Hinduism For All - Guru Tattva

Hinduism For All

Guru Tattva

No one else can better elucidate the reasons for the high pedestal on which a preceptor is placed in Hinduism other than Saint Kabeer who states that – “If Both Lord and my Preceptor were to appear in front of me, at the same time whom should I prostrate first? I will verily bow to my preceptor, for it was he who showed me my Lord”.

Preceptor is called as Guru, and he is different from the teachers called Upaadhyaaya who teach us the mundane activities. The elders who show us the path of righteousness are called Aachaarya (i.e. those who preach by their conduct).

Spiritual preceptor is called as Guru for he eradicates the darkness of ignorance and makes the disciple enlightened (Gu – darkness; Ru – remover). The Guru Tattva is so ancient and remote that according to Guru Parampara, Lord Shiva Himself is Aadinaatha, the first preceptor. The vision of Lord is impossible without the guidance of Guru, for in metaphysical accomplishments, no amount of self – acquired skills are of any use beyond a particular stage. Hence the lineage of Gurus (Guru – Parampara), Guru – Peetha, Guru Mantra, Guru – Paaduka etc. are all objects of reverence.

There are many lineages of spiritual preceptor, but the most important one is that which is followed in Vedaanta –

Though from Veda Vyaasa and Shuka, many other sampradaayas follow variant Guru – Parampara, but there is no doubt that Vyaasa occupies a prime position. He occupies a special place owing to his contribution in codifying and compiling Vedas, composing Puraanas & Mahaabhaarata, Brahmasootras etc. makes his strature so venerable that he is considered as an incarnation of Vishnu. He is also considered to be the promulgator of the Parivrajaaka order of Sanyaasins and hence even today to honor the Guru Parampara, the full moon day in the month of Aashaadha (mid July) is celebrated as Vyaasa Puja or Guru Poornima. All sanyaasins observe vow in honor of Vyaasa. Similarly all disciples make it a point to obtain the blessings of their spiritual mentors.

While the traditionalists offer salutations to their respective Guru – Parampara, many God men such as Mahaa Avataar Baabaaji, Saai Baaba, Ramana Maharishi, Kaanchi Paramaachaarya, Paramahamsa Yogaananda, Satya Saai Baaba, Jaggi Vaasudev, Sri Sri Ravishankar, Maata Amritaanandamayi, Swamy Sivaananda, Osho Rajneesh, Raamakrishna Paramahamsa, Dayaananda Sarasvati, Ganapati Sachchidaananda, Naaraayana Guru, Swamy Chinmayaananda, Aurobindo etc. command respect from dedicated followers.

The greatness of Guru – Sishya relationship and the indispensability of a Guru can be understood if one sees that Lord Dakshinamoorthy, Aananda Bhairava and Lord Hayagreeva, all manifestation of divinity, chose to present themselves as Gurus.

Dattatreya:

Lord Dattatreya is the incarnation of the holy Hindu Trinity, Brahma, Vishnu, Maheshvara. Lord manifested himself as the son of Atri Maharishi and Anusuya Devi. He incarnated to dissemate the knowledge of Yoga and Tantra to the world. He was the preceptor of Lord Parashuraama. He imparted the knowledge of Srividya Tantra to Parashuraama who codified them in the text ‘Parashuraama - Kalpa - Sutra’ which is still the guide-book in Srividya Sampradaya of Devi Worship. Worship of Lord Dattatreya is popular all over India, especially in the Western belt.

Dakshinamurty :

Lord Dakshinamurty is that form of Shiva who bestows knowledge of the Supreme upon the divine sages, Sanaka, Sanandana, Sanaatana and Sanatkumaara. The ever youthful Lord preached the knowledge through silence ( i.e. to show that Aatma Jnyaana cannot be induced but has to be realized by oneself under the supervision of a Guru ). He is worshipped as the embodiment of mercy and spiritual knowledge.

Hayagreeva :

The Avataara (incarnation) of Lord Vishnu as Hayagreeva was to restore the Holy Vedas to Brahma. Brahma had become extremely proud of his status as Creator and Lord Vishnu intending to subdue his (Brahma’s) pride, let out a couple of water droplets from his Lotus seat from which arose two Asuras Madhu and Kaitabha who stole the Vedas from Brahma.

Brahma sought the help of Lord Vishnu to retrieve the Vedas. Lord incarnated as Hayagreeva, appeared with face of a white horse, destroyed the Asuras and restored the Vedas to Brahma.

Lord Hayagreeva blesses, devotees with memory power and supreme wisdom. Sri Vedaanta Deshika, a Vaishnava Aachaarya has written many verses on Sri Hayagreeva.

This article is a snippet from the Book Hinduism For All, Authored by TS Srinivasan and Edited By Dr Ramchandrashekar. Hinduism for All is available online at www.giri.in & across Giri Trading Agency Private Limited, A chain of Speciality Stores dealing in all kinds of products needed in Indian Culture & Tradition.

To Know More & For Deeper Insights on Sanatana Dharma, Hinduism & Indian Culture & Tradition, Follow Us on.