Shiva Kathamrita (The Nectar of Siva’s Stories)

Sri Ganapati Saccidananda Svamiji, the Founder of Avadhuta Datta Pitham, Mysore is well-known as the present incarnation of Lord Datta. Just as the Mother Nature reveals the Knowledge of the Father God to Her dear children, Sri Svamiji, during His musical discourses reveals the intricacies of the mythological anecdotes in an easily understandable way while singing His compositions as also the famous songs of the past Masters.

While blessing the devotees with such musical treats, Sri Svamiji discusses the current social, psychological problems and in His own benevolent way guides the devotees to get over the same. Hence, the utterances of Sri Svamiji as significant as the famous Upanisads. Two of such nectarine messages have been bestowed by Sri Svamiji from 30th October 2000 to 5th November 2000 in Kannada and from 6th Nov. 2000 to 12th Nov. 2000 in Telugu in the Universal Prayer Hall of the Mysore Asram. This spiritual feast has been aptly named as “Siva Saptaha” (7 day program of Siva) covering the various famous ‘Dvadasa Jyotirlingas’.

We are further blessed by Sri Svamiji in listening to and publishing the translation of His musical discourses named as “Siva Kathamrta” i.e. “The nectar of Siva’s stories”. It is but natural that after having a glimpse of the cosmic form of Siva as the spiritual brilliance incarnate, a devotee would be further interested to learn the divine, miraculous, supernatural events depicting Siva’s infinite grace. In order to quench the thirst of Knowledge of the spiritual seeker, Sri Svamiji has given a few narrations in Kannada and Telugu for 8 days in the Visva Prarthana Mandira (Universal Prayer Hall) of Sri Ganapati Saccidananda Asrama of the Avadhuta Datta Pitha, during December 2000. it is the divine intention of Sri Svamiji that these sweet nectar-like divine plays be read and enjoyed by the English knowing devotees. As per His wish, that Publishers are glad to place this book “Siva Kathamrta” (The Nectar of Siva’s Stories) in your hands, which we feel will be enjoyable beneficial and sublimating to one and all. We express our whole hearted gratitude to Sri Svamiji Whose inspiration only could enable us to place this book in your hands.

Incidentally, the book may not be treated as a mere narration of some stories. The ancient mythology, which is the standard authoritative source of the anecdotes, may be viewed as a subject of serious study. The various characters mentioned as also the various incidents detailed there in have got allegorical significance While the main story is narrated, Svamiji analyzes the various philosophical nuances and reveals the inner purport of the moral standards, which give the reader a telling lesson. The sure and safe guidance offered by Svamiji’s grace to the sincere seeker of spirituality is invaluable. Further, the message underlying each narration serves as a beacon light in the conduct of the affairs either personal, domestic, professional, social, religious or spiritual, for one all, whether the educated or the illiterate, whether the healthy or the sick, whether the rich or the poor, whether the good or the otherwise, whether the active or the dull, of any race, creed, caste, sects, nationality or country. It is humbly suggested that the book can be read out by one while others in a small group listen to it, for some time everyday regularly in their leisure hours and they may discuss the various points while the doubts of one may be cleared by the other. These sessions may be treated as spiritual retreats by the participants. “Mukhe mukhe Sarasvati” – i.e. The Goddess of learning showers Her grace of Knowledge by verbal exchange by the well-meaning persons. Further, the Bhagavadgita, (the Song Divine) exhorts us Parasparam bhavayantah sreyam paramavapsyatah” i.e. co-operation and co-ordination among the like minded persons for a noble cause will bring about welfare to them and others in general.

Datta is the Primordial Spiritual Teacher of the Universe, i.e. the Jagadguru. Gracefully He has incarnated 16 times and thereafter He has taken further incarnations in recent times as Sripada Srivallabha at Pithapuram (Andhra Pradesh) and as Narasimha Sarasvati in Ganagapura (Western Karnataka). Moreover, due to His bounteous grace, we are fortunate to experience and enjoy the divine presence and listen to the protective precepts of the present incarnation of Datta as Sri Ganapati Saccidananda Svamiji, the Founder of Avadhuta Datta Pitham.

We consider ourselves as fortunate in having the permission and blessings of Sri Svamiji to place this book in your hands as the synopsis of the said programme. We convey the choicest blessings of Sri Svamiji to all the inmate of the Asram and the sponsors who have helped us in this humble effort. Sri Balasvami, Sri H. V. Prasad, Executive Trustee of Avadhuta Datta Pitham have given us able and timely guidance in all aspects in fulfilling our task and we express our thankful respects to them. The services rendered by Prof. T.R. Krishnappa, the Secretary of our Asrama’s schools and Kum. Gayathri of our Mysore Asrama deserve our special gratitude. Sri Gangadhar, the Painter of Avadhuta Datta Pitham implicitly followed the directions of Sri Svamiji and painted the various beautiful pictures for this book We convey our deep gratitude for his timely service and co-operation.

We fervently feel that the reader finds the book not merely as informative but also inspiring as a daily reference guide to recite the various hymns whose meanings are also available.

It is said ‘Sriguru ssiva eva sah’ – the significance of this adage is explained by Sri Svamiji as follows:

The various branches of arts or science, the countries languages, the climate, the time, the age etc. are but apparent details. Just as we known that Lord Dattatreya is the one and only One Spiritual Master of the entire Universe, so also the spiritual core of Siva is the underlying subtle and predominant influence of teaching. Hence, one has to take refuge at Siva only for acquiring Knowledge of any aspect including the Perfect Knowledge. The word “Siva” means auspiciousness, safety, security and piety. Actually we require all these aspects to become useful for ourselves, for our families and the society at large.

May Lord Siva bless all those who make the best use of the special message given in this book.