The document provides background on a speech given by Swamiji explaining the meaning of a famous Hindu mantra. The mantra honors a holy trinity of Brahma (creation), Vishnu (preservation), and Mahesh or Shiva (destruction) which addresses the cycles of nature. Swamiji explains each word and syllable of the mantra based on his deep meditative experiences to provide deeper insight. He discusses concepts like the subtle body, karma, and the role of the guru in facilitating self-realization and soul freedom. The speech aims to correct misconceptions and spread knowledge of meditation to all of society beyond barriers.

1. Background:
In this speech,Swamiji has dissecteda famous mantra that is oftenchanted by Hindus in reverence
for what the guru represents.In this mantra, a holy trinityof divinityis honored.The trinity within
Hinduismaddressesthe cyclesof nature as creation, preservationand destruction. Brahma isseenas
the force of creation while Vishnuisseenas the force of preservationand Maheshor Shivas he is
oftencalled,representsdestructionor a kind ofdecomposition. Many timespeople chant these
mantras rather mechanicallywithout a proper understanding.What Swamiji has done throughout this
speechis explaineachword from this mantra as perhis deepmeditative experience togainthe
deepernecessaryinsightand expressit to all of us.
Traditionally,saints inIndia understand mantras with loaded connotationsthrough the art of deep
meditative experiences.Formany of these Sanskrit words were nevermeant to be taken in the literal
spirit.Many of us therefore have lost that context and we interpretas per our limitedunderstanding.
While there are many drawings and cultural representationsofthese divine forcesthat one comes
across, these are largely symbolic.These drawings help us relate to the concept of these divine
aspects. Ultimately,Godmay be seenas the experience comingfromwithin.And God is not relegated
to a particular faith. Rather, it is the human experience andmany saintshave discoveredthisdivine
force from inside themas the tradition ofmeditatingin the Himalayas attests.
WhenSwamiji comesout after spending45 days in seclusionon the morning of the festival of
Shivratri, he often tiesatleast one part of hismessage with somethingconnectedto Shiv after whom
Shivratri is called.Shivratri is celebratedas the cosmic union or marriage of Shiv and his partner
Parvati. Or one can say this unionrepresentsthe pointat which the kundalini entwineswiththe
crown chakra. Mind you, there are many interpretations.But this is atleast one of them. This time is
consideredveryauspiciousaccording to the lunar calendar.
Withinthis,there is also a presumptionof us having a ledgerof deedsfor whichwe keepgetting
reborn until we get soul freedom.This ledgerofdeedsis oftenreferredto as our Karmas.
Actual Mantra:
Gurur Brahma, Gurur Vishnu,GururDevo Maheshwara. Gurur Saakshat Para Brahma. Tasmai Shree
Gurave Namaha.
Swamiji Shivratri Speech Notes 2020
Greetingstoall divine soulswhoare gathered here today.Muchlike how we hearthe gurumantra
gettinguttered,we have alsobeenhearingsome othermantrasfora longtime.Today,let’sunderstand
thismantra. Letus understandeachsyllableandeachwordas I have experiencedtheseinmylife.Iwill
try to explainthe meaningof all thisonthat basis.Inactuality,the comprehensivemeaningof this
mantra isas follows.
Gurur Brahma- Brahma isnot the name of a particularperson.Brahmaisthe name of a divine energetic
force.It isthe force of creation.Itis the birthof new life. We have beenbornthroughmanylifetimes
before.We have takenbirthforthe soul’sfreedom.Birthismuchlike how apottercreatesa pot. But in
orderfor soul freedomtooccur,one needsto gainself-realization.Andone can’tgainthatuntil theyare

2. not able totake birthintoa bodywhichcan energeticallyhandlethisprocess.The processof self-
realizationbringswithitanenergyof a verydivine nature.
Soif youare bodyisnot equippedtotake thaton,you cannotget it. When youexperience thisinyour
life,all knowledge beginstocome fromwithin.Forthe mostpart, thisdivine bodyyouhave hascome
aboutbecause of your parents.These parentsare chosenbyyoursoul.So firstly,nomatterwhatyour
parentsare like orhowtheytreatedyouor broughtyou upor whethertheywere able toprovideyou
withamenitiesoragoodeducation,these are all linkedwiththe body.The divinebodytheygave you
allowsyoutotake onself-realization.Sofirst,expressyourgratitude towardsyourparentsbecause of
whomyougot thisbody.
You hada bodyinotherlifetimesandaconduitwas presentinthose lifetimestoo.Butthe act of self-
realizationcouldnottake place.Because the conduitwasnotokayedto facilitate self-realization.All of
spiritualitycentresaroundthe ideaof beingokayed.Until youaren’tokayed,thingscan’thappen
throughyou inthe rightdirection.SaintGyaneshwarhadspokenabout all thisinthe 4th
chapter of his
textGyaneshwari.He hadspokenself-realization,humangoals,gainingsatisfactionandpeace andhow
the search outside endswhencontentmentandblisshappenwithin.He thoughtnomatterhow much
youwrite on this,if people don’texperience self-realization,the book won’thelp.He thenaskedhis
guru if he shouldor not.SaintGyaneshwarwascapable of facilitatingitbuthe still askedhisguruif it
was okayto do sucha thing.
Hisguru saidno because he feltthe time hadn’tcome. He saidit will come 800 years laterand
hundredsof thousandswill be able togetself-realizationthen.Sowe are those luckysoulswhoare born
at a time whenself-realizationcanhappenincollectivity.Youhave waitedyearstogainthisand the
conduithaswaitedyearsto facilitate this.Andnow we are joined.Irememberthingsandyoudon’t.
That’sthe onlydifference.Workyourselfuptothe pointwhere youdo.Thenyou will understandour
connection.So the thingswhichare of importance are havinga divine body,aratifiedorokayed
mediumorconduitandan approvedtime. Of these,timeisof the greatestimportance. Saint
Gyaneshwarspoke of self-realizationandof amass awakening. Inthe Himalayas, the saintsandascetics
triedto finda wayto organize forthis.
God’squalityisthathe givestoall equally.Anyonecangetthisstate.Forgetyourcircumstances.The
Himalayangurusmeditatedforyears.Theyhadone goal.It wasabout findingawayto spreadthisdivine
knowledge toone andall. Butafteryears,theygot alignedwithnature andwere unable togoback to
society.Throughtheirwill,theypreparedanordinarypersontobe a mediumwhocouldfacilitateself-
realizationandokayedhim forthis.Theypurposelypickedanordinarypersonsothat itwas relatable to
people. There were three goals.
One wasto reach massesbeyondsocial barriers.The waytothe Himalayasisa one way road.Why? As
we enterthe guru territorieswiththeir unseenboundaries,we become of it. We don’tgetthoughts
there.Therefore,there are nothoughtsof comingback. Buthere,theyhave sentme so theycouldreach
societysothat social misconceptionsaboutmeditationcouldbe corrected. E.g.the ideathat one needs
to renunciate toprogressinmeditation.Therefore,the average personcan’tmeditate.Godknowsfor
howlongthese notionshave prevailed.The whole worldisnotcomprisedof ascetics.Sotheyfeltitfitto
have a householderasan example forotherhouseholders.

3. Evenour Godsor saintswere family-bound.We sometimescreate somuchdistance betweenusand
them.Soif I can do it,so can you. Be like alotusthat bloomsinthe mud.It’s linkedwithastem.Nota
drop of mud fallsonit.Stay insocietythroughyourbody.Keepyourchitor soul’seye (orwhere youare
focused) independentof it.
The secondnotionwasthat womencan’tspirituallyprogressandare a barrierto such progressisa
wrongone.I was sentto societytocorrect this.Those saintswentfromthissocietyandinthe
Himalayas,theyexpandedtheiraurasuch that theiraurasspanned50 kmsand that no womanmay
enterintoit.Aftertheymeditatedintensely,theyrealizedtheirmistake. The soul isone andthere are
no gender-baseddistinctions.The differencesare biological. Infact,the womanisan aidto such
progress.Theysaidwe can’t change whatwe have done and we can’t leave ouraura fields.Sogoandfix
thiswrongnotion.
Samarpantherefore giveswomenthisstatuswhichthe saintswishedfor.Thisanushthan(spiritual
ceremonywithafixedaim) happenedwiththe supportof awoman.You mayknow the story of Savitri.
It’slike thateverytime.It’sonlybecause of Gurumathat I can come back. Where for45 days, youmay
become unaware of time,place,nightorday,Guruma isthe one who makesmykite come downto land
on time forMahashivratri.Isay thisbecause the womanisa tool andnot a barrier.Brahma isthe force
of creation.Guruisthe motherwhogivesthe soul birth.Inthe formof Brahma,we getthismother.
Gurur Vishnuisthe gainingof energyfromself-realizationwhichyoumayharnessandprogresswith. I
have beenstronglymade aware of thisat givenmomentsinmylife.Inthe Himalayas,there are some
placeswhere youcan’ttell if there iswateror snow.You have to poke forit.If the conduitfalls,there is
no one there torescue him.But the guru’sspiritpervaded andkeptme safe.
11 gurusare withme at everymoment. Theyare present.Feel this.The more youfeel this,the more
theyare like the bondof protectioninthe formof Lord Krishna(anincarnationof the elementof
preservationorVishnu). Feel the guruiswithyouateverymoment.Youare notwithhim.Nothing
wrongcan happenwhenyouare connectedwiththisenergy.The guru’senergywill neverletyoufalter
inthe wrongdirection.The meaningof the termsSaakshatguruisinterpretedasthe guruenergyiswith
you.The thingsnecessaryformeditationare one’sframe of mindspirituallyorspiritual state andthe
place where youare meditating.These helpinenhancingyourreceptivenesstothese divineenergies.
The guru energytriestowake youup early.There’slessthoughtpollutionatthathour.If youwant to
take full advantage of meditatingwithsomethingsimilartothe effectsof aplace withoutpeople,try
wakingupduringthe Brahma mahurat times(4-8a.m.).
Gurur Maheshis the one to finishoff yourkarmas.Maheshislike the potterwhosculptsyouby finding
youthe fine soil fromwhichtodoit. We will face difficultieswhenwe are gettingmade butwe will
come out fine whenit’sall over.
The guru gave me difficulties.ButIhad faiththat nothing wrongcan happenatthe handsof the guru.I
wentthroughmy hardshipinone stretch.Now there’snotrouble.The potterholdsapotwithone hand
while hammeringwiththe other.The guruwill notletyoubreak.He givesyoustrengthbecause you
have that manymore karmas to bear andfinishoff inthislast life. Itismy lastlife andit’syourlast life
too. If you endure these inthe presenceof aguru, youfeel the painsof the karma a lotless.Maheshis
there to finishyourkarmasoff.Notyou.

4. Sakshatisthe guru element.Mylifelongquestfora guruto come intomylife wasoveras soonas Shiv
Baba came.With one step,IwentinwardsaftersearchingforGod outwards. One suchepiphanyof an
innernature finishedoff thisquest. Arouse thisfeelingthatstirsfromsuchan epiphany.Youare still
wandering.The wanderingneverends.Iwastedsome yearsinthis.Iwill layitto youstraight.Where do
yousearch forme? I am inside you.Universalenergy/intelligentspirit/the powersthatbe was,isand
will alwaysbe.
I feltthispresence tosuchanextentthatI consideredmyguruto be like God.At thispoint,the
experience of the termsParaBrahma happenedatonce for me.That’swhyI say to you,chant thisbut
alignitwithyourself andthenall the wanderingwill cease.Stayinwardsandwaste lesstimeoutwards.
Thisyear,the guru energieshave deemeditasthe Year for Children.(EveryyearSamarpanMeditation
has a missiononwhichgroupof societythe organizationshouldfocusonspreading the knowledge of
meditation asperthe divine guidance Swamiji receives).
Courtesymediumslike technologyandmedia,we store alotof garbage.Visualsaffectusdeeply.
Improve uponthis.The passingof 800 yearshas slowlyreacheduptothiscurrent stage. Self-realization
alone can’tguarantee soul freedom.Nomatterhow muchknowledgeyouhave,it’sonlyif youempty
out yourbaggage that you can have it. Spreadwhateveryouhave gained.
Soul freedomhappenswithinyourlifetime whenyouare karma-free orhave nokarmas lefttobear.
(i.e.youshouldbe alive foritandnot afteryoudie as manyHinduscommonlybelieve).Youmustget
thisstate of zeroor a state where yourkarmasare null inyourlifetime.Anushthanisatime and
opportunityforconnectingwiththe subtleenergies.Youwill note manybeautifulexperiencesduring
thistime because of this. The subtle body iseternal.Itiscentredinthe Himalayas.Practice connecting
withthe subtle body.Anushthanwill trainyouforthis.
Thisisa physical bodyonwhichthe gurusperformedmanysacredacts.The guru energies wantthisto
reach one and all.My processof being entombed will be later. (Uponasaint’spassinginIndia,the body
isenshrinedandentombedinanideallyspecial energeticallyaccommodatingsetting).It’slike howa
farmerplantsa seedina small space. The nurseryis firstbeingsetup sothat an entire fieldwill later
culminate forthisspecial process.The limitof the bodywill be overcome atthe time of death.Asthe
subtle bodyalignswithnature,itwill developmore vastly. Thistime,the tree hasborne manyfruits.My
comingdownhas beenlike athump.Youtoo will getsuchexperiencesuponmeditating.Iammost
grateful toyou.
Thinkof howmuch love a motherhasfor feedingherkids.The motheronlyfeelssatisfiedwhenher
childeats.If you weren’tthere inmylifetime,mylife’spurposewouldhave ceased.Somanythanksto
youall on thisholyoccasionof Mahashivratri and Anushthan.We have some announcementsfor2020.
For the yearof the children,we have some specificactivitiesplanned.OnFeb28,I am goingto tour
SouthAfricawithprogramsin Durbanand Johannesburg.OnMar 18, there will be anew session.The
ShivkrupanandFoundationhasbeencreated.The trustshadsome barrierswhichwere carryingonfrom
20 years.From 30 Mar to 1 April,Iwill be stayinginMahudi Ashram.On2 April,we will be inaugurating
the ashram. OnApril 19, the SaintGyaneshwarTrusthas organizedadiscourse session.Youare all
invitedtoattend this.