Gurupurnima’

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Gurupurnima' is an auspicious day celebrated all over India. The

word `Guru' here indicates a `Sadguru', otherwise known as a Perfect

Master or by the sufis as `Qutab'. Ordinarily, the word Guru is used

for any teacher imparting training in any field of knowledge e.g. a

professor, a music teacher etc. However, the word `Sadguru' depicts

a personality so vast and universal, that it is beyond comprehension

of an ordinary mortal. Only the spiritual seekers get a glimpse of

this entity as they advance in the spiritual path. A Sadguru is one

who leads the created to the creator.

 

Being himself beyond the multiplicism and dualism of nature, he has

the power to pull-out human beings from the limitations of nature

imposed on them. Some people think that a living Sadguru is

necessary for uplifting the soul of an individual to spiritual

heights. However, history reveals that even after leaving their body

the Sadgurus continue in their activity of elevating his people. The

scriptures say that:

 

" Dhyan-moolam Gurormurtih,

Pooja-moolam Gurorpadam,

Mantra-moolam Gurorvakyam,

Mukti-moolam Gurorkripa " .

 

Even if, the Sadguru is in a dis-embodied state, his vakyam i.e.,

his sayings written and codified by disciples in the form of holy

books continue to render the same effects for those who follow them.

This is not only the theory of Hinduism but of Sikhism as well. The

experience people have today about Sri Sai Baba of Shirdi, who left

His gross body on the 15th of October, 1918 is a witness to this

eternal game of Guru-shishya interrelationship.

 

Being beyond limitations of nature a Perfect Master or Sadguru is as

much a living entity without body as with a body in the time-

continuum. A Perfect Master is at first a perfect man, a Satpurush.

A Satpurush means one who does not suffer any imperfections or

limitations that all other creations of God are subjected to. God is

only perfect and everything else is imperfect. The sadgurus,

evolving life after life, from the state of a normal human soul

(Jivatma) reach the State of divinity (Shivatma).

 

When this state of realization comes to them they are not the body,

nor the mind but are pure consciousness and are known to be in a

state of `Soham', `Brahmosmi' or `Anal-Haq'. Pain and pleasure, life

and death, heat and cold, and such other varied attributes of nature

perceptible in the phenomenal world do not affect them, for they are

in a state of Only God or pure divine consciousness. Their

attributes are the same as those of the God. They are infinite

existence, infinite knowledge, infinite power and infinite bliss.

This state is known as the seventh stage in the spiritual journey of

the souls. At this stage the gross, subtle and mental bodies are

totally annihilated. When they undergo annihilation of

mind `Manonaasha', they become what is understood

as `Brahmnishtha', `Paramhamsa', `Turiya', `Jeevanmukta' etc., How-

so-ever intellectually one may try to understand or imagine about

this state, it is not possible to do so without actually reaching

that state.

 

Most of these Shivatmas remain in a state of permanent bliss in a

God state even after leaving the body. They are Jeevanmuktas, but

that again is not the ultimate stage. This stage, which is also

known as the turiya avastha is not the final stage of the divine

journey. A jeevanmukta may be beyond the life and death cycle but

still he is not beyond all the forces of nature (Prakriti).

 

The higher stage is `Parammukta' or `Turiyateeta' (beyond Turiya

state). It is at this stage that the soul reaches its highest goal.

He is beyond prakriti. Only the Param Bramha (the God Eternal) is

beyond prakriti, as prakriti is that power of God through which He

manifests in gross, subtle or mental forms. This will of God to

manifest and actual manifestation is known as `Shakti'. The

manifested God and the creation are under the control of nature in

whatever subtle form they may exist. However, those in the stage of

Parammukta have the highest divine power of creation, preservation

and destruction. They carry out the universal work of God in the

form of man on earth. It is these souls that come down on earth in

human body to evolve the souls of the human beings (jivatmas) to the

state of God (Shivatmas). When embodied in human form, they remain

simultaneously in the state of God and also of man. They do not move

around like mendicants, and are not bound by any scriptural

injunctions. Their actions are universal in nature, cutting across

religions, nations and all divisions of society. Even animals and

birds are not treated differently by them.

 

Sri Sainathis in this stage of divinity. Let us then, surrender to

Him and worship Him on this auspicious day.

 

Om Shri Sai Ram