“Bandau Guru pada kanja, kripa sindhu nararupa Hari,
Mahamoha tama punja, jasu bachana Ravi kara nikara. “
“I bow to the lotus feet of my Guru who is an ocean of mercy and is none other than Sri Hari who is in human form. His words are like sunlight which dispels the clouds of darkness in the form of gross ignorance.”
“Gu” is one who is beyond all attributes or gunas and “Ru” is one who is beyond all forms. Tulsidas clearly defines that Guru is the one who is beyond all attributes and forms and that it is only He who has that capability of dispelling the darkness of ignorance with the light of knowledge. He is none other than Sri Hari or Vishnu himself.
In Valmiki’s Ramayana, Valmiki himself requested of Narada Muni to tell him about the glories of a man with God-like qualities. Narad is described here as “triloka gyanaha” three worlds- preceptor or the preceptor of the three worlds. Continuing with his dialogue, Narada is quoted as saying:
“Aham buddhvaa vakshyaami”
…..”having known from Brahma, I will speak on.” Brahma the Creator is the one who imparted the knowledge to Narada. This is the same knowledge that will now enlighten Valmiki.
In another stride, Mahadeva or Shiva imparted the same knowledge to Bhavani. This is the knowledge of breaking the cycle of birth and death which is knowledge of the Absolute truth. He outlines the characteristics of several types of Gurus, the bulk of which provided the core of an ancient education system in a society far removed from todays’ reality. Many of them were specialists in archery, economics, drama etc.
There are also those Gurus who impart the knowledge of the Shastras while others educate on the knowledge of the Vedas. There are those who teach the specifics of the performance of rituals and rites while others teach the method of engaging in meritorious deeds for the betterment of the community. Others are experts in Yoga and they prepare the aspirant for a disciplined life. Another focuses on the control of the senses by strict discipline and there is the Guru who elevates the atma or individual soul to the level of Paramatma or the super soul. Another Guru has the capacity of helping the aspirant to purify the mind and provide the guidance for the attainment of Self-realization. The foremost of all of these Gurus are those who can elevate the soul of the disciple to the level of the Super soul.
Having said so, examine the characteristics of Krishna who wiped the dust of ignorance of the mirror of Arjuna’s soul. He became the inner dweller who dwelled within the heart of Arjuna and controlled his mind, ego and senses. He became Arjuna’s spiritual guide causing him to rid himself of his internal enemies and accept his duty with love. Having spoken to him from different levels of consciousness, Krishna functioned not as a simple teacher but as a preceptor. He imparts to his disciple the fire of Self-knowledge that burns away the bonds of Karma. He establishes that He is the personification of highest knowledge who is beyond the pair of opposites such as pleasure and pain. He without a doubt establishes that He is Brahman, the embodiment of bliss, the Absolute and that Guru is God.
