SRI GURU CHARITRA

Gurucharitra is a pious and holy Grantham (Book) in Ovi form of  Marathi. This is written by Sri Saraswati Gangadhar. It has arisen from the conversation between Guru Siddha and disciple Namadharak. The original text recount, in 53 chapters, the life and teachings of the two incarnations in about 7000 verses.

 

In the late nineteenth century, Paramhans Parivrajakacharya Shreemad Vasudevanand Saraswati Swami Maharaj, a famous saint of the Dattatreya tradition, translated the work in Sanskrit verses of equal number. Later, he was told in a vision by Lord Dattatreya that details pertaining to matters of Hindu religious ritual, have infringed on proper theme of work, and was directed to abridge it into 2000 verses and popularly known as “Samhithaayana Guru Dwi Sahasri”. 

Several miraculous deeds are associated with these two Gurus – 5 such deeds are relating to Shripad Shri Vallabh (chapters 5 to 10) and 26 are relating to Shri Narasinha Saraswati, (chapters 11 to 51) besides many mythological (pouranik) tales have also been narrated in this volume by way of illustration.

Many Gurudev Datta devotees perform parayana (read it in seven days) many times during the year. Concentration, devotion and faith on this Grantham results in removing all difficulties, sorrow, poverty and bless devotees with peace, happiness and all sorts of wealth after performing the parayana. Like all epics, in Shree Gurucharitra too there are stories within stories and more stories.The narration includes anecdotes from the lives of Lord Dattatreya and his incarnations.This volume is regarded as divine, capable of blessing one and all who read it with respect and is placed with images of Gods and adored in almost all devotee’s houses of Maharashtra. It is much respected and is very popular like Vedas, Ramayan, Mahabharat, Bhagwat and other puranas in sanskrit and Dnyaneshwari, Dasbodh, Eknathi Bhagwat etc. in Marathi.

Shri Gurucharitra is divided into three sections. They are (1)Gnana kanda (chapter 1 to 24) (2)Karma kanda(chapter 25 to 37) and (3)Bhakti kanda(chapter 38 to 51). Gnana kanda deals with the qualities to be acquired by a disciple i.e., service to Guru so that he can earn Gnana. In second section, Karma kanda, he should follow the dos and don’ts told by Vedas and sastras by which the disciple will get steadfastness in his devotion to Guru by purifying his Anthahkaran i.e., the mind. The third section, Bhakti kanda, it teaches the final stage SHARANAAGATHI, 

surrender to Guru who assures the disciple, the liberation (Moksha).One can feel the experiences when he goes through chapter by chapter thoroughly.

 

Sri Gangadhar Saraswathi, the author of the book in Marathi tells in the following lines about the resultant virtues after reading this holy book. “Prosperity ever lives in their dwellings. In whose house the parayana is observed in that house lives Sri Lakshmi. Only good and noble souls will take birth in their houses.

There will not be diseases or troubles in that house by the grace of Sri Guru. When it is read for seven days as Saptaha deeksha with religious discipline all his sins will be lost without any doubt. This pure and lovable story will get their desires fulfilled without any trouble. I swear, I have enjoyed this result and enjoyed the taste of this nectar. The Gurucharitra is like a Kamadhenu and Kalpavriksha and will bestow Gnana”. Many devotees are doing this parayana in Ganagapur kshetra near Audumbar tree at Sangam and experiencing the darshan of Lord Dattatreya. Whoever organizes Samuhika Gurucharitra parayana, their sins will  disapper and their path will be cleared to Moksha.

 

Shree Guru Charitra talks of 4 ‘Grand proclamations’ for the disciple’s Sadhana.

They are Pragnanam brahma,Tatwamasi, Ayamathma Brahma and Ahambrahmasmi.

(1) Pragnanam brahma is Guru Datta’s upadesha vakya(the teaching of Lord Datta).It means “Pure awareness is brahman”

(2)Tatwamasi is Guru Datta’s Adesha vakya(Commandment of Lord Datta).It means “That thou art”

(3)Ayamatma brahma is Guru Datta’s abhyasa vakya(Cultivational/ Practice code).It means “The self of mine is verily brahman.

(4)Ahambrahmasmi is Guru Datta’s anubhava vakya(Iam verily the Brahman)

All these 4 come about by the adoption of a Guru in the Datta-path. The Guru from the anubhava gives upadesha and Adesha.

The disciple with shraddha and bhakthi hears them both and practices(abhyasa) and gains his own experience(anubhava ) which he inturn propogates.

As per bhramara-keetaka nyaya,whereby the ugly-looking beetle gets metamorphosed and transfigured into the beautiful bhramara itself.

So also the jiva,stricken with ignorance and all the afflictions of the worldy life,attains enlightenment and blossoms forth and begins to shine in his/her athmic splendour,just like His Guru,through nidhidhyasana on the Guru and the guropadesha.

 Om Sai Ram...