Bhakti Ras

Graces of Guru

While some of us are aware of the ultimate goal of human life, some are oblivious to it. However, everyone under the sun seeks happiness and peace. God is the source of that happiness, nay He is happiness Himself. Saints and scriptures repeatedly proclaim that God is Anand Sindhu – an ocean of bliss. As fragmental parts of His divine energy, we naturally desire His bliss. However, only a true Guru can position us on the path to that pure bliss. How so? It’s because a true Guru is seated on the platform of God-realization, as his heart is permeated with that divine love and bliss.

Guru Dispels Ignorance

While God accepts only the pure-hearted souls, the all-merciful Guru embraces the sinful and fallen souls! For instance, when Vibhishan approached Shree Ram with noble ambitions in his heart, seeking the Lord’s refuge, Sugriva warned Shree Ram not to trust Vibhishan. “He is Ravan’s brother, My Lord, so we should imprison him and detain him, as he has come to spy on us,” advised Sugriva. The omniscient Lord Ram, aware of Vibhishan’s pure intent, bestowed mercy upon him, and accepted him as his friend. He declared:

निर्मल मन जन सो मोहि पावा। मोहि कपट छल छिद्र न भावा।।

Nirmal mana jana so mohi paavaa, mohi kapata chila chidra na bhava
                                                                                  (Ramacharitamanas)

“That person alone who has a pure heart attains Me; I have an aversion for duplicity, wiles, and falsehood.”

The heart here does not refer to the physical organ; it refers to the inner apparatus of our mind and intellect. We cannot achieve happiness or peace by merely reading books or through intellectual exercises. It requires purification of the heart, which we can achieve only when we are fortunate enough to have the guidance of the Guru.

Just like an earthly father endeavors raising a child in this material realm, the God-illumined Guru strives to guide the soul on its inward journey. While imparting divine knowledge, the Guru helps the soul to do sadhana and surrender to God. This ensues a pure heart, and that’s when God graces the soul. As Jagaadguru Shree Kripalu ji Maharaj pointed out in one of his kirtans:

गुरु पतितन सों कर प्यार, हरि निर्मल जन को यार ।
यह अंतर सुजन विचार, गुरु महिमा अपरम्पार ॥

Guru patitan so kar pyaar, hari nirmal jan ko yaar
Yah antar sujan vichaar, guru mahimaa aparampaar

“The Guru loves destitute souls; God loves the pure-hearted ones. O noble ones, think about this difference. The Guru’s glory knows no limits.”

The Vedic scriptures, which are the manifestation of the eternal knowledge of God, have been passed on for ages from master to disciple. These scriptural injunctions and spiritual principles can only be understood through the Guru, as the Guru is an enlightened saint who has practically realized their wisdom. Hence, the Ramayan states:

गुरु बिनु भव निधि तरइ न कोई। जौं बिरंचि संकर सम होई।

guru binu bhava nidhi tarai na koī, jauṅ biranchi sankara sama hoī

“Not even the most elevated of spiritual aspirants can cross over the material ocean without the grace of the Guru.”

Spiritual seekers who are in tune with their Guru, understand the spiritual truths, cross this ocean of material existence unscathed, and find true happiness in God.

Guru Ignites Love for God and Takes Us Closer to Him

A true Guru comes into our lives by the grace of God. After that, it’s by the Guru’s grace that our lives are purified and transformed. As a devoted servant of God, the Guru is constantly engaged in His service, and therefore is dear to God. Unless we do devotional service as per the Guru’s instructions, we cannot hoist ourselves to a God-consciousness state or resuscitate our relationship with God. Shree Krishna Himself admits that He is pleased by the one who serves His true devotee:

मद्भक्तानां च ये भक्तास् ते मे भक्ततमा मताः ॥

ye me bhaktajanāḥ pārtha na me bhaktāś ca te janāḥ |
madbhaktānāṃ ca ye bhaktās te me bhaktatamā matāḥ ||
(Adi Puran)

Shree Krishna says, “Arjun, those who consider themselves as My direct devotees are indeed not My devotees. The one who is a devotee of my devotee, a servant of my servant, is verily My devotee.”

Guru seva and Guru bhakti amasses unparalleled merit. Our scriptures affirm that there is no path equivalent to the path of devotion, and there is no human comparable to the Guru. The Guru is supreme and indeed all the forms of God manifest through Him. Many disciples such as Aruni, Padmapad, King Janak, Prahalad, etc., are evidences of the Guru’s grace is the grace of God. Deepak was one such blessed disciple, who lived in Angira’s ashram serving sage Vedadharma.

Deepak was a sincere aspirant. He was the most brilliant of all the disciples and had ananya guru bhakti (i.e., exclusive devotion) toward his Guru. Sage Vedadharma recognized Deepak’s guru bhakti and resolved to shower his grace upon him.

The sage one day turned himself into a leper, assembled all the disciples, and said, “I can cure this disease by my spiritual powers; however, I do not wish to do so. I want to spend the rest of my life in Kashi, atoning for my bad karma. While I do my penance in Kashi, I need someone to attend on me, administering medicines on time and dressing my wounds.”

While all the disciples were repulsed by their guru’s appearance and the offensive smell emitting from his body, Deepak stepped forward and said, “Gurudev, I will accompany you to Kashi. Please grant me the boon of serving you.”

Once they reached Kashi, the disease worsened, and the symptoms became severe. Besides, Vedadharma intentionally began to reproach Deepak for no reason. Yet, Deepak continued serving his Guru patiently and compassionately. Pleased by Deepak’s unwavering devotion and steadfast love for his guru, Lord Shiv appeared at the doorstep of Vedadharma’s humble dwelling one day, and began to call out zealously, “Deepak, Deepak!”

Deepak stepped out, and prostrating to the Lord he pleaded, “O Lord of the worlds, my Gurudev is resting. Could you please speak softly?”

Immensely delighted with this reply, Lord Shiv offered Deepak a boon. Politely refusing the boon, Deepak said, “I am grateful for your darshan, but I cannot ask for a boon without my Gurudev’s approval. You please wait here until my Gurudev wakes up.”

Captivated by Deepak’s response, Lord Shiv approached Lord Vishnu and described Deepak’s commendable guru bhakti. Lord Vishnu too appeared at his doorstep to test Deepak’s guru bhakti.

Overwhelmed with joy at the sight of Lord Vishnu, Deepak prostrated before him reverentially, but rejected Lord Vishnu’s boon too, when it was offered.

When Vedadharma finally woke up, he asked Deepak about who was conversing with him. Deepak explained in detail the visits of Lord Shiv and Lord Vishnu and their offer of boons. Prostrating to his guru, Deepak stated, “Gurudev, you are my Shiv. You are my Vishnu. I consider whatever boon you grant me as the biggest blessing.”

At that very instance, Guru Vedadharma dropped his diseased and crippled body and exclaimed compassionately, “My son, your faith in your Guru and the service your rendered is exemplary. That is why you were blessed with the darshan of Lord Shiv and Lord Vishnu.”

This shows how generously the Guru showers his grace upon a disciple who entirely and firmly believes in him. We may or may not be able to serve our Guru to the extent that the exceptional disciples like Deepak. However, we can sincerely try to utilize every God-given resource – tana, mana, dhana – to serve the Guru to the best of our abilities. Factually, it is out of mercy that the Guru bestows upon us the privilege to serve, thereby helping us to gradually advance toward the lotus feet of the Lord.