We should meditate Guru’s form every day and always utter His name. Whatever is the instruction of our Guru, we should follow it strictly. We should not think of anything else, except Guru. Thus the mind is to be surrendered to the Guru.
I bow to the lotus feet of Sai and consider His Padaseva as the goal of life. It is an inexpressible bliss to utter Guru Sai’s name. I always wish to meditate only on Sai’s boundless virtues.
It is the Guru who is the creator Brahma, the protector Vishnu and the preceptor of the world Lord Shiva. But, Guru is all, Trinity incarnate, Guru Datta.
Guru’s form is endless and pervading the whole universe. By worshipping his feet, a devotee gets into contact with the supreme Parabrahma.
A Guru is an embodiment of gnana and shakti (spiritual power and self-realizations). He wears the garland of supreme wisdom. He is the bestower of bhakti and mukti that is worldly happiness and comforts, and spiritual happiness, eternal bliss and sakshatkara of God. Let us see how the utter faith is the Guru is expounded in these shlokas.
One cannot obtain self-realization without Guru’s grace. Only by the grace of Guru, who is the ocean of mercy, a devotee realizes the goal of life.
The above illustrations from H. H. Narasimha Swamiji’s Sainatha Mananam clearly focusses our attention on the straight road (that is the Guru marga) on which we have to tread upon to reach eternity or God. We have to be careful as unknown and ambiguous paths will lead to unknown places.
Kabir Das too views the same and repeatedly sings on the glory of God.
Let us, surrender ourselves completely to our Guru who is above material pleasures, who has stripped himself off or self-conceit and who is always immersed in God.
Kabir considers Guru, the immediate rescuer, greater than Govinda. He says that he has come to this conclusion as a result of deep thinking. If one remembers Hari at the time of his passing away from this world or similar critical situations in this worldly life, there may be delay in getting the relief we receive. But, if we seek the help of Guru and remember him, in no time our Guru will help us cross the ocean of samsara that is bhava sagar.
This doha of Kabir explains the real situation. Guru’s power is immense and in these three worlds and nine khandas, no body is greater than Guru. Even God does not go against the wish of Guru. The Sadguru’s decision prevails over God’s wish.
Thus there are volumes of literature which speak the merit and selfless services of a Guru. An incident often quoted in this connection is, Baba’s advice to a rich lady who carried a plate full of rupees and begged Baba to make Himself her Guru and give upadesha. But, Baba revealed to her the Guru marga trod upon by so many. It is not the Guru that makes himself one’s Guru. It is we who must identify a Sadguru and regard him as our Guru and pour our utter faith and love on him. Like Ekalavya, one must completely surrender oneself to the Guru.
It is rare to get a Sadguru like Shirdi Sai Baba. A Sadguru is a highly qualified preceptor and who is God incarnate and is the Guru of Guru’s. A Samartha Sadguru’s Avatar is not the usual incarnation. (As stated in the Bhagvad Gita, whenever there is a trial for righteousness, and thriving for wrong doings, God descends into this world to protect the virtuous and to punish the wicked.) But, Guru Avatars are remarkable as it is only to protect people in this world and help them enjoy supreme bliss in the world of eternity.
To sum, all these illustrations prove the fact that Guru’s grace is our only sadhana. Jnana comes as experience. So, on this auspicious Guru Poornima, let us worship our Samartha Sadguru Sai Baba by constantly remembering that Sayeesha is the Same as Lord Venkatesha.
Let us try to establish contact with Sai Baba by constantly doing Nama Japa, “Om Sai Sri Sai Jaya Jaya Sai” in mind and worship Him with devotion. Sai is always there showering His benign blessings upon ardent devotee who approaches Him in the right manner. Sai Baba is ever present and near us and will assuredly respond to our call.
అఖిలన్దకోటి బ్రహ్మాండ నాయకా రాజాది రాజయోగిమహారాజా
శ్రిసమర్త సద్గురు SAINATH మహారాజ్కి జై
Sri Adi Shankara Bhagawat Pada (788 A.D - 820 A.D)
