Celebrating guru-purnima -

QUOTE(Hari Saran @ Jul 12 2003, 03:11 PM)

Dear Vaishnavas, Radhe Syam, Syam Syam, Radhe Radhe... !

The Gurupurnima celebration is coming up. Any nectar about it to share ?

If is too busy, a simple cut/paste would help.

yours,

Namaste all. Guru Purnima is celebrated worldwide by seekers of
Beloved God on Guru Vaar, July 21, 2005.

guruH kRpAlur mama zaraNaM vande'haM sadguru caraNaM
gopIprema bhAva bharaNam vande'haM sadgurucaraNaM

Jagadguru, the Spiritual guide of the entire world, Sri Kripaluji
Maharaj has been enlightening the genuine aspirants on the importance
of Sri Guru and the significance of Guru Purnima since many decades.
I 'll be posting a few melodius verses he recites from 'Sri Rama Caraita Manas'
as well as Srimad Bhagavatam on this auspicious occasion.

candana taru hari santa samIrA
rAma sindhu ghana sajjana dhIrA

Lord Hari is the exotic tree of sandalwood.
Like the wind, the Saints carry its fragrance.

Lord Rama is the magnificent, unfathomable ocean.
God-realized Saints are the wandering thick clouds
bringing cool and fresh raindrops to your door step.

kabahumka kari karunaa naradehee
deta eesa binu hetu sanehee

nara tanu bhava vaaridhi kahum bero
sanmukha maruta anugraha mero

karanadhaar sadguru dhriDha naavaa
durlabha saaju sulabha kari paavaa

Sometimes God out of His Mercy and without any reason for the
affection bestows on him a human body, a raft to carry him across the
ocean of mundane existence,
with My (Divine) Grace for a favourable wind and a worthy Saint, Realized
Preceptor for a helmsman to steer the course of this strong boat-
a combination of which, though hard to win, has been made easily
available to him.'

bhakti swatantra sakala sukha khaanee
binu satasanga na paavahim praanee

Divine Love (Bhakti) is independent and a mine of every Blessing! But
men cannot attain without the fellowship of Rasik Saints.

Saints for their part are inaccessible without a stock of meritorious
deeds; it is their fellowship in any case that brings to an end the
cycle of births and deaths.
There is only one deed of merit in the world and no other- to adore
the feet of the God-men (Saints) in thought, word and deed. Heavenly
gods and sages are propitious to him who with unfeigned devotion
serves the God-realized Saints.'

bhagati taata anupama sukha moolaa
milayi jo santa hohim anukoolaa

Devotion, dear brother, is incomparable and
the very source of Bliss, but it can only be
obtained by favor of the virtuous Rasik Saints.

santa charana pankaja ati premaa
manakrama bachana bhajana driDha nemaa

gurupitu maatu bandhu pati devaa
saba mohi kahamjaanai driDha sevaa

Who is deeply enamoured of the lotus feet of the Holy Rasik Saints
and who follows with dedication and commitment in thought, word
and deed recognizing none but Me as his Guru, Father, Mother,
Brother, Spouse, God and All, becomes steadfast in My Service.

nirmala jana sovu mohi pAvA
mohi kapaTa chala-chidra na bhAvA

The Lord has declared:

Only purity of the heart is the direct road to Me,
The clever, crafty, and the wicked never attract Me,

Sri Rama Carit Manas, Sant Tulasidas

Jaya Sri Radhey!

Significance of Gurupurnima.

What is Gurupurnima?

The festival Gurupurnima is a day when a disciple or a seeker of God expresses his gratitude to the Guru, or the Teaching Principle of God.

For those who are not familiar with the terms ‘Guru’ or ‘the Teaching principle of God’, refer to the article on “Meaning of Guru.”

Why is Gurupurnima such an important festival in the life of a seeker?

For a true seeker, spiritual progress is his only aim. The all-wise and all-knowing Guru skillfully guides the spiritual progress of the seeker, which, if left up to the seeker, would have taken many lifetimes. For this, the seeker is eternally indebted to the Guru.

Gurupurnima coincides with the full moon day of the Hindu Lunar calendar month of Ashadh, which usually falls during the month of July every year. On this particular day, the Guru Principle is a thousand times more active than on any other day of the year. The primary mission of the Guru is to spread spirituality. So on this day, when one undertakes an activity towards the spread of spirituality, one is graced by the Guru a thousand times more. Participation in the Gurupurnima celebration also helps to generate spiritual emotion in the seeker. This auspicious day presents seekers with the unparalleled opportunity to pay their gratitude to the Guru. In truth, the seeker grows spiritually by participating wholeheartedly in festivities through the sacrifice of his body, mind and wealth for the Guru’s mission of spreading spirituality. (For more information on how to participate in Gurupurnima celebrations, please refer to Issue 131, Message to Seekers section.)

How and why was this day first celebrated?

The revered ArchGuru, Sage Vyas (founder of the Guru-disciple lineage) was born on this day. Sage Vyas was responsible for writing the Vedas (sacred, Holy texts). Before this, the Vedas were passed on only by speech. The disciples of Sage Vyas were the first to celebrate Gurupurnima. On this day, His students visited Him and ceremoniously worshipped Him. Many years later, the observance grew and became known as Gurupurnima.
Gurupurnima holds equal importance to every seeker or disciple desirous of spiritual growth, regardless of his religion or spiritual path.

-----------------------

Meaning of the Guru.

The word ‘Guru’ is used in many different contexts today. In truth, the word ‘Guru’ is derived from the language Sanskrit and has a deep Spiritual meaning. Throughout our website any reference to ‘Guru’ indicates the following:

If we break the term Guru into two syllables:

* ‘Gu’ refers to darkness assuming the form of ignorance. Here, ignorance refers to one’s inability to realize God’s presence in their lives and thinking that we are separate from Him.
* ‘Ru’ refers to radiance in the form of spiritual knowledge. This radiant spiritual knowledge dispels the darkness of ignorance mentioned above.

Thus, the Guru is One Who with His radiance, dispels the darkness of ignorance in His disciple.

The Guru has two aspects – the unmanifest and the manifest aspects

* The unmanifest aspect: Is also known as ‘The Guru Principle’. It is the Teaching Principle of God that guides a seeker in his spiritual progress.
* The manifest aspect: Is the physical form of ‘The Guru Principle’.

* · A Guru is One Who He is the manifest (human) form of the teaching principle of God who guides those who have an intense desire for spiritual progress (a seeker*).

* A seeker, by definition, is one who makes daily efforts with the motivation of spiritual progress and with spiritual progress occurring, irrespective of his religion of birth and path of spiritual practice.

source: http://sanatan.org/

QUOTE

If is too busy, a simple cut/paste would help.

Guru Purnima- by Swami Sivananda

Namaste all.

Good and peaceful, great men living on earth only for the
good of all, and having themselves crossed the fearful torrent
of becoming, with no ulterior motive help others to cross too. 37

It is the nature of great souls to act spontaneously for the relief
of the distress of others, just as the moon here of itself protects
the earth parched by the heat of the fierce rays of the sun. 38

As the true seeker said his humble prayer, tormented by the forest
fire of samsara, the great Sage looked at him with a gaze full of
compassion, urging him to abandon fear, now that he had taken refuge
in him. 41

Out of compassion the Sage undertakes his instruction since
the sincere seeker has come to him for help in his search for
liberation, is willing to do as he is told, is pacified of mind
and calm. 42

From: Crest Jewel of Wisdom

(Also known as the Crest Jewel of Discrimination or
Viveka-Chudamani, by Sri Adi Jagadguru Shankara acarya)

ba.nda_u guru pada ka.nja kR^ipA si.ndhu nararUpa hari.
mahAmoha tama pu.nja jAsu bachana rabi kara nikara ..

I humbly bow down to the lotus feet of Sri Guru,
limitless ocean of Grace, Lord Hari in human form,
Whose words of wisdom are like a flood of bright
sunrays on the dense darkness of great ignorance.

ba.nda_u guru pada paduma parAgA.
suruchi subAsa sarasa anurAgA ..

amiya mUrimaya chUrana chArU.
samana sakala bhava ruja parivArU ..

I offer my sincere respects to the heavenly fragrant
pollen-like dust of the lotusfeet of my saintly Preceptor,
which is full of Divine Love, Bliss, and spiritual ecstasy.

That miracle dust alone is the sacred ash of
the root of ambrosia to cure all kinds of
worldly ailments of the mundane existence.

sukR^iti sa.nbhu tana bimala bibhUtI.
ma.njula ma.ngala moda prasUtI ..

jana mana ma.nju mukura mala haranI.
kie.N tilaka guna gana basa karanI ..

Ths dust is just like the beautiful, auspicious
holy ashes on the Divine body of Lord Shambhu,
which brings forth immense spiritual bliss.

It also removes the dirt off the mirror of the
devotee's heart and mind, and when applied to the
forehead as Tilak, - an attractive mark of surrender,
it displays the collection of true virtues.

- Sri Rama Carita Manas, Sant Tulasidas

rahu gaNai tat tapasA na yAti
na cejyayA nirvapaNAd gRhAd vA
na cchaMdasA naiva jalAgni sUryair
vinA mahatpAda rajobhiSekaM

- Srimad Bhagavatam 5.12.12

Jada Bharata declares to King Rahugana,

"O Rahugana, one does not attain this-
Divine state of Self-realization,
through asceticism nor through Vedic rituals,
nor again by dealing out food and
other necessaries among the needy,
nor by duly performing one's religious
duties pertainig to household life,
nor through a proper study of Vedic scriptures,
nor through the worship of gods presiding
over water, fire and sun, nor by any other means,
except by sprinkling one's body and mind
with the foot dust of God-realzed saints."

Happy celebrations of Guru Purnima to all seekers of Beloved God.
A few more sublime verses from 'Sri Rama Carit Manas' of Sant Tulasidas:

bhaava sahita khojai jo praani
paava bhakati mani saba sukha khaani

more mana prabhu asa visvasaa
rama ten adhika rama karadasaa

Any living being who searches with sincere yearning heart
finds the jewel of Divine Love, in itself a mine of every blessing.

I have in my heart this firm conviction, my Lord, that pure devotee
servant of Lord Ramacandra is even greater than Rama Himself.

poorana kama rama anuragi
tumhasama tata na kovu badabhagi

sa.nta biTapa saritA giri dharanI
para hita hetu sabanha kai karanI

A pure Saintly devotee of Lord Ramacandra has no desire
unfulfilled and is thus so blessed that none can equal him.

Saints, trees, rivers, mountains and earth, all
exist and operate only for the good of others.

sa.nta hR^idaya navanIta samAnA
kahA kabinha pari kahai na jAnA

nija paritApa drava_i navanItA
para dukha dravahi.n sa.nta supunItA

Poets have described that the heart of a Saint
is as soft as fresh butter, but they have missed
the essential truth; for butter melts of its own heat,
but the most holy Saints melt at others' distress.

rAma kR^ipA.N nAsahi saba rogA
jau.n ehi bhA.Nti banai sa.nyogA

sadagura baida bachana bisvAsA.
sa.njama yaha na biShaya kai AsA

All diseases can undoubtedly be cured by Lord Rama's
grace if these three factors are combined together;
there must be a qualified holy Saint for physician and
firm faith in his prescription for getting cured;
indifference to sensual pleasures as the simple regimen.

raghupati bhagati sajIvana mUrI
anUpAna shraddhA mati pUrI

ehi bidhi bhalehi.n so roga nasAhI.n
nAhi.n ta jatana koTi nahi.n jAhI.n

Devotion to Lord Ramacandra is the life-giving
miracle herb and a mind and heart full of faith
is the vehicle in which it is administered.

By this process all the worldly ailments
are assuredly cured; otherwise all our
efforts will become miserable failures.

so tanudhari hari bhajahi na je nara
hohin vishayarata manda manda tara

kA.Ncha kiricha badale.n te lehI.
kara te DAri parasa mani dehI.n ..

Those who have attained to this human body and yet
worship not Lord Hari but wallow in the basest of sensual
pleasures throw away the philosophers' stone which they
had in their hands to grasp instead bits of common glass.

nahi.n daridra sama dukha jaga mAhI.n.
sa.nta milana sama sukha jaga nAhI.n ..

para upakAra bachana mana kAyA.
sa.nta sahaja subhAu khagarAyA ..

There is no misery in the world so terrible as poverty and
misfortune to equal the lack of communion with the Saint;
there is no happiness and joy in the world to equal the
blissful association of the saintly spiritual Master.

sa.nta sahahi.n dukha parahita lAgI.
paradukha hetu asa.nta abhAgI ..

The Saints endure pain in the interest of others, but the
unfortunate evil wretches do everything to give others pain.

bhUrja tarU sama sa.nta kR^ipAlA.
parahita niti saha bipati bisAlA ..

Tender-hearted Saints, like the Birch tree,
which even allows its bark to be peeled off,
submit themselves to the direct distress for
the good of all people around them.

santa udaya santata sukha kaari
visva sukhada jimi indu tamaari

The appearance of the Saint,like the rise of
sun and moon, is ever conducive to universal joy.

saba kara phala haribhagati suhaayee
so binu santa na kaahun paayee

Firm devotion to Lord Hari is the reward (fruit)
of all spiritual endeavor, but no one has
won it without the help of the Saints.

asa bicaari joyi kara satsangaa
rima bhagati tehi sulabha vihangaa

Whoever bears this in mind, O Garuda,
faithfully associate with the Saints finds
devotion to Lord Rama an easy attainment.

guru binu bhava nidhi tarai na koyi
jau virinci sankara sama hoyi

No one can cross the ocean of material
existence without a God-reaized spiritual Master,
though one be equal of Lord Brahma or Lord Shankara.

Namaste all.

Happy Guru Purnima greetings to all Gaudiya sadhakas.

A 'pada' of 'Prema-Ras-Madira' by Jagadguru Sri Kripaluji Maharaj:

jAvum guru, caraNa kamala balihAr,
jin caraNan kI zaraN rahata mana, pAvata yugala vihAr,
jin caraNan kI dhyAn dharata mana, mitata jagata aMdhiyAr,
jin caraNan anukaMpA jaga maham, rahata na raha saMsAr,
jin caraNan-raja AMji carAcara, dIkhata nanda kumAr,
yadapi 'kRpAlu' bheda nahi HARI-GURU, tadapi guruhim AbhAr.

The Rasik Saint says that I sincerely surrender and
sacrifice my everything, i.e., my body, mind, intellect,
and ego, to the lotus feet of my Sat-Guru Maharaj!

He enumerates the great powers of those lotus feet:
By taking shelter of those blessed feet,
the fortunate soul can relish the eternal
pastimes of the Divine Couple.

By meditating upon those effulgent feet,
(yatpAda padma nakha candra maNicchtAya....RRS)
the ancient darkness of worldly Maya, and ignorance,
disappear like the dense fog pierced by bright sun-light.

By the unlimited Grace of those merciful feet,
the surrendered soul, though appears to be living in
the material body, but he is not of this mayic world
as he is beyond it, being transcenentally situated.

satsangtve nissangatvaM
nissangatve nirmohatvaM
nirmohatve nizcala tattvaM
nizcala tattve jIvanmuktiH

- Sri Shankara's Bhaja Govindam.9

Company of Good (Guru) leads to detachment true,
Detachment gets you past the delusion dense
No longer deluded, the changeless Reality dawns.
Experience of the Real gives the Liberation sure! (9)

"ananyAzcintayantO mAm....." Gita 9.22

"To those dedicated souls who worship Me alone,
thinking of no other, who are ever devout,
I provide every gain and security for
what they have already possessed."

By applying the dust particle from those Divine
lotus Feet to his eyes as collyrium, the devoted soul
is blessed with witnessing the eternal exploits of
his Lordships in sacred Vrindavana.
Not only that but in every moving and non-moving entity,
that fortunate soul perceives only his eternal
Beloved Nanda Kumar- Lord Krishna, and thus
attains the stage of 'Maha Bhagavata'.

Maha Bhagavata- Pure Uttama devotee of Lord
is described in Bhagavatam as follows -

"The Maha-Bhagavata, the Prema Bhakta, pure devotee,
certainly sees everything mobile and immobile,
but he does not exactly see their forms.
Rather, everywhere he immediately perceives
the manifest Form of his Beloved Supreme Lord."

(C.C.2.8.274)

"sarvatra haya nija-iSTa-deva-sphUrti"

"A pure devotee with Prema Bhakti perceives within
everything the Soul of souls, the Supreme Lord, Krishna.

Consequently he or she always sees the Form of Beloved Lord,
the Cause of all causes, situated in all and everything in Him."

- Srimad Bhagavatam 11.2.45

A devotee who has Prema Bhakti, pure Divine Love,
perceives only Beloved Lord Krishna in every step of life.
Actually it is not possible to explain in mundane words!
It is only experienced as the great Divine realization.

(..anubhava rUpam... NBS)

In the last verse, Rasik-Saint-Poet says, that even though the Sastras
declare that there is no difference between Sri Hari and Guru, -

yasya deve para bhaktir yathA deve tathA gurau
tasyaite kathitA hyarthAH prakAzyante mahAtmanaH

- Svetasvataropanishad 6.23

One who has supreme devotion in God and Guru (the Saint)
equally (no less!), attains that ultimate goal.

Why So? "Because There is NO difference what so ever
between God and His very Own Saintly Devotees!"

"tasmis tajjnebhed AbhAvAt" (N.B.S.41)

And Lord Krishna also confirms this in Bhagavatam -

AcAryaM mAM vijAnIyAn nAvamanyeta karhicit
na martya buddhyA sUyeta sarva devamayo guruH.

Srimad Bhagavatam 11.17.27

Lord Krishna declared to devotee Uddhava:

"Always know the Guru to be Myself (Lord Krishna).
Never think unfavorably about Him. Do not use
your material mind to comprehend His Divine actions,
for all forms of God dwell within the Guru."

- but for the benefit of the sincere seeker, Guru alone
is considered higher and more kind than God Himself.

The yearning soul can utilize the sacred opportunity of Sri Guru's
blissful association, his enlightening teachings and wise discipline,
as well as loving service blessed upon the sadhaka through his visible
Divine presence.
By the Saintly spiritual Master's unlimited compassion (parama karuna)
and great benevolence (maha vadAnyata) which are compared to the
attributes of Sri Gouranga (our Gurudeva) Mahaprabhu, the Supreme
incarnation of Divine Grace, any sincere seeker can receive
Krishna-Prema-Bhakti, which in turn conquers the Supreme Lord.

Without Prema Bhakti of Vraja Madhurya Rasa, Vrajendra-nandana,
Lord Radha Krishna is impossible to be attained.

All Glories to Sadguru Maharaj ji!

Namaste.

On this auspicious occasion I recall a few melodious sacred chants and
homage offered daily to Sri Guru during early morning and evening Aratis:

mannAthaH zrI jagannAtho madguruH zrI jagad guruH
mamAtmA sarva bhUtAtmA tasmai zrI gurave namaH

My sincere salutations to the Divine Spiritual Master,
Who is not only my Lord but also is the Lord of whole universe.
He, my Guru, is the Guru of the entire world. He,
the Supreme universal soul alone
is pervading my individual soul.

(Visvasaara Tantra)

matpreyAn rAdhikA preyAn maddhavo rAdhikA dhavaH
tasmAdapi garIyAnyo kRpAlur me gurur mahAn

My eternal Beloved is the Sweetheart of Srimati Radhika.
My Supreme Protector is the Soulmate of Srimati Radharani.
But my Divine spiritual Master of the universe,
who appears on the earth for the upliftment of
fallen souls is even greater and merciful than Their Lordships.

guruM bhajati zrI kRSNaH zrI kRSNaM bhajate guruH
saddhAnta tastv abhede 'pi kRpAlur me gurur mahAn

Sri Guru unceasingly engages in the constant
adoration of the Supreme Beloved, Lord Krishna.
My Lordship constantly worships His Soul Beloved.
According to the principles of Prema Rasa Siddhanta
and other revealed Scriptures, They are eternally
Identical, and ever devoid of separation.
But still, for the spiritual benefit of the sincere aspirant,
I consider the Supremely merciful Incarnation of
His Divine Grace on earth is the greatest!

yasya sAkSAd bhagavati
jJAna-dIpa-prade gurau
martyAsad-dhIH zrutaM tasya
sarvaM kuJjara-zaucavat

The spiritual Master, the giver of transcendental knowledge, is
directly the Supreme Lord Himself, His prakAza-vigraha. If someone
has the false idea that he is an ordinary human being, a mere mortal,
then all his study of scripture is as useless as the bathing of an elephant.

(SB 7.15.26)

Gaudiya Acarya Sri Vishwanath's commentary stresses:

"sAkSAd-bhagavatIti bhagavad-aMza-buddhir
api gurau na kAryeti bhAvaH | --"

"You are not to think of the guru even as a portion of Krishna,
but as Lord Krishna Himself--'sAkSAt bhagavAn'."

The next verse tells more about this Guru
Who is considered as Lord Himself-

eSa vai bhagavAn sAkSAt pradhAna puruSezvaraH
yogezvarair vimRgyAGghrir loko vai manyate naram

SB 7.15.27

Indeed the Supreme Person Himself is this Spiritual Master, as
well as the Lord of all living entities and of the material nature.
His lotus feet are sought and worshipped by the Master of great yogis.
Nonetheless, the ignorant folks still consider Him as an ordinary
human being.

AcAryaM mAM vijAnIyAn
nAvamanyeta karhicit
na martya buddhyA sUyeta
sarva devamayo guruH

Srimad Bhagavatam 11.17.27

So Lord Krishna declares again to devotee Uddhava:

"Always know the Guru to be Myself (Lord Krishna).
Never think unfavorably about Him. Do not use
your material mind to comprehend His Divine actions,
for all forms of God dwell within the Guru."

---------------

The following verse is very much praised by Sri Kripaluji Maharaj as
one of his most favorite verses of Srimad Bhagavatam as it reveals the
essential sadhana of Divine realization.

bhayaM dvitIyAbhinivezataH syAd
IzAd apetasya viparyayo 'smrRtiH
tan-mAyayAto budha Abhajet taM
bhaktyaikay ezaM guru-devat AtmA

SB 11-2-37

Fear arises when a living entity mis-identifies
himself as the material body because of absorption
in the external, illusory energy of the Lord.

When the invidual soul thus turns away from
the Supreme Lord, he also forgets his own
constitutional position
as an eternal servant of the Lord.

This bewildering, fearful condition is effected
by the potency for illusion, called mAyA.

Therefore, an intelligent person should engage
unflinchingly in the unalloyed devotion of the Lord,
accepting the guidance of God-realized Rasik Saint,
whom he should realize as his worshipable Deity
and as his very life and Soul.

------------------

These few verses are often recited by Sri Maharaj ji
in his worldwide discourses:

tasmAd guruM prapadyeta
jijJAsuH zreya uttamam
zAbde pare ca niSNAtaM
brahmaNy upazamAzrayam

Therefore one who is inquisitive about the ultimate good in life
should surrender to a spiritual Master who has thoroughly understood
the purport of the scriptures, who is fixed in Divine realization and
has attained peace from the sense impulses.

- Srimad Bhagavatam 11.3.21

nR-deham AdyaM sulabhaM sudurlabhaM
plavaM su-kalpaM guru-karNa-dhAram
mayAnukUlena nabhasvateritaM
pumAn bhavAbdhiM na taret sa Atma-hA

This human body is the root of all benefits. It seems so easily
obtained, yet is in fact extremely rare. It is like a boat especially
designed for crossing the ocean of material existence. If one has a
spiritual Master to guide him like the boat's helmsman and is given
the favorable winds of My mercy, but still fails to cross over, then
he is wilfully committing suicide.

SB 11.20.17

.. gurvaashhTakaM ..

janmaanekashataiH sadaadarayujaa bhaktyaa samaaraadhito
bhaktairvaidikalakshaNena vidhinaa santushhTa IshaH svayam.h .
saakshaat.h shrIgururuupmetya kR^ipayaa dR^iggocharaH san.h prabhuH
tattvaM saadhu vibodhya taarayati taan.h saMsaaraduHkhaarNavaat.h ..

The Supreme Lord, moved by the devout and reverential homage of his
disciples in accord with scriptural prescriptions in countless former
births, incarnates out of compassion in the form of Sri Guru;

he thereby comes within the orbit of sight, freely transmits to them
the wisdom concerning Ultimate Reality, and enables them to cross over
the ocean of sorrowful samsara, the realm of conditioned existence.

shariiraM suruupaM tathaa vaa kalatraM
yashashchaaru chitraM dhanaM merutulyam.h .
manashchenna lagnaM guroraN^ghripadme
tataH kiM tataH kiM tataH kiM tataH kim.h ..1..

One's vesture may be superb, one's consort likewise, one's reputation
resplendent and renowned, and one's riches like unto Mount Meru;
but if one's mind be not centred upon the lotus feet of the Guru, what
then, what then, what then?

kalatraM dhanaM putrapautraadi sarvaM
gR^ihaM baandhavaaH sarvametaddhi jaatam.h .
manashchenna lagnaM guroraN^ghripadme
tataH kiM tataH kiM tataH kiM tataH kim.h ..2..

Wife, wealth, sons, grandsons and all such; home and kindred; the host
of all these things may be there;
but if one's mind be not centred upon the lotus feet of the Guru, what
then, what then, what then?

shhaDaN^gaadivedo mukhe shastravidyaa
kavitvaadi gadyaM supadyaM karoti .
manashchenna lagnaM guroraN^ghripadme
tataH kiM tataH kiM tataH kiM tataH kim.h ..3..

The Vedas with their six limbs and the knowledge of all sciences may
be on one's lips; one may possess the poetic gift and may compose fine
prose and poetry;
but if one's mind be not centred upon the lotus feet of the Guru, what
then, what then, what then?

videsheshhu maanyaH svadesheshhu dhanyaH
sadaachaaravR^itteshhu matto na chaanyaH .
manashchenna lagnaM guroraN^ghripadme
tataH kiM tataH kiM tataH kiM tataH kim.h ..4..

I am honoured in other lands and I am prosperous in my homeland; in
the paths of righteous conduct there is none who surpasses me; thus
one may think;
but if one's mind be not centred upon the lotus feet of the Guru, what
then, what then, what then?

kshamaamaNDale bhuupabhuupaalavR^indaiH
sadaa sevitaM yasya paadaaravindam.h .
manashchenna lagnaM guroraN^ghripadme
tataH kiM tataH kiM tataH kiM tataH kim.h ..5..

One may be constantly extolled and one's presence highly honoured by
hosts of emperors and rulers of this world;
but if one's mind be not centred upon the lotus feet of the Guru, what
then, what then, what then?

yasho me gataM dikshu daanapretaapaa-
jjagadvastu sarvaM kare yatprasaadaat.h .
manashchenna lagnaM guroraN^ghripadme
tataH kiM tataH kiM tataH kiM tataH kim.h ..6..

My repute has travelled in all directions through my philanthropy and
prowess; all the things of this world are in my hands as rewards for
my virtues; thus one may think;
but if one's mind be not centred upon the lotus feet of the Guru, what
then, what then, what then?

na bhoge na yoge na vaa vaajiraajau
na kaantaamukhe naiva vitteshhu chittam.h .
manashchenna lagnaM guroraN^ghripadme
tataH kiM tataH kiM tataH kiM tataH kim.h ..7..

One's consciousness may not be confined to enjoyment nor to yoga, nor
indeed to multitudes of steeds, neither to the face of the beloved nor
to riches;
yetif one's mind be not centred upon the lotus feet of the Guru, what
then, what then, what then?

araNye na vaa svasya gehe na kaarye
na dehe mano vartate me tvanarghye .
manashchenna lagnaM guroraN^ghripadme
tataH kiM tataH kiM tataH kiM tataH kim.h ..8..

One's mind may not dwell upon the forest nor even upon home, nor in
what is to be accomplished, not upon the body, nor upon what is
auspicious;
yet if one's mind be not centred upon the lotus feet of the Guru, what
then, what then, what then?

gurorashhTakaM yaH paThetpuNyadehI
yatirbhuupatirbrahmachaarii cha gehii .
labhedvaaJNchhitaarthaM padaM brahmasaMGYaM
guroruktavaakye mano yasya lagnam.h .. 9..

Whoever, hallowed by holy merit,
ponders the above octad extolling the Guru,
whose mind is centred upon the words of the Guru,
whether such a person be an ascetic, sovereign, student or householder,
attains the desired goal,
the consummation of Divine love union with Beloved Lord.

.. iti shriimad.h shaN^karaachaaryavirachitaM gurvaashhTakaM samaap taM ..

This concludes the 'Gurvashtakam' .

QUOTE

If is too busy, a simple cut/paste would help.

QUOTE

janmaanekashataiH sadaadarayujaa bhaktyaa samaaraadhito
bhaktairvaidikalakshaNena vidhinaa santushhTa IshaH svayam.h .
saakshaat.h shrIgururuupmetya kR^ipayaa dR^iggocharaH san.h prabhuH
tattvaM saadhu vibodhya taarayati taan.h saMsaaraduHkhaarNavaat.h ..

The Supreme Lord, moved by the devout and reverential homage of his
disciples in accord with scriptural prescriptions in countless former
births, incarnates out of compassion in the form of Sri Guru;
he thereby comes within the orbit of sight, freely transmits to them
the wisdom concerning Ultimate Reality, and enables them to cross over
the ocean of sorrowful samsara, the realm of conditioned existence.

Happy auspicious 'Guru vaar' to all.

Brahmanda bramite kona bhagyavana jiva
Guru-krsna-prasade paya bhakti-lata-bija

[C.C. Madhyalila, 19.151]

"According to their karma, all living entities are wandering throughout the
entire universe. Some of them are being elevated to the upper planets,
and some are going down into the lower planetary systems.
Out of many millions of wandering living entities, one who is very fortunate
gets an opportunity to associate with a Rasik Saint by the grace of Krsna.
By the mercy of both Krsna and the Saintly Preceptor, such a person
receives the seed for the vine of Divine Love."

tate krsna bhaje, kare gurura
maya-jala chute, paya krsnera carana

"If the surrendered soul engages in the loving service of the Lord
and follows the sadhana given by his/her Divine Preceptor and
faithfully serves him, he/she can get out of the clutches of maya
and become eligible for shelter at Krsna’s lotus feet."

guru krsna-rupa hana sastrera pramane
gure-rupe krsna krpa karena bhakta-gane

[C.C. Adilila, 1.45]

"According to the deliberate opinion of all revealed scriptures,
the spiritual Master himself is another form of Lord Krsna.
Lord Krsna Himself in the form of the
spiritual master delivers His devotees."

siksa-guruke ta jani krsnera svarupa
antaryami, bhakta-srestha, -- ei dui rupa

[C.C. Adi, 1.47]

"One should know the spiritual Master revealing the practical
devotion to the Lord, to be the Personality of Krsna, because
Lord Krsna manifest Himself in both forms, one as the 'Antaryami', Supersoul,
and the other as the Rasik Saint, the perfect saintly devotee of the Lord."

jive saksat nahi tate guru caitya-rupe
siksa-guru haya krsna-mahanta-svarupe

[C.C. Adi, 1. 58]

"Since the seeking soul is not yet evolved enough to have
the spiritual experience of the Lord as the Divine Supersoul,
He appears before the surrendered soul in the form of Rasik Saint.
Such a saintly Preceptor is none other than Krsna's
own form of Divine Grace."
..........

Devotion towards Guru ~ A commentary by Saint Gyaneshwar Himself

Importance of Guru in Dnyaneshwari...

Saint Dnyaneshwar/Gyaneshwar was a Nath-Yogi (known as Gyandeva or Gyan-nath) also, and
in the Nath Tradition Guru is considered to be equal to God or even greater than God.

Following are the excerpts from Dnyaneshwari/Gyaneshwari :-
*Devotion to Guru: *Now I shall tell you about the method of devotion to
one's Guru. This service of the Guru is the birth- place of all fortunes and
makes an individual even in sorrowful state to attain Brahman. Listen with
complete attention. (13:369-371).

He who has dedicated his mind and body to the Guru-tradition is the
storehouse of Guru-devotion. His thoughts are about the place of abode of
his Guru. He rushes to welcome even the wind blowing from that region and
requests it to visit his home. Out of the mad love he has for the Guru he
likes to talk only about the direction in which his Guru lives. He considers
Guru's home as his own legacy but being bound by Guru's orders he has to
live in his own place. Then he longs for the release from Guru's orders and
an opportunity to meet him and in this mood a moment feels like a thousand
years to him. If somebody arrives from Guru's village or Guru himself sends
someone then he feels like person revived from death. (13:374-380). He feels
elated even by the name of his Guru's tradition. If you find anybody with
this kind of love for the Guru tradition then understand that Knowledge is
always at his service. (13:382-383).

Then with great love in his heart he meditates on the form of his Guru. By
installing that form in his pure heart he himself becomes the articles of
worship or he installs his Guru like Shivalinga in the temple of bliss
situated in the premises of Knowledge and bathes with the nectar of
meditation. Then when the sun of Self-realisation rises he fills the basket
of intellect with flowers of pure feelings and offers them to the Guru as
Lord Shiva. He considers all the three times i.e. morning, noon and evening
as auspicious for this worship and burns the myrrh of ego and ever waves
Arti with the lamp of knowledge. He offers his Guru the food of non-duality
and taking him to be Shivalinga serves like its priest. (13:385-390).

Sometimes his intellect imagines his Guru to be the husband lying on the bed
of life and experiences his loving admiration. Sometimes there is such
strong waves of love in his mind that he calls the love as the ocean of milk
and the limitless bliss experienced by meditating there same as the bed of
the Great Shesha the serpent where his Guru is relaxing in the form of Lord
Vishnu; and he himself becomes His consort Laxmi serving Him. He stands
before Him becoming Garuda as well and becomes Brahmadeo created from His
navel and with the love for his Guru he experiences the bliss of meditation
within his mind. (13:391-395).

Sometimes on the strength of devotion he fancies his Guru as his mother and
lying on her lap enjoys the breast milk. Or imagining his Guru to be a cow
under the tree of Knowledge becomes its calf. Sometimes an idea that he is a
fish in the waters of his Guru's benevolence flashes in his mind. He
imagines the Guru's benevolence to be a shower of nectar watering the plant
of attitude of service. (13:396-399).

See how limitless his love is! Sometimes he considers himself to be just
hatched chick without eyes or wings of his Guru and imagining him to be the
mother bird gets fed by her beak. Thus, just as at high tide waves arise one
after another, he goes from one state of meditation to the next, overcome by
the love for his Guru. (13:400-402).

Now I shall tell you how he serves the Guru externally. He resolves, "I will
serve my Guru in the best possible way and Guru will become pleased by it
and tell me affectionately to ask for something. Once my master is pleased
with my service I shall pray to him thus: 'Oh Master, let me be your entire
entourage. I shall be the articles you need.' And you will see the wonder of
my service. Guru is a mother to many he will be mother to me alone and I
shall make him say it on oath. (13:403-410). I shall arrange such that the
Guru will be obsessed with me and will be dedicated only to me and will
shower his love only on me." (13: 411)

Thus runs his mind in fanciful thoughts. He says, "I shall be the place of
abode of my Guru and serve him becoming his servant. I shall be the
threshold which my Guru crosses and I shall also be the doors of the house
as well as the doorkeeper. I shall be his sandals and I myself will make him
wear them. I shall be his umbrella too and I myself will hold it over him. I
shall be his vanguard and warn him of the ups and downs of the ground before
him. I shall be the fly whisk, the valet, the server of water-jug for
washing hands and mouth and I shall be the clean basin to receive the
mouthwash. I shall be the server of the betel leaf and also the residue
which is spitted out. And I shall be the one to serve him in giving bath.
(13:412-420).

"I shall be the seat, ornaments, clothes, applications like sandal paste
etc. of my Guru. I shall become the cook and serve him food and wave the
lamp round him in worship (*Arati* - a ritual of worship in which a lamp is
waved around the object of worship.) When the Guru sits for his meals I
shall sit with him and later I shall come forward to offer him the betel
leaf. I shall remove his dish, spread his bed and massage his legs. I shall
be his throne and the Guru will sit on it. Thus I shall fulfil my vow to
serve him. (13:421-425).

"There will be a miracle by which I shall be whatever Guru's mind turns to.
I shall be the countless words that enter Guru's ears and I shall become
everything that touches his body too. I shall be the forms which my Guru's
affectionate eyes see. I shall be the eatables which his tongue will savour
and shall serve the nose by becoming a fragrance." (13:426-429).

Thus he feels that he should pervade all things to serve his Guru from
outside as long as he lives. But he feels that even after death he should
serve his Guru. Listen to how he thinks. (13:430-431).

He thinks, "Wherever the feet of my Guru touch, I shall mix the Earth
principle of my body into that earth and where he will touch water I shall
mix the water principle of my body into it. I shall mingle the Fire
principle from my body into the light of the lamps used for waving around
the Guru and those lighted in his temple. I shall merge the life principle
into the fly-whisk and the fan of my Guru and be the breeze that comforts
his body. Whichever space my Guru goes with his entourage I shall introduce
the part of my sky (space) principle in it. But on no account I shall allow
the service of my Guru be interrupted whether during my life or after death
and neither shall I let other people to serve my Guru. Eons will pass while
I serve my Guru thus." (13:432-437).

He who holds such courage and serves his Guru with limitless devotion does
not count days or nights nor the extent of burden, on the other hand he
feels happier if Guru asks him to do more. Even if the tasks Guru tells him
to do are bigger than the sky he carries them out single-handed. In this
respect his body competes with his mind and completes the task. Sometimes he
stakes even his life in order to fulfil Guru's commands even made in jest.
He strains his body in Guru's service, gets strength from Guru's love and
becomes the mainstay of Guru's orders. He derives respectability from his
Guru's tradition and is polite to his brother disciples and is addicted to
Guru's service. He considers the rules of his Guru's tradition as the
prescribed duties for his caste and devotional service to his Guru as his
daily duty. To him, Guru is the place of pilgrimage, Guru is the deity,
mother and father and there is nothing other than Guru's service. Guru's
door is his everything and he has brotherly love for all who serve his Guru.
He has the Mantra given by his Guru always on his tongue and except for his
Guru's words he does not touch any Shastras. To him the water which his
Gurus feet have touched are superior to all other holy waters from the three
worlds. If by chance he gets leftover food from his Guru he prefers it to
the bliss of Samadhi. Even a particle of dust raised when his Guru walks is
like the bliss from liberation to him. There is no end to how much one can
talk about his devotion to his Guru. (13:438-452).

Dnyaneshwar Maharaj says,

"I am saying all this because I am overcome by the feelings of devotion
towards my Guru. One who likes this feeling of devotion does not find
anything sweeter than to be of service to the Guru. Such a person is the
abode of Self-realisation and because of him, Knowledge itself gets
respectability and becomes his devotee considering him to be God. In such a
person lies Knowledge sufficient for the whole world and to spare. I am
extremely anxious about service to the Guru and therefore I have described
it extensively but I am handicapped in all respects in this regard. However
the extreme love I have in my heart for my Guru compelled me to expand on
this topic. I am praying him to accept it and give me an opportunity to
serve him so that I shall be able to explain this book further in a better
way." (13:453-460).

source: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/divinelove2/