LOVE, COMPASSION, INSPIRATION-FILLED SHRI GURUDEV

 Not only in Pushti Marg but universally in Sanatan Dharm, vedas and scriptures, Gurudev is given a place of distinction. 'GU' means darkness and 'RU' means remover. Human life is pervaded with darkness. With Guru's radiant light of knowledge that darkness is removed and life becomes filled with illumination. It is because of that darkness that the eyes remains closed, and are unable to have Bhagavad darshan. A devotee is incapable of independently knowing and seeing even that which is most close. There are those who acquire book knowledge and consider it to be the ultimate but in reality the final goal is God realisation and without guru's grace, that can never be achieved. To attain any goal in the life, it is necessary to abandon egotistic actions and to surrender, because it is only through the power of guru's unbound grace that in this kaliyuga any soul pervaded irretrievably with imperfections, can become detached from the worldly ocean and move towards Bhagavad attainment. It is said that the position of guru in one's life surpasses even that of Bhagavan himself because, it is through gurudev that Bhagavan is attained. The great bhakta Kabirji's re-known verse says :
 

If we do not find guru, there is no one who can take us to Prabhu. Once Shri Maha Prabhuji was sleeping with his head resting in Damodardas Harsaniji's lap near Sunder Shila on the sacred ground at the base of Girirjji at Jatipura. At that moment. Shri Nathji came there. Damodasdasji gestured with his hand to stop HIM so as not to awaken Shri Maha Prabhuji due to the sound of his ankle bracelets. On awakening, when this became known to Sri Maha Prabhuji, he asked Damodasdasji', what have you done?' Damodardasji replied, 'What is bigger, the gift or the giver of the gift'. 'Maharaj, who has revealed Shri Nathji to me? It is by your grace that I
have come to know Him.'

The precious endowment is Shri Nathji and the giver is Shri Maha Prabhuji, that is, it is by Shri Mahaprabhuji's grace that Shri Nathji is attained. Accordingly, the guru holds the ultimate position of supremacy in human life and surpasses all as worthy of worship.

In Vedas, Puranas and other scriptures it is emphasized that guru and Bhagvan are not to be Differentiated.

The great gyani Pritamdasji writes:

It is written in Srimad Bhagavat that a devotee, devotion, guru and Bhagvan are spoken of as four separate entities but in fact they are one only. Even if guru is lustful, angry, greedy, attached, without discretion or unsightly, still, he should be considered to be Bhagavan's own form. One, who thinks otherwise of guru, the bestower of knowledge of Bhagavan, has the mentality of an elephant who after bathing, drops dirt on his own head. Such a person remains impure. It has never been seen, heard or thought till date that, without guru's grace, someone could attain divine knowledge. Knowledge does not manifest in a person who does not have guru. He can attain nothing. Therefore a guru is of the utmost of importance for mankind.

In purana, there is a narration from ancient times: Once Naradji traveled to Vaikunth to have Bhagvan's darshan. After having darshan and completing discussions, Narad took leave. Bhagvan called one of his sevaks and asked to cleansed the spot where Narad had sat. Seeing this, Narad was quite surprised and inquired, 'why did you have place cleansed where I was sitting?'. Bhagvan replied 'Naradji, you have never made anybody as your guru. Such a person is highly impure and without salvation. The place where you sat had become unconsecrated'. Hearing this Narad was struck with shame and asked 'What should I do ? By what procedure should I make a guru?'. Bhagavan instructed'. Do this ; While leaving here, go in a straight direction. You should take the very first person whom you meet on the road, as your guru. Never doubt him in any way'. Naradji took his leave and he walked away along the road, he met a hunter. Naradji spoke to him, 'Grace me and make me your sevak'. The hunter replied', Brother, I'm a hunter. I'm not a worthy in any way. How could I possibly give you a guru mantra?'. Naradji insisted, 'I'm not going to listen to any thing that you may say. Just give me a guru mantra'. Because of Narad's abstinence, he placed a tulsi mala around narad's neck and instructed. 'Repeat Bhagavan's name'.

After having taken hunter as a guru in this manner, Naradji went back to vaikunth so as to give good news to Bhagvan. While walking, he thought with remorse1, Oh ! I've taken a tulsi mala from that hunter. How could I get salvation from such a Guru? However it has been done on Bhagavan's orders, I had no alternative".
Reaching vaikunt's gate Naradji announced, 'Bhagavan I've taken a guru as you ordered'.

Bhagavan replied, 'Stop, Do not enter Vaikunt's gate'. Naradji was astonished again and asked, 'But Bhagavan ! now I've made a guru according to your orders. What offence have I committed?'. Bhagavan explained', Naradji, formerly you were unsacred because you had no guru. Now you have taken a guru but then, you have doubted him. You started feeling irreverently towards him. Therefore, you are prohibited from entering Vaikunth'. Naradji realized his mistake and felt deep remorse. He asked Bhagavan, 'I have committed a dreadful offence. How can I be absolved of this sin ?' Bhagavan replied, There is only one way. You will have to take repeated births in the eighty-four lakh species of creation.' Naradji became alarmed. He pleaded with Bhagavan, How could that be possible ? I was ignorant. Guide me'.

Bhagavan moistened the ground and began drawing lines in all directions. He explained'. This is the eighty-four lakh species'. Narad was clever. He devised a plan and began rolling on the ground where the picture was drawn and declared 'Maharaj! I've been liberated from it'.

Prabhu was pleased and imparted the teaching, 'Naradji, you have become liberated from the cycle of taking birth in the eighty-four lakh species but never again feel irreverence for the guru. I myself had come in the form of the hunter. I placed the tulsi mala around your neck only for the purpose of testing you. By my grace you have been forgiven for your wrong doings, but, if any one else commits offences against guru, I will not be able to pardon them. It is only through guru's grace such offences can be forgiven and for this reason one should remain ever alert.' After receiving these teachings, Narad took his leave. Understanding the significance of this narration, each person should maintain vigilance to avoid any impurities in one's reverence for guru. The sevak does not have worthiness to judge the actions of guru. The single duty of the sevak is to be obedient and expediently fulfill all of guru's orders.

The great gyani Uddhavji regarded the gopies as his guru.
 

Uddhavji prays to take birth in Vrindavan as tree, bush or blade of grass etc, so that he may partake of the sacred dust of the gopi's feet. Such is the significance of the earth consecrated by proximity with the gopis, so what can be said for any person, place or thing having the proximity of Krishna himself or gurudev ?

A pilot in the British Air Force who became an Indian sadhu and great yogi, bearing name as 'Krishna Prem' with unwavering faith in guru, has written : 'Keep total faith in the words of guru. Even if a crocodile approaches to swallow you, do not become frightened. By keeping faith, he will take you upon his back to cross the river Ganga. Know that to be undeniably true. Write it and keep it. If the Guru sends you into a lion's mouth, rest assured, he gives order such fully knowing that you will be returned unharmed.

Human souls attracted by mundane pleasures have become entrapped in a mysterious state of mind and have forgotten their ultimate and real destiny. Due to innate faulty predisposition, worldly beauty and pleasures become tools of entrapment. Prabhu's divine beauty alone can save one from faulty predisposition and misguided inclinations. The true guru diverts the attention of the sevak to the imperishable realm of life. Guru has ability to enable a dedicated disciple to reach to God.

 In the second chapter of Srimad Bhagavadgita, Arjun has taken Shri Krishna as guru and humbly requests', O guru of the Universe, Shri Krishna ! My buddhi is pervaded with perfections and can not remain firm on any thought. O Prannath ! Guide me and show me the true path so that I may extricate myself from and transcend this mundane existence, which is the cause of all sufferings and attain enlightment of the atma'.

In this way whenever Arjun faced any dilemma, he accepted the teachings of Shri Krishna whom he regarded as guru. This guru bhava is expressed in the following words :
 

Goswami Tulsidasji also expresses the same principle in Ramayana:
 

Bhagan Sri Ramchandraji, in describing the greatness of Guru, declares that the demons could only be destroyed through the grace of Guru Vashishtji.

Sant Kabirdas in praise of guru wrote that it was by guru's grace that my eyes were opened:

Sri Hariraiji writes in the 25th Shiksha Patra :

Prabhu never abandons those who have taken shelter in Shri Vallabhacharya's lotus feet. Prabhu remains pleased with those who worship him with faith and reverence. He bestows the grace of His own swarupanand on a person who has unwavering exclusive aashray. Shri Gopaldasji, writer of Vallabhakhyan, had the darshan of Sri Mahaprabhuji as Purnanand Prabhu. Brahmaji and Mahadevji do not have the worthiness for the darshan of this divine lila. As expressed in the first akhyan :

In this way lila darshan is only possible by guru's grace or Prabhu's grace. The great brij poet of Pushti Marg and foremost amongst ashtasakhan, Surdasji, sang of total dedication to guru:

In the first line Surdasji expresses" I have steadfast belief, unwavering devotion, everlasting love and unbroken faith in the union of the lotus feet of Prabhu and Guru. I have firm confidence in the praise worthy lotus feet of the divine couple 'Priya-Pritam' the exceptional and note worthy bhave here is that Prabhu and guru are identical, not two separate entities, but one only. In Pushti Marg guru's position is equivalent to Prabhu. Surdasji's humble words emphasizing his exclusive dedication to the lotus feet reflect his surrender. He further writes, 'Without the effluent radiance emitting from guru's lotus feet, the entire universe is in darkness and that can be removed only by guru's grace.

In the end, Surdasji, resolves the duality by expressing that Hari and Guru should be known to be one atma bhava, that no separation exists between the two, that there is no difference whatsoever. With humbleness, Surdasji describes himself as ignorant, devoid of knowledge and definitively states that Hari and Guru are equally worthy of worship and that no differentiation with Thakurji should be made.

Through these illustrations, it is clearly established that if there is a desire to attain the Sacchidanand Swarup, Shri Krishna's darling of Yashodaji, then one must remove his egotism and attachment; otherwise, it will bind the soul to repeated births in the eighty-four lakh species.

1. In Pusti Marg the original Guru is Shri Mahaprabhuji but at present, when he is not manifest, the descendent Goswami from whom we take Brahmsambandh initiation presides as Guru.

2. If Gurudev resides near the home, one should go for his daily darshan and take advantage of
his seva. One should consider it highly fortunate to be allowed to perform Gurudev's personal seva such as washing his clothes, sweeping the floors in his house, pressing his feet etc.

If Gurudev resides at a distance and going for daily darshan is not possible, one should keep a firm resolution to go to him on the following occassions, viz... Pavitra Ekadisi, Lunar Calendar New Year day (Kartik), Gurudev's birthday, one's own birthday and all other important religious days. One should not be careless in this respects.

3. Once in the year, on some auspicious occasions, Gurudev should be brought to one's residence to keep it sanctified.

4.One should offer one's own service during manoraths celebrations or any other programme held by Gurudev.

5. An offering should be made to Gurudev from time to time according to one's means. If possible a box should be kept in the home where, according to one's means, an amount be deposited daily and when accumulated it should be sent to Gurudev's home.

6. Seva performed physically and with one's own wealth is an important aspect of a vaishnav's humble duty and should be done gratefully understanding it to be one's good fortune.

7. Take Charan Sparsh (Touching Feet) of a picture of Guru in the morning upon rising, as well as while leaving from home, on any auspicious occasion and at night while going to sleep.

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