Protective Edifice of Culture

Dear Embodiments of Atma! 

Our country of Bharat had amassed fame across all continents in spiritual as well as secular fields. This is a protective fort for all spiritual aspirants and intellectuals. 
Our country Bharat has retained to this day the ancient customs that are the roots to our culture, especially in the fields of music, dance, drawing, painting, sculpture, and architecture.
Now it is the responsibility of the sons and daughters of Bharat to develop this culture. This is not an easy task. Today the country is badly in need of noble mothers such as Kausalya who fostered Sri Rama in the bygone age, Sita who brought up Lava and Kusa, Jijiyabai who inspired Shivaji through heroic episodes, and Putlibai who nurtured Gandhiji. These mothers had suffused the hearts of their children with ambrosia even while singing lullabies, keeping them on their laps and feeding them with Upanishadic and Vedic stories. They roused their ‘inner-power’ and showed them the path of eternal bliss and peace. “Am” and “ma” are the two sacred letters forming the first word Amma (mother) that man utters. The mother teaches the child to walk while he makes the faltering steps. Revival of Dharma has to be carried out by such mothers only. Today we are celebrating the inauguration of a new building with the sole intention of fostering such potential mothers.

We are inaugurating this abode of Gurukulam on a Guruvaaram (Thursday) and during the sacred festival of Guru Purnima. This wonderful confluence of three ‘Gu’s makes this day a great festive occasion. Today’s joy is indescribable indeed. But agitation, disorder, and untruth are making an unabating dance of destruction. The sons of Bharat must not forget that life is fulfilled only when permanent happiness is achieved and that life should be spent in useful ways. They must take up the resolve to enhance safety and security through means of peace, patience, devotion, knowledge, and renunciation. Vidya (education) is a diamond that has to be obtained through virtues. But these days, a lot of efforts are being made to acquire education by means of money and might, with the result that we have fallen to a shameful level. The educational field is devoid of discipline, is unable to provide happiness and the requisite values. As Ms. Saraswati Giri said, women are also craving for degrees and jobs, whereupon both men and women are becoming weak. A woman should shine as a Grahalakshmi (Goddess of the home) and as a Dharmapatni (chaste wife).

Colleges Are Abodes Of Saraswati

If they try to take care of others' children for the sake of money, then who will teach their own children? If both wife and husband go to their offices, their children are at the mercy of servants. Who is there to lovingly cook food and make them eat? What then is the purpose of education? Therefore, it is necessary to realize the true purpose of education and the problems involved. A job should not be construed as the basis of life. Their roles have to be understood in proper perspective. Women should first understand the home, children, and husband; and should display enthusiasm and skills in extending satisfaction and happiness. Only then, their natural qualities of sacrifice, virtue, ethics, and integrity get fructified. The necessity of establishing this institute arose because of the prevailing unrest, agitations, and hardships of this region of Anantapur. Women of the Rayalaseema region must acquire proper education through this kind of ideal institution. I had taken up this task out of immense love.

I take pleasure in concentrating on useful tasks. By this, it should be realized that the true path for an individual is to put into practice at least one truthful act instead of talking and writing about lakhs of things. As lightning follows the clouds that hover in the sky, so too should knowledge follow education. A real student is one who has this quality. Today’s deranged condition of education is due to the fact that colleges that are supposed to be the abodes of Saraswati (Goddess of Learning) are occupied by Lakshmi Devi (Goddess of Wealth).

Money for getting admission, money for getting a promotion, and money for anything and everything. As a result of this, moral, virtuous, and spiritual development had taken a dip. That is why I am declaring this to be a ‘_Gurukulashram_’ (the ancient Gurukulam type of institution). I take no pleasure in the thought of making this a university. This remains a Gurukulashram.

I desire that every mother should teach women to take proper care of their children so as to make them future citizens of Bharat who are endowed with the qualities of ethics and integrity. Today fear, anxiety, instability, and lawlessness are prevalent in every aspect of life. Against this background of shattered peace and crumpled norms, mothers should take up the task of providing children with the discriminative education at home. Today, on this occasion of the inauguration of the College building, you have all heard the exhortations of the President of this nation, the Governor of Mysore, the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, the Education Minister, and that of the Vice-Chancellor of Venkateswara University. It is also heartening that Smt. Saraswati had opened the women student's hostel. She is an ideal example of devotion to her husband. It is very important that students of this hostel develop good conduct through their teachings.

Character Is Better Than Physical Development

It is a shame on humanity that attempts are being made to turn into a Bhogabhumi (Land of pleasures) this country of Bharat which since times immemorial had taught Vedic methods, ethics, and good qualities that are suited to mankind, which had assumed leadership among all nations, and the country that was known as Karmabhumi (Land of Karma), Tyagabhumi (Land of Sacrifice), and Yogabhumi (Land of Yoga).

The word ‘_Vyakti_’ (individual) will be meaningful only when the ordained duties are followed. It becomes meaningless when body, Karma and the time are desecrated.

Saraswati had expressed her cherished ideal that she feels happy only when Swami arranges to provide food, clothing, and shelter. These are among the important aspects of My ideals of happiness too! However, are all those endowed fully with all things like food, clothing, and housing able to enjoy peace? This is My question. To get peace, mere possession of things like food and protection will not suffice. Peace can be attained only when along with humanism, we develop virtue, character, renunciation, and patience.

I do not like to trouble you all by taking more time when you are all reeling in the hot sun. I exhort you, the people of Anantapur, to take up the responsibility of providing necessary idealistic facilities to this Gurukulashram, as you have filled your hearts with love in the inaugural ceremony. The seed that is sown today begets fame, name, and light when it grows into a tree and yields fruits of peace and protection.

The inauguration of this Gurukulashram on this day of Guru Purnima, this Thursday is so sacred and conducive to the promotion of discrimination. You must realize the effect of this sacred confluence. Today all of you had partaken happiness in your hearts and that is My food. You have conducted these programmes peacefully. I conclude My discourse with a blessing that all of you get health, happiness, education, and discrimination, become eligible for God’s grace and succeed in overcoming difficulties, thus bringing forth peace and protection to our country. I bless you all with happiness. Never develop enmity with anyone. Distance yourselves from bad qualities, bad thoughts, and enjoy divinity. Divinity does not exist in a separate place. Divinity is within us. Divinity became oblivious because we donned the vesture of humanism. When this is understood, the effulgent divinity becomes evident.