Valentine’s Day 2026 was one with a difference. It was about devotion streaming across oceans, a simple shift from laptop to television — and a home filled with love with blessings flowing.
From Laptop to TV — Making Space for Grace
I began watching the Sri Hanuman Chalisa Parayana on my laptop — the sacred gathering taking place at Maharaja Grounds in Mysore, led by His Holiness Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda.
The chants were powerful even through a small screen.
That was early morning (just after midnight here) and then I opted to get some rest as I needed to work. Later in the morning I went back on YouTube for Divya Nama Sankeertana. The kids who are early risers noticed and asked, “Is that Tataji?” I said yes and let them know He was live from India and asked them if they wanted to see Him live.
So, I switched from the laptop to the TV. They were listening to bhajans and trying to sing along.
And just like that, our living room transformed.
The screen grew larger. The sound filled the space. The sacred chants seemed to settle into the walls of our home.
There was something beautiful about that — simple, direct, unfiltered. They did not ask complicated questions. They just wanted to see Him. To watch. To stay.
In that moment, Valentine’s Day became about shared devotion.
Then came the next request:
“Can we see the Shuka Vana birds?”
So we searched and brought up the beautiful parrots of Shuka Vana on the big screen.
Instant joy.
The children laughed and began repeating what the parrots said — carefully listening, mimicking the sounds, trying again and again. The room filled with giggles and playful echoes of chirps and phrases.
It was lighthearted. It was innocent. It was full of life.
And somehow, it felt perfectly aligned with the sacredness of the day.
A Valentine’s Day to Remember
This year, love looked like:
A laptop becoming a TV broadcast.
A living room turning into a prayer space.
Children recognizing their Guru on screen.
Laughter while repeating parrots’ words.
Quality family time with the kids enjoying singing, seeing birds, making linkages and getting answers to their questions.
Distance did not matter. Screens did not diminish the experience.
If anything, it reminded me that love transcends geography.
Valentine’s Day 2026 was not about what we received.
It was about what we shared: Faith. Family. Joy. Connection.
And in that simple act of switching screens, we made space for something much bigger — grace filling our home.
Yes, this post is dedicated to His Holiness and celebrating Him. He is our dearest Pujya Appaji. I have never had a reason to doubt Appaji and very often I refer to Him as the Divine Master and sometimes too, the Bearded Master who is filled with compassion.
As many know, the spiritual legacy of His Holiness Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji, founder of the Avadhoota Datta Peetham in Mysore, is filled not only with divine teachings and healing music, but also with miraculous achievements that continue to inspire the world. Pujya Appaji can be described in so many ways. He is His Holiness, Appaji, Tataji, Aripo Muni Raja, Nada Brahma and so much more. His life is a tapestry woven with threads of compassion, dedication, He is purity, He is peace and tranquility, He is sincerity in its purest form, He is wisdom at its fullest and day in day out, every waking second, moment after moment, He continues to make a global impact—and many of these threads have been officially recognized by Guinness World Records.
Today, June 14th, 2025 the Guinness World Records awarded a new title to His Holiness Dr. Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji and Avadhoota Datta Peetham for housing 10,836 of the world’s rarest bonsai trees in one single location. This sacred forest of miniatures—each a living soul—forms the largest bonsai collection in the world. These trees are not just a botanical marvel but also a symbol of patience, care, and spiritual discipline.
Vanadurga Vriksha Shanti Yagnam: A Prayer for the Planet
What sets this divine garden apart is not just the trees, but the sacred rituals that breathe life into them. Pujya Appaji performed the Vanadurga Vriksha Shanti Yagnam, a powerful Vedic ceremony dedicated to Mother Nature and the guardian deity of forests, Vanadurga Devi. This ancient yagna was conducted in the very presence of these rare bonsais—a spiritual act to invoke healing, harmony, and balance for all living beings and the natural world.
This Guinness World Record Pujya Appaji said, “Thank You team Bonsai. Today’s Bonsai Guinness Record is not just my effort; it is the effort of many in the background.” https://www.facebook.com/share/p/16WyYR4W6h/
So what are Pujya Appaji’s other record-breaking feats of devotion and harmony?
Pujya Appaji’s mission of global peace and spiritual healing has led to numerous Guinness World Records, including:
Most people chanting (Hanuman Chalisa) Led 128,918 participants in Tenali, Andhra Pradesh
Largest music therapy lesson- Conducted a therapy session with 1,814 participants at the Sydney Opera House on 6 April 2015
Longest chanting marathon (team)- A relay of continuous chanting for 24 hr 10 min 8 sec at Karya Siddhi Hanuman Temple, Frisco, Texas on 31 July 2015
Largest breathing (pranayama) lesson- Hosted at India Community Center, Milpitas, California, USA on 10 July 2016.
Largest online video album of people chanting- Compiled 40,976 individual chanting videos; announced in Carapichaima, Trinidad and Tobago on 31 July 2016.
Largest display of bonsai trees-Showcased 2,649 bonsai trees at the International Bonsai Convention in Mysore Ashram on 21 December 2016.
Most bird species in an aviary. His Shuka Vana aviary housed 486 bird species on 6 May 2017.
Largest Hindu Smriti (scriptural text) A monumental Bhagavad Gita Smriti measuring 2.24 m × 1.56 m, completed on 26 May 2017.
World’s largest special postal stamp Made by Avadhoota Datta Peetham, 2.87 m², on 26 May 2018
Largest online video album of birthday wishes/greetings- Compiled 7,651 birthday-message videos on 10 June 2022 to celebrate Pujya Appaji’s 80th birthday.
Largest online video album of people walking; Included 6,389 walking-video submissions tied to the “Vishwashanti Padā Yātrā” virtual walkathon on 10 June 2022.
Largest simultaneous Hindu text recital- 1,329 participants recited the Srimad Bhagavad Gita together at Allen Event Center, Texas on 13 August 2022.
Largest special stamp (Nada Mantapa image)-Measuring 13.104 m², created at Avadhoota Datta Peetham, Mysuru on 13 December 2024.
Longest chanting marathon (team)- A new record of 33 hr 33 min 33 sec of continuous Hanuman Chalisa team chanting, held 12–13 December 2024 at Nada Mantapa
These are all rooted in the Swamiji’s vision of “Lokāḥ Samastāḥ Sukhino Bhavantu” – May all beings everywhere be happy and peaceful.
Pujya Appaji’s messages are messages beyond records. These world records are not mere numbers. They represent a global spiritual movement led by a realized Master who walks gently on Earth while guiding millions toward inner peace. From sacred chants that echo healing to ancient trees that whisper wisdom, Pujya Appaji’s works are a reminder that divine miracles happen not only in the heavens but also on Earth, when one lives in service to all life. Pujya Appaji’s remarkable achievements span spiritual, ecological, musical, and community domains—reflecting his holistic vision of service, harmony, and global unity.
Let us bow in gratitude and wonder at the divine mission of Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji, whose legacy continues to grow—like the sacred bonsais—quietly powerful, deeply rooted, and eternally inspiring. Sri Guru Datta.
Special Friday Greetings! Life and experiences change us! Always let them change you for the better and not the worse! Live and love life! Keep being you, keep smiling & always be true to yourself!
Today I take this opportunity to celebrate life, love and blessings! Some may think that a post ‘Celebrating Independence Day 2018’ may be ideal but considering the recent turn of events in our country there is a clear contrast in the way I felt last year and the way I feel this year. I am sure many can understand this and many can also relate to it.
I am happy many opted to visit the page. Maybe it was due to a feeling of patriotism, maybe it serves as a reminder of how drastically things have changed, or maybe just maybe, it is a combination of both.
In all honesty (take note that I always write in all honesty)my heart goes out to the many who had to tell their families they lost their jobs and they don’t know where their next income will come from. Bear in mind it is not just workers of PETROTRIN but hundreds who work for contractors that work for PETROTRIN and the hundreds and thousands who are being sent home in other sectors of the economy.
As if things weren’t already tough we continue to see how they are getting tougher and suffering increases. What it does mean though is that the struggle is real and now more than ever we have to be thankful for life and blessings! We have to continue praying not just for ourselves and our families but we have to pray for each other and for our country. We have to pray for peace and for courage to face the current reality and what lies ahead.
As if the earthquake on August 21 was not enough of a ‘shake-up’ (yes, it is an act of nature we could not prevent) but as a country we have been surviving increases in the amount traffic fines are now costing, people continue to lose jobs, cost of living continues to rise and this past week has been filled with heart wrenching news of the realities of the energy sector.
Now more than anything we have to remember that to be humane we have to live like humans. Now more than ever we have to look out for each other, we have to be steadfast in our prayer and we have to be steadfast in our devotion. Further to that we have to be thankful that our experiences make us wiser and they make us stronger. More so we have to be confident that they will guide us forward and help us to make more informed choices and more practical ones at best.
Let us look at what we can be thankful for:
·We got up this morning (some did not).
·We made it through the day in spite of pain, in spite of hurt and in spite of the challenges we have been facing or the challenges we faced today.
·We are loved and we are blessed by the Divine who has given us life.
·I got an opportunity to share this post with you and you got an opportunity to read it.
·I got to tell you that you are not alone and in case you felt you were hopefully now you know you are not.
As Mother Teresa said, “Prayer is not asking. Prayer is putting oneself in the hands of God, at His disposition, and listening to His voice in the depth of our hearts.”
I ask that you be mindful of the fact that survival is a key part of moving forward! Prayer is a key part of surviving and having faith is a key part of why we pray and how we choose to live. Never believe that you are alone because you are not!
In closing please remember this: His Holiness Param Pujya Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji always reminds devotees, “If you are a Hindu, be a good Hindu. If you are a Christian, be a good Christian and if you are a Muslim, be a good Muslim.”
To those of you who have been chanting “Shivaaya Rudraaya Namaha” as directed by His Holiness I urge you to continue doing so! To those who are praying please continue to pray and please share the message of peace. Please share the need to pray, to look out for each other and to not give up. Let this be an added source of motivation to you:
On May 26, 2018 thousands around the world gathered at various Datta Centres to celebrate the 76th Birthday of His Holiness Param Pujya Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji.
At Mysuru Ashram it was a week of activities and various ceremonies that were broadcasted to audiences the world over by Yoga Sangeeta, filled with priceless memories that we could all treasure. On May 26th His Holiness received His 9th Guinness World Record. This was for the unveiling of the world’s largest stamp (57.9 inches * 77 inches) which depicted the Vishwam Museum of Avadhoota Datta Peetham.
Photo Credit: Avadhoota Datta Peetham
Here in Trinidad there were birthday celebrations for Appaji at the Sri Dattatreya Yoga Centre in Carapichaima, the Sri Sachchidananda Yoga Ashram in Penal and the Pranavananda Ashram located at Temple Street, Beaucarro Village, Carapichaima.
Having a Sadguru like Appaji is a true blessing. As I have said time and time again Appaji has done so much for us and He continues to do so day after day! I mean, can we really measure the number of blessings He has showered on us?
It is in every sense an infinite number of blessings that show His love for us all and His love for all humanity.
Appaji has given us:
1.Datta Centres and Ashrams around the world
2.Healing music and Kriya Yoga. He is Nada Brahma.
3.SGS Posts and on a daily basis He has urged us to, “Be Good, Do Good.”
4.So many apps we could download to our mobile phones and uplift ourselves spiritually
5.Countless opportunities to do Seva
He has:
6.Embraced us all and He sees no class, no colour, no creed and no race
7.Lived the life that He talks about through His messages. He is the epitome of Goodness, Purity, Truth, Knowledge and Bliss. Not once does He tell us to do something that He will not do.
8.Blessed us infinitely with messages. Appaji’s messages are always there for us and they are always ours for the taking!
9.Committed Himself to so many causes around the world.
10.Composed so many bhajans and He has shared them with us in so many ways
11.Shared so many discourses with us and travelled to Centres and Ashrams around the world to take care of us!
Appaji gives so much to us and this is what we need to do:
1.Receive His messages
2.Put His messages into practice
3.Adopt them as a way of life
4.Be Good and Do Good
Now is this too much? No it certainly is not!
On the occasion of Appaji’s 76th Birthday I take this opportunity to celebrate our Sadguru by way of sharing these bhajans that have been composed by His Holiness with you.
Appaji thank you for all that You have done for us! We are forever grateful for the abundance of blessings You shower on us and continue to shower on us day after day! Please know that all Datta devotees in Trinidad are eagerly awaiting Your presence and to having You here for Guru Purnima!
Celebrating Existence 