‘Aadhyatmik ‘guru’ aur ‘bhakt’ ‘

Swamiji says ….

” Devotees play a very important role in taking a spiritual guru’s name to greater heights…”
“‘Aadhyatmik’ guru ka naam, apne ‘bhakton’ ke diye huey maan-sammaan dwaara jaana jaata hai …”

“Guru Brahma, Guru Vishnu, Guru Devo Maheshwara,
Guru saakshaat para Brahma, tasmay shri guruve namah …”
” ‘Anant anaadi kaal se sant, rishi, muniyon ke aadar mein, unki prashansa mein, unke maan – sammann mein, yeh shabd, dharti par goonjey hain, aur insaan ne unnhey alag, alag naam se sambhodit kiya hai.’ Some devotees addressed them as ‘Guruji’, some as ‘Swamiji’, and some even referred to them as ‘Bhagwaan’!”

“The rich, fertile soil of our country bears testimony to the indelible, divine footprints of some of the greatest sages and saints, who had crisscrossed the vast area of Mother Earth, over the ages, imparting every grain of knowledge that had been inherited by them, in the form of the most valuable spiritual legacy, from their enlightened ‘gurus’. It is rightly said – ‘Guru bin gyan nahi ‘ and a few blessed fortunate souls who had enjoyed the rare privilege of being handpicked by the greatest ‘gurus’ of a particular time period – had ecstatically soaked in every syllable of spiritual knowledge that was enunciated to them personally by their ‘guru’; had also shared the same holy space in which their ‘guru’ – the representative of God – resided; had inhaled the same air that was breathed by their most learned ‘gurus’ and personally experienced the spiritual aura of their ‘Teachers’. These blessed souls had understood the core message of the ‘guru mantra’ that was whispered in their ear by their revered and esteemed ‘guru’ and on realizing the wealth of True Knowledge -‘gyan’ ka anmol khazaana joh unhe apne ‘guruji’ se praapt hua tha ‘ – that had been absorbed by them, awoke to the true purpose of their life – To spread the message of their ‘gurus’ far and wide ; as far as the eye could see.”

“These noble, selfless souls had willingly taken upon themselves the sacred duty of introducing the simple, relatable and practical teachings of their ‘gurus’ to all those
who were not as privileged as them, and left no stone unturned in spreading the name of their ‘guru’ far and wide. ‘Guru’ was God for them and they immersed themselves completely in serving Him, oblivious to their own physical or material needs; set aflame by the burning desire to illuminate and enlighten the entire world with the light of ‘guru gyan’ aur ‘guru’ ke gunn bhajney mein, apne aap ko bhula dete thay !”

” ‘Jis tarah ‘Bhagwan’ bin ‘bhakt’ nahi, ussi tarah ‘ ‘bhakt’ bin ‘Bhagwaan’ nahi!’
The name of the ‘guru’, ‘Swami’ or ‘Bhagwaan’ is remembered for eternity and transcends both time and space. But do we ever try to go beyond the greatness of the ‘guru’, and reflect as to who made His Name, His Grace, His merciful and forgiving temperament known to the world? Do we give credit to those who truly deserve it? Are we grateful to His ‘shishya’ – devotees – for emphasizing that their ‘guru’s’ knowledge is incomparable; His love and compassion, unsurpassable; and His inspirational teachings as soul- enlightening !”

“ ‘Bhakt ke dwaara hee ‘Bhagwaan’ aur ‘Guru’ jaane jaatey hain!’
Time has been a silent witness to the tireless effort, selfless service, total surrender, complete involvement, devotion, and dedication of devotees that has made it possible for future generations to be acquainted with the worthiness and Godliness of their ‘guru’. Can the Earth resound with the reverberations of the name of a ‘guru’ unless His devotees have sung His name with a pure and devout heart, lovingly weaving lyrics, praising His lofty ideals and teachings? It has always been divine love, unswerving – but not blind faith, that the devoted, loyal ‘bhakts’ nurse for their Gurus – “’jinhone apne ‘guru ‘ ka naam aagey badhaya tha’.”

“Devotees – pure hearted and pious, untouched by fatigue and tiredness, derive divine pleasure in chanting, worshipping and offering prayers to God and Guru…’ Agar bhakt na pooje, toh Bhagwaan aur ‘guru’ ka naam sansaar kaise jaanta!’ Thus, the pivotal role that has been played by devotees should neither be underplayed nor ignored. ‘ ‘Bhakt’ aur ‘shishya’ ka darzaa bhi bahut ooncha hota hai! ‘ The pure, divine, uplifting love that develops between a ‘guru’ and His obedient ‘shishya’, between God and His ardent ‘bhakt’ – ties them, connects them with an inseparable bond – where the ‘shishya’ does not tire of serving his Guru, as the seeds of knowledge that were sown in him, by his ‘guru’, start blossoming and enable him to experience spiritual ecstasy. The devoted ‘bhakt’ rejoices in the hours spent in the divine aura of his ‘ishta dev’, repeats his chosen deity’s name with utmost sincerity and reverence, and realizes that the repetition of God’s name is purifying him as his soul is being cleansed in the process.
“’Bhakt’ ke dwaara hee ‘Bhagwaan’ aur ‘ guru’ jaane jaatey hain, pehchaane jaate hain!”

“ ‘Sant’ hee ‘sant’ nahi hota, ‘guru’ hee ‘guru’ nahi hota , agar ‘bhakt’ nahi hotey… ‘Bhakt’ bahut achche hotey hain !’ – and if it was not for the determination and focus with which such faithful devotees had channelled the divine love and faith that they bore for their ‘guru’, energetically and enthusiastically; it would not have been possible for the world to know about their ‘guru’ and His Grace.”