Guru Tattva - Part 5 By Sri.Sri.Muralidhara Swamiji.

[Guest guest]

Rama is ‘Deivam’(God) and Sita the ‘jiva’. Who brings the two (Bhagavaan

and jiva) together? Initially, a Guru by name Viswamitra had brought the two

(Rama and Sita) together in wedlock.

 

‘Viswamitra’ means friend of the cosmos (Viswam means cosmos and Mitra means

friend). Only one who is able to see the whole cosmos as a friend (‘sneha

bhaava’) can be a Guru. Can one see the whole Universe as Bhagavaan? ‘Anta

Raamamayam ee jagat!’ sings Badrachala Ramadas! For him the whole ‘jagat’

(universe) was seen as verily Rama.

 

Similarly Mira sings that it is only Krishna who is seen in her vision. Only one

who sees the world not as world but as Bhagavaan can have such ‘premai’

(love) in them. Sadasiva Brahmendral sings, ‘Sarvam Brahma mayam re! re!’ -

everything is verily the Brahman! Only these people have such bhaava. When the

jiva is with Bhagavaan - as long as we keep our ‘mind’ in Naama japa,

kirtana, Bhagavat ‘kainkarya’ (service), Guru dhyana, seva, etc. Maya can

never bind us. If we get tempted by ‘prapancha’ (world) we will get caught

in it.

 

Maya is very treacherous. It waits to pull you into the darkness of samsara. One

who has devotion to Bhagavaan has no threat from Maya. The Lord verily protects

such a devoted person. Do not, even for a moment, let your mind desire anything

else other than Bhagavaan. If you do, Maya that waits for such an opportunity

pulls you and you fall headlong into the darkness of samsara. A rat that is

hiding behind the rice sack is safe as long as it remains there. The moment it

comes out, the cat that is waiting for such an opportunity catches it by its

teeth. We find that Sita was very happy as long as she was with her Lord, though

she lived in the forest under arduous circumstances. But, she desired the golden

deer that was none other than the asura ‘Mareecha’. This world is verily

Mareecha. It actually does not exist. It is verily an illusion. Mareecha

represents this illusion. Without knowing/understanding this we desire this

world and are caught up in

nescience. ‘Deivam’ (God) fulfills your desires and thus Rama goes out to

get the golden deer desired by Sita. God grants your wishes. He does not

question your desire. When you pray to God for marriage or for good education,

He will not say, “Why do you desire this? You should desire only Moksha

(Liberation).†Whatever bhaava you approach Bhagavaan it comes to be.

Bhagavaan fulfills your desires.

 

Having fallen into the net of Maya through the temptation that was the desire

for the golden deer, Sita was all alone without her Lord and Ravana who was the

very form of all ‘indriyas’ carried her away to ‘shokha’ (sorrow) vana

(forest) that was known as Asoka vana. Valmiki, in many places in Ramayana,

shows Rama ‘vilasa’ - Rama weeps for the lost Sita. What does this

represent? You may do crores of japa, dhyana; do anything; But, unless Bhagavaan

Wills to take you unto Him, no amount of your sadhana will bear fruit. We desire

to go to someone’s house. We may keep telling him of our desire. But, is it

possible to go there unless he invites you? He has to invite you. Thus,

Bhagavaan should desire to take you unto Him. This is the reason that Mahatmas

say that Bhagavan’s Grace is needed.

 

!!! Will Continue !!!

 

Regards