Thoughts from Guru Charitra

[Dipika]

Brahma said 'Alphabet (gu)means Siddha and (R) and (U) imply Shri Ganesh who is Guru. Shiva, Vishnu, Brahma, parents are all Gurus of this Earth. Knowledge imbibed with devotion and rational thinking (vivek) is seen in the heart of the Guru. Study of Dhrama and Shastras without Guru is futile. He directs in action, thought, devotion and disintegration. One cannot surpass worldly miseries without the help and guidance of Guru. He throws a flash light on the dark illusionary path. Service to the Guru makes one pure in body, speech and thinking

Sai baba let your holy lotus feet be our sole refuge.OMSAIRAM

dipika duggal

[Dipika]

When Sandeepak went to his Guru, the Guru asked him, "What did Mahavishnu give you?"

Sandeepak replied,"I asked him to guide me to serve my guru with more devotion and he was pleased to give me this blessing. I wish I should serve you well and incessantly".

Hearing this Veda Dharma too was extremely pleased. He said,"You are the best of all the disciples. You should stay in Kashi. What ever you say will be true. You will receive the wealth of Kuber(God of Wealth), the miseries of those who remember you will come to an end".

The same moment, the body of Veda Dharmamuni became healthy and bright. He had suffered from leprosy and other pangs only for testing his disciple.

In this way, Brahma told Kali this tale of Sandeepak, Oh, Namdhrak, you should also worship Shri Guru with such devotion and then only, you shall easily pass over the worldly miseries. Control your sense, Karma, Dnyan and also heart and other by you will win even the Great God i.e., Parameshwar."

Sai baba let your holy lotus feet be our sole refuge.OMSAIRAM

dipika duggal

[Dipika]

Namdharak, - 'Please tell me the next birth (incarnation) of Shripad Shrivallabha'.



Shri Siddha- 'Shripad Shrivallabha had many incarnations. All possessed the omnipotence of Shri Narayan. Devotion of Shri Guru is never futile. Shri Guru never disappoints his disciples. Therefore serve him from your heart.

Sai baba let your holy lotus feet be our sole refuge.OMSAIRAM

dipika duggal

[Dipika]

I shall narrate to you one tale as an illustration.

Vallabhesh, a righteous Brahmin, was doing business. He used to go to Shripad Shrivallabha Padukas at Kuravpur every year. Once he declared that if he made good business he would feed 1000 Brahmins at Kuravpur. Fortunately he earned good profit. He always recited Shri Guru's name. He started for Kuravpur with good money.

Knowing this, some thieves also accompanied him. After two or three days, one night the thieve killed the Brahmin when he was asleep and wanted to take away all his money. In the meantime Shripad Shrivallabha, with locks of hair on his head and trishul and Khatwang in his hands appeared on the scene. He killed three thieves; but one, who surrendered himself saying, 'I am innocent. I did not know that these three persons would kill the Brahmin. You are omniscient. Kindly save me'.

Hearing his prayer, Shripad Muni told him to rub the "Vibhuti" (enchanted ashes) all over the body of the Brahminb, As soon as the enchanted Vibhutu was applied to the Brahmin's body, he woke up It was dawn when Shripad Muni disappeared from the place.

Vallabhesh asked the person sitting by his side, 'why have you held me; Who has killed these men?'

The person replied, ' A great ascetic had come here. He killed these thieves with his Trishul. He saved me for you. He asked me to rub enchanted Vibhuti to your body. He woke you and made you sit by his hands. He has just disappeared. He might be the great god Shri Shiva.

Hearing this the Brahmin realized that all this has been done by Shri Guru Shripad Shrivallabh. Taking the amount from the thieves, he went to Kuravpur. He worshipped the Padukas (foot symbol) of Shri Guru with great devotion and fed about 4000 Brahmins.

'Oh! Namdharak, though Shripad Shrivallabha has disappeared he still comes to protect his devotees.

 
Sai baba let your holy lotus feet be our sole refuge.OMSAIRAM

dipika duggal

[Dipika]

A Washerman Blessed to be a King

"There lived a washerman at Kuravpur. He was a great devotee of Shri Guru. Shripad Shrivallabha used to go to the river, have bath, morning Sandhya and other rituals just like ordinary Brahmins. The washerman would go to the river, wash Shri Guru's clothes and would bow to him with reverence.

Once Shri Guru asked him, 'why do you take so much troubles for me. I am pleased with your services. Go home and live happily.'

Hearing this the washerman gave up household attachment, lived at Shri Guru's dwelling place, swept the court yard and sprinkled water on it everyday. Thus he served Shri Guru with more devotion.

Once in spring, in the month of Vaishakh, a Muslim king came to the river along-with his harem of beautiful woman, wearing precious ornaments and clothes with many servants, elephants, horses, musical instruments and was enjoying joyfully.

The washerman was looking at the splendor and glory of the king. He began thinking, 'How fortunate shall I be, if I could also enjoy such glorious life.'

Knowing his intentions, Shri Guru asked him what he was thinking about. The washerman replied, ' I was just thinking what deity this king might have pleased, so as to have such splendor and glory? However I do not long for it. I have all my pleasures at thy feet.'

Shri Guru said, ' you are struggling hard in life. Do you aspire to enjoy royal glory? If the senses are not satisfied by enjoying their objects, they obstruct the path of 'Moksha' (freedom from worries of life and death). So you better take birth in a Muslim royal family and enjoy kingly life.'

Washerman- 'Kindly do not ask me to go away from you'.

Shri Guru- 'You will have birth in the Royal family of Bidar and I shall meet you in your later life, I shall also have another birth and shall be known as 'Narsinha Saraswati.' I shall be leading a Sanyasi's life.

Saying this, Shri Guru allowed him to go, but again asked whether he would like to enjoy Royal life in that very birth or in the next birth.

Washerman expressed, 'I am now grown old. It would be good if I enjoy royal pleasures from the childhood.'

Soon after the washerman died. He was later born in the Royal family of Bidar. His account is narrated later in the 50th chapter of this book.

Shri Guru was thus much praised and respected during his stay at Kuravpur, I am unable to describe all the miracles of h;is life, Kuravpur has become a famous holy place due to his residence. Shripad Shrivallabha disappeared in the river Krishna on Ashwin Vady;a 12, which is known as 'Guru Dwadashi'. Real devotees can still see here Shripad Shrivallabha, the Dattatray incarnate. Many have experienced this.'

 
Sai baba let your holy lotus feet be our sole refuge.OMSAIRAM

dipika duggal

[Dipika]

Narhari Becomes Shri Narsinha Saraswati

Narhari said, `This body is perishable. What is its guarantee? So long one has sound body, one should act virtuously. Your advice is for them, who have won victory over death. They can say, they will follow religion later. So one should do religious deeds in the childhood. There are three stages of life - the childhood, the youth and the old age. But it is not certain when one will die. Yamraj (God of death) is counting every moment of man's life, day and night. Knowing that the life is running fast, those who do not lead religious and virtuous life are like beasts. House, property, wife, children, mother - nothing is eternal. Old age kills a man, just as a crocodile devours him. Therefore, the wise man should do virtuous deeds in young age. Why do you then prevent me from going? This life is like a dream. As a power dries in air, the body of a man is getting more and more dry day by day. This body may perish in a moment.

Sai baba let your holy lotus feet be our sole refuge.OMSAIRAM

dipika duggal

[Dipika]

Namdharak interrupted, "When Narhari himself was Shri Guru Dattatraya incarnate, why did he have another Guru?"

Shri Siddha, "In former days Vashishta was the Guru of Shri Ram, and sandipani was the Guru of Shrikrishna, in the same way, Krishna Saraswati became Guru of Narhari and hereafter he was known as `Shri Narsinha Saraswati. In human life human customs are to be followed and so Narhari approached the well known aged Yati (sanyasi) Krishna Saraswati and accepted him as his Guru."

Sai baba let your holy lotus feet be our sole refuge.OMSAIRAM

dipika duggal

[Dipika]

Shri Shankar is the first Guru, Shri Vishnu the second, Brahmadeo is the third. After these followed Vashishta, Parashar and Vyas, who was the incarnation of shri Vishnu. Thereafter Shuka, Goudpad, Govind-guru, Shankaracharya, Vishwarupvarya, Dnyanbodhgiriya, Giriraj, Ishwartirth and bharatitirth succeeded one after the other. Thereafter, Vidyaranya, Shripadmuni, Vityatirth, Malianand, Deotirth, Saraswatitirth, Saraswati Yadeovendra and his disciple was Krishna Saraswati. Such is the line of succession of Gurus.



Sai baba let your holy lotus feet be our sole refuge.OMSAIRAM

dipika duggal

[Dipika]

Namdharak :- "Gurudeo, Shri Guru initiated Sanyas to Madhav at Prayag. Please let me know what occurred later".

Siddha - "Shri Guru lived at Prayag for some days. He had may disciples there. These included Bal Saraswati, Krishna, Saraswati, Upendra Saraswati, Madav Saraswati, Sadanand Saraswati, Dnyanjyoti Saraswati and myself as seven chief disciples. He then visited holy places in the south and came to Karanjahim, he was invited door to door. The mother recollected that he was Shripad Shrivallabha and called herself fortunate. She told this to her husband when both requested him to liberate them from the worldly-sea. Shri Guru said, `If a person accepts sanyas his forty-two generations (21 Parental & 21 maternal) are liberated. Their issues have no fear of the God of death. You will see that you sons live for hundred years. Then you will go to Kashi, the holy place of liberation. There is no doubt about this.

Ratnai, his sister requested Shri Guru, `I am entangled in a family trap. Please take me out of this. I wash to do penance.'

Shri Guru - `Serve your husband and this will liberate you. One has to suffer as per one's fate. Females can win over this worldly sea only with the help of their husbands. Thinking the husband to be Shri Shiva, serve him. This is what the Vedas, Shastras and Puranas dictate.'

She further asked, `you know the past and the future also. Please tell me what is my future.'

Shri guru - `In the previous birth, you hit a cow with you legs, you made the neighboring couples quarrel amongst themselves, so you will develop leprosy for hitting the cow and your husband will leave you and be a Sanyasi.'

Hearing Guru - `You shall live amicably for some years. In old age your husband will accept Sanyas. When you have leprosy, you will see me. You come to Papvinashi on the bank of the Bhima river in the South. Nearby is the Bhima Amarja Sangam and Ganangapur. After bathing in the Papavinashi, you will be cured of leprosy.'

Sai baba let your holy lotus feet be our sole refuge.OMSAIRAM

dipika duggal

[Dipika]

Muslim King favors Sayamdeo

Sayamdeo bowed to Shri Guru and said, `Gurudeo, though you are Trimurti incarnate, due to our ignorance, you appear to us as a human being. In truth, you are all pervading. It is beyond our intellect to describe your greatness.

I am the servant of a Muslim King, who is very cruel. He invites a Brahmin every year and kills him. He has invited me to day. If I go to him, he will kill me, but as I have now seen your holy, how can he dare to kill me?'

Shri Guru placed his palm on his head and said, `you do not care a bit. You go to the king fearlessly. He will receive you well and send you back to me. Have faith in my words. I am here till you return and then I shall proceed further. You have been my devotee, you will live happily and have lasting wealth.'

Sayamdeo went to the cruel Muslim King. He was reciting Shri Guru's name all the time. As soon as the king saw Sayamdeo he turned his face and went inside. Sayamdeo said to himself, `What harm a cruel king can do to one, who is blessed by Shri Guru? How can a serpent bite the kids of a garud? How can an elephant kill a lion? A Devotee of Shri Guru has no fear even from death'.

The Muslim king felt drowsy and had a sound sleep. He saw in a dream that a Brahmin was beating him. When he awoke and came outside, he saw Sayamdeo. He came to him, fell at his feet and said, `you are my master, who called you here? You can go back happily'. Saying this he offered clothes and ornaments to Sayamdeo.

Sayamdeo soon returned to his place. He first went to see Shri Guru on the bank of the river. He bowed to Shri Guru and reported what had happened. Shri Guru again blessed him and said that he would now proceed Southwards.

Sayamdeo folded his hands and said, `Now I shall not leave these feet. I shall also come with you. You only can liberate us from this worldly sea. Sagar brought the Ganga on this earth for the liberation of his forefathers. In the same way you have descended on the earth for our liberation.'

Shri Guru - I am going southwards for certain purpose. You shall again see me after 15 years, I shall be then staying near your place. You should then come to me with your family and children. You should live without worry. All your miseries and wants are wiped off now.'

Sayamdeo offered clothes and ornaments to Shri Guru. Shri Guru came to Arogya Bhavani Vaijnath and lived there secretly."

Sai baba let your holy lotus feet be our sole refuge.OMSAIRAM

dipika duggal

[Dipika]

Shri Guru lived at Arogya Bhavani secretly because many persons approached him at any time. These included the good and bad, honest and dishonest, cunning, rich and poor, diseased men of all castes, cults, sex, and ages. Parshuram killed Kartikeya (Arjuna) and gave the earth in charity to the Brahmins. Still the Brahmins approached him and asked for more. So Parshuram lived in the sea secretly. Similarly Shri Guru sent all his disciples on pilgrimage and himself livd secretly.

The disciples asked, 'Gurudeo, why are you indifferent with us. Vedas and Shastras say that- all the holy places are at thy feet? When Kalpataru is near us, why should we go elsewhere?' Shri Guru- As you are Sanyasis, you should visit different holy places and make your mind firm. I shall go to Shri Shailya in Bahudhanya Sanwatsar. You should come and see me there.

Sai baba let your holy lotus feet be our sole refuge.OMSAIRAM

dipika duggal

[Dipika]

The disciples - one disobeying Shri Guru has to go to hell. So we go to the holy places as per your instructions but kindly tell us to which places we should go.

Shri Guru - Kashi is a famous holy place on earth. It is on the bank of Bhagirithi (ganga). You travel 60 yojans (yojan-2miles) by its bank and observe 60 Krishhra prayashchittas. Then go to Prayag (allahabad) and observe 120 Krichhras. There are 25 gram (town) on the bank of Yamuna and 40 on the bank of Saraswati. Take bath in the river daily. This is like performing a sacrifice. One attains Brahma in the end.

Travel by the tank of rivers as Varuna, Kushavarti, Krishnaveni, Vitasta, Sharaswati, Marudvriddha, Asikni, Madhumati, Payasvini, Ghritvati, Deonadi etc. At every place take bath and Prayashchitta. Even sin of Bramahatya is wiped off. Travel by the banks of Chadrabhaga, Revati, Sharyu, Gouthami, Vedika, Koushiki, Mandakini, Sahasravakra, Purna Bahuda, Aruna. Bath at a sangam confluence of rivers is like that of Prayag.

There are other holy places as Pushkar, Vairochani, Falgu, Tirth at Gaya, Setubandha, Rameshwar, Shri Rang Padmanabh, Purushottam, Nemisharanya, Badri Narayan, Kurukshetra, Shri shailya, Pitru Tirth, Kedar, Koti. Narmada, Matrukeshwar, Kunj, Kokamukhi, Prabhas, gokarna, Shankh-Karna, Ayodhya, Mathura, Kanchi, Dwarka. Gaya, Shaligram and Shambalgram are the 7 cities giving liberation.

Traveling by the bank of Godavary gives fruit of doing Vajpeya sacrifice. Visit Bhimeshwar, Vajra sangam and Kush. Travel by the bank of Purna, Krishnaveni, Tungbhadra, Bhima. Visit Pampa saroval, Harihar, Pandharpur, Matruling, Ganagapur, Near Bhima Amarja-sangam. There is an Ashwattha on the Amarja and in the north is Varanashi, in the east are Papivashi Rudrapad, Chakratirth, Kesheodeo, Vinayak, Kotitirth, Mammath, Kallwshwar. See Varada Malprabha sangam and Nivritti sangam.

When The Guru (Jupitar) is in the Sinha (leo) all the rivers have union with Bhagirathi. When guru is in Kanya (Vibro) bhagirathi comes in Krishna. Have bath in Patalganga and see Mallikarjuna. Baths at Kaveri sangam, Payaswini and bhavanashini are virtuous. See places like Samudraskanda, Sheshadri, Shri Rangnath, Padmanabha, Shrimat Anant, Trimamalla, Kumbhakonam Kanyakumari, Matsyatirth, Pak****irth, Rameshwar, Dhanushkoti, Mahalakshmi at Kolhapur, Mahabaleshwar, origin of Krishna. Bahe, Narsinhadeo at Kolegaon Bhuvaneshwari at Bhilawadi, Shrupali, Chhaya Bhagwati (Vishwamitra's place) Shweta Shring, whence Krince flows northwards, Kalyan etc.

A river is said to be in menses when she gets new rain water and so bath in the river is not desirable on that day.

All the disciples then bowed to Shri Guru and departed for visiting the various holy places.

Sai baba let your holy lotus feet be our sole refuge.OMSAIRAM

dipika duggal

[Dipika]

The Brahmin placed his head on the feet of Shriguru and asked, `gurudeo, kindly tell me who is a Guru and how to serve him?'

Shri Guru- Mother and father are Gurus. Brahma, Vishnu, Maheswhar are Gurus. One serve his Guru with devotion




Sai baba let your holy lotus feet be our sole refuge.OMSAIRAM

dipika duggal

[Dipika]

If a crow has a dip in the Manasa-Sarovar it will become a Hamsa (swan). So also he who touches Guru's feet will acquire all knowledge. Guru is Almighty. His glory needs to be sung.

 
JISKE SIR UPAR TU SAI WOH DUKH KAISA PAAYE!


Sai baba let your holy lotus feet be our sole refuge.OMSAIRAM

dipika duggal

[Dipika]

Siddha-Shri Shankar and Shri Guru Dattatraya like to beg alms. Shri Guru roamed through holy places for protecting his devotees. People came to him and harassed him for trifles and hence he lived secretly. But though the Kasturi is hidden, its fragrance cannot be hidden, similarly brightness of Shri Guru could not be hidden.


JISKE SIR UPAR TU SAI WOH DUKH KAISA PAAYE!


Sai baba let your holy lotus feet be our sole refuge.OMSAIRAM

dipika duggal