One day, Mother Parvati, mother of universe, out of concern for her children, requested Lord Shiva, who was engaged in intense meditation, to answer her question. She asked “O Swami, what is that way by which all jivas can attain a state of unsullied and uninterrupted happiness which is a state of parabrahma. Lord Shiva said “O Devi, you have asked really a good question, in favor of all jivas. Such question was never asked by anybody. O Varanane, for one who wants to attain a state of parabrahma, the easiest and best way is to serve Sadguru. By serving lotus feet Sadguru, one can easily cross the ocean of Samsara.”
This dialogue between Mother Parvati and Lord Shiva was recorded as Gurugita in Skanda Purana. Indian culture or rather Sanatana Dharma lays a very high importance on serving Guru. In fact Sanatana Dharma highly recommends not to remain without Guru. Person without Guru is a like a boat lost in a sea. To become secured in all aspects it is in best interest for every human being to have Guru.
If Guru is available in person then one should serve Guru. However if Guru is not available in person, then reading stories of Guru e.g. Saptashati Gurucharitrasaar, Saisatcharita with utmost devotion is also a service to Guru.
Gurupournima is an auspicious day when one can resolve to start a discipline of reading stories of Guru or refine already started discipline.
This year, Gurupounima falls on Tuesday July 3.
Responsibility – a word that starts bothering everybody as the age progresses and becomes intense after having family and assuming professional positions that demand greater responsibilities of making tough decisions and carrying on operations and delivering results efficiently and on time.
The scope of responsibilities, for most of the time, is known to span family, profession and civic duties. Yes, it is very true. The duties towards all these are of high priority and have to be performed diligently. However, there is also a greater responsibility for every human being. This responsibility is usually less known and it gets less attention. And that is - maintaining the name of the lineage that one belongs to and helping ancestors to progress and liberate through the bonds of birth and death. They say that a person, whether man or woman, can, by their devotion, help their ancestors, from past 42 generations, to achieve consummation and to liberate from bonds of birth and death.
To execute this responsibility one need not do any gigantic task. What is needed is devotion to Guru who is a form of Lord Dattatreya. Shri Gurucharitra, storybook of Guru of Gurus, was written by Shri Saraswati Gangadhar. It is considered as fifth veda by Maharashtrians. It is an authentic book that explains duties for men and women.
Reading these stories with devotion is in itself a service to Guru. However, reading of Shri Gurucharitra has some restrictions. A strict routine observing control on thoughts and action is needed while reading Gurucharitra. To simplify this requirement Shri Vasudevanand Saraswati aka Tembe Swami summarized Gurucharitra in Saptashati Gurucharitra Saar so that it can be conveniently read or listened to by all. Reading or listening to the stories in this book purifies the mind and puts one on the path of liberation.
One who wishes liberation for self and their ancestors should consider reading, or listening to narration, of this book with utmost devotion.
