Guru Aradhana – Guru Gita
The Guru Gita describes the greatness of the Guru. It explains who a Guru is, the meaning of the word “Guru,” and how one should meditate on the Guru. All of this is revealed directly by Lord Shiva to Goddess Parvati.
From childhood, we learn that the Guru is the Supreme Brahman (Parabrahman). We also understand that all sacred places and pilgrimage sites exist at the feet of the Guru. The Guru Gita says that the very place where the Guru resides is the holy city of Kashi (Varanasi). The water touched by the Guru’s feet is the most sacred Ganges River. The Supreme Brahman manifest as Kashi Vishweshwara is, in essence, the Guru. Here, Shiva is the auspicious form, and the combined forms of Brahma, Vishnu, and Maheshwara are to be understood as Parama Shiva (Supreme Shiva). This Shiva form is the essence of Narayana. Hence, the Guru Gita states:
Guru padankitam yatra gaya sadhoksajodbhava |
Tirtha rajah prayago sau guru murtyai namonamah ||
“Where the Guru’s footprints exist, that place becomes Gaya, the sacred site. The king of pilgrimage sites, Prayaga, is also the form of the Guru — I bow again and again to that Guru form.”
The place sanctified by the Guru’s footprints is like the Gaya pilgrimage site sanctified by Vishnu’s footprints. Wherever the Guru is present, that place becomes the holy site of Gaya. We offer our salutations to such a Guru form.
Thus, Lord Shiva reveals that there is no difference between Shiva’s essence and Narayana’s essence. The same supreme power pervades everywhere — this is the true philosophy.
The dust from the Guru’s feet is enough to build a bridge over the ocean of worldly existence (Samsara). The ocean of Samsara represents the cycle of birth and death. How can one remain without meditating on such a Guru! For this reason, Sai Baba of Shirdi taught this very path of the Guru — which is the easiest and surest way.
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