Guru Purnima: Celebrating Guru-Sishya tradition

Brahma alone is the Guru who liberates the soul: explains Acharya Madhuvratananda

Mail News Service

Jamshedpur, July 12: Acharya Madhuvratananda Avadhoot of Anand Marg Pracharak Sangh, on the occasion of Guru Purnima while quoting from the Anand Marg Darshan that states, “Brahmeva Gururekha Naparah”   explained, “Brahma alone is the Guru and it is He who establishes the path for liberation for the soul. Any Guru except Brahma cannot be accepted.”

The Guru-disciple tradition is called ‘Paramparapraptam Yoga.’  The foundation of the Guru- Sishya (teacher-disciple) tradition commenced with worldly knowledge but its climax was in the attainment of eternal spiritual bliss that meant the realization of God and ultimate salvation. Acharya Madhuvratananda observed, “Realization of God and ultimate attainment of salvation is the highest  goal of human life. One should note that books are not the only source of knowledge. The first knowledge centre is one’s family.”

The Avadhoot categorized knowledge into formal and informal segments. He said that a child’s first teachers are parents, the second, Acharya who takes the student to the close proximity of Sadhguru. “The term Guru, as explained in the Vedas is one who guides his disciples by sharing knowledge, both, worldly and scriptural the blend of which, makes for a solid foundation for onward quest for higher knowledge.”

The Acharya went on to explain, “According to Tantra, it is necessary to have Godhood in the Guru as two terms, bhaga and matup add up to Bhagwan or God. Gurus have six types of bhaga (divine power) that include Aishwarya, Virya or Pratap, Yash, Shree, Gyan and Vairagya.”

Explaining the six traits of a Guru, Acharya Madhuvratananda Avadhoot termed them as occult powers with Aishwariya meaning power or glory, Virya or Pratap meaning establishing oneself, Yash denoting influence of divine power, Shri meaning coordination or attraction, Gyan meaning self or transcendental knowledge and vairagya denoting nonattachment with worldly desires. The Acharya said, in reference to Vaidic term of Guru as being the embodiment of knowledge.

While describing the qualities of a Sadhguru, Acharya Madhuvratananda Avadhoot narrated, “Shaivite Tantra states that Guru is Brahma. A Guru should be calm and in complete control of the mind; Dantah: complete control over the senses; Kulinah: has the power to awaken the Kula Kundalini of the Sishya; should be humble; should be in control of his conduct, be pious, must be Suchi (holy); Subuddhiman: intuitive; Dhyananishtha: should be established in Dhyana, Tantra-Mantra Visharad Nigraha: one who guides the seeker on to the auspicious path with strict governance; Anugrath: capable of showering compassion on the weak. “A person imbibed with these qualities is called ‘Sadhguru like Lord Shiva, Lord Shri Krishna, Taraka Brahma and Lord Shri-Shri Anandmurti Ji,” Acharya Madhuvratananda Avadhoot concluded.