Guru Gita: Seven Types of Gurus

Hello Readers,

Guru Gita is the divine conversation between Lord Shiva and his divine concort Goddess Maa Parvati.

Maa Parvati once saw Lord Shiva Saluting Param Guru.

Prostrations to Brahman, the unthinkable, the unmanifest, beyond the three Gunas(Sattva,Rajas & Tamas qualities of Nature) yet the Self of Gunas, the Substratum behind the whole universe. She was surprised by this as Lord Shiva is called Mahadev i.e. God of the Gods (dev = God sometimes called demigods).

Guru Gita starts with this astonishment and curiosity of Maa Parvati.

She humbly requests Lord Shiva to explain her to whom, Lord Shiva, who is worshipped by all Gods including Lord Brahma and Lord Vishnu, Demi-Gods, Devils, Yakshas, Kinnaras and others with devotion, is prostrating.

Lord Shiva Replies Maa Parvati and sings the glory is Param Guru (Self Realised Guru) and Lord says that Guru is no different from (Bramhan or Atman or Self).

If Shiva is angry, the Guru saves you; but if the Guru is angry, even Shiva cannot save you. Therefore, with every effort, take refuge in the Guru.

The Guru is able to save one from the anger of Shiva. But not even Shiva can save if one incurs the Guru’s anger. Therefore, one should by all means and efforts take care that one does not disobey the Guru’s orders. 

It is by the Guru’s grace and blessings that Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva become capable of performing their respective duties- creation, preservation, and dissolution.

Guru Gita sings the Glories of Param Guru and Describes Guru as all powerful, ever filled with bliss, peace and compassion.

Guru Gita describes the importance of a Guru in one’s Life.

There are Seven Types of Gurus as described in Guru Gita in order of their importance.

Gurus are of many types with different capacities. They are known by names, Suchaka etc. The intelligent one should know and test for himself and seek refuge in the one who is established in Self-Knowledge. 

O Parvati, there are in the world thus many kinds of Gurus, of all these, one should by all means and efforts, serve the Param Guru. 

Let us summarize these Seven Types of Gurus

Suchaka Guru	Mastery over any one science or art. e.g. mamagement Guru, Mastery in Healing, etc.
Vachaka Guru	Initiates one into spirituality by giving a Diksha Mantra, which transforms the life of the Diksha Receiving Person.
Bodhaka Guru	Gives insructions relating to caste, creed, religion.
Nishiddha Guru	Prohibited Guru. Invokes God’s Secret powers for personal benefit or with evil intention.
Vihita Guru	Shows Vairagya (Dispassion) in Society
Karanakhya Guru	Guru who gives Sanyasa Diksha (initiates disciple into Monkhood). He is the remover of the disease of this mundane world.
Param Guru	Dispeller of doubts, removes the fear of birth and death is considered to be the “Param Guru”. (The Supreme Guru)  i.e. one who teaches and shows the path of Liberation (moksha). (172)

Glories / Praises of Param Guru (oftion called as Sadguru)

A Param Guru is free from attachment, etc; peaceful, always contented in Himself, independent, and one who considers the status of Brahma and Vishnu like a blade of grass.

One who is independent at all times and places, who possess an unshakable mind and always blissful, who experiences the homogenous essence of the Self, such a one is the Param Guru. 

One who is free from the feeling of duality and non-duality, who shines by the light of His self-realization, who is able to destroy the deep darkness of ignorance, and is omniscient, He is a Param Guru. 

By whose mere Darshan (look with devotion), one attains calmness, cheerfulness, and peace and steadfastness, and peace of mind, such a one is Param Guru.

One who looks upon his own body as a corpse, and his Self as the non-dual Brahman, and who has killed the infatuation for wealth and women, such a person is a Param Guru.

Sadguru, the only Saviour

Family traditions, wealth, strength, shastras, relatives, brothers, - none of these are useful to you at the time of death. Satguru is the only saviour.

Always be the servant of Sadguru

At all times and under all conditions one should feel the non duality of the Self but one should never have this feeling with his Guru. 

Prayer and Salutation to Param Guru

By whose grace that one realizes “I am everything, everything is superimposed in me, I offer my salutations and worship to my self-realised Satguru’s lotus feet. 

O Lord, by the gift of the light of knowledge, may Thy blessings be bestowed on me, whose eyes are covered by the cataracts of ignorance, and whose mind is captured by sense pleasure.

 

Regards,

Admin

http://www.siddhayogi.in/