Who is a genuine Guru ? - Article in a Magazine

Who is a genuine Guru ?

“Ulagathil Oruvaraiyum Nambādhe, Gurunāthanai thavira” is a well known polite warning, meaning “Don’t believe anyone in the world except the Guru”. Then the immediate question pops up in the minds of the modern generation is how to know and find a truthful Guru having high degree of Integrity, Honesty, Sanctity, Purity and Justice ? Here is a clue…

Spirituality has unfortunately become a business in the hands of some, suddenly changing their avatārs from an ordinary man into a god man, without actually undergoing the rigorous training in Deva bhāsha, Vedas, Vedānta, Sāstrās, Purānās, various Bhāshyās, Upanishads, Tarka, Nyāya, Memāmsa, Vyākarana etc directly from a Guru belonging to a sacred Guru-Parampara lineage which has been in existence for centuries.

So unmistakably, the Sāstrās say the Guru should be a spiritually acclaimed individual coming from the Guru-Parampara lineage and should have been initiated into the holy order of Sanyāsa by his predecessor. Because, only Gurus of that importance can teach the sacred Mahāvākyās to make illustrious disciple a great yogi who would renounce the worldly affairs. Even the greatest souls who stepped into this earth have demonstrated the need to have a preceptor.  Incarnations of the Lord such as Sri Rāma, Sri Krishna, Adisankarāchārya and Rāmānujāchārya etc too have shown us the righteous path that we become absolute only if we have an authentic Guru as described supra i.e. without a Guru’s (predecessor) initiation, even towering achievements are of no avail and such person cannot become a Guru to others in the society. Therefore, it is the primary responsibility of the seeker to carefully search and cautiously study the history of a person who claims himself as a Guru, whether he is of the highest order belonging to the Guru-Parampara lineage, otherwise it will be of no avail to the seeker. In the olden days, right from the Tretāyuga, Dwāpara yugās, the Gurus were born celibate, ardently pious and made several sacrifices for the sake of the sishyās and mankind in order to educate, practice and uplift them into the righteous path. In the recent times too we learnt as to how the Sringeri Peetādhipati HH Sri Abhinava Vidyātirtha Mahāswāmiji till 1989, HH Kanchi Paramāchārya till 1994 and HH Sri Vishwesa Teertha Swāmiji till December 2019 led their life. They, including the present Peetādhipathis of Kanchi and Sringeri Mutts never travelled worldwide but the entire world has come to their feet. That’s the cosmic power ! Hence, they are called ‘Jagadgurus’. They strictly considered Sāgarollanghana a taboo as per the Sāstrās. Even today, one can see the rich tradition and sanctity, Vedic system and values in the Sankarāchārya Mutts, Madhwāchārya Mutts and the Rāmānujāchārya established Jeeyar Mutts when we talk about our Dakshina Bhārata Sampradāya.

It is thus advised not to fall prey to those who make you believe and confuse the minds with speeches of twisted logic and self created dry bark siddhāntās (theories). All that they do is ‘manage everything’ with the money people donate. Their goal is “dhanārjana – janākarshana”. They possess hidden hatreds and dual approach as against the very sacred ‘Bhagavat Geetha’. If adharma is seen or questioned in such places, either the witness is in danger or seal with the money. What you see there from the sky is a beautiful layer, but covering many atrocious things underneath it. There is no question of one getting spiritual advancement in such places. One thing we are all aware, all that glitters is not gold. So, they are “Kaligurus” heavily influenced by “Kalipurusha”. This is indeed a big threat to our Sanāthana Hindu Dharma, the heat of which is already being faced by us every day. But, the Kālapurusha waits for such a man’s sin to ripe to punish. People are wise in several aspects in the society, but are weak when it comes to spirituality and following a right person. It is nothing but fate. 

Jagadguru Sri Krishna warned us at Kurukshetra during Mahābhārata yuddha, through his charioteer Uddhav, “In Kaliyuga, several people mushroom everywhere declaring themselves as Gurus, preaching honesty, integrity and principles outside but plan material things inside deceiving the people with the same tongue”. Clearly we have now witnessed some of them in South and North India. The message of Krishna is thus understandable whether we are wasting time, money, mind and energies following a wrong person thereby accumulating sins by being part of such associations.

However, there are some helpful individuals who read and tell you a few aspects of the scriptures, some teach yoga and meditation, some raise temples and other structures by often raising funds by various schemes and by conducting mass programs for their establishments. But they may not be completely helpful in developing you into the domain of spirituality since there typically exists strong money to man relation, and uncertain if they follow the principles before preaching others.

Last but not least “Brahmasris are more authentic and holy than the self styled god men” as the formers hold better place to teach and direct the seekers in the righteous path as per the Sāstrās since they first follow before preaching others. They are aloof from monetary desires; they only share their vast knowledge with the seekers providing them a way to practice spirituality at no cost.

One thing one has to prudently notice in the present time is “For Dharma, there are 1000 enemies; For a person’s noble initiative and thoughts in making others to practice Dharma, some people laugh at him”. This is unfortunate ‘not for the Dharmic Person, but to the heckler’.

(Authored by Srirāmapāda Bhāgavathar)

https://www.facebook.com/Sriramapada.Bhagavathar/

https://www.youtube.com/@Sriramapada.Bhagavathar

facebook.com/Sriramapada

 

Note : 

 

Rights reserved. Copy, alteration, reproduction is prohibited. 

Sharing as it is permitted.