Category: Sri Guru Gita

In his Puranas, Maharishi Vedavyasa preached Datta Sadguru principle and in His Skanda Purana, he conveyed this concept of Guru as a conversation between Shiva and Parvati. After Vyasa, Adi Shankara bhagavadpāda preached in great detail the essence of Guru in various occasions.

We have understood that walking on the path of Guru is the only way to fulfill all the three types of desires discussed in the earlier episodes. From this it also becomes clear that the path of Guru is no simple path. In fact, it is a very difficult path. To those who abide by it in totality, it is a very easy path. To those who comply with it partially, it appears like a very difficult path.

How to obtain a Guru? How to worship him? How to love him? All these require a lot of disciplines, dedication, faith and hard work. When we begin to study any new subject, we should draw a chart to understand the various steps in it. In the same way, Guru Geeta explains all these steps.

This subject can be understood only by those who are alert and who possess total dedication every second. To obtain Guru’s grace absolute dedication is a must! 

Shraddha here means intense interest and firm dedication in abiding by the statements in it. It could be in studying the subject, in following the practices, in the method of conducting worship, such dedication should exist. True result can be attained only when this dedication exists in the task taken up. Eg. a nurse job can be done successfully only if the nurse is dedicated towards her job, not lazy, and is alert every moment. Such dedicated nurses are comparable to Gods. Very few have dedication towards serving others. Many could despise such jobs, or be lazy towards completion of such tasks.

In this Gurugita, the Lord Shiva has preached in great detail, the entire essence of Guru principle. First step is selection of Guru.

Did we not discuss that all paths in reality merge into worship of Guru? For this reason, Mother Goddess Paravati sought to know the significance of the word Guru and the essence behind worship of Guru.

A Guru necessarily has to clarify the doubts of his sincere disciple. Therefore, Shiva had to preach Her. In heaven (Deva loka) known as Kailasa, which is the residence of Lord Shiva, in the presence of many eminent saints and yogis, this holy conversation, which in reality was for the welfare of the saints and the spiritual aspirants, took place between the primordial couple, Shiva and Parvati.

It was Dattatreya who brought this principle of Guru to earth! Therefore, He is addressed as ‘Guru mārga pravartaka (one who directs people into the Guru path)’. He introduced the concept of Guru, emphasized upon the necessity of spiritual Guru in one’s life, explained the principle and essence of Guru, the method of worshipping the Guru etc. to humans.

He is therefore addressed as Adi Guru, Deva-guru, Paramaguru, Parātpara Guru, Parampara Guru, Parameshti Guru etc. We therefore offer the first salutation to Him.

In a much later period came Maharishi Veda Vyasa. In his Puranas, he preached Datta Sadguru principle and in His Skanda Purana, he conveyed this concept of Guru as a conversation between Shiva and Parvati. Even Śuka Maharishi explained this concept of Guru to Vyasa. How did Śuka obtain this knowledge of Guru principle?

Once when Parvati asked Shiva to teach her Supreme Essence, Shiva asked her to verify that there was no other living being within these sacred environs. Parvati thoroughly checked all directions and reported that they both were alone in that premises. In reality, there was an egg in that vicinity. Its parents had died earlier.

As Shiva was preaching, the egg hatched and a little bird emerged from it. Shiva said to Parvati- “you said that there was no one in this area. Now from where is this sound coming? What is that bird doing there?”

Parvati replied- “O Lord! Kindly do not focus your angry gaze upon it. When you had ordered me to check the surroundings, only the egg was there. Egg is not a living being. Your grace alone has caused the egg to hatch at this point of time”.

This bird Śuka flew to Maharishi Vyasa and preached to him the Bhagavata tattva and Guru tattva.

After Vyasa, Adi Shankara bhagavadpāda preached in great detail the essence of Guru in various occasions.

In the life of a human being, the entering of a Sadguru is a matter of supreme luck! It is the fruit of the innumerable meritorious deeds (punya) of many births.

All those who believe in the existence of the mystical energy and knowledge that is far beyond the grasp of humans always search for it. They try to tap into this supernatural power through various paths such as japa, tapa, bhakti, jnana etc.

For the above-mentioned reasons, and also with the desire to attain the vision of the Supreme, many traditions have emerged over a period of time. We hear of shaivaites (followers of Shiva), Vaishnavites (followers of Vishnu), Śhākteyas (worshippers of Mother Goddess) and so on. Hundreds of traditions exist as of now.

History is filled with stories of in-fighting between the members of the various traditions. It appears as if they preach different philosophies. The traditions followed by each of them appear to be vastly different so much so that no similarities are to be found.

Yet in them all, is there at least a single person who begins his daily prayer, daily mantra or ritual without offering the first salutation to the Guru? In fact, it can be confidently declared that there is no such person! There is no such tradition!

Today we are in that weak state wherein we are unable to understand that every tradition is in reality, the worship of Guru. Irrespective of whether they are followers of Shiva, Vishnu, Devi, Yoga or Yaga, it is nothing but worship of Guru. This is the because the Supreme Lord himself manifests as the spiritual Guru.

They could chant Sadāśiva samārambhām or Narayana samārambhāṃ- through these words they are actually worship the Guru. ‘Guru roopa’ statement refers to the Supreme Lord. Chanting of Vedas cannot begin unless the mantra ‘Sri Gurubhyo namah’ is chanted. Thus it can be emphatically stated that all traditions are in reality worship of the Guru.

Even those who have mastered the greatest spiritual scriptures fail to understand the real meaning contained in the word ‘Guru’. There is nothing astonishing in this! Even the Supreme Mother Parvati failed to understand the significance contained in this word. Who then can impart this sacred knowledge in this aspect? The Supreme Lord Shiva alone had to preach to Her. This sacred teaching is Guru Gita.

Listening to the past events, pondering over the past historical details and thereby considering himself to be all-knowing is one of the qualities displayed by every human being. Yet, at every minute, the drive to acquire more knowledge, keeps him on his toes. Despite claiming to know a lot, he endlessly searches for more knowledge. This is no new phenomena, but has been going on since time immemorial. The thirst to acquire more knowledge puts him through great turmoil. At no point can a person declare that there is nothing more to be learnt!

Science has advanced a great deal; technology has made advancements by leaps, yet without stopping with this knowledge, the human being relentlessly continues to discover something or the other. He is trying to find out new galaxies, stars and so on. Thus, the need for learning and knowing more is one need that does not get fulfilled. This discontent can never be satiated.

He who fulfills this need to know everything, who shows us the ultimate light that never fades, who shows that supreme illumination which fails to distinguish between within and outside, and who shows that illumination which takes a person beyond the limitations of birth and death, is Guru!

When our luck has ripened and He accepts us as his disciples, then to us He becomes a Sadguru. We may consider him as our Guru, but shouldn’t he accept us as his disciple? So, it is good if ‘He accepts us’.

Guru can show us that path and takes us to those heights, which, even though we possess mastery in worldly knowledge, we cannot reach. For this reason, the person who does not have a spiritual Guru cannot fulfill the 3 basic desires explained earlier nor can he have the vision of that pure illumination.

Therefore, in the life of a human being, the entering of a Sadguru is a matter of supreme luck! It is the fruit of the various meritorious deeds (punya) of many births.

All those who believe in the existence of the mystical energy and knowledge that is far superior to human level are always in search of it. Such persons try to tap this supernatural power through various means such as japa, tapa, bhakti, jnana etc.

Endless desires are churned out by the mind every minute. It is possible that we would have forgotten some of our earlier desires. If all the desires are scrutinized deeply, then we can decipher that desires fall under 3 main categories.

1. At all times and in all situations I should always be superior to everyone else.

‘I am great. I am the wealthiest person. What I speak is always correct. I know everything. Everyone should listen and abide by what I order. My words are irrefutable’- every person entertains such ego.

1. I should know everything.

‘How is it possible that I didn’t know about it? Why was I not informed?’- people often question in this manner.

1. I should eternally be blissful and happy.

‘I should always be happy. I can harm others but yet everyone should treat me with love. They should honour and respect me. I however will not care for others. I shall not respect anyone. I will not obey their commands’.

If all the trillions of desires entertained by every human are scrutinized, they necessarily fall under these 3 categories!

When we go back and scrutinize history in detail, we notice the struggle undergone by people of all ages and at every step of life to fulfill these 3 categories of desires. In fact these 3 requirements can be called the foundation for all desires.

Now, we accept that these 3 are the foundations for all desires. We then ask- ‘has there been any person who has ever been able to successfully fulfill these 3 types of desires?’ To understand this, it is essential for us to understand our ancient tradition of the saints. When we analyze this deeply, we understand that this was the goal behind all our traditions (sampradaya) that has been coming down the ages!

How was it possible for our great seers to imbibe such valuable understanding when it was beyond the reach of other mortals? To this we can confidently say that they obtained it due to tradition of the Guru, which has no beginning, which they sincerely abided by.

In our tradition even children are aware of the word ‘Guru’. Yet, strangely even those who have mastered the most sacred scriptures are unaware of the true meaning behind the word ‘Guru’.

Even though it is seemingly common word, the hidden significance of this word is unknown to most people.