[This
article appeared in August 1996 issue of the monthly
journal ‘Vicharasetu – The Path of
Introspection’]
None
is as faithful as our Mother Earth. She brings the
day, night, week, month and year so regularly
without fail or delay. This fact alone keeps our
life meaningful and effective.
Thus
comes the month of Ashadha with its gifts of
refreshing shower. New moons, especially the Ashadha
amavasya, are marked for oblations to the
departed souls. Poornimas, on the other hand,
mark the austerities and ceremonies to be done for
oneself and others that live. Ashadha
poornima has remained the most sacred and
auspicious, with an emphasis and memory making it
distinct in every way.
Gurupoornima
emphasizes spiritual learning, teaching and
austerities. All these are strengthened by its
memories. Guru represents a unique institution. The
child born to parents and reared by them, must find
his wholesome growth under a teacher. To impart
wisdom is as important as to give birth and provide
nourishment, or even more. Guru’s place is thus
held supreme in every way.
Amarasakti
was a king, who had three sons, none of whom could
succeed in learning as was expected of princes. All
the three proved to be idiotic. The King called an
assembly of ministers and eminent men and presented
the discomfiture before them. There came the
suggestion: “Vishnu Sarma is one, who should be
called immediately and apprised of the plight. He
will be able to resolve the crisis.” Amarasakti
sent for Vishnu Sarma. On being told of the problem,
he confidently said, “Send your sons to me. In six
months, if I am not able to present them back with
an expert knowledge of princely arts and wisdom, my
name will be changed.”
The
princes went with the new Teacher, who first wrote
the well-known Panchatantra for teaching them
through absorbing tales. He presents in this book, in
the form of stories, the various knowledge skills and
expediencies to be applied in different contexts of
life. Ever since, the book has stimulated numerous
boys, girls and grown up individuals. Because of its
uniqueness, it has been translated into several world
languages.
The
princes were brought back in due time as intelligent
royal men.
How
much devout can a Teacher be, and how such
devoutness can transform an idiot into an expert, is
evidenced in this story. Similarly, it has been only
due to Teachers and their zeal that our society has
remained strong with its heritage – mental, moral and
intellectual.
Let
us peep into Treta Yuga. Dasaratha, after
performing Asvamedha and Puttrakameshti
yagas, was blessed with four sons. The princes
grew, learning the usual princely skills and wisdom.
The king was happy, but the fatherly heart
yearned for matching princesses to be married to the
sons. Where would he get such a set, that would
adorn the Raghu dynasty?
One
day, while discussing the subject with the Acharyas
and Ministers, there came suddenly the great Saint
Visvamitra. The Sage wanted to take Rama for
fighting Ravana’s men that disturbed his
sacrifices, as his special vow for the occasion
precluded the use of his own spiritual power against
the assaulters. The King was taken aback; he
resented, but before Viswamitra could return
dishonoured by reputed Dasaratha, Vasishtadeva
intervened and advised Dasaratha to send his son
cheerfully with the Sage. “What else than the care
and guidance of such an illustrious Sage could help
the prince blossom forth with vigour, maturity and
splendour,” asked Vasishtha. Dasaratha corrected
himself, gained composure and sent Rama and
Lakshmana with Viswamitra.
The
princes thus spent a phase of life with the great
Kshatriya Sage in forest under the austere routines,
receiving a new spiritual grace, benediction and
skill. In fact, it was the enrichment gained during
this period that helped Rama and Lakshmana withstand
and face gloriously the prolonged forest exile
later. After winning the cause, Viswamitra took them
to Janaka’s palace, which led to the marriage of
all the four brothers with Sita, Urmila, Mandavi and
Srutakirti, the daughters of Rajarshi Janaka and his
brother. How benedictory was then the visit of
Viswamitra for Ayodhya palace when the King was just
discussing the marriage of his sons? And, timely and
wise was the interference of Vasishtha in correcting
Dasaratha?
Even
today, if we think of Rama and the rest, adore them,
look to them for inspiration, guidance strength and
even blessings, it is not because they were born in
palace, but because they could take to a very
austere, persecuting and sacrificing life, in which
their hearts, minds reason and power climbed from
peak to peak. The Sages Vasishtha and Viswamitra
shine well behind this unusual greatness and glory.
Come
down to Kali Yuga, as recent as 1200 years
ago. A young Brahmin boy, living with his widowed
mother as the only child, felt his pull to abandon
home and trek to the distant Narmada bank in Madhya
Pradesh in an unquenchable thirst for knowing Truth.
Walking weeks and months, the tired lad reached the
doors of Govindapada’s hermitage. The bearded
hermit embraced the seeker forging a new parental
and filial bond. Sankara sought, learned and gained
the object of his life under Govindapada. The Sage
father fondly lamented and hoped: “Look, alas, the
Vedic knowledge is in distress. The great
civilization has become corrupt. Who will restore,
purify and sublimate it rendering the holy country
strong and spiritually vibrant again? My heart is
deeply wounded; who is there to heal?”
The
new son was quick in responding. If the situation
hurt the Sage’s heart, it melted the disciples
mind. Soon the sishya left his beloved
hermitage and father. Walking across the great
country, as if in a ceaseless pilgrimage, the
undaunted Sankara met scholars, teachers, exponents,
reformers and preceptors, telling them of the true
import of the Upanishads, bringing correction to the
Vedic practices. Many were the challenges, risks and
dangers to be faced by the ascetic youngster.
Stunning heroism and self-abnegation had to be
displayed in ample measures. With the blessings of
the great Guru, with the spirit of wisdom and love
for society, Sankara triumphed through all hazards,
making India known ever since for its spiritual
greatness and glory. The abuses were set right and a
new spirit installed which even today shines and
spreads its splendours.
Scholars
and seekers there are, there will be. But those
adorned with the spirit of fidelity and belonging to
the Teacher regarding Him as supreme and undeniable,
are rare indeed. To the indecisive and divergent
life of one, devotion to the Guru brings clarity,
definiteness and convergence.
When
a real seeker becomes a SISHYA, there is nothing or
no one for him greater than the Guru. Guru and God
are alike. Before he meets the Guru, God was present
everywhere, but without any form to be interacted
with. On meeting the Guru, he feels there is some
one visible, with whom he can speak, from whom he
can hear, by whom he can be corrected, strengthened,
inspired and led. The relationship is as much
spiritual as bodily. The disciple’s ego vanishes,
a new ego emerges; his life and dedication receive a
new direction. The potential manifests and often
spreads with unique grace and splendour.
It
is the teacher who gives form, speech and
effectiveness to the mute and invisible God. No
wonder that our people commemorate the Ashada Poornima
with great feelings and memories; they begin
austerities and commence special spiritual
assignments on this day. Vyasa Deva started writing Brahma
Sutras and Sankara began commenting upon them on
this day. The season becomes wet. The ascetics are
tied to a place, reading prasthanatraya to
refresh themselves and also to disseminate the
wisdom.
Seekers
go to the Teachers, make offerings, receive
blessings and commence their yearly austere spell.
The union or reunion takes their heart and mind to
the Vedic age and still earlier. Like Ganges,
spiritual felicity bathes them in its eternal flow.
The Teachers also look to this day, as God in a
temple does on the Pratishtha day, to meet
and regenerate the sublime confluence.
The
Day means a great deal to our country. People are
yet to know what Guru Poornima means to their quest
for fulfillment – be it material or spiritual. Let
the Day bring splendid memories of Angiras-Saunaka,
Yama-Nachiketas, Sandipani-Krishna, Krishna-Arjuna,
Krishna-Uddhava, Govindapada-Sankara, Ramakrishna-Vivekananda
and a host of other GURU-SISHYA relationships,
enriching the flow of this wonderful civilization
towards Divinity.
* * *
