Oration at the Consecration

Good morning, brethren. Let me commence with a sloka of Jagadguru Sri Adi Shankaracharya, and I quote,

The meaning is as follows,

“May Krishna the brilliant beam of rays emanating in thousands from the lotus of non-dual awareness, who is the Kalpaka tree, on which grows the creeper of peace, who is the moon that redresses the scorching heat generated by the worldly life, remain constantly the delighter of my heart.”

With that prayer, I thank God for yesterday and today, while continuing to pray for tomorrow. I thank my parents for having brought me into this world. I thank M.W.Bro Vasudev Jamnabihar Masurekar, OSM, M.W The Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of India, for his kindness in appointing me the Grand Chaplain, thus providing me this opportunity. I thank R.W.Bro A.P Chitra, R.W The Regional Grand Master of the Regional Grand Lodge of Southern India, and the organizers for all the kind courtesies extended to me.

M.W.Bro Vasudev Jamnabihar Masurekar, OSM, M.W the Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of India, M.W. Bro Dr. B. Biswakumar, OSM, Past Grand Master, R.W. Bro R. Sushil Raj, OSM, R.W. The Deputy Grand Master, R.W.Bro A.P Chitra, R.W The Regional Grand Master of the Regional Grand Lodge of Southern India, and brethren all.

It is a great feeling to be speaking to an audience in beloved Madras. “Madras” – the very mention of the name evokes nostalgic memories for most of us long-time residents and lovers of this magnificent city, which is now in its 376th year since founding. For 358 years, it remained Madras, till one larger-than-life individual and his cohorts decided to rechristen it “Chennai.” Anyway, Madras, it was, that supposedly housed the second oldest Freemasons‟ Lodge in this country; some say, unofficially, there was a lodge of British soldiers meeting in the Fort St. George (the first piece of land in India owned by the British East India Company) even before the first lodge officially known in Calcutta. India‟s first modern city, as it is fondly referred to, Madras headquartered the Presidency which was the area from where the first Indian was initiated. He was HH the Nawab of Carnatic, Bro Omdat al Umrah. Today Madras a.k.a. Chennai, being the headquarters of the strongest region of our Grand Lodge is almost inarguably the most vibrant Masonic centre in the country. To deliver an oration in this Masonic hub is quite like performing in a music concert at the hallowed Music Academy in Madras during the December Margazhi Music season. The audiences in both cases being very knowledgeable and discerning, the performer has to be above par to receive any appreciation from them. Many eminent masons form the audience, much like the elite at the music academy. It is indeed a beautiful feeling being here my Brethren, believe me. It has been quite a while since we have had a consecration of a new lodge in this wonderful city. I believe the last one was about five years or so ago.

Brethren, at a recent consecration of Lodge Siruvani no.394 in Coimbatore, on the 12th of February 2015, I had the honour of delivering the oration. I commenced my oration by speaking about the concept of “Satsangha”- the true company of good men. Little did I realize then that I would again be standing before a Masonic gathering to deliver an oration at the consecration of a Lodge named after the same concept – “satsang”. I can only see this as providential coincidence!

What an appropriate name for a Lodge, my Brethren! The number of the Lodge, 396, adds up to 9. The number 9 can refer to the Navarathnas, Navadhanyas, Navadurgas, most importantly the Navagrahas, and so on…
Coincidentally, the number for the name S-A-T-S-A-N-G letter wise, also has a weighted sum of 9. i.e. the number corresponding to each letter adds up to 9. This is extremely rare indeed. The number 9, my Brethren, in numerology reflects humanitarian values, such as working ceaselessly for the general good, selflessness, and essentially points toward a giving nature. May these be a reflection of the principles this Lodge would stand for, and may its members strive toward them. As is said, in The Holy Bible, Titus 2:14 : “Who gave Himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, who are zealous for good works.”

‘Satsang’ as a word is derived from the Sanskrit words ‘sat’ or ‘satya’, meaning true or right, and ‘sangh’ or ‘sangha’ meaning a gathering/group of men- good men, we believe!

Freemasonry is a satsang, probably one of the largest in the world. In this fast paced life, and ever changing world, finding the right company of good men is indeed very difficult. As the famed Tamizh poet philosopher Saint Thiruvalluvar, who lived in Mylapore, Madras, in his masterpiece the ‘Tirukkural’, considered one of the greatest in the world, says in Agarathi i.e. chapter 45, kural no.443,

This translates to “to cherish and befriend great men and to make them one‟s own is the most difficult of all difficult things.”

Freemasonry is made up of good men striving to become better men, in search of the eternal truth, aided by the help that comes from above. It reminds us that we are here of our own volition, to soak in the company of good men and the affection we show to one another. To quote The Holy Bible again, Romans 15:32, “So that by God‟s will, I may come to you with joy and be refreshed in your company”.

Brethren, in this institution we do not expect any pecuniary benefits but only look forward to unite in the Grand Design of being happy and communicating happiness: happiness that can come only when we truly practice the basic tenets of this ‘satsang’.

Is everyone who is here a good man? Why do we believe that a candidate for Freemasonry is a good man? No doubt his proposer and seconder have vouched for his credentials having known him for some time. The senior members of the membership committee of the Lodge through their interview have cleared him as a suitable candidate for initiation. But the clincher really, my Brethren, is his belief in the existence of a Supreme Being. The theory is that a person who believes in God cannot be all bad. There is an element of good and bad in every man, and so it is with this candidate as well. We trust in the first place, that a Believer would not breach that line of conduct laid down in his Holy book. And even if he did, he would want to redeem his mistakes.

Thus whether the candidate has total faith in the Supreme Being or is only a „God fearing‟ person, there is some goodness in him. It is that goodness, which freemasonry aims to nurture and help increase in men. It is that goodness whose radiance we love to bask in. It should be our constant endeavour to increase this goodness in oneself in every way possible.

The Vaishnavite philosophy in the Hindu religion, of total submission to the Supreme Being is one pathway in that direction. „Saranagathi‟ or „prapatti‟ i.e. total surrender to the All Seeing Eye- to the Lord from Whom no secrets are hid and to whom all desires are known. May He cleanse our thoughts and help us manifest them in action.

I would like to conclude by telling you all about a king called Kulasekara Varman, who later went on to be known as Kulasekara Alwar, one of the 12 Alwars or philosopher poet/saints in the great Vaishnavite tradition. Brethren, we are taught that humility in each is an essential qualification. Kulasekara Alwar was the epitome of humility. Some of us may know that in the famed Tirumala temple, the last threshold or step before entering the sanctum sanctorum is called the Kulasekara Padi. Some other major Vaishnavite temples also have the Kulasekara Padi. Kulasekara‟s humble prayer to Lord Srinivasa was in the form of this slokha:

“Oh Lord of the Universe, may I be born as a servant of the servant who serves as a servant of the servant attendant of the servant of Sriman Narayana.” Granting of this boon would fulfill my life‟s purpose to be the lowliest in the hierarchy of the servants of the Lord. Thus all those who reach the Lord may tread on me before reaching their destinationthe Lotus Feet of the Lord. That is the legend of the Kulasekara Padi.

Brethren may the GAOTU shower his choicest blessings on the founders of this Lodge Satsang no.396 and upon all of us! I thank all of you for your patient hearing and wish you Godspeed!

Sarve jana sukhino bhavanthu!!