Sri Guru Gita – 19 February 2014 – Episode 62

Jaya Guru Datta. English summary:

Sloka:
Guru padodakam panam gurorucchista bhojanam
Gurumurtessada dhyanam guru stotram paro japah

Jaya Guru Datta.
We discussed that the Guru advises you on the ways to reduce your karma. Those ways are explained in this sloka.

“Guru padodakam panam”.
Your drink should be the ablutions of your Guru.

That is not enough. You should do more. You should eat what has been left out by the Guru. That means, you should learn to always consider whatever you are eating and drinking as Prasadam from the Guru (sacred blessing from the Guru). You should inculcate the mindset: “Whatever I’m eating is the Guru’s Prasadam. Whatever I have is His”.

Even this is not enough. You should meditate upon the image of the Guru at all times and in all states. And singing in praise of Guru should be treated as the most important worship, in all states. It is being said here that meditating on the image of the Guru and singing in praise of the Guru are of utmost importance.

Sloka:
Swa desikasyaiva ca nama kirtanam bhavedanantasya sivasya kirtanam
Swa desikasyaiva ca rupa cintanam bhaved anatasya sivasya cintanam

The singing in praise of one’s Guru equates to singing the glory of the infinite Siva. Meditating upon the image of one’s Guru equates to meditating upon the infinite Siva. One must meditate on the image of the Guru and sing his praises at all times. That is equivalent to meditating on Siva and singing Lord Siva’s praises. This itself is meditating on the Infinite. This itself is meditating on Vishnu, singing in praise of Vishnu.

Let’s learn another secret: While singing in praise of a deity, if we don’t sing the praise of the Guru at the beginning and at the end, such praise is worthless. If one doesn’t sing in praise of the Guru, doesn’t chant the name of the Guru and doesn’t talk about his greatness, all worship is futile. A lot of people worship and sing in praise of a deity without any mention of the Guru or without any prayer to the Guru. Such prayers yield no fruits. In fact, praises of a deity should be sung only after singing in praise of Ganapathy, Saraswati and Guru.

The next two slokas talk about the greatness of the Guru.

Sloka:
Yatpada pansavah santah kepi samsara varidheh
Setubandhaya kalpante desikam tamupasmaha

Obeisance to Guru, the dust particles of whose feet are of utmost importance for building the bridge across the ocean of samsara (life).

What does it mean to build a bridge across the ocean of samsara? This samsara is extremely terrifying. It is a massive ocean. In fact, it is more terrifying than an ocean. This ocean of samsara doesn’t have a shore on the other end. We cannot grasp its depth. So, how do we cross it? We need to seek refuge in Guru. Guru is the only one who can help us cross the ocean of samsara.

Sloka:
Kasiksetram nivasasca jahnavi caranodakam
Gurur visvevarah saksat tarakam brahma niscitam

The very dwelling of the Guru is the sacred Kashi (Benaras). His ablutions are the holy waters of the Ganges. Lord Visweshwara who uplifts us from the world of life is Guru himself. This is certain.

Jaya Guru Datta.

Jaya Guru Datta Appaji.