गुरु पूर्णिमा / Guru Purnima

Today is गुरु पूर्णिमा or व्यास पूजा . Today we pay obeisance to the Guru. I met Swamiji for the first time in June 2014 in Mount Abu (I will forever be indebted to Ganesh for this trip). At that time in my life, a question was nagging me – what is the cause of the universe? The quest for liberation seemed bizarre – why did God create the universe, only for us to go through misery and suffering, to eventually realise through intense efforts that all is actually unreal? If He is all powerful and supreme, why bother with this rigmarole?

In this mental background, I have distinct memory from that trip. Ganesh and I were accompanying Swamiji on His evening walk. He took us to a part of Mount Abu where there were several करोंदा bushes (or trees?). This was my first visit to Mount Abu and my first taste of करोंदा. Swamiji asked us to explore the various bushes and the different taste of the berry that each bush offered. I remember plucking a few for Swamiji and He kindly accepted them. 

After some time, Ganesh told Swamiji that I had a few doubts that I wanted clarified. Remember, this was the first time I was meeting Swamiji, and I was obviously shy. He kindly agreed and I asked – “What is the cause of the universe?”

“अज्ञान or ignorance is the cause,” He said.

Like any beginner student, I shot back with a counter – “What is the cause of अज्ञान or ignorance?”

He smiled and said “There is no cause of अज्ञान. When you ask about the cause of अज्ञान, you negate your original question regarding the cause of the universe. If अज्ञान had a cause, then it would be an effect and not a cause. Thus, for anything to be a cause of the universe, it cannot be the effect of something else. अज्ञान does not have any cause, but is the cause of the whole universe.”

While the cause-effect logic made sense, I was puzzled about अज्ञान not having a cause. My silence revealed my confusion and Swamiji gave an illustration to explain – “Do you know Swahili?”

“No, Swamiji”

“If someone asked you the cause of your not knowing, what would you say? Nothing – there is no cause for not knowing. There can be a cause for knowing, but none for not knowing”

Even though I didn’t fully understand, I nodded. I do that sometimes. The explanation made some sense to me. Over the years, through Swamiji’s kind grace, Ganesh and I studied various प्रकरण texts of Vedanta and the nature of ignorance became clearer. Well, clearer to the extent that one can’t say anything about ignorance – it is, in that sense, अनिर्वचनीय.

While nothing can be said about ignorance, much can be said about a Guru – the dispeller of ignorance. Having said that, there is nothing I can say about a Guru that has not already been said before.

Without a Guru, life is directionless. On any journey, we encounter numerous questions, doubts, and deal with many unknowns. These questions, doubts, and unknowns are especially significant on a spiritual journey, where one is discovering one’s own Self. A spiritual journey is the most intimate journey that one can travel. Thus, the necessity of a guide on this path. It is easy to lose the way, to get embroiled in these questions, doubts, and unknowns, to lose sight of the way and to get attached to the sights of the journey. The Guru keeps you on track. He gives you direction.

The Guru is the embodiment of mercy (करुणावतारम्). The Guru understands your doubts and through His infinite kindness and mercy guides you to a solution that suits you. This is a miracle in itself – that someone understands your difficulty and offers a solution suited to you. In our dealings with the world, we constantly encounter people who have selfish interests when advising us. The Guru does not have any selfish interest. He does not want anything from you. Thus, His advice is the purest form of advice that you can receive. 

The Guru is verily the Lord Himself. During the समुद्रमन्थन, a poison हलाहल was generated. भगवान शंकर consumed हलाहल and saved the world. The Guru accepts all the negativities that we put at His feet. In return, He offers only blessings and guidance. He only gives. He cares for you without any expectation. He wants only your growth.

If you have been blessed to have a Guru, then you can understand the flow of love and kindness that I am referring to. He is Love. God showers His love through Him. When I look back, I am overwhelmed with gratitude. Without a Guru, my life would have been very different. I owe everything to Him and to the गुरु शिष्य परम्परा. It is His kindness that has saved me. And it is at His lotus feet that मोक्ष is possible.

S+V

Monsoon has officially arrived in Delhi. Monsoon is the season of love. Here is something that I had started writing, but did not complete. Perhaps, someday I will. Until then, here's to Monsoon and to love.

Monsoon is the season of lovers. Amir Khusrau said to hell with a monsoon, which is spent away from the Beloved. Faiz Anwar, in one of Bollywood’s most beautiful songs - Aaoge Jab Tum, described that rain pours and dances when two lovers meet. When the raindrops touch the naked body, something deeper is awakened. It’s like sun rays falling on the face in winter. Or like walking through a street lined with laburnum in summer. Or like the slight chill in autumn’s wind. Or like a pink sky in Delhi. A blessing from above, a shower of God’s love.

S was driving to work. It had been pouring all night and there was bound to be traffic. But he was unfazed. The impending flooded roads didn’t concern him. The long commute would give him time to speak to V, who he had met a few weeks ago. They had been talking on and off. V was flirtatious and the sudden attention warmed S’s heart. Even though it had been just a few weeks, S yearned to speak to V. S had already reached the point, where he made a list of things to discuss with (or rather ask) V. Don’t judge S – we’ve all been there; an infatuation that feels like true love, a hobby that feels like a career and a coincidence that feels like destiny.

S was now at a traffic signal. The rain intensified and the raindrops were falling hard on the metal roof of the car. The sound created by the hard-hitting drops was not at all pleasant. S decided to play some music. He looked outside. Two people were standing close to each other under one umbrella. They were both looking down to a single phone between them. S did not know them. But love was in the air (or more in his mind) and he imagined that they were lovers. S smiled seeing what he believed to be a romantic scene – one that was right out of Shree 420. He wondered if he would share such a moment with V...

Bhaja Shivoham

After the discovery of the Shiva Linga figure in the Gyanvapi Mosque, posts started circulating on social media with images of elliptical/oval figures mocking the claim of the Plaintiffs that the figure is a Shiva Linga. I saw some of those posts (now that I have returned to Twitter). I was hurt because the posts also mocked God, that too an aspect of God which is dear to me (Shiva). I spent sometime being angry and annoyed. Posted some heated tweets (which made me realise why I had left Twitter in the first place).

But something did not feel right. I kept feeling like that there must be a spiritual answer to this. Like in the Manishapanchakam, Bhagwan Adi Shankaracharya came across a Chandala on his way to the temple. When Bhagwan asked him to move away, the Chandala asked him whether he wanted the body to move or the consciousness that pervades the body? Realising that the Chandala was really Bhagwan Shiva, Bhagwan Adi Shankaracharya gave the most exquisite explanation of the Oneness that pervades everyone and everything. Incidentally, the background of Manishapanchakam was also in Banaras.

And so I wondered, whether there could be such a poetic response to these posts. It is quite presumptuous of me to compose such a response. I seek Bhagwan's mercy, as I endeavour to compose a response. I am very poor at Sanskrit, and so the response is in Hindi - not that my Hindi is great! 

शिव व्यापक हैं, जगत कारण,

अधिष्ठान हैं, करें ब्रह्माण्ड धारण;

 हर "है" रूप मे भासमान,

 इधर भी वही विराजमान।

शिवलिंग हैं विशेष चिन्ह,

उपासना से होंगे अभिन्न;

सारी सृष्टि उनकी कृति

हर रूप मे करो हर दृष्टि !

जो शिव मंदिर में प्रतिष्ठित,

वही सब के हृदय स्थित;

उनकी निन्दा है तुम्हारी हार,

तत्त्वमसि - कहें कितनी बार?

भज शिवोहम् ! भज शिवोहम् ! 

*

Shiva is all-pervading, He is the cause of the world,

He is the sub-stratum, He encompasses the whole universe;

He shines in all that exists,

(Thus) He is here too.

Shiva Linga is His special symbol,

Worshiping (It) one becomes not-different (from Him),

Everything is His creation,

In every form see Him!

The Shiva that resides in the temple,

Also resides in everyone's heart,

You lose when He is insulted,

That Thou Art - How many times to repeat?

Recite Shivoham (I am Shiva)!

Recite Shivoham (I am Shiva)! 

This is my humble attempt at composing a response. Please accept with a bucket full of salt. I don't even know if this qualifies as a response, but I wanted to write something.

[Indica.org is holding an essay writing competition on Bhagwan Adi Shankaracharya. One of the topics is - "Adi Shankara in my daily life". I have not written the essay as yet, but this is an example of Adi Shankara in my daily life. His compositions inspire, console and enthuse me. My experiments with religion/faith would not have been possible without Bhagwan's ever illuminating guidance.]

ॐ

Photo Credits: Mokshi