Recently I performed the Guru Stotram live to a large audience with a dear old friend, Somesh, a talented spiritual musician. It was a great joy to share and revel in the wonders and beauty of Isvara’s mantras and musicality.
I grew up in a creative household with working musicians who enjoyed much talent and success. I wanted to be a part of it so badly but the world spat me out many years ago and turned my life toward and into yoga. I now finally understand how God wants me to sing. To understand what it all means, and to practice it daily to the best of my abilities.
I found this unfoldment on the Arsha Vidya website. I’ve used paragraphs and selected verses for this satsang and credit the work there… Om
‘Guru stotram is found in the Gurugītā, a text of 274 shlokas. Gurugītā itself is from Skanda Purana, one of the 18 Puranas. Swami Dayānanda Saraswatī, had selected 13 shlokas from the Gurugītā which have now been accepted and chanted by a lot of ashrams and Gurukulams. ( The first 3 you’ll find below. )
These shlokas talk about the glory of a guru, role and necessity of a guru in one’s life, and the benefit of the pursuit of Self Knowledge.
Famously remembered and chanted particularly on the day of Guru Purnima, the full moon day which falls between June and July. A day to celebrate in honor and reverence to Veda Vyasa. Veda Vyasa codified the many mantras into the four Vedas through an elaborate 12 year project involving many other sages and pandits. Besides writing the Mahabharata, he wrote 18 Puranas and the Brahma Sutras!
However, perhaps better to think of each and every day as an opportunity to appreciate, to show gratitude, reverence for the entire lineage of guru-shishyas who have ever so generously passed on the knowledge with grace, love and wisdom.
The relationship with a guru is unlike any other relationship that you can possibly have and is a non-negotiable part of learning Vedanta.
Although the word guru is now used colloquially – love guru, management guru in Sanskrit, “gu” stands for darkness of ignorance; “ru” stands for light of knowledge, which eliminates ignorance. So, guru means the one who drives away the student’s ignorance by imparting knowledge.
A guru is not an ordinary person.
He/she is a channel for the blessings of the tradition to flow through him/her to you. The greatness of the guru lies in the greatness of the Shastra/scripture/weapon, as there cannot be a guru without the Shastra.
All the 13 verses of the Guru Stotram end with “tasmai shri gurave namah“, meaning “I offer my salutations, namah, not me, but to that guru/ I worship the guru.
akhaṇdmaṇdalākāraṃ, vyāptaṃ yena carācaram |
tatpadaṃ darśitaṃ yena, tasmai śrīgurave namaḥ ||1||
I worship that guru, who has shown me That (tat padaṃ darśitaṃ yena),
which is that limitless reality which pervades the entire cosmos (akhaṇḍa maṇḍala ākāraṃ) (vyāptaṃ) both mobile living-beings and stationary inert entities (cara and acaram).
Earlier the duality of the world, this relationship of me and the other bothered me. Now I see that it is sacred. Knowing that all the forms – moving or non-moving are really Isvara, helps me relax and be in harmony with sentient and insentient.
ajñānatimirāndhasya, jñānāñjanaśalākayā |
cakṣurunmīlitaṃ yena, tasmai śrīgurave namaḥ ||2||
I worship that guru, by whom the cataract of ignorance (ajñāna timirāndhasya) is removed by the needle dipped in knowledge (jñānāñjana śalākayā) and because of whom my eye of wisdom is bright and clear (cakṣunmilitaṃ).
Earlier my world appeared dull and dark because of the cataract of ignorance (ajñāna timirāndhasya). I hurt myself and others by groping in the dark and having many projections. There were many complexes and judgments about me, the world and God which made me feel uncared for and alienated. But that was removed by a special eye treatment – needle like mascara stick was coated with the ointment of knowledge and my eyes were healed for good – because of this my eyes of wisdom (cakṣunmilitaṃ) are bright and clear. I see all as one.
gururbrahmā gururviṣṇuḥ, gururdevo maheśvraḥ |
gurureva parambrahma, tasmai śrīgurave namaḥ ||3||
Salutations to that Guru, who is the creator (Brahmā), sustainer (Viṣṇu), and resolver (Maheśvara), and who indeed is Brahman, the Absolute. (Since he tells you that “You are that Brahman”, needless that he knows that he is that Brahman). (3)
Why is the guru being equated to Bhagavan? Is this not an overstatement? Not at all. The guru helps one discover Isvara’s presence in our lives. What is the greatest thing that Bhagavan can do for you? Give pleasure, comfort, money. No.. those are all temporary.
If there is anything that Bhagavan can give a human being it is that total fulfillment gaining which there is no lack. A freedom from seeking. How? Through the discovery of oneself as the limitless.’
You are the Fullness you seek.
You Matter. Your Life Matters. What you do with your Life Matters.
Om and Prem
Love and Gratitude always to Ramji, Sundari and Shiningworld.
