Guru Gita verses

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                                                    Jaya Guru Datta

                                               Shree GuruBhyo Namaha

 

 

Lord Shiva continues the dialogue with Parvati Devi :

 

" Japastapo vratam tirtham yajno daanam tathaiva ca

 Gurutattva mavijnaaya sarvam vyartham bhavet priye "

 

Lord Shiva proceeds: " Oh Parvati.If one doesn't know the qualities of Guru,all

the ritualistic practices,prayers,penances,etc. are useless " .

 

Commentary:

We think we are educated.One might think of oneself as a scientist or scholar or

a poet or an artist.But what is Vidya (knowledge)? Sciences,arts etc are in a

way a part of knowledge.Similarly Vedas,Sastras,epics are also branches of

knowledge.

 

But these sciences,etc only let you know what is visible to the five

senses,however remote it might be;but don't let you know your true self that is

lodged in you.On the other hand,they make you stray from your real self.

 

The knowledge of the Vedas,etc.makes you introspective enabling you to reflect

on your real self.So they are far more important than these sciences.Thus

sciences remain mere branches of knowledge,but the Vedas constitute the real

knowledge.

 

But both the types,in spite of their knowledge,help delude you and you practice

in ignorance.Only the (thought of) getting any number of Ph D's will reduce you

to this state.Why?

In the absence of knowledge of the quality of Guru,all other types of knowledge

lead to ignorance.So they are called the agents of illusion.Lord Shiva says that

those who are fond of them are petty-minded.

 

So the foregoing branches of knowledge are called APARAVIDYAS meaning (branches)

of knowledge of inferior quality.There is another kind i.e PARAVIDYA which means

knowledge of superior quality.It can be attained only through the Grace of

the Guru.

 

Sri Guru Datta