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Sree Guru Charitra
Index
Chapter 19
Namadharaka asked, “Holy Sir, Sree Guru has already expounded the
paths of Gnana (Wisdom) and Karma (Disciplined
Activity), which are self-sufficient; why then did he find it
necessary to expound the Path of Bhakti (Devotion) too?”
Sree Guru explained: “Of all the Paths, Bhakti is the best.
That is the only means of accomplishing anything. Hence it is
indispensable for all. In fact, Bhakti, Gnana and
Karma are not distinct from one another. They form a unity and
assist each other in leading us to Brahmajnaana (Perfection
of Wisdom). The latter cannot be achieved by any one of the paths
alone.
The devotee who is ever vigilant, and have a Sattvic nature, is
the dearest to the Lord. The man devoid of Bhakti would be lost in
the Ocean of phenomenal existence, even though he is assiduous in
practicing the Karma yoga. As man’s faith in and devotion
to god grows stronger, he becomes more and more disinterested in
worldly things. Only such a one can pursue the life of virtue and
righteousness that is dear to God. Then his heart gets purer and
he becomes fit for Wisdom. Only one who can achieve such a
synthesis of Bhakti, Gnana and Karma can
realize Non action. Thereby, he will be freed from the bondage of
action. Now, listen to the stories of the Beloved of the Faithful,
and steadfast devotion will strike root in your heart:
Every day, some devotee or the other used to visit the Master and
invite him and his disciples to lunch. Once a poor man by name
Bhaskara Sharma arrived with provisions of food enough for only
three persons. But before he could arrange bhiksha for the
Master, some one or the other used to do so, and Bhaskara Sharma
used to join the band of guests. Three months passed thus. His
fellow disciples started insinuating him that he was making a
living for himself thus, on the pretext of offering bhiksha
to Sree Guru.
At last, Sree Guru came to know of this and said to Bhaskara
Sharma: “Today you arrange bhiksha for me and all the
disciples including yourself!” The latter was immensely happy. He
fetched vegetables and prepared the food. The Master then ordered
him to invite all for lunch. When he did so, they heckled him
saying, “We are more numerous than the grains of food you have
cooked! How dare you invite all of us?”
When poor Bhaskara Sharma communicated the same to Sree Guru, the
holy one himself personally commanded all of them to join him at
lunch. In perfect obedience to his word, all of them took baths,
washed their dishes and turned up. As per the Master’s order, the
food was consecrated and then, as behoves a cultured host,
Bhaskara Sharma entreated all of them, ‘Pray all of you, young and
old, lunch to your hearts’ content’. When the food was being
served, it was found that though the preparations were meager,
what was actually being served was enormous in quantity. Even
after it was served to many people, what was still left in the
vessels was as much as at first prepared! Everyone ate to his
full. Then the Master ordered that the poor, and even the other
creatures like crows and dogs, should be fed. At last, after
ascertaining that none was left unfed, he threw the rest of the
food to the fish in the river. So plentiful was the food
available!
All those who partook of that day’s feast were astounded to
recollect how incredibly delicious were the dishes served on that
day. They said, “We heard that once, when the Pandavas were
in deep distress, Lord Krishna came to their rescue by feeding the
large group of sages who arrived as their guests, by his divine
power. Now we have witnessed the same miracle. Though the food
prepared was scanty, the number of people fed today has exceeded
four thousand. Though Bhaskara Sharma served the Lord for hardly
three months, he has proved to be a true disciple. Thus has he
earned such grace from the Master! Then they glorified the divine
power of Sree Guru.
Now listen to another event: There was a barren lady of sixty
years named Ganga. She used to visit the Master everyday and serve
him with faith. One day, pleased by her loving service, Sree Guru
said, ‘What is your heart’s wish?’ She replied: ‘it has been
declared by the Sastras that those who are not blessed with
sons have no hope of attaining heaven. And that the souls of even
those pf their ancestors who, by virtue of their merits, have
attained heaven, lose their blissful state and fall to a lower
state. Hence, barren as I am, I am much alarmed at my plight. Sree
Guru said: ‘Owing to the force of your Karma, you are caught deep
in the ocean of delusion. Now that such wisdom has awakened in
your heart, you shall be blessed with two sons’. Amazed at his
words she said, ‘I have ever been a born-barren woman. Yet, by
your grace I shall be blessed with motherhood’. As a token of his
pledge, she tied the end of her garment in a knot and continued:
‘All my life was spent in the observance of religious vows in the
fond hope of being blessed with sons. With a superstitious
persistence have I circumambulated the peepul (ficus religiosa)
and worshipped it with due ceremony!’ Sree Guru retorted: ‘what
you say is a falsehood! Once Lord Brahma said to sage Narada:
“Divine Sage! Lord Vishnu, Lord Shiva and I ever reside in a
peepul tree. All the deities inhabit its branches. The oceans
exist in the twigs. All the sacred rivers dwell in the branches.
Sacred cows, religious sacrifices (yagnas), the great sages
and even the Vedas dwell in its tender leaves. The peepul tree
that is so holy should be duly consecrated and worshipped. One
should not touch it during night, at twilight hours and during the
time of rain, One should observe such vows as of continence and
silence with all of one’s mind, word and deed and then worship the
sacred tree. You must besmear the lower part of its trunk with cow
dung and chant the Swasthi Mantra. Then you should bathe it
and worship it according to your means. You should contemplate
Lord Vishnu with his eight divine arms. Then, either while
repeating the Divine Name or chanting a mantra, you should
circumambulate it with a slow and steady pace. Both at the
commencement and the completion of each circumambulated, you
should bow to it with a concentrated mind. If you do so, poverty,
delirium, danger, sin and other kinds of suffering will be
terminated. Every step that is taken around the tree with full
faith will be as efficacious as the performance of the Aswamedha
sacrifice. If you chant the mantra of Saturn, the tormentation by
spirits will be ended. If the Rudramantra is recited, fear of
death will be averted. The fruit of feeding pious and learned
Brahmins thereafter, bathing, japa and performance of
religious sacrifice underneath it is indeed unbounded. Wishes for
sons and grand children will be granted. He who plants a peepul
tree will be elevating his entire lineage to heaven. As many pious
Brahmins as one tenth of the number of circumambulations should be
fed and, a golden image of a peepul tree, a cow and gingely (thill)
seeds should be given away as daana. If you do these, your
wish will be fulfilled. Therefore, take a dip in the Sangama and
worship the tree there accordingly. You will be blessed with two
sons.’
Ganga said, ‘Sir, now I am sixty years old. Yet, I shall, upon
your word, do so with faith’ and then she commenced her daily
circumambulations. On the fourth day, at night, Sree Guru appeared
in her dream and said, ‘After worshipping the tree, eat the fruit
which Sree Guru gives you and you shall be blessed with
offspring’. She at once woke up and informed her husband of her
dream and continued her avowed adorations with greater zeal. One
day, the Master gave her two fruits and said, ‘after completing
your vow, give away proper gifts and then eat these fruits. In the
earlier ages (yugas), there were different kinds of
children. In this age of Kali, only those born of one’s womb and
those who are adopted are considered as one’s sons. It is said
that even at the very sight of one’s begotten son, the parents are
assured of heaven hereafter. You shall be blessed with two sons.
This will be the fruit of serving me with faith’.
Ganga went home and did as Sree Guru directed her. After a few
days, she had her first menses ever and, after her purificatory
bath on the fourth day, she went for the Guru’s darshan,
along with her husband. After returning home, that night, she
conceived. All the people in the village were astonished and
praised her good fortune.
Her husband, Somnath, got the appropriate religious ceremonies (pumsavana)
etc., performed. At the proper time she delivered a girl child.
Astrologers predicted that the girl would come to be a
pativrata who, through paativratya, shall elevate all
her kinsfolk in holiness. When the child was twelve days old, the
elderly parents took her for darshan of Sree Guru, placed her at
his feet, prostrated to him and said, ‘the family tree that has
been barren has borne fruit by your blessing. If the fruit proves
to be good, all the passers by along life’s path would be
benefited. Indeed, barrenness is better than having wicked
offspring’. Sree Guru caressed the tender child and said, ‘what
the astrologers have foretold of her will come true. This time, do
you wish to have a dullard of a son who will live a hundred years,
or a son who will be a bright, learned one, but who will have a
shorter span of life?’ The old couple submitted that they wished
to be blessed with a son who will be learned and pious, though of
a shorter life. Sree Guru blessed them accordingly and sent them
away. In course of time, she had two sons. In this way, the barren
lady, Ganga, became a mother by serving the Master with unwavering
faith.
With the passage of time, her children grew up to be wealthy ones
and they too, in their turn, had several children and, after their
death, attained heavenly realms. Their daughter too, as per the
blessing of the Great Master, grew up to be an ideal housewife and
reached higher states of being, along with her husband. But such
good fortune accrues only to those endowed with zeal and faith.
Those devoid of these qualities, just as the born-blind cannot see
the sun, fail to win divine grace. The happy couple renounced
worldly ties, donned ochre robes and dedicated the rest of their
lives to the service of the Master. Thereby, they attained
liberation.
So too, a man named Narahari Sharma was afflicted with leprosy. He
surrendered himself to Sree Guru and submitted, ‘oh Lord Hari,
thou the very being of Bliss ultimate, you love your devotees as
your own children. I have heard of your fame and come to you for
succors. The learned Brahmins consider it a sin even to look at my
face. Even the austerities I have practiced in holy places and my
prayers have not cured my fell disease. Pray, heal my illness by
your grace. If you too say you cannot do so, I have no other
choice other than committing suicide in your holy presence, in the
hope that at least in my next life I shall win religious merit!’
The Master’s heart was moved and said, ‘even though disease is a
consequence of your wicked deeds in a past life, it will be wiped
out. If you have faith in my word, plant the dead branch of a fig
tree at the Sangama and go on watering it every day. You will be
healed on the day the stumps put forth leaves!’
Narahari Sharma started doing as he was directed. All those who
beheld the absurd act of Narahari commented: ‘you are an
irreparable sinner and hence the Master has meant his order only
as a sort of unending punishment. Else, how can a dead branch put
forth leaves again? May be, the swami only implied that your
disease, which is a consequence of past sins, cannot possibly be
eradicated.’ However, Narahari stuck to the Master’s order and
persevered in his efforts. When someone reported what was he doing
to Sree Guru, he said; ‘he does it right and he shall be relieved,
by virtue of his steadfast faith. There is no other effective
means in this world than faith. The Mantra, a Brahmin priest, an
astrologer, or a physician and the Guru-men derive their benefit
from these, only according to their faith in them. In this regard,
sage Suuta told the sages:
“Once upon a time, there lived a king named Simhaketu. He had a
son named Dhanumjaya. One day, the latter went to a forest for
hunting and, when he was tired by the chase, he rested in an old,
dilapidated shrine of Lord Shiva. He had a tribal man, by name
Sabara, as his attendant. He fetched a Shiva Linga and asked him
for instruction in the proper manner of worshipping it. The king
said, ‘in the company of your wife, worship it in a clean place.
Besmear your body with the ashes of a funeral pyre and then
distribute prasad’ and then he proceeded to explain the details of
the ritual worship.
Thereafter, Sabara worshipped the Shiva Linga accordingly
everyday. One day, he could not secure the ash from a funeral pyre
and was much upset at it. His wife addressed him thus: “My lord,
this my physical frame is consecrated for the accomplishment of
dharma (righteousness). You may burn my body, thus secure the
needed ash and offer it to Lord Shiva. Leave your vain infatuation
for my body; I shall sacrifice the transcient body to achieve the
eternal nearness to Lord Shiva. After all, (as per the Hindu law)
my body is but a half of your own!” and she even insisted. Then
the man bolted her inside the hutment and set fire to it.
Afterwards, he offered the ash of her burnt out body to Lord Shiva
and then besmeared his own body with it. After the ritual worship,
at the time of distribution of the prasad, by the force of daily
habit, he called out her name too. The wonder of it, she came
forth as usual and received the prasad! And his hut was in front
of him as before. In amazement, he questioned her about it and she
replied, ‘I just feel as if I awoke from deep slumber; I know
nothing else!’ Then both of them realized the power of Lord Shiva
and glorified him heartily. The lord appeared in front of them and
blessed them with joys. Such is the power of Bhakti”.
So saying, Sree Guru sent the people away. Then on his way to the
Sangama for his bath, he threw the water in his water-vessel (kamandalu)
on the dead branch of the fig tree, which was tended by Narahari.
Lo, it at once put forth tender leaves, and as instantly did
Narahari’s leprosy vanish. The latter was amazed and, overwhelmed
by intense faith and devotion, he glorified Sree Guru thus: “Lord!
Your splendor is that like of a million suns, yet thy grace is as
cool and pleasant as that of a million moons. You are worshipful
even for gods and you are the repository of the whole universe. I
shall ever meditate on you who are the bestower of all wishes. You
are like the Sun to the darkness of cosmic illusion. I bow to
thee. You are free from any qualities, yet you are with them!
Worthy of being served by your devotees, you are the bestower of
boons; I bow to thee. You are like a lion to the six internal
enemies like lust, which are like full-grown bull-elephants. You
are the very embodiment of Bliss Absolute. I shall meditate on you
who have manifested yourself to protect righteousness. Thou
bestower of wishes and the cause of all existence, I shall ever
worship thee. Thou lotus eyed one, the bearer of the staff and
kamandalu, the Merciful One, I seek refuge in you. You are the
object of knowledge of Vedanta; you have the sun, moon and fire as
your three eyes. You are the nature of Naada, Bindu
and Kalaa, the dispeller of the fire of craving. I bow to
thee. You are the destroyer of misery, fear and suffering and
bestower of yoga. Thou inhabitant of the banks of rivers Krishna
and the five Gangas, I shall serve you. Thou without a beginning,
a middle or an end, thou of inscrutable power, the Absolute Self,
thou whom neither the mind can comprehend nor the speech
delineate, I surrender myself to thee. The four-faced Brahma
himself is unable to sing thy glory; how can I ever hope to do so?
The thousand headed Adisesha himself was dumb founded at the sight
of they glory. Even the Vedas have failed to describe your
divinity!’
Sree Guru was pleased with his intense devotion and said; ‘Son, by
my grace, you shall gain spiritual power, wealth, fame and noble
offspring. You shall become the knower of yogic wisdom. Like you,
your descendants also shall be devoted to me. You come away along
with your wife and stay here!’ Narahari did accordingly and was
blessed with children and grand children and all else. He was
liberated even while living, by the teaching of Sree Guru. Like
him, his descendants were devoted to Sree Guru.
Namadharaka, all this is the fruit of devotion to the Guru. One of
your ancestors was fortunate enough to win the blessing of Sree
Guru. It is owing to that you are now blessed with such loving
faith in him. Even this is by the blessing of the Master. I fell
that even among your descendants there shall certainly be born a
progressing soul”, said Siddha.
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