fulfillment of their wishes. But some HTGC authorities want

to remove Lord Dattatreya, shri DattaPadukas and want devotees to

stop doing ongoing Thursday Datta Puja. HTGC Temple authorities are

not only preventing Devotional activities but also are trying to

nip off Devotion from peoples mind. In this Kali Yuga, HTGC Temple

authorities are scaring people away by stopping Shri Datta Puja.

 

On the occasion of Vijaya Dashami, It is our duty to gather and not

let these Asuri vruties to take over devik vruties. Shri Ram

killed Ravan, Maa Jagadamba killed Mahish-asur on Vijaya Dashami.

Though scale, ground, time and scenes have changed , we need to

wake up from our slumber to

Get Victory over Asuri vruties. These authorities will not stay

permanent in their office

But Lord, devotees and devotion is sure to stay. This is Param-

Satya.

 

In case , HTGC authorities forcibly remove Shri Datta, Shri

Padukas and stop Puja,We will be going on fast with chanting

dhun " Digambara Digambara Shripad Vallabh Digambara " till they are

Punar-pratishthapit.

********************************************************

An Appeal to HTGC president, Religious Chairperson and all Trusties

 

We all undersigned devotees attending HTGC premises sincerely

request Religious Chairperson, President and all Trusties that

current Datta Peeth (place) having Bhagwan Shri Dattaatreya's

murti and Shri Guru Datta Padukas used for Datta Puja should not

be disturbed . Shri Datta Puja has been going on since January 2006.

Also we like HTGC to take initiative to make permanent structure

and place Vigraha Murti of Bhagwan Shri Dattaatreya along with His

Padukas . We are ready to offer any kind of help.

 

Bhagwan Shri Dattaatreya is Gyan Avatar ( imparting Spiritual

knowledge) having unique feature of being TRIMURT, that is

Bramha, Vishnu and Shiva . He is son of Great Sage Maharshi Atri

and Great Sati Anusuya.

 

The Shaandilya Upanishad declares that Lord Dattatreya is the Supreme

Reality and is the cause of everything that is created. It states, 

" The Supreme Brahman performed penance which was of the nature of

knowledge (jnyana), and desiring to become many, assumed the form of

Dattatreya. From that form came out the three letters A, U, M; the

three mystical names Bhuh, Bhuvah and Svah; the three-lined Gayatri;

the three Vedas Rig, Yajur and Sama; the three Gods Brahma, Vishnu

and Maheswara; the three castes Brahmana, Kshatriya and Vysya; and

the three fires Gaarhapatya, Ashavaneeya and Dakshina. "

 

Shrimad Bhagvatam, Markendeya Purana and many other Hindu Shastras

recite HIS greatness as:

1.Markandeya Purana mentions that he taught the Asthanga Yoga

to Patanjali, who then wrote the yoga sutras.

2.Jivanmukta -gita is a short compendium of 23 verses which

is a discourse about the Gyani (jivan mukta). 

3.Avadhuta gita, a text of eight chapters. Swami Vivekananda

once said of this book, " Men like the one who wrote

this song keep religion alive. "

4.He narrates the Jnana Kanda of Tripura Rahasya to

Parasurama to dispel the latter's doubts on liberation. (The story of

Samvrata found in Tripura Rahasya has been cited by Sankara in his

Brahma Sutra Bhasya). 

5.Parasurama (eighth incarnation of Lord Vishnu), approached

Lord Dattatreya and was initiated into the intricacies of how to

worship the Mother (Shri - Vidya Upaasana)

7.Dattatreya is also mentioned in the Mahabharata and Shrimad

Bhagvatam

8.Dattatreya is attributed with a couple of Tantric works

chief among them is the Dattatreya Tantra.

9.The great learning is from the Dattatreya Upanishad where

the three types of mantras are taught.

10.HE is ADI-GURU, but still has 24 Gurus to teache us to

learn from nature and every day life.

11.HE grants Bhukti ( wordly needs) and Mukti ( Liberation)

12. Among His Many Avatars, Shripad ShriVallabh, Shri Narsinh

Sarswati, Shirdi Sai Baba, Swami Samarth,Gajanan Maharaj,Manek Prabhu

etc are very well known.

****************************************************************

Aug 29, 2006 8:59 PM

Dattatreya Puja

suryakant khapekar

Cc: paruchuru2003, Rohini Udupa < rsudupa

Dear Suryakantji:

Sorry for the delay in writing to you. I have been unusually busy

these past few days.

Regarding the Dattatreya Puja, there are many facts that I wish to

share.At the outset, you must be complimented for thinking of a new

service like this and it was added to our calendar with good faith

that it would bring in large participation.

I have received many comments from many sources at the temple:

1. The number of attendees at the weekly Dattatreya pujas are very

few. It does occupy a priest's time which is difficult in the face of

priest shortage. Sastriji is needed in other areas as well.

2. Most priests at the temple feel that in a temple setting, we

cannot conduct worship without offering a proper shelter or roof

above the deity. Photo worship is only of a temporary nature and

should be removed from the location after done.

3. Many have also complained about the decorations around the shrine

which apparently detracts from the aesthetics of the temple. This,

however, is a personal view point.

In view of all of the above, it is my strong recommendation that we

decrease conducting the puja from weekly to monthly frequency and

still conduct the annual Jayanthi. (For your information, three

years ago, I had started a Mahalakshmi Friday evening Puja which had

hardly any attendance and then I had to discontinue it. I cannot

take this as a personal failure.

It is also necessary to remove any photographs and decorations from

the location. They cannot be kept permanently in the hall. Please

arrange to bring these as and when the puja is scheduled each month.

None of this is any reflection on your contributions. I hold you and

Smitha as true, loyal and very committed sevaks for the Mandir. Since

we are still an organization, I am bound to follow certain protocols

and procedures.

Please give the above some thought and let us discuss at the next

chance we get. Thank you for your cooperation.

 

Sudha Rao

HTGC President 2006

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Reply to President,HTGC E-mail

 

Avadhoot Chintan

Shri Gurudev Datta ! Shri Gurudev Datta !! Shri Gurudev Datta !!!

President

HTGC

Lemont, IL

 

Thanks for conveying your thoughts/message about Shri Datta Puja by

e-mail to me. I have forwarded it to our fellow devotees and have

taken their opinion about it.

 

We thank you for giving us opportunity to start Shri Datta Puja

every Thursday at 7:30pm. since January 2006. As if Lord Shri Bal

Datta was born at HTGC to let HIM serve and give HIS blessings to

us. And this was with all your ( President, Religious

Chairperson,Devotees, Priests and Trustees ) help. All of you became

HIS parents and/or caretaker. What a Holy occasion!

 

As it happens with any new service , some short-comings may have

left. Let us see how we can come over it.

 

**1. Though Shri Datta Puja was initiated /started/coordinated by

us, soon other devotees joined it. Many families and devotees have

taken advantage of it; some on regular basis and some intermittently.

Some are coming from far 20-30 miles even on week day Thursday

after work and driving in busy traffick. Not only that some devotees

have changed their work schedule to come and attend Shri Datta Puja,

but young students have changed their college class schedules to

attend it. What a devotion! ! May Lord Shri Datta Bless all these

devotees. We can not term this as failure , at least not in the

field of Devotion and definitely not by the prestigious temple

organization like HTGC. It may be true that not all the devotees who

would like to attend on regular basis , are not able to do so

because of our complicated,busy life style. But to reduce (by making

it monthly) or take out ( by removing the Shri Datta shrine) the

chance for them to come for Puja or Darshan is unthinkable and

unbearable. Tears rolled from my eyes when one noon I observed one

unknown family with a young child sat down in front of Lord Shri

Datta and tought how to chant the Beej Datta Manta (Om Draam

Dattaatreyaay Namah) to their child. What a heart touching moment! It

would not have been possible, if Lord Shri Datta's Murti not there.

Surely Lord Shri Datta blessed them and the people and organization

which made it possible. This was just one example. Many devotees

have had different spiritual / loving experiences since they have

started coming for Puja or Darshan.

 

Suggestion:

1.Not to remove the Murti/Shrine and Padukas of Lord Shri Datta till

HIS Vigraha pran-pratishthapana is done. If there is any need for

shelter /roof(Chhatra) or any other aesthetic needs to be done per

Priests or HTGC, we are ready to help by all means.

2. Let us all try to give more publicity by mouth or in news papers

( devotees are ready to help)With proper effort, guidance and

unflinchable trust and devotion HTGC will soon become place for

devotees to pour in crowd for Lord Shri Datta darshan and puja. (

Let us keep Shraddha and Saburi -- Sai)

3. Continue weekly Puja and add Monthly weekend event as Guru

Vandana ( Bhajans)

 

**2. You have mentioned about priest shortage and time given for

Puja. Let us have a look at it.

Shri Datta Puja is done between 7:30 to 8:30pm on Thursday. Out of

one hour only 20 to 25 minutes max are required by Shashtriji for

Short abhishekam of Lord Shri Datta's Murti (not Photo), jaap and

Datta-Ashtottar-Naam. The devotees keep all things ready for

Puja.Even any devotee comes for archana similar time is required.

Other 40 minutes the devotees sang Lord's glory, Strotram and

Aarti. Priest leaves after doing Short Puja to attend his daily

temple work. Priest Ram Prasad Shashtriji has never indicated

unwillingness to do Lord's Puja. ( Are not Priests supposed to do

Puja, Archana , Abhishekam etc in any Temple?). HTGC priests are

very good about their services.

 

Suggestion: 1. We do pay for Archana . But if HTGC wants any

other way to charge for priest time we are even ready for it.

 

To sum it up,

Lord Shri Datta is still very young , He is Bala Datta. HE needs YOUR

shhardha and saburi to let HIM grow. HIS Leelas are mysterious. HE is

a very wonderful child being Trimurti (Lord Bramha, Lord Mahavishnu

and Lord Mahadeva). He is Bhakta-Kam-Kalpdrum( wish fulfiller ) and

will return us immeasurably.

You ( President, Religious Chairperson, Priests, Devotees and

Trustees ) are HIS parents/ caretakers and they Do No Harm.

Let US all Pray to HIS Lotus Feet. May Lord Bless All.

 

Avadhoot Chintan Shri Gurudev Datta ! Shri Gurudev Datta !!

Shri Gurudev Datta !!!

 

vasudaas