Sri Sathya Sai Inaugurates Shanti Sudha Mandir at Guntur, Andhra Pradesh

April 6 to 8, 1983

                                               

Bhagavan flew to Gannavaram on 6th morning, from where He travelled to Vijayawada by car. After inaugurating the new Sai Mandir at Vijayawada, Bhagavan left for Guntur. 

Sri Sathya Sai receives a grand welcome at Guntur

At Guntur, Bhagavan inaugurated a magnificent Sathya Sai Mandir and named it ‘Sathya Sai Shanti Sudha’. He was accorded a traditional welcome at the Mandir. 

Sri Sathya Sai inaugurates the Mandir

The Zonal Convenor Sri K. Anil Kumar, gave the welcome address. Bhagavan then delivered His Discourse to the 5,00,000 devotees who had been yearning for this blessing for several years. 

Sri Sathya Sai lighting the lamp to mark the inauguration

In His Divine Discourse He said:

“You have built this Mandir (temple). This does not satisfy Me. Only the temples erected in your hearts are permanent. The sums spent on the construction of temples could be spent more usefully on service to the poor and the needy.

The Sathya Sai Shanti Sudha Mandir

Almost every activity of man is motivated by Swaartham (self-interest). This concern for self-interest is opposed to the divinity that is immanent in man. Without realising this Divinity, how can man achieve peace internally or in the world outside? The individual, society and the world - all the three are inextricably inter-connected. The individual's welfare is dependent on the state of the nation. Everyone should strive to develop his spiritual qualities and utilise them for promoting the interests of the community and the country. Service to society should become the constant concern of the individual.

There is no greater quality in man than selfless love, which expresses itself in service to others. Such love can be the source of real bliss. The relationship between Karma and Karma Yoga should be properly understood. Ordinary Karma (action) done with attachment or desires causes bondage. But desireless, selfless action becomes Karma Yoga. Our life should become a yoga (Divine Communion) rather than a 'Roga' (disease). Today most of our actions result in 'Roga' because they are related to sensuous pleasures. Freedom from this disease can be obtained by pursuing the spiritual path. The spiritual path does not consist merely in singing Bhajans (devotional songs) or reciting hymns. These are good deeds. Only actions performed as a complete offering to the Divine can be regarded as spiritual. The man who is in a state of ignorance about the Self is like the bud of a flower that has not yet blossomed. When the flower blossoms, it sheds its fragrance all round. Likewise, the man who has realised the Divinity within him becomes a source of light and strength.

Temples are useful only as reminders

Sri Sathya Sai addressing devotees from the dais that day

Why should you build temples? The ideal is to make your hearts the temples for the Divine to dwell. But this is not possible for everybody. Temples in stone are reminders of the existence of God. When you see a lawyer you are reminded of your legal troubles. When you see a doctor you think of your illness. Likewise, when you see a temple, you are reminded of God.

Temples are useful only as reminders. But true worship consists in heartfelt devotion to the God within each one. Purifying this temple of your heart, you must dedicate your life to service. It is such dedicated service, done in the spirit of Sadhana, which distinguishes the Sathya Sai Organisations from other spiritual organisations. Innumerable Sai devotees - men and women, young and old - are rendering service in various forms out of their love of Sai. People talk about Swami's Vibhuti (sacred ash) and Swami's miracles. But the real miracle is Swami's boundless love. It is this love which is inspiring countless devotees to engage themselves in selfless service.

Ups and downs of life have lessons to teach us

Thousands listen in rapt attention

There is nothing greater than this love. You have all been drawn to Me by this love. To give love and to receive love. This is My business. No income-tax officer can know the extent of the "income" derived from this "business". There is no limit to My Ananda (Divine Bliss). I am always immersed in bliss. This is because My bliss is associated with love and not with any material objects. If you follow this path, you will also derive this ineffable Ananda. You will realise peace of every kind.

Darshan to thousands gathered at Guntur

Look with an equal mind on good fortune and misfortune, on happiness and sorrow, loss and gain. These are products of nature like heat and cold, summer and winter. They have their purposes to serve. Similarly the ups and downs of life have lessons to teach us. In fact, without reverses in life, we shall not be able to experience Divinity. Without darkness, we cannot value light. Without experiencing difficulties, we will not enjoy benefits. It is the lack of peace of mind which compels us to seek the means to realise enduring peace. The Upanishads have declared that through renunciation alone is immortality to be attained. Men should learn to practice renunciation so that they may discover the secret of enduring peace and bliss.”

Sri Sathya Sai with devotees in the dining hall

Bhagavan dined with 200 devotees and personally talked to each one of them. He blessed the doctors who were rendering free medical service at the local Seva Samitis and told them to carry on the good work with zeal and devotion. Bhagavan sat in a silver Jhoola at the Mandir to please the devotees.

Sri Sathya Sai with eminent Telugu poet Karuna Sree, Sanskrit Scholar Madhavarama Sarma and Prof. Anil Kumar (at His feet) during the event

Bhagavan left Guntur by car at around 2 pm, and halted at several rural Sai Centres in West Godavari district before reaching Rajahmundry at 10 pm on the 6th. Enroute, Bhagavan visited Eluru, Kovvali and Singanamuppavaram. In Singanamuppavaram, He exhorted the villagers:

“More than economic development or provision of amenities, what is important in the reconstruction of our villages is the raising of the quality of life of the villagers and developing their moral and spiritual values.

Jnaana (spiritual knowledge) is regarded as the primary requisite for man. But what is really primary is his conduct - righteous conduct. One's conduct determines one's qualities and the qualifies, in their turn, determine one's behaviour. All are God's children and are equally entitled to the love of the Lord.

Why, then, are there differences among men? Why is there no equality or sameness? This is because of differences in the mental make-up of people. If the mind is impure, one's actions are bound to be impure. When the mind and the consciousness are warped by egoism, the human behaviour is also distorted. When these are turned towards the Divine, good actions follow naturally. The mind is the cause of good and bad deeds.

Sri Sathya Sai Addresses thousands gathered at Guntur

Hence, whatever we wish to achieve, we should try to accomplish without excitement or agitation. For a human being, the important qualities are Sathya, Dharma, Shanti and Prema (truth, righteousness, peace and love). The villages are very backward today. To remove this backwardness, the first requisite is unity in the village. Villagers must be helpful to each other. If any one is afflicted with pain, all others should feel that they are equally affected. If the village is considered as a body, all the households in it are different limbs of the body. Harm to any part is to be treated as harm to the whole. Villagers should learn to speak sweetly and pleasantly. A harsh word can cause lasting damage. "If the foot slips, only the leg is injured; but if the tongue lips, one may go to hell," says the proverb.

Unity should be the watchword of villagers

The villagers must eschew hatred and discord. The village can prosper only when the villagers develop mutual love and cooperation. There may be differences between individuals. But these should not affect common action in the interests of the village as a whole. Unity should be their watchword. Through unity anything can be accomplished.

It is unfortunate that politics has invaded rural life and promoted conflicts and divisions among the rural population. This is not good for you. You must all make your village an ideal village by banishing factions and other differences. You must suppress your ego and pride. There is no basis for this pride when you realise that life is impermanent and all one's possessions may be taken away in one moment. Ravana made Lanka greater than Swarga (heaven) itself. But his egoistic arrogance brought about his fall. Similar has been the fate of arrogant men like Kamsa and Shisupala. All of them courted destruction. The Kauravas met with disaster because of their arrogance. People should cultivate humility. 

The villagers should avoid idle gossip and wasting their time in useless pursuits. I desire that you should build up your village as an example to the country by your unity, mutual cooperation and integrity.”

Bhagavan laid the foundation for a school building of a school run by the District Seva Samiti at Kovvali. He visited the 50th eye camp in the District for the year, held at Kovvali. Bhagavan blessed the ophthalmologist, Dr. A.J. Varma, for organising many eye camps in these villages. Bhagavan addressed 75,000 villagers gathered at Kovvali from all the neighbouring villages to listen to His Discourse. 

Bhagavan was received with ‘Poorna Kumbam’ at Sri Sathya Sai Gurukulam at Rajahmundry on 7th. Sri T. Bullayya, Sri S.B.P. Sathyanarayana Rao, Sri D. Rama Rao, and Sri Ramachandran welcomed Swami at the Gurukulam. Bhagavan inaugurated on 8th morning the new hostel for the boys in the Gurukulam compound. He addressed the staff and students of the Gurukulam in the Gurukulam auditorium. 

Sathya Sai Gurukulam Rajahmundry - Hostel Complex

Bhagavan witnessed a ‘Burra Katha’ presentation based on the events in Bhagavan’s life by the students of the Gurukulam in the auditorium that evening. He also witnessed a dance drama performed by the students of the Vidya Vihar school at their premises. Bhagavan later installed an idol of Sri Krishna in the Gokulam attached to the Gurukulam. In the evening, Bhagavan addressed 50,000 devotees in the open grounds at the Gurukulam. He dwelt on the various aspects of spiritual Sadhana and expatiated on the importance of true devotion and surrender to the Lord. Bhagavan left for Hyderabad in the early morning of the 8th. 

Source: Sri Sathya Sai Digvijayam (1926-1985)