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EDITORIAL  Vyas-Purnima & Guru-Tattva BY GOKUL  EDITORIAL, Jul 27 (VNN) — Guru Tattva (Ontologically who is Guru) Compiled by His Divine Grace Sree Sreemad Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha Goswami Maharaj TATTVA - 'Tat' = Transcendental Reality which cannot be comprehended by material senses - gross or subtle 'Tattva' = Inner significance of Transcendental Reality Introduction Etymological significance of the word 'Guru' has been elaborately described in different Indian scriptures. It will not be wise to make the subject terse and beyond the point, by going through theoretical scholarly discussion, frustrating the real purpose of getting spiritual amelioration - practical realisation of the Highest Bliss. We are therefore going to delineate fundamental points relevant for the devotional practice for getting the highest objective- Transcendental Divine Knowledge descending through preceptorial or disciplic channel as taught by realised souls - bonafide Gurus - pure devotees with evidences from authentic scriptures. Common Meaning Guru: Spiritual Master (acharya), preceptor, professor or lecturer, advisor, teacher, instructor, initiator. Spiritual Interpretations alpam va vahuva yasya shrutasyo pakaroti yah, tamapeeha gurum vidyachchhrutopakriyaya taya (Manu 2/149) As per scriptural prescript, one who imparts a bit or sufficient knowledge of the Vedas to a deserving aspirant for his eternal benefit is termed 'Guru'. gukarashchandhakarah syat rukaratannirodhakah, andhakara nirodhitvat gururityabhi dheeyate. (Visvasar-tantra) 'Gu' syllable of the word Guru denotes darkness (nescience) and the 'Ru' denotes removal of darkness (nescience). One who removes darkness - ignorance - is called Guru. gukarashchandhakarah syat rukarasteja uchyate, ajnana nashakam brahma gurureva na samshayah (Visvasar-tantra) 'Gu' syllable signifies darkness-ignorance and 'Ru' signifies light. Therefore, it is undoubtedly true that self-effulgent Para-brahma, whose light removes darkness-ignorance, is Guru. ajnanatimirandhasya jnananjanashalakaya chakshurunmeelitam yena tasmai shri gurave namah -(Gaudiya Kanthahar) My prostrated obeisances to Sree Gurudeva who opens my blind eyes removing dark nescience with the help of eyeslave-stem of Divine Knowledge. sakshad-dharitvena samasta-sastrair- uktas tatha bhavyata eva sadbhih kintu prabhor yah priya eva tasya vande guroh sricharanaravindam (Vishvanath Chakravarty) The Spiritual Master is to be honoured as much as the Supreme Lord because He is the Most Confident Servitor of the Lord. This is acknowledged in all scriptures and followed by all authorities. I offer my respectful obeisances unto the Lotus Feet of such a Spiritual Master, who is a bonafide representative of Sree Hari (Supreme Lord). [ Spiritual Master (Gurudeva) is one with Supreme Lord Sree Hari in the sense that He is His dearest. Gurudeva is not enjoyer Bhagavan, but He is the Most Confidential Servitor. As such Tulasi leaf is offered on the Lotus Feet of Sree Hari, but not on the Lotus Feet of Gurudeva. It is offered on the upper portion of His Spiritual - His hands.] yasya prasada÷ bhagava÷ prasado yasyaprasadannagatÉh kutopi dhyayamstuvamstasya yashastrisandhya vande guroh sri charanaravindam -(Vishvanath Chakravarty) By whose grace I can get the grace of Sree Hari and without whose grace and compassion I have got no shelter, to the Lotus Feet of such a Spiritual Master, do I offer my respectful obeisances by meditating and singing in adoration His glories in the morning, at midday and in the evening. sri gurucharanapadma kevalabhakatisadma bando mui savadhana mate jaharo prasade bhai a bhava tariya jai ckrishna prapti hoi jaha hoite gurumukha padmavakhya chittete kariya aikya ar na kariha mane asha sri gurucharane rati ei se uttama gat... je prasade pure sarva asha chakhu dano dila jei janme janme prabhu sei divya jnan hride prokashita premabhaktR30; jaha haite avidya vinasha jate vede gaya jahara charita -(Srila Narottam Thakur) The Lotus feet of His Divine Grace Sree Gurudeva is the abode of exclusive devotion. I chant the glories of Sree Gurudeva in devout adoration. By His unfathomable grace, I will cross the ocean of births and deaths as well as get Sree Krishna. I should be satisfied by reconciling the nectarous sayings emanating from the Lotus lips of Gurudeva with the thoughts of my mind, nothing more can I expect to get. Devotion to the Lotus Feet of Sree Gurudeva is the highest objective. All desires are fulfilled by His grace. By whose grace I have got spiritual eyes to see God, by whose grace Divine Transcendental Knowledge is revealed in me, by whose grace I have got Prema-bhakti, by whose grace my ignorance is removed, may such Gurudeva become my eternal Divine Master in every birth. The Vedas sing the Transcendental pastimes of Gurudeva. There is a hearsay that one community in India does not acknowledge the necessity of Guru (as a Spiritual Guide). According to them God is the only Guru and all others are god brothers. The eldest godbrother is called Dada guru [ Dada means elder brother]. This sort of conclusion is neither rational nor supported by scriptures. We find in this world that all of us accept authorities or experts in all matters. When we are acknowledging Guru in every sphere of life, it is absurd to say that we do not require the help of Guru to know God, Who is beyond human comprehension. Those who say like this, are really not serious to know God. The indispensability of accepting Guru for God-realisation is substantiated by scriptural evidence. Acharyavan purusho veda (Chhandogya Upanishad) Only the person initiated by Guru can know Para-Brahma (God). uttisthata jagrata prapya varan nivodhata kshurasya dhara nishita duratya ya durgam pathastat kavayo vadanti -(Kathopanishad) Veda (Divinity Himself) is giving beneficial instruction to the sadhus - 'O sadhus! Rise up (withdraw your material senses from the material objects completely), awake ( be reinstated in your own real self), sincerely endeavour to know God, praying the grace of great saints. This world is sharp like a razor -full of miseries- and as such it is very difficult to get delivered from it. Without worshipping Divinity, it is impossible to cross the ocean of births and deaths. The realised saints say that without careful zealous efforts nobody can get God-realisation, the panacea for the malady of worldly afflictions, i.e., nobody can cross the ocean of births and deaths without worship of God and without taking absolute shelter of the Lotus Feet of Gurudeva. Even Supreme Lord Sree Krishna, Sree Gaurhari and Lord Ramchandra played the pastimes of accepting Guru to teach the indispensability of accepting Guru. Sree Krishna, Sree Gaurhari and Sree Ramachandra accepted Sandipani Muni, Sree Ishwarapuripada and Sree Vashishtha Muni respectively as Spiritual Guides. 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