Sri Guru Gita – 15 March 2014 – Episode 85

Jaya Guru Datta. English summary:

We discussed that the Gods were strengthened just by the Guru’s glance. The Gods became prosperous. But, the Demons, not heeding the Guru’s advice lost their strength and were punished appropriately.
The divine form of Lord Kurma contains all the planets and constellations, so by worshiping Guru Kurma, all evil planetary effects were removed. The malefic planets were pacified and drawn to auspiciousness. That is why, in all the temples, you can find a small temple or an idol of Lord Kurma.

You should understand that through this sloka, Lord Siva is indicating that, like Lord Kurma’s grace, the Guru’s grace eternally flows to the disciples and grants many benefits. Our attention is not going towards the Guru. The reason for this is attachment to the body. They are describing the quality of this body here.

Sloka:
Bhasma kita vidantam hi deham sthulam varanane |
Tvanmutra rudhirantrasthi mala mamsadi bhajanam ||

Siva says to Parvati that the flesh, excretions, puss, blood, intestines, bones etc., are the ingredients of this gross body. What happens to this body in the end?
If it is put to fire, it is reduced to ashes, if buried, it is decomposed, or if it is thrown away, it is infested with worms.
Many great sages were witness to this conversation between Siva and Parvati. Among them were some who had consumed the divine nectar. But, their bodies were made of the five elements. Withering away is imminent to a body made of the five elements. Lord Siva particularly addressed this matter to them. Then, what can be said of our mortal bodies?

Attachment to the body is the root cause of this samsara. That is what leads to destruction. In this sloka, they are advising on what needs to be done to escape from that. This instruction is in the form of worship to the Guru.

Sloka:
Samsra vrksa marudhah patanto narakarnave |
Sarve yenoddhrta lokah tasmai sri gurave namah ||
Obeisance to Sadguru, the uplifter of all worlds sinking into the sea of hell from the tree of samsara.

We think of our body as our world. We go about our daily activities with this feeling. The elders have compared this samsara with a tree, it’s been variously called the “tree of samsara” or the “poisonous tree”.

This tree of samsara grows with unstinting velocity.
Samsra vrksa magabeejamananta karma

This is a massive tree. It is growing exponentially – branches, more branches, branches of branches, flowers, fruits, more branches – into a massive tree.

Jaya Guru Datta.