You are going to a temple casually... What will you do if a complete stranger casually stops you, come to you and says, “You are a Brahmin belonging to _______ gothra. You were not born for this purpose . . . Your lifetime purpose is different. Learn Sanskrit and enter the Upasana Marga”?
99% reaction will be - you come to a conclusion that you are dealing with a madman or yet another way to make money.
But Ambika Dattan,a young school boy did not leave... He stopped and listened or.... something made him to stop... The face of the mysterious man was very very familiar.
Ambika Dattan was actually in a confused mind set - for the past few days... He was unable to come to a conclusion. Life bound him to disown responsibilities but renunciation was equally enchanting.
It so happened that one tuesday evening, during the month of Maasi he was casually moving inside a temple entrance. Ambika Dattan was encountered by this person... He stopped the boy and started questioning him...
The boy actually didn’t know what to do. Out of sheer desperation, he stood up, thinking of running. But, he heard a voice which clearly ordered, “Iam a Parabrahma vasthu and Ive manifested here just for you ! Iam here to answer your prayer ! be here !”
Ambika Dattan was perplexed as he couldn’t make out anything. But the person soon started narrating many personal instances, "His" connection with the boy's family for generations.. Still Ambika Dattan was very hesitant in staying back.. Finally he spoke about one personal prayer made by the boy at an Adhishtanam - during his childhood. Finally he revealed his identity and started explaining the reason for his visit. What was heard only in stories -was happening in reality. Divinely inspired, the boy even forgot to salute the great person standing in front of him.
The person spoke to the young boy for more than half an hour and explained him the reality of the Mahavakhyams given in the four Vedas. He gave him few more insturctions to be carried out and finally He imparted the knowlege of Devi Upasana to Ambika Dattan.
(There are many more highly miraculous incidents and informations which was imparted, but due to their sanctity, Ambika Dattan requested me not to publish it here.)
He instructed Ambika Dattan to return home and continue the upasana and assured rest will automatically happen.
When the parting moment came, the boy was totally awestruck to say anything... The mysterious person stood there, blessed him and walked away!
Ambika Dattan then returned to his place, and lives happily embraced by the person’s blessings. This became the turning point in Ambika Dattan's life.
The ‘person’ who stopped the young boy is actually not a "mere person". He is more than that. The main purpose of this post - is intended to show the glory of a compassionate gurunatha who came to lend a helping hand to the boy whom he had promised janmas ago... he had come back after 70 years of his Maha Samadhi...
Yes ! 70 years after the Maha Samadhi - the person who came there was none other than the Great Mystic - Shri Seshadri Swamigal.
Sri Seshadri Swamigal is one of the greatest Indian saints who lived Thiruvannaamalai. He was beyond the description of a saint, a reality that cannot be clutched and clasped by the mind leading one to realization.
Sri Chandrasekarendra Saraswathi, Maha Periyaval of Sri Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam said once "will I attain a state like Seshadri Swamigal?". Such was the greatness of Gurunathar Sri Seshadri Swamigal
Yesterday I had a golden chance of going to Thiruvannamalai and had a blissful stay at Seshadri Swamigal's Adhishtanam. This reminded me of the above encounter of Ambika Dattan and Seshadri Swamigal.
Seshadri Swamigal, well known as Hiranya Bahu - "Saint with a golden hand", whose touch can bring fortune even to an ordinary mortal.
Ambika Dattan is a living example as to what Guru Krupa can do to a person...
Naasti Thathwam Param Gurum
There is no thathwam other than Guru
Guru is a father, a friend, a guru and a savior, all in one.
Yesterday at Banglore, I met a devotee from Srividya Charities - devotees of Arutkavi Shri Sadhuram Swamigal. This reminded me of my encounter with Sadhuram Swamigal- which happened some fifteen years ago at Oonjaloor, during the Aradhana of my Gurunatha Sri Seshadri Swamigal. The then small school boy and the Sanyasi - we both belong to same Guru Parampara... My Guru Seshadri Swamigal was his Parama Gurunatha. It was an unforgettable event. He was a living example as to what is Guru Krupa can do to a person... His ability to compose divine hyms was amazing and was a scholar par excellence. Please hear the Thiruppugazh rendered by him and enjoy
In continuaton with our previous post on Guru Sishya relationship, we received the followed comment.
Excellent guidelines, but general query with every one is how to select Guru. what is the qualification to get Deeksha.
After seeing media, people are very sacred of selecting guru and some people argue why to have middle man to speak to god and will try to reach god directly with our own prayers etc.,
Also some people accepted there guru as Maha periava, Ramana maharishi, Rama krishna, Arabindo, Seshathri swamigal (Even the person never met him).
Also give some information regarding Thruvannamalai Giri vallam. some people says they could able to see SITHAR SWAMIGAL LIKE PAPMPATTI SITHAR etc., is it true. I never get opportunity to visit that temple and attend Giri vallam.
Can you clarify.
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Let me try to answer this one by one
General query with every one is how to select Guru. What is the qualification to get Deeksha.
How can one select a Guru?
Did we select our father or mother ?
The Guru Thatwa is an embodiment of karunya and it is he who select us as a sishya and not vice versa.
We may think that we are choosing a Guru. But in no way its going to happen. Whoever may be the Guru, Guru is "Sakshat Parabrahma"
The Guru Sishya relationship doesnot happen by appointment or designation. It emerges automatically.
The first and foremost quality for a sishya is vinaya ie humbleness and 0% Ego.
When a person thinks of choosing his Guru, definitely he may compare him with others (please read my previous post - which is a very great sin) And also this shows he is egoistic and If one thinks that he is choosing his guru, Iam sure he is fooling himself.
When the sadhaka is ready and ripe - God sends the Guru in the right time.
"Thottu Kaatta Guru Thane Varuvaar"
Guru is not a post or position - its an eternal commitment and phenomena.
The qualification for deeksha is decided by the Guru alone. Right or wrong he takes up the responsibilities of the sishya (including his karma)
After seeing media, people are very sacred of selecting guru and some people argue why to have middle man to speak to god and will try to reach god directly with our own prayers etc.,
Again the question of selecting a Guru does not arise
I would like to quote from my previous post - "Mostly we will try to judge and always make a wrong judgement."
This is what is happening today. Only a Guru has to select a sishya.
If you think you are selecting your Guru then you are not on the right track. Your faith and Viswasa with the Guru is also not that strong. This ultimately leads to disaster.
Most of the people have a feeling that there is not need for a Middle Man to show God.
Each and every living being has to rise gradually in each janma after janma and only then reach a level of Jeevan Mukthi and only then attain moksha. This can happen only with Guru's grace.
One has to make one point clear - the purpose of human birth is to attain moksha and for this guru is must. If one thinks the purpose is to get the blessings of God for a comfortable livelihood, luxurious life, wealth etc then Guru is surely a middle man.
The path to our destination called moksha is a forest full of animals and we need a guide to cross the place. Guru is the only guide who can take you along with him safely and help you reach your goal.
Instant moksha and instant gnana is not at all possible. If a person says I doent need a middle man - its again sheer Ego and you cant expect anything more from that sort of a person. (I know a person who has all the "Good Qualities" including consuming alcohol but claims that he doesnt need a Guru and he is going to get moksha because his astrologer has said so)
----------------- Next qery Also some people accepted there guru as Maha periava, Ramana maharishi, Rama krishna, Arabindo, Seshathri swamigal (Even the person never met him).
Also give some information regarding Thruvannamalai Giri vallam. some people says they could able to see SITHAR SWAMIGAL LIKE PAPMPATTI SITHAR etc., is it true. I never get opportunity to visit that temple and attend Giri vallam.
Some people consider Maha Purushas like Seshadri Swamigal, Ramana or Mahaperiyava as their Guru. This is a very great oppurtunity. But these Maha purushas bless us as a divine force and guide our life. But in case of upadesha or mantra deeksha what will be the case?
To a very rare and lucky few, they themselves manifest before them and give their blessing. YES !!!this is true and happens even today. But its said vindavar kandilar - many people who claim this get carried away in the waves called publicity, self and benefits of the ocean called Ego. There are still few pure souls who are blessed with such rare opportunity.
But in most other cases the Mahapurushas again send some physical Gurus in order to guide the souls. One has to accept that fact. A physical Guru's presence is the most necessary thing and a guiding force for any normal aspirant.
So for a true sadhaka, the need of a Guru is inevitable.
Naasti Thathwam Param Gurum
There is no thathwam other than Guru
An Article written by me for SRI VIDHYA CHARITES, BANGALORE , Who released Sovenier on occation of 10th Aradhana Mahostvam of SRI SADHU RAM SWAMIGAL
V.Aravind Subramanyam 94 B, Third Street, Tatabad, Coimbatore 12 Email : aravindsai@gmail.com Ph: 9994641801 -------------------------------------------- Who is a Guru? What is his role? Is he necessary for a human being?
The path to our goal is rugged, and is infested with hungry wolves and tigers and with yawning pits - and the necessity for a Guide is inevitable. Guru is the only guide who can make your travel safe and help you reach your destination.
Guru is God. Guru is everything. He is brother, father, well-wisher, relative and true friend. A Guru is the vital part in one’s life…
And the main problem with people is they even fail to understand the necessity and the importance of a Guru. A Guru’s prime job is to remove the ignorance of his sishya. But most of us seek a Guru – who, according to us is our “Problem solver”. Delay in marriage, Non-employment, family disputes etc etc we have a very long list, whenever we meet a Sage or Guru. Only a genuine seeker will know what it is to get attracted to an enlightened master.
My Gurunatha, Sri Seshadri Swamigal was beyond the description of a saint, a reality that cannot be clutched and clasped by the mind leading one to realization. Sri Seshadri Swamigal’s interaction with the world was very strange. Seshadri Swamigal's behavior was quite eccentric and unpredictable. He acted like a mad man at times to fend off worldly people, but to earnest seekers he was extremely gentle and considerate Often when people saw him in the streets they would prostrate before him and he would get near to enable them to touch his feet. But, he would never allow selfish or worldly people to touch his feet. He would run away and if they forced themselves on him, he would abuse them or even pelt them with stones. Seeing this, many people did not go near him. But when the person is a real pathra – seeking for the ultimate truth, he would himself call them and give what they want.
For a layman, a Guru is a form that bestows all the grace for a fruitful material and spiritual life. And the masters – out of Sheer kindness encourage us with all our worldly limitations and give us the helping hand. The Guru helps the sishyas in all aspects by solving their problems. They wait for a sathsishya to come – whom they can ignite. With this mentality when we get attracted to the Guru, sure we will recognize a new center unveiling within us.
And who is a Guru? One must clearly understand that a Guru is not a person who jumps from the sky with four hands. Anything that diverts the mind from the ultimate truth -is maya and the power which makes the mind ‘turn back’ and seeks to the source is Guru.
Though he may appear to be a normal person.. He may appear to behave like everyone else. But, Guru is something beyond comprehension and only when you have a direct experience of the Guru's grace, then you realize the supremacy of Guru.
`One should not look upon his master as a mere human being, or the mantra that he gives as merely words. A person who does this, or commits the mistake of looking upon an idol (devatA vigraha) as a mere stone, will certainly go to hell'.
A person who has ultimate faith in his Guru and His words – for him no sadhana is needed. The Moksha is very well assured for him. Ultimate trust in Guru - fully and wholeheartedly is the only sadhana.
You can never judge a Guru – who is compassion personified. Their acts may be dramatic – but they are deeply impressive and has a very great significance. Even the emotions which they show – is another vehicles to carry the grace. The ordinary words which come from them are a teaching thereby imparting guidance in a more profound way.
When Vallimalai Swamigal came to Thiruvannamalai in search of a spiritual path, he met Sri Seshadri Swamigal who said nothing but the following words
“Thiruppugazh dhan Mahamantram” - Thiruppugazh is the Maha Mantra.
This words from Gurunathar- transformed the life of the disciple. Sri Sachidhananda Swamigal dedicated his entire life to highlight the glory of Thiruppugazh.
From the Ever compassionate Guru, even scolding had the effect of erasing self image and infusing grace.
Seshadri Swamigal had the habit of picking up pieces of broken mud pots and throwing them at people sometimes. One day, one shepherd boy approached him. Seshadri Swami, for no apparent reason, began to beat him up with those pot pieces! Even blood began to ooze out of the wounds. A crowd collected around. Some of them were upset and some disconcerted. Two months later, one foreign couple came to Tiruvannamalai, saw the boy and adopted him. They taught him their family trade. He became a millionaire later! Even the anger of the Guru is a great blessing, if only we know how to receive.
Srividyopasana, the highest form of Upasana and highly secretive in nature. A Srividyopasaka’s daily routine starts - as soon as he gets up from his bed in the morning, the first thing to do is to meditate on the sacred feet of his Guru. This he must do even before he thinks of his Ishta Devata
The Guru Tatwa is an embodiment of complete Karunyam – compassion. The Divine force has Five distinct functions (pancakrityam)– and the guru tatwa belongs to the profoundest of the five divine functions ie. Srishti (creation), Stithi (sustenance), Samhara (destruction or devolution), Tirodhana (veiling) and Anugraha (grace).
Guru is Anugraha mayam. What does anugraha mean? It is the power which takes a mature soul to the higher plane – by making him come in contact with the master and in turn lead to Gnana (self knowledge). Thus when the divine grace itself assumes a human form – and this power of grace manifests through the personality of the teacher – Guru.
Faith is the state of mind towards the all supreme. It is the surrender that gets the grace of the Guru. Once this state is attained, then the worldly issues will not bother the disciple. Now, it’s the responsibility of the Guru to take care of his Sishya – the helpless child.
But please remember – to a devotee who has made an ultimate surrender – the very need for a prayer itself comes to an end. The Guru takes care of all problems, burdens and even day to day activities. This continues not only for a particular period of time but till he attains Moksha.
It is this power of grace that emanates from the Guru that fascinates the seeker. When the sishya is ready, the Guru comes automatically to “take care” of his child and thereby show him the right path.
A Chintamani is a stone which can only convert the metal into gold. But guru does the greatest alchemy. He transfigures his disciple into his own likeness through the upadesham. The ultimate grace of guru gives a deathly blow to the disciple's ignorance and makes him understand the ultimate; thus now the sishya becomes a Guru for another seeker.
vinA dIkShAM na mokShaH syAduktaM shivashAsane |
sA cha na syAdvinAchAryaM ityAchAryaparamparA ||
`Without initiation, there can be no release from the phenomenal bondage; and there can be no initiation without a master. Hence the succession of masters
He who have tasted the bliss, hand it down to the next in line. The Guru can transform the disciple by a look, a touch, a thought or a word or willing. When this is passed down in this way, those whose desire for the ultimate - can do so by the grace of the lineage or ‘parampara’.
Seshadri Swamigal initiated Shri Vallimalai Swamigal. Sri Vallimalai Swamigal – even after his Maha Samadhi, appeared to Sethuraman who had run away from his home and safely took him back home. He placed a composition called 'Hara HarO Haraa Kummi' in Sethuraman's bag. He appeared in the boy's dream and told them to sing the kummi and dance. From then onwards Sethuraman became an arutkavi Sadhuram Swamigal with the ability to sing hundreds of songs and poems.
Sri Chandrasekarendra Saraswathi, Maha Periyaval of Sri Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam said once "will I become like Seshadri Swamigal". Such was the greatness of our Gurunathar Sri Seshadri Swamigal.
A Guru is a manifestation of Karunyam. The Guru is like a Mother, full of Love and Compassion. He is none other than Parashakti - who is avyaja karuna moorthi who showers the grace for no reason.
This once unlettered boy, whom he took under his benevolent care, with the " Hiranya Bahu " - the Golden Hand which turned him what he is today, dedicates these few words with veneration and humility to the Lotus feet of Shri Seshadri Swamigal
sharIraM surUpaM sadA roga-muktam
yashashcAru citraM dhanaM meru tulyam
guror aGghri-padme manashcen na lagnam tataH kiM tataH kiM tataH kiM tataH kiM "One's body may be beautiful and always healthy, one's fame may be wonderful and bright, and one's wealth may be like a mount of gold. But if the mind is not fixed on the lotus-feet of the Guru, then What is the use? What is the use? What is the use? What is the use?
