OM SAI RAM !!!
Description of Guru:
The human soul, even though initiated in the spiritual path, cannot love
an abstract power; and it is for this reason that the scriptures advise us
to venerate those who lead us to God and to love their physical presence
as the Divine manifesting itself in human form. The Guru's physical body is
just a receptacle of the mighty Divine, and as such worthy of the utmost
devotion and reverence.
God as the abstract Creator eludes our imagination, but when a human
temple enshrines divinity we begin to understand through this familiar
medium the purpose of our own ultimate destiny. Thus, when God assumes
a human form, He establishes Himself as the Guru. Guru is manifested God- this
is perhaps the most succinct and satisfying definition of the word, and eliminates
the false claims of some so-called Gurus who are ready to assume
the mantle of spiritual authority without the true manifestation of the
divine principle.
The Guru as manifested God soon becomes the Light, the inspiration and
the great exemplar. The life of the average seeker, as it is lived on the material
and physical level, is barren and unproductive until it finds its focus in the Master.
It requires the grace, protection and the powerful push of the Guru to release
this imprisoned splendor which lies captive in each and every one of us.
The Guru and God are one because the Almighty and His medium of
manifestation cannot be different. The Guru embodies not only the Saguna
(characteristics) but also theNirguna(quality) of the Supreme Being, and so to
that extent the Guru is approachable and accessible to man's needs
and comprehension.
Relationship between a Guru and a Disciple:
Once a contact between the Guru and the bhakta(disciple) is established,
the relationship between master and disciple becomes a thing of beauty.
This leads us to consider the principle of reciprocity which operates in this
relationship. In return for the innumerable demands which a bhakta makes
on the Master, it is but natural that the Guru too should impose a few conditions
on the bhakta. The Guru expects total surrender, absolute obedience ,
and, the last and most important, supreme effort.
Guru's mission:
The Guru's mission appears to be two-fold. The first and most important
concern of the Guru is to awaken, elevate and transform the seeker.
The second and final purpose of the Guru is paradoxically to help the disciple
seeker to transcend this state of complete dependence on the Master,
which dependence the Guru himself had taken such pains to foster. The final spurt
of realizing his true identity with God is exclusively the Seeker's job.
Saint of Shirdi - Shri Sai Baba - Saguna Brahma - Guru:
The saint of Shirdi recognized and emphasized the beauty of a Guru-guided life.
Shri Sai Baba of Shirdi is the Guru incarnate to live on this earth in the late part
of last century and early part of this century. Shri Sai Baba gave tremendous
importance to the adoption of the Guru in one's spiritual "Sadhana"(pursuit).
With an innate compassion Shri Sai Baba often declared -"I am your savior,
not only from the weight of sin, but from the weight of care and misery".
"Guru is all the Gods", said the Saint of Shirdi. Moreover, the Baba declared
reassuringly though as the all pervading Guru he would naturally expect
complete surrender, obedience and loyalty, he promised that through his
supreme powers he would extend complete protection to those who put their
implicit faith in him.
Is Surrender to the Guru the only Sadhana Prayer?:
This question was hotly debated even in the presence of Baba. The answer
to this complex question as given by Shri Sai Baba comes straight out
of Sri Sai Satcharita.
Kakasaheb Dixit(an ardent Devotee of Shri Sai Baba) has published his notes
regarding this matter. Next day after Hemadpant's meeting with Sai Baba,
Kakasaheb went to Baba and asked whether he should leave Shirdi. Baba
Said, "Yes". Then someone asked - "Baba, where to go?" Baba said,
"High up." Then the man said, "How is the way?" Baba said, "There are
many ways leading there; there is one way also from here (Shirdi). The way
is difficult. There are tigers and wolves in the jungles on the way." I (Kakasaheb)
asked - "But Baba, what if we take a guide with us?" Baba answered, -
"Then there is no difficulty. The guide will take you straight to your destination,
avoiding wolves, tigers and ditches etc. on the way. If there be no guide, there is the
danger of your being lost in the jungles or falling into ditches."
Mr. Dabholkar was present on this occasion and he thought that this was the
answer Baba gave to the question whether Guru was a necessity
(Vide Sai Leela Vol. I, No.5, Page 47); and he thereupon took the hint that no
discussion of the problem, whether man is free or bound, is of any use in spiritual
matters, but that on the contrary real Paramartha(absolute meaning) is possible
only as the result of the teachings of the Guru, as is illustrated in this
chapter of the original work in the instances of great Avatars like Rama and
Krishna, who had to submit themselves to their Gurus, Vasishtha and
Sandipani respectively, for getting self-realization and that the only virtues
necessary for such progress are faith and patience. (Vide Sai Satcharita, Ch. II, 191-92).
Has Shri Sai Baba qualified to be a Guru?
Not only did the Saint of Shirdi perform his duties of Guruship during his life,
but was able to establish a lasting Guru-parampara(successors of Guru's)
through his vision and foresight.
Shri Sai Baba was not content to transfer his messiahship to his descendants.
In the last years of his life, he said to his devotees with a mother's solicitude,
"Do not grieve when my body passes away. My tomb will live and move and
speak with all those who make me their sole refuge." Happily, though we have
celebrated over 78 years of his mahasamadhi, Sai Baba's promise is abundantly
fulfilled even to-day. Millions of devotees flock to his Samadhi regularly to seek
his blessings. Through decades of void there comes echoing down the years the
gracious message- "Lo, I am beside you always".
Significance of Guru Poornima Day.
The Poornima(Full Moon) Day in the month of Ashadha(July-August) is known
as Guru Poornima. This is a very sacred day on which special worship is performed
to the Acharyas (Gurus), who, through their Infinite Compassion and Supreme Grace,
have imparted the Knowledge of the Absolute(Brahma Vidya) through a long and
continuous line of Acharyas(Guru Parampara) to all the Seekers of the Self.
Celebration of Guru Poornima Day in Shirdi
The celebration of Guru Poornima began in Shirdi around 1908. One day
Shri Baba told his disciple Shri Dada Kelkar, "Do you know this day is the day to
approach Gurus? Bring your worship articles". Then Shri Kelkar and his friends looked
up the calendar and found that the day was Guru Poornima day. They started
Shri Sai Baba as their Guru, and that practice has continued till today not only
in Shirdi but all over the world where prayers are offered to Shri Sai.
How does one celebrate Guru Poornima?
Guru Poornima is celebrated by devotees by performing Guru Pooja(offering
prayers to the Guru) to our Lord Shri Sai Baba. Each Sai Devotee can either perform
the Sai Guru Pooja(prayer) at home or attend a Sai Guru Pooja or sponsor a
Sai Guru Pooja being performed at a Sai temple by offering donation or other
articles used in Pooja(Pooja samagri).
One can attend a bhajan or visit a Sai Mandir where ever possible. For those who
are unable to do so, humming songs about Sai or repeating Sai slokams or
SaiNama would be a good way to spend Guru Poornima day.
OM SAI RAM, SRI SAI RAM, JAI JAI SAI RAM !!!
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Topic: SPECIAL PARAYANAS (Read 75335 times)