http://www.dattapeetham.com/india/festivals/2012/birthday2012/report.html

31 May 2012 – Jyeshtha Shuddha Ekadashi – 70th Birth day of Parama Pujya Sri Swamiji

At precisely 9.24 AM, Pujya Sri Swamiji arrived at Sri Kalagni Shamana Dattatreya temple to offer prayers after which He was carried in the Rudrakshi Ratham (chariot) from Universal Prayer Hall to Nada Mantapa. Sri Swamiji looked every bit resplendent in a sandal paste & yellow Vastram. There was happiness and a spirit of celebration in the air as cultural troupes from Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh preceded the procession. Pujya Swamiji sat attending on the procession statue of Dattatreya on Rudrakshi Ratham. Sri Bala Swamiji led the procession. The air was filled with sacred Vedic mantras chanted by the pundits as they carried the Purna Kumbha, interspersed with the sound of the Nadaswaram and the music of the Kadri band. Arriving to a packed Nada Mantapa, Sri Swamiji's path was decorated with "Arasalu" sweets which is tradition in parts of south India and is made during birthdays. As Pujya Sri Swamiji walked gracefully along, there was a sea of folded hands and chants of "Sadguru natha Mahraj ki Jai".

The Homas and rituals connected with Vijaya Ratha Shanti had been completed as Sri Swamiji arrived at the Venkatachalpathy Yaga Shala situated in the North West of the Nada Mantapa. Pujya Swamiji offered Maha Purnahuti at 9:56 A.M. and Sri Bala Swamiji performed Avabhrutha Snana to Pujya Swamiji from the Homa's sacred Kalasha water and with water from many sacred rivers and lakes around the world. Pujya Sri Swamiji also offered 70 Danas (gifts).

Sri Bala Swamiji performed Pratyaksha Pada Puja to the sacred feet of Pujya Sri Swamiji. This was followed by the release of an Audio CD of Sri Bala Swamiji's compositions in seven languages and all songs sung by Sri Bala Swamiji. A special treat was the new look of the Nada Mantapa as it reverberated with a fresh energy while it seated thousands of people.

Pujya Sri Swamiji's 70th Birthday message conveyed to devotees to take the responsibility of spreading the essence of the teachings and music of Pujya Sri Swamiji. After Sri Swamiji's speech, a group of Tribal folk from the Srikakulam area decked out in their traditional attire came forward to pay their respects.

Sri Swamiji recollected that it was a Lambani tribal woman who brought Sri Swamiji after Birth at Mekedatu to the house of Lingannaya near Sangama.

Other important events that marked the occasion were the gifting of Rs. 1 Lakh by Datta Peetham and the institution of an award in Karnataka Samskrutha University. It was received by the vice chancellor of the university , Sri Mallepuram Venkatesh. And a new institute 'SGS Veda Nidhi & Academic Institute (SVAMI)' was inaugurated. Sri Swamiji also marked His birthday by cutting two huge cakes.

In the evening, Sri Swamiji released several books & CDs. They are: • Commemorative issue of Bhakti Mala. • Dashama Skandhamu – Telugu narration of Bhagavatha discourses of Pujya Sri Swamiji. • Bhajana Yogamu (Laghu Vakya) – Telugu book by Dr.Vedantam Kumaraswamy explaining Sri Swamiji's Bhajans published in volumes 3 & 4 of Bhajana Yogamu. • Bharata Sooktulu – Telugu book by Sri.Rani Subbaiah Deekshitulu – containing various quotations from Maha Bharata epic. • Shatashloki Ramayana Vivaranamu – Telugu book by Sri.Rani Subbaiah Deekshitulu – giving detailed commentary on the Shatashloki Ramayana • Bhakta Mala – Two volume English book with 270 devotee experiences • Sachchidananda Bhajana Yogam – Tamil book containing various (languages) Bhajans of Pujya Sri Swamiji in Tamil script. Offered by Chennai Gnana Bodha Sabha • Sri Swamiji Life History – Tamil language audio book (mp3) with 43 hours of narration of Pujya Sri Swamiji's life story in Tamil. Offered by Chennai Gnana Bodha Sabha • Atma Darshana – Coffee table photo book of Sri Swamiji. Spanning from childhood to today. Offered by Chennai Gnana Bodha Sabha • Wall hanging (12 sheets) of Pujya Sadgurudeva. Offered by Chennai Gnana Bodha Sabha • Krishnavataram – Pujya Sri Swamiji's Tamil discourse on Lord Krishna's life. Offered by Chennai Gnana Bodha Sabha • Life and Mission of Hanuman – Russian translation of English book of same title. Translated & offered by Mrs.Gayatri of Russia • Nada Murali – Audio CD – Bhajan rendering on flute by Dr.Jayaprada of Hyderabad • Sri Gurudeva Stotram – 108 Samskruta Shlokas on Adi Sankara & Sri Swamiji with Telugu translation by scholar, Vid.Kuchibhotla Chandrashekhara Sharma • Narayana Bali – Telugu book on the ritual – "Narayana Bali" by Vd.Ramakrishnacharyulu • Palle Pilupu – audio CD containing rural style Telugu songs, composed & sung by Sri.Sadhu Mahender • Datta Speaks – English book on 108 selected speeches of Sri Swamiji as broadcast in "Datta Mata" program in Telugu ETv. Compiled & Translated by Smt.Balatripura Sundari. • Datta Kriya Yoga – English book on Kriya Yoga method as taught by Pujya Sri Swamiji. Offered by SGS Kriya Yoga team. • Guru Charita Ganam – Audio CD containing songs on the glory of Sadgurudeva - by Sri.Pavan Kumar Datta & music by Gejjala Satish Babu. • Sri Guru Bhavana – Book of Telugu poems on Pujya Swamiji. By Sri.P.Subba Naidu • Charukeshi Raga Sagara – Audio CD of 2011 Sydney concert of Pujya Sri Swamiji

• Datta Smarana – Telugu book by Sri. Radhakrishna drawing parallels on Sri Padavallabha Swamy, Sri Narasimha Saraswati Swamy, Nava Nathas & Pujya Sri Swamiji's lives & times.

• Bhagavadgita – French translation of English book of same title – by Mrs.Isabelle Sridevi Felischut. • Kriya Yoga – French Translation of Shabari Honggar's Kriya Yoga book. By Mrs.Isabelle Sridevi Felischut. • Prayers – Ashrama Daily prayers & French translation - by Mrs.Isabelle Sridevi Felischut. • Hanuman – His life & mission – French translation of English book of same title - by Mrs.Isabelle Sridevi Felischut. • Parde de Dieu – French translation of English book Godword 2 & 3 volumes. By Mrs.Isabelle Sridevi Felischut • Speeches of Sri Swamiji- English book containing translation of selected speeches of Pujya Sri Swamij given between May 2011-May 2012 – By Smt.Heera Duvvuri

At 8 PM, Vid. T. M. Krishna gave an amazing Carnatic classical music concert for more than one hour. Among others, he sang Sri Swamiji's Bhajan "Jayedesha Bhavonmesha" & "Kesarinandana Vandipe Ninage" , He was accompanied by Vid. Ramanujacharyulu on violin, Guru Karaikkudi Mani on Mridangam and by Vid.Amrut on Kanjira.

Later, Vid. Kaarikkudi Mani offered a special studio album titled 'Appaji-70' to Sri Swamiji. It is a three disc audio album of 70 chosen Bhajans of Sri Swamiji sung by various artists. The concept was conducted

and conceived by Vid. Kaaraikkudi Mani. Music has been scored by Vidwans: Rajkumar Bharati, VS Narasimhan, Ramesh Vinayakam, BV Balasai, Sundar C Babu & Jaitra Varansi. A sampler was played for 20 minutes which was followed by a well deserved thunderous applause. The album is styled in the same way as 'Swamiji-60 ' released during the 60th Birthday of Pujya Sri Swamiji. The music directors Sri. Raj Kumar Bharati, Sri. Ramesh Vinayakam, Sri. BV Balasai, Sri. Sundar C Babu & Jaitra Varanasi who were present on the occassion were honored on the occasion.

1st June 2012 As part of the final rites of Sri Datta Venkateshwara Brahmotsava, the procession & Abhishekam idols of Sri Datta Venkateshwara and consorts Sri Devi & Bhudevi were brought to Saptarshi Sarovara pond. Pujya Sri Swamiji and Bala Swamiji took the idols to the water and dipped the Murtis in the water to the chanting of Mantras. After the Murtis were taken to the temple, Sri Swamiji allowed devotees to take a sacred dip in the pond. Sri Bala Swamiji performed Maha Purnahuti of Brahmotsava Homa and performed Maha Abhishekam to the sacred Datta Venkateshwara Swamy. Pujya Sri Swamiji performed Sri Chakra Puja in Nada Mantapa. Sri Swamiji later released the special edition of "Journalist", a popular English magazine published from Vijayawada This special edition contains several informative articles on Pujya Sri Swamiji's life & teachings.

In the evening, "Sadguru Vandana" program was held in Nada Mantapa. HH Sri Shivaratri Deshikendra Swamiji of JSS Suttur Math and Sri. S. A. Ramdas, Medical education minister & Mysore district in charge minister of Karnataka Government, honored Pujya Sri Swamiji. They lauded the service rendered by Sri Swamiji for the betterment of humanity.

2nd June 2012 – Saturday

Pujya Sri Swamiji reviewed the annual SDHS Volunteer parade in front of Universal Prayer Hall. 70 white pigeons were released on the occasion. Later, Gnana Bodha Sabhas & Datta Yoga Centers' conference was held in Nada Mantapa. The annual activity digest books of Datta Peetham and other trusts were released and for the next three hours, all Ashramas and centers established by Pujya Sri Swamiji came and offered their annual accounts and reports to Pujya Sri Swamiji. In the evening, Pt. Vishwa Mohan Bhatt offered Mohan Veena concert in Nada Mantapa. As he sang "Jaya Jaya Vani Saraswati" and played Kaapi Raga. Sri Swamiji who was seated on the Nada Mantapa stage moved to the musicians' dais and sat with Pt. Vishwa Mohan Bhatt and sat there through the concert. It was an emotionally charged moment for the viewing audience to see Sri Swamiji so moved by the great master's music.

3rd June 2012 – Sunday

Pujya Sri Swamiji ascended the golden Audumbara Simhasana at 9.40 AM. Thereafter for five hours, devotees came in a queue from two sides of the stage and offered respects to Pujya Sri Swamiji.

At 5.30 PM, Sri Swamiji gifted *wheel chairs, crutches, motor scooters for the physically challenged.

*130 people benefitted as Rs.2.6 Lakhs was gifted to the Mysore prisons for the release of the aged and infirm who were languishing in jail even after their prison term was over but who were unable to pay the fine. *Patta certificates (occupancy certificate) of 70 new houses were given to 70 families who were affected in the Krishna river floods last year. They are situated in Gudeballur village, Mahaboobnagar district, Andhra Pradesh. *Two new temples were constructed in Dharam Singh colony & Jyoti Nagar area of Mysore. The temples are located in the Poura Karmika colony (street sweepers). * Rs.10 Lakhs was gifted to Vagdevi institute for communication handicapped, Bengaluru *Rs.5 Lakhs was gifted to iServe organization in Hyderabad

Chaitnyarchana – Award ceremony took place. The following dignitaries were awarded titles.

Veda Nidhi to Vid. B.K. Lakshminarayana Bhat , Kundapura , Karnatak – Eminent Rigveda Scholar Shastra Nidhi to Vid. Chirravuri Srirama Sarma Rajahmundry, Andhra Pradesh ~ Meemamsa & Veda Bhashya Scholar Nada Nidhi to Pandit Rama Narayan ~ Veteran Sarangi Musician Datta Peetha Puraskaram to Prof. Sannidhanam Sudarshana Sharma Tirupati ~ Eminent Scholar, Educationist & Vice Chancellor SV Vedic University Jayalakshmi Mata Puraskar to Dr. Sudarshan Kumari New Delhi ~ Eminent Physician associated with WHO Datta Peetha Bandhu to Sri. M. Rajendra Mysore ~ Social Worker & Entrepreneur, associated with Datta Peetham for decades Sasya Bandhu to Sri. Srinivas, Bengaluru ~ Bonsai Specialist Asthana Vidwan to Vid. Manjunatha Shrouti, Mysore ~ Eminent Samaveda Scholar Vishwa Bandhu to Dr. Mahesh Joshi ~ Deputy Director General, Doordarshan Kendra, Bengaluru Asthana Vidwan to Sri.Ramachandran Pillai – eminent sculptor. He has sculpted the Moolikeshwara & Akala Moksha Stupa in Mysore Ashrama.

4th June 2012 – Monday

At 5.30 AM, Pujya Bala Swamiji led Nagara Sankeertana on the streets of Vidyaranyapuram & Chamundi Puram areas of Mysore. More than thousand people followed, singing Bhajans of Pujya Sri Swamiji. The procession visited Subramanya Swamy temple, Chamundi vana temple & Rama Lingeswara Swamy temple. When the procession returned to Ashrama, Sri Swamiji saw the Bhajan singing crowd and Blessed them. After Sri Chakra Puja in Nada Mantapa, Yogini Kaliji of Tri Yoga Centre performed a Yoga Dance for 25 minutes. The Kolata singing troupes from three villages near Nuzividu town performed Kolata & singing.

In the evening, Vid. Harsh Narain, grand son of this year Nada Nidhi awardee, Pandit Ramnarayan played Sarangi. PunditBrij Narain, son of Pandit Ramanarayan played Sarod in Nada Mantapa.

5th June 2012 – Tuesday

At 8 PM, Dolotsava was performed to Sri Swamiji in Kireeta.

Sri Datta Humane Services (SDHS) Volunteers offered Annadana for the massive crowds on all days of festival. The different cuisines & varieties were appreciated. Chennai Gnana Bodha Sabha organized Mohappu arch decorations. They also organized cultural troupes and Book releases. Surat, Cochin, Nizuveedu, Chennai & Kaikaluru Ashramas offered support for Annandana.

With this, the celebrations concluded.