The Sacred Ancient Tradition of Guru-Shishya
=Pt.ShriRam Sharma Acharya
Sant Gyanesvar has written
in Bhavartha Dipika (popularly known as Gyaneshwari) his Marathi commentary on
the Gita that one who gets the blessing of a Guru may appear to be an ordinary
person but he attains a status equivalent to Lord Siva. Adya Shankaracharya has
compared Guru with Paras (touch stone) who not only transforms the disciple
into his own likeness but also transfers so much spiritual power to him that
the latter becomes paras itself. When such a disciple comes in contact with an
ordinary person who is like a crude iron ore, the latter gets transformed into
a virtuous person (precious like gold). The relationship between Guru and
Shishya has been considered to be deeply spiritual in nature. It is extremely
pure, full of dedication and is the ultimate in devotion.
Among the four types of
relationships; namely, physical, mental, emotional and spiritual - only the
last one endures everlastingly. It is also essential to know what should be the
specialty of a Guru? How to identity a Sadguru? And, after this, how should the
Shishya present himself before the Guru? Shruti says that he should take
Samidha in his hand and in an humble manner go to the learned and accomplished
Sadguru, who is the symbol of divine light, and beg of him for impartation of
the supreme knowledge. Samidha catches fire. It is inflammable. Therefore, it
gives an indication that the disciple should be ready to burn his ego-generated
vices and sins by coming in proximity of the fire of Guru.
One who has removed the
dampness of ego in the Samidha of his personality; will burn without giving any
smoke; its flame will be bright and go high in the air. Therefore, a person who
has refined himself to the extent of becoming a true brahman, can only qualify
to become a disciple (rhetorically called, sitting near the Guru with a Samidha
in hand). Only such a person is worthy of getting the grace of Guru. The Guru,
who knows the secrets of human-divine consciousness, is capable of transforming
and illuminating the consciousness of the Shishya. The Guru comes as a
representative of Divine for the benefit of the world. He is on look out for
true disciples, tests them properly, endows them with supernormal powers for
the upliftment of society.
Thakur Sri Ramkrishna
Paramhans, who is considered divine incarnation par-excellence, came to this
earth with such a mission. He met many people; some of them were curious
listeners or else serious Sadhaks; but he found a true disciple only in
Narendra Nath. Thakur could see the dormant spiritual urge embedded within
Narendra Nath who at the time of meeting the master was an atheist (due to his
westernized education); though he was deeply interested in philosophy. Thakur
could sense that one of the souls of Saptarsis (seven sages) had taken birth as
Narendra for fulfillment of a specific mission. Therefore, Paramhansa moulded
Narenda like a potter.
He later became world
famous as Swami Vivekanand and was successful in spreading the essence of
Sanatan Dharma in the entire world. Vivekanand himself used to say -
"Alas! People could know what I have accomplished!" Here is a shining
example of Guru- Shishya tradition at its best. Hundreds of treatises have been
written about the lives and mission of this unique pair of Guru- Shishya
tradition, who have been a guiding light and source of inspiration to million
of seekers of truth over the past hundred years. Another pair namely, Swami
Virjanand (Guru) and Mulsankar (Shishya) who later came to be known as Maharshi
Dayanand, also belong to this historical tradition. It is through the medium of
this pair that the foundation of Aryasamaj was laid. The spread and expansion
of Vedic religion and culture and the Herculean task of social reformation in
Hindu society was accomplished through Maharshi Dayanand.
Thanks GOD, Thanks
Sadguru,
Shiv Sharma
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