SRI GURU CHARITRA - DAILY PARAYANA

[Kavitaparna]

OM SRI SAI RAM

SHREE GURU CHARITRA

Chapter 8
Continuation...

The child Narahari grew up to be a handsome boy of five, but he could not speak and the parents were very much worried about it. One day, the boy conveyed to them through gestures that he wished to be invested with the sacred thread. Accordingly, Madhava Sharma performed the sacred thread ceremony of his son at that early age. Young Narahari learned the Gayathri Mantra, adopted the vows of a young celebate (Brahmacharya), accepted his first offering of food from his mother’s hands and at once recited the three Vedas. It was evident that he was indeed the Master of all sacred Wisdom. He then paced thrice round his parents with all the reverence due to them, as the physical representatives of the Fatherhood and Motherhood of God, the Creator and Sustainer; and as representatives of God, the Father, the Mother, and Teacher of all humanity said: “Owing to the profound realization that the human body is impermanent, dispassion has come over me. So please permit me to renounce all worldly ties and dedicate my entire life to the highest wisdom. As I am endowed with a keen understanding and steadfast discrimination, I am not in danger of swerving from my spiritual path. You need not worry about my life”.

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Jai Sai Ram

[Kavitaparna]

OM SRI SAI RAM

SHREE GURU CHARITRA

Chapter 8
Continuation....

The parents were shocked at his words and wept, saying, “You are our only child. If you desert us in this fashion, who is to take care of us in our old age, and of our welfare in the realms beyond death? You may as well renounce the world after leading the life of a house-holder for sometime, and, after begetting sons.” Narahari replied, ‘Mother, scriptures ordain that one should renounce the world only after living as house-holder for sometime. But this is imperative only in the case of those who cannot conquer their desires. But owing to my previous state of existence, I am endowed with innate dispassion even at my birth. So, I do not want to enjoy the objects of the senses which can only lead to misery. So, I shall pass on directly from the state of celibacy directly to the life of a sannyasi. Thereby, I shall only confirm my perfection. Indeed, there is no nobler course than this to one who is endowed with discrimination. In this age of Kali, the average span of life granted to a man is a mere hundred years. Half of it is spent in sleep. Part of the rest is spent away in the ignorance of boyhood and the waywardness of youth. Another large chunk of it is frittered away in the service of the family and kinsfolk. The senility of old age gobbles up another portion of what little is left to him. But, after all wealth, family ties and responsibilities are as unreal as a dream. Youth is a transcient as a flower which soon withers. Thus life is very short when viewed in the light of the only purpose of it, i.e., Self Realization. The wheel of time destroys all forms of life, including the gods, relentlessly. To be emotionally attached to anything in this phenomenal world amounts to mere self-betrayal and is self-defeating too. This body, with the skin as its surface layer, flesh, bones and the blood within, is as frail a structure as a water bubble. Excessive fondness for one’s wife and children is the root of all other devil tendencies. In itself, this body of ours is made of inanimate matter and is ever changing and perishable. Only the “SELF” within is eternal and is our only true being. Joys and sorrows of worldly life are merely relative, subjective and are therefore illusory experiences to the realized. Man can break the fetters of this illusion only through the grace of the guru. He who is born as a noble Brahmin and yet does not do anything to secure liberation from this illusion deceives himself. Therefore, oh mother, do not hinder me in my resolve. You shall be blessed with some more children. Go on meditating on me and thereby you shall cross the ocean of misery and ignorance too’. So saying, Narahari again blessed his mother with the vision of his divine form. She perceived it through the eye of wisdom and was at once reminded of her previous birth. So she said to the Lord:

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Jai Sai Ram

[Kavitaparna]

OM SRI SAI RAM

SHREE GURU CHARITRA

Chapter 8
Continuation....

Holy one, you are indeed Lord Sreepada, who in my previous life, saved me from my unwise resolve to commit suicide. I bow before you. Your glory cannot be comprehended in its fullness even  by the four-faced Brahma. How then can I, a deluded mortal, know it? Even this little wisdom was bestowed on us by your grace and as a result of my good fortune. You are, indeed, the Unbounded One. All the universes have their being in your infinite expanse. To say that you are born to me as my son is but a fallacy; for you are eternal. But the whole of my ancestry and that of my husband are sanctified by your birth in our family. Yours is the omnipresent will. I shall not hinder your resolve to renounce the world for the welfare of all sentient beings. Bless me that this glorious vision of your divine form is forever impressed on my heart. You have assured me that I shall be blessed with a few more children. Pray, stay with us, at least till such time!’ Lord Narahari graciously acceded to her request and stayed away. The blessed couple used to worship the Lord every day with full awareness of his divinity. Many were the learned who flocked to him for the elucidation of intricate questions in scriptural knowledge. Many of them got their doubts clarified and attained Self-realization. This is no task to one who could uplift even the dull witted.

In course of time, Amba was blessed with the birth of twins. When they were three months old, Narahari said to his mother, ‘Mother, you are now blessed with these two children. You shall have two more sons and a daughter. Please permit me to renounce the world now’. She consented. He covered his head with a piece of cloth, put on wooden sandals, covered his body with the ochre robe and wore a codpiece. Taking a staff in his hand, he set out from his home in joy.

On his way to Badrinath, Narahari reached the holy Varanasi (Kasi) in the guise of a seeker after liberation. There, at a secluded spot, he sat in the yogic posture of Vajrasana and restrained his vital breath. He assumed the yogic gesture (mudra) of khecheri and meditated on the subtle internal sound of nada. The sages of that Holy place recognized him to be the Lord himself, prostrated to him and addressed him thus: ‘Holy one, you have assumed a human form in order to re-establish the pristine purity and dignity of the great institution of Sanyasa. It was formally established by Sree Sankaracharya of yore and is now in a fallen state, almost non-existent in its true form. May you propagate it again! The wicked who are deluded by the dark age of Kali, unable to recognize the bliss of Self-realization, have come to shun the blessed Sanyasa. Even though it is terrible to the faint-hearted, this age of Kali is capable of bestowing bliss much more easily than the other ages. Pray, secure for us this supreme path to Bliss!’

Granting their wish, Lord Narahari, in accordance with holy tradition, resorted to his Holiness Swami Krishna Saraswathi as his guru and from him took vow of Sanyasa. Henceforth, he came to be known as Sree Nrisimha Saraswathi. He relinquished the tuft of hair (sikha), the sacred thread and all. He formally took the vow of lifelong celibacy. Thus he became a full fledged sannyasi who was transcended the opposites of joy and sorrow and the limitations of a self centered will. This World teacher has laid down the tradition of Sanyasa for seekers after liberation and expounded the same to his disciples thus:

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Jai Sai Ram

[Kavitaparna]

OM SRI SAI RAM

SHREE GURU CHARITRA

Chapter 8
Continuation...

“Great good accrues through Sanyasa which consists of the following acts:

(1) Praayaschitta or holy rites of atonement for one’s sins of present and previous births, including the witlful acts and also those done unwittingly;

(2) Ashtasraadhas or the eight rites obsequies which are offered to all worldly relations including one’s previous self;

(3) Virajaahoma or the fire-oblation signifying the crossing of the river of death;

(4) Gayatripravesa or entering the spirit of Gayatrimantra;

(5) Yeeshanatraya tyaga or the relinquishment of concern for life, wife, children and wealth;

(6) Bhooradi Sanyasa or renunciation of desire for the joys and possessions in heaven and on earth;

(7) Sikhasuutra Sanyasa or relinquishing the tuft of hair and the sacred thread;

( Guruprapatti or resorting to a Guru who expounds to the seeker, meaning of the four cardinal tenets of Vedanta i.e., the Mahavaakyas, viz., ‘Pragnaanam Brahma” (pure awareness of Brahma); Aham Brahmaasmi (My real self is Brahma); Tatvamasi (Thou art indeed That); Ayam atma Brahma (This self is indeed Brahman). He also learns of: Panchiikarana (analysis of the phenomenon of the manifestation of the five basic elements of existence as this creation and the body); Yogapatta (or the title of a Monk); Paryankasowcha (vow of keeping one’s bed pure and giving up the use of any soft and comfortable beds other than one’s garment); Swadharma Vichaara (or understanding of the spirit of the traditional practices of the life of Sanyasa).

When someone who has renounced the world in the said manner, leaves his body, it has to be preserved in the earth, or left in water, but should not be cremated. One has to understand the implications of Sanyasa and adopt it only if he is competent and qualified to do so.”

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Jai Sai Ram

[Kavitaparna]

OM SRI SAI RAM

SHREE GURU CHARITRA

Chapter 8
Continuation...

Thus Sree Nrisimha Saraswathi expounded the nature of Sanyasa to some and the meaning of the Vedas which can secure the true objects of life (Purusharthas) to others. Then, he proceeded in his wanderings round the country in a clock wise direction, along with his disciples. He took holy dips in all the holy rivers along the way and reached the sacred place where the river Ganga joins the sea.

There he pursued the practice of yoga. Later, he again set out on his trek and arrived at holy Prayag, where he expounded the philosophy of Vedanta to a pious Brahmin named Madhava and initiated him into Sanyasa. Then he proceeded homewards to see his mother again.”

Having heard thus far attentively, Namadharaka asked, “Who is that Krishna Saraswathi who had the fortune of being the revered Guru of the Lord himself? Why did the Lord Himself need to be initiated by him into Sanyasa?” Siddha replied:

“Just as Sri Rama became the disciple of sage Vasishta, and Sri Krishna resorted to sage Sandipani, Sree Nrisimha too resorted to Krishna Saraswathi. For, once he assumed the human form, it behoves that he should respect the Holy Law of mortals which alone ensures their lasting good. Else, the Law will fall into a general neglect. Hence, the holy ones never ignore it. Even the Bhagavad-Gita says, ‘Whatever the best of mortals does, the world follows’. Now I shall tell you the spiritual lineage of Sree Nrisimha Saraswathi.

Shiva was the first Guru. Vishnu was first disciple. Brahma was the disciple of Vishnu and henceforth the lineage went on like this: Brahma, Vasishta, Shakthi, Paraasara, Vedavyasa, Shuka, Gaudapada, Govinda, Shankarabhagavatpaada, Viswarupa, Bodhjnaani, Simhagiri, Iswara, Nrisimha, Vidyateertha, Sivateertha, Bhageeradhi Teertha, Vidyaranya, Malayaananda, Devateertha, Yaadavendra Saraswathi, Krishnaananda Saraswathi, who initiated Lord Nrisimha of our story into Sanyasa. This Krishnaananda Saraswathi was ripe in age and wisdom. Hence Nrisimha resorted to him’.

Contd...
Jai Sai Ram

[Kavitaparna]

OM SRI SAI RAM

SHREE GURU CHARITRA

Chapter 9

Namadharaka asked Siddha, “Holy one! Sree Nrisimha, after having renounced all worldly ties, why did he again visit his mother again? Was it not a transgression of the vow of Sanyasa? Also tell me who his disciples were and what he did later”.

Siddha replied, “As per his religious vows, Sree Nrisimha Saraswathi went round our country and then returned home to see his mother. For, the mother is worthy of reverence even to a renunciate. Hence, he decided to pay his respects to her.


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Jai Sai Ram

[Kavitaparna]

OM SRI SAI RAM

SHREE GURU CHARITRA

Chapter 9
Continuation...


Besides, he started on his wanderings from her presence and the ritual rounding of the travels has to end there. One has to return to his Source, after all! He has seven disciples and they were Baala, Krishna, Upendra, Janajyothi, Sadaananda, Madhava and Siddha (i.e., myself). All of us have the title ‘Saraswathi’ suffixed to our names. Besides these, a few other disciples of him accompanied him to his village. There he blessed his brothers, sister and parents and was duly honored by them all. Then his mother Amba, recalling her previous birth said to her husband, “Sir, when I had the good for nothing son and was about to commit suicide, in order to escape the misery, Lord Sreepada protected me and this Nrisimha is the reincarnation of the same Lord. He then assured me that in my next life, I would have a son of his own spiritual stature. As he has no equals, he now took birth as my son, out of compassion for me and his natural truthfulness.’

Then, addressing Sree Nrisimha she said: ‘Now that you are my son, as per the worldly point of view, it behooves you to uplift us from this ocean of misery, dispelling the divine power of illusion which now holds me down.’ Sree Guru replied, ‘That family into which a true sannyasi is born, along with their ancestors of twenty one generations earlier, will be uplifted spiritually and saved from the miserable round of births and deaths. Even those earlier ancestors who sank to worse states of existence in consequence of their sins will be saved. Now, mother, that I am born as your son, you need fear  nothing. You shall attain liberation at Varanasi’. Hearing these words, his sister Ratna said, ‘Lord, what shall become of me hereafter? I am afraid of being left behind in this miserable cycle of births. As you are the Sadguru, please save me!’

Sree Nrisimha said, ‘My dear, to a lady, her husband is the sole refuge. You shall cross this ocean of misery through unswerving devotion to your husband. In your previous birth, you caused estrangement between a man and his wife and you even killed a cow. In consequence, your husband will become a sannyasi and you will suffer from leprosy.’ At these words, his sister broke down and wept. The Lord consoled her saying, ‘My dear, you will reap these consequences in your ripe old age. You shall be made pure again by meeting me’. Later, along with his disciples, he went away to the banks of the holy river Godavari. That river was brought  from its heavenly abode to this earth by sage Gouthama of old, to atone for his sin of having a killed a cow.

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Jai Sai Ram

[Kavitaparna]

OM SRI SAI RAM

SHREE GURU CHARITRA

Chapter 9
Continuation...

There was, in that village, a man suffering from chronic and excruciating pain in his abdomen. He tried to cure himself of it by several means but in vain. Unable to bear it any longer, one day, he resolved to commit suicide by drowning himself in the holy river. So, he tied a big boulder to his neck and was ready to jump into the river. Sree Guru saw him, called him near and asked him why he sought so desperate an end.

The man said, “Lord, I shall die of this abdominal pain any way. This ailment makes it impossible for me to eat my food. Food, indeed, is the origin, sustenance and annihilation, vital energy and the very life of creatures. Is not death better than intolerance of food? Probably, either in this life or in a previous one, I have not offered food in charity to any one; or I might stolen that which rightly belongs to either a Brahmin or a cow; or I might have insulted my parents; or I might I have abstained from the worship of the gods; or I might have driven away guests and Brahmins from my threshold; or perhaps, I had enjoyed the pleasures of life with my wife deserting my parents. I must have committed one of these sins and, perhaps, I have not done any meritorious deed to deserve proper food in this life. I now suffer for it. In consequence, I have not been able to extend a helping hand to anyone in my life. I am a mere burden to this earth.’ So saying, he lamented his fate.

Sree Guru, consoled him saying, ‘Oh Brahmin, do not fear! I shall administer you a medicine which will enable you to eat normally’. Just at that moment, a Brahmin by name Sayamdeva arrived and prostrated to the Guru. He hailed from the holy city of Kanchi in the south and belonged to the Koundinya Gotra. At that time, he was serving in the court of a muslim ruler.

Sree Guru addressed him thus, ‘Sayamdeva, this Brahmin, unable to bear his pain, wishes to die. I shall administer a divine remedy to him. At first, feed him scrupulously with a delicious meal’. Sayamdeva submitted, apprehensively, ‘Lord! Even if he takes food once a month or fortnight, he suffers a lot. If I feast such a one, am I not killing him?’ Sree Guru smiled and said, ‘Do not fear, Sayamdeva, no physician is abler than I. Without any hesitation give him a full feast. I shall take care of the rest of the matter’.

Sayamdeva agreed: ‘Lord, I shall do as you say. But, pray, may your holiness too come along, with your disciples, and accept my hospitality. I shall offer myself as your disciple. Graciously accept me and save me.’

The Guru agreed and, at the proper hour, went to Sayamdeva’s house along with his disciples. The latter received Sree Guru with due reverence and offered him proper worship, chanting Vedic mantras like Purusha Suktha and Rudra Suktha. He then partook of the holy washings of the guru’s feet (paadateertha) along with the members of his family, worshipped even the disciples of the master and served food to all the guests. The ailing Brahmin guest too ate to his fill in the company of the Lord, who is the guru of those gurus who can grant salvation to their devotees. At once he was free from his trouble! In the holy company of the master, dispassion dawned in his heart and he worshipped the Lord with profound faith.

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Jai Sai Ram

[Kavitaparna]

OM SRI SAI RAM

SHREE GURU CHARITRA

Chapter 9
Continuation...



Sayamdeva, while massaging the Lord’s Feet, submitted: ‘Swami, by serving your feet, all my holy acts and my very life are blessed. And so are my ancestors. I am really fortunate. They say that the Ganga washes off our sins, the moon dispels heat, and that the kalpavriksha ends all misery. But you uplift souls, even as the wind lifts up shreds of cotton. Even though you are originally unborn, in order to protect the righteous, you have taken birth. Bless me that I and  the descendants of my family could serve you. Save me from the one thing that is troubling me. The Muslim ruler whom I serve is a destroyer of life. Every year he kills a Brahmin. Now he has sent for me, with the same intent, I fear’. Sree Guru said, ‘Do not fear, Sayamdeva! Go to that wicked ruler. You shall be honored by him and sent safely back. Do not worry.’ Indeed, when Sayamdeva visited the ruler, the latter honored him with gifts of jewels, ornaments and new clothes. The Muslim king was at first enraged at Sayamdeva’s delay in presenting himself at the palace. But he suddenly fell down unconscious and, when he regained senses, his attitude underwent a radical change with regard to that blessed visitor. So the devout Brahmin returned and prostrated to Sree Guru. Who can annoy the true devotee of the guru?

[Kavitaparna]

OM SRI SAI RAM

SHREE GURU CHARITRA

Chpater 9
Contd....

Sree Guru said to him, ‘You have totally surrendered yourself to me, body and soul. All your wishes shall be fulfilled. You will meet me again after sixteen years’. Thus blessing Sayamdeva, Sree Guru went to holy Vaidyanath and later his whereabouts were known. In order to strengthen the faith of the devotees, the Lord performed many such divine acts. For, the Lord wishes that his creatures should attain salvation by serving him with faith.

In order to inspire gratitude in their hearts, he blesses them with worldly good.

By gratefully serving him thereafter, they learn to aspire for liberation. Then they meditate on him with perfect dispassion to worldly things. Later, by the grace of the Lord, with the help of the four great teachings (Mahavaakyas) they attain union with the Supreme Self. Their ignorance thus destroyed, they attain eternal peace. That peace makes them compassionate, unbound, beyond the pairs of opposites. Enjoying the bliss of their Self thus, they wander about, unaware of a world apart from them, looking like specters. Through the touch, worship and sight of the Sadguru, great spiritual powers are gained quite spontaneously. He who centers his inner life on the Sadguru either through hate, fear or love is indeed blessed. He shall attain to the same state of being as the guru. The means of seeking God are indeed simple. He can only be inferred through the intellect. The Self and god are indeed one with the Self of the guru.”

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Jai Sai Ram

[Kavitaparna]

OM SRI SAI RAM

SHREE GURU CHARITRA

Chapter 9
Continuation....

Hearing the words of Siddha, Namadharaka asked him, “Why did Sree Nrisimha Saraswathi, ever gracious to His devotees, choose to live incognito? What happened to his disciples thereafter?” Siddha replied, “As the number of disciples swelled immensely, the Lord, wishing to live in solitude, said to his disciples: ‘One becomes the twice-born through the sacred thread – ceremony (upanayana). Henceforth, he wears the sacred thread, the loin band (mekhala) and the staff. Observing the vow of celibacy, he performs such rites as tending the sacrificial fire in the morning, noon and sunset. He lives by seeking offerings of food from noble house holders and studying the Vedas.

He has to abstain from sleep during the day. Whatever offerings of food he gets, should first be offered to his guru and he should accept what the guru is pleased to give him of it.  Thus he studies for twelve years and at the end, makes an offering to the guru and should perform the fire-offering Samaavarthanahoma. Then, in accordance with the direction of his guru, he should marry and henceforth observe the vows and discipline enjoined on the householder by religious law. Well versed in the Vedas, Sastras, and Dharmas, he should perform religious sacrifices and maintain all those who are fit to be fed by him. After sometime, he should give away everything he has to his son and, along with his wife, retire to the forest. Henceforth, he should abstain from all concerns of social life, conquer his senses and live an austere life till he is wholly purified. Then, with the consent of his wife, he should take the vow of Sanyasa.

The vow involves attentive chanting of God’s name (japa), living by alms and continuous meditation. He should then abstain from even hearing stories regarding women. He should not use vehicles for travel, or a cot for sleeping. Such a monk should not sleep during the day, but be aware of the real Self. He should always use vessels made of bamboo, wood, earth or the shell of a gourd. He should ever carry the staff and eat only during the day. He should constantly visit holy places throughout the year, never resting in any place for more than three days. While he is ever on the move physically, his mind should be fixed on his one goal. If the state of his body does not permit him to wander, he should stay in a holy place, always meditating on Lord Vishnu.’

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Jai Sai Ram

[Kavitaparna]

OM SRI SAI RAM

SHREE GURU CHARITRA

Chapter 9
Continuaiton...

So saying, Sree Guru had sent away his house-hold disciples, and then addressed his renunciate disciples: ‘Varanasi, Prayag, Sreerangam, Purushottamam, Sreesailam, Naimisharanya, Kurukshethra, Badrinath, Gokarna, Kanchi, Ayodhya, Gokula, Mathura, Dwaraka, Maya, Avanti, Karvir, Gangapur, Devakanya, Guhashrama, Sethubandha are the important places of pilgrimage which you shall all visit. These besides such holy rivers as the Ganga, Yamuna, Saraswathi, Vipaat, Marudwitha, Vithastha, Chandrabhaaga, Reva, Godavari, Amaraja, Sarayu, Bhima, Krishna, Kaveri, Tunga, Kshipra, Tapivedika, Charmanvathi, and gandaki are all holy. These were all sanctified by the wanderings of Sree Guru. All these are therefore as holy as Ganga.
A monk should visit all these and all sacred tanks in the land and pay them his respect in accordance with the ritual observances proper for them. When new water flows in rivers during rainy season, the rivers are supposed to be in menses. Except those who dwell on their banks, no one should bathe in them till after about ten days. Similarly, for wells and tanks, the prohibited period is one day and for the less important rivers, it is three days. All of you visit the holy places as I have directed you, bathe in the rivers I have mentioned and join me at Sreesailam in the year of the Plentiful Harvest (Bahudhaanya).” Thus he had sent away all his disciples. I alone, among them, wished to stay on his service, ever meditating on his lotus feet. The same Guru, Lord Dattatreya, graciously expounded to me the same path to wisdom as he did to kings Yadu and Karthaveerya of yore. Of Namadharaka, I am pleased at your humility and discipline and so I shall teach you the same. Thereby, the Bliss of Self, the State of Vishnu, shall accrue to you”.

Jai Sai Ram

[Kavitaparna]

OM SRI SAI RAM

SHREE GURU CHARITRA

Chapter 10

Namadharaka wished to know what Sree Guru did after sending away his disciples on pilgrimage. So, Siddha went on: “Oh Namadharaka, Sree Guru stayed at Vaidyanath for one year. As I already told you, I stayed away with Him. One day, a Brahmin who was dull-witted came to him, prostrated in reverence and submitted thus: ‘I strove hard for spiritual perfection. But I could gain neither perfection nor even a capable guru. So I now take refuge in you. Please teach me the way to liberation.’ Hearing these words, Sree Guru said, ‘Son, first of all tell me, who had taught you the way to perfection? Else, how could you have ever tried for it?’ The Brahmin replied, ‘Swami, I first resorted to a guru. But he was very hard-hearted. He went on extracting my services and put me in much hardship. So I deserted him.’ Sree Guru was shocked at his words and berated him: ‘Alas, what have you done! It can never be for your good. It is a sin even to look at the face like you, who has deserted his guru. Get away! Indeed, one who is unwilling to bow before his guru in humility, serve him with love or wait on him for instruction with patience and implicit obedience will never win the grace of the guru.’ The visitor felt miserable and said, ‘Sir how am I to recognize a genuine guru? How to serve him? I betrayed my guru out of my ignorance. Please save me!’

Sree Guru was moved at his helpless petition and said, ‘The Guru is one with Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. He is incomparable. His true nature cannot be realized by an ignorant one like you. Nor can those blinded by ignorance like you, ever know what it is to serve him. I shall recount an ancient legend which will enlighten you:

During the age of Dwapara, there was a sage by name Dhoumya. He had three disciples with him viz., Baida, Aruni and Upamanyu. In order to test their devotion, one day, Dhoumya said; “The rice crop in my farm is withering lack of water. One of you should go and water it”. At once Aruni rushed to the farm and dug a canal from a pool for the water to flow into the field, but the bund would not hold despite all his exertions. He did not despair. He then resolved to give up his life in his efforts and lay down in place of the bund and made the water flow into the field. After some time, Dhoumya arrived on the scene, saw his field watered and lovingly called out to his disciple. Aruni heard the call, but was unable to reply. So he made a mild noise. Following the sound, Dhoumya came to him, raised him up and was touched by his devotion. Through the power of his blessing, he made his disciple wise and enlightened like himself. He then declared the term of Aruni’s discipleship as completed and sent him home, where he became very famous as a man of wisdom.

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Jai Sai Ram

[Kavitaparna]

OM SRI SAI RAM

SHREE GURU CHARITRA

Chapter 10
Continuation...

Later, one day, Dhoumya said to Baida, “You watch over my field and when it is ripe, bring it home”. Baida agreed, watched over the field day and night, harvested it and piled the grain in a heap on the farm. He then went to his Guru and asked him for a cart to fetch the grain. Dhoumya gave him a bullock cart. When Baida was returning with the produce, the cart got stuck up in soft mud on the way. When the bullocks could not pull the cart out, he dragged it out with his own mighty effort. Suddenly, Dhoumya arrived there and, pleased with baida’s devotion, blessed him too with enlightenment.

Later, the sage ordered the third disciple, Upamanyu, to tend his cattle. Eating only a spare meal every day, Upamanyu tended the herd with the utmost care. Dhoumya who usually sent lunch to his disciple at noon suddenly stopped doing so. Upamanyu had nothing to eat and he was very hungry. Henceforth, he started begging his food. Dhoumya noticed this and asked: ‘How could you manage to be so strong and active?’ Upamanyu submitted that he was sustaining himself with the food he begged from the houses of Brahmins. Then Dhoumya demanded that the food thus obtained should be delivered to him. Henceforth, Upamanyu gave away what he obtained from his first round of begging to his guru and subsisted on what he got from a second round of begging. The guru learned of it and demanded that he be given that also. Upamanyu did so and quenched his hunger by drinking the milk that was left in the udders of cow after their calves had drunk their fill. Dhoumya learned of that and reprimanded him, saying, ‘If you do so you will become blind as stupid as any of those dumb creatures’.

The poor Upamanyu reflected that the latex of the calotropis plant is not the left over of any calf and hence a harmless substitute for milk. He did so and the poisonous oozing at once made him totally blind. Groping for his way home, the poor youth fell into a well on the wayside. The cattle returned home but without their herdsman. Dhoumya went out in search of his disciple and found him in the deep well. His heart was moved at Upamanyu’s ungrudging obedience and he told him to chant Vedic mantras in praise of the Aswini gods. Upamanyu did so and thereby regained his sight. The sage was pleased with him and blessed him with all knowledge. Thus Upamanyu realized his goal. Even the disciples of Upamanyu became as great as he.

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Jai Sai Ram

[Kavitaparna]

OM SRI SAI RAM

SHREE GURU CHARITRA

Chapter 10
Continuation...

Udanka, one of the disciples of Upamanyu, once performed the holy sacrifice of Sarpayaga (the snake sacrifice) and thereby caused the destruction of countless serpents. He was able to summon even the great Indra, the king of the gods, at the behest of King Janamejaya, the master of the ritual. It was only by pleasing the guru thus that his grace could be won. Therefore, Oh Brahmin, serve your former guru himself with all your heart. Through his grace alone you will be able to attain peace and liberation’.

The Brahmin submitted, ‘Lord! It is possible to weld a broken metal vessel, but it is not possible to weld a broken heart. So too, it’s impossible for me to win back the heart of the former guru, once it has been broken by my stupid conduct. So I cannot hope to approach him again. I shall pay for my sin by giving up my life in your very presence!’ Seeing that he was really repentant, Sree Guru kept his boon-bestowing hand on the Brahmin’s head in a gesture of blessing and told him to think of his former guru. When the Brahmin did so, he at once realized that Sree Guru was not different from his former guru and fell at his feet. Sree Guru said, ‘Son, you shall work out the fruits of your previous actions and soon attain perfection. Incessantly meditate on my true form which I shall show you now and perform all your ordained acts, surrendering the fruits thereof to me’. So saying, the Lord blessed the Brahmin with the vision of his divine form. Later, Sree Guru went to the bank of the river Krishna. There he restored the tongue of a Brahmin who lost it.”

Contd...
Jai Sai Ram