Sai Ram Friends
This is Sri Guru charitram’s short & sweet version.
This is written by Sri.T.S. Padmanabha Sharma. This is like a concise version of Sri Guru Charitram.
I find this very easy to read, it covers all the important stories/events of the Main book.
So, I thought of sharing this with you all.
By Sai’s grace, I will be posting 1 chapter each Thursday in this same link.
Kindly read with full devotion & faith & get success in life.
I have got many good experiences, I will post one or two of them, which I have already posted here, but since I see many new Sai devotees, these may inculcate faith in Datta Sai.
This concise version may be available on line. I do not know. But I have vowed to Sri Sai that I shall post 1 chapter each week for our dear Sai devotees.
May our Sai lead us in the right path & fulfil all our wishes.
Sri Guru charitram
preface
1) Sri Guru Charitram is a divine story of Sri. Bhagwan Dattatreya & His avatars. The book is dedicated to Sri Narasimha Saraswati Yati of Ganagapur near Bidar District of Katnataka (1470 AD)
2) This work has 51 chapters to mark the 51 Thursdays in a year.
3) It is a tradition to give a linear reading (Parayan) of this book every Thursday for a year and dedicate it to Sri guru.
4) Sri guru charitram covers Sri Datta Avatar of Lord MahaVishnu, followed by Sri pada Srivallabh in Andhra Pradhesh & Sri Narasimha Saraswathi swamiji in Karnataka.
5) Read one chapter of this book every Thursday & offer Pooja to Sri Guru or Datta’s photo or idol.
May Lord Sri Dattatreya bless us all!
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Sri Gurubhyo namaha – Hari Aum
chapter 1
invocation
Let us all pray Lord Ganapathi, goddess Sarawathi and Brahma, the creator to bless us. Salutation to Lord Maha Vishnu in His divine grace, adorned with Shankha, chakra, Gada & Padma. May lord shiva, the easily pleasable one bring us peace & prosperity.
Salutations to all gods, great sages Vyasa, Valmiki and other poets. Let them shower their blessings to relish the nectar of anecdotes dedicated to Sri guru of Ganagapur.
Sri guru chartitram was originally composed by Sri Gangadhara Rao sakhare, a great devotee of the guru. His parents Devaraya and champadevi were also ardent devotees of Sri Datta bhagawan.
The Sakhare family were staunch devotees of Sri Narasimha saraswathi Swamiji of Ganagapur. They were fortunate to get blessed by the guru in their life time.
Sri guru chartitram is a sacred book to be read by all those who want peace, happiness & prosperity. Wherever it is read, Sri guru manifests himself with his divine fervour. Those who read this work with divine love shall master all their senses, achieve worldly success & spiritual happiness. This is divine master in book form.
Sri Narasimha saraswathi Swamiji manifested in Ganagapur. His fame spread like the fragrance of a flower in surroundings soon. Who can stop fragrance to spread? He was respected by the people of all faiths, caste & creed. Whoever prayed Him, had His blessings ready to pour on them. He was easily accessible to a poor man as to a prince.
Namadharak was a simple man, a devotee of Sri guru and was a visitor to Ganagapur to seek His blessings. On one of His visits, he prayed the master, thus:
“Sri Guru Deva! A mere remembrance of your name brings happiness & peace. I always trust you, adorn you in my heart, chant your name always. But why do I suffer from poverty and misery?
“You are an avatar of three divinities, Brahma, Shiva & Vishnu. You lead us in every step. You are our friend, philosopher & guide. You are the true mother, father & well-wisher. I do not seek any one else’s support in my miseries. Why not you bless me with basic needs?”
“Oh Guru Deva! In your Vamana Avatar, you made king Bali to donate the whole of living space. As Sri Ram you destroyed arrogant Ravana. As narayana, you showered eternal blessings on child Dhruva. In your Parashuram Avatar, you mercilessly massacred the arrogant Kshatriyas. You are the Lord Of goddess Lakshmi. Who else is there for me to seek help from?”
“Oh! Master, pray you to extend your grace on this poor creature, your child atleast as a human being. In your Narasimha Avatar, you blessed Prahlad by mercilessly killing his demon-father. With whom can I share my worries?”
“You are extolled as the sole protector of hapless, by puranas. Did you not hear me?”. He was in child like tears.
These sincere prayers reached Sri Guru Deva. He gave darshan to Namadharak. The devotee cried like a child and touched Guru’s lotus feet. He offered all possible respect & pooja to the divine master.
The divine master, pleased by Namadharak’s sincere prayers stood by him. Later He led him in the divine path pf Bhakti, Jnana & spiritual discipline.
Here ends the 1st chapter of Sri guru Charitram.
Sri Gurubhyo namaha!
Aum Sai Ram!
May Lord Sri Dattatreya bless us all!
Sri Guru charitram
Sri Gurubhyo namaha – Hari Aum
chapter 2
Namadhark set out to Ganagapur after this divine incident. On his way, he was resting under a tree. Tired he was, he slipped in to sleep. He had a dream.
A yogi clad in tiger skin, adorned in neck with Rudraksha mala, brilliant in looks appeared in the dream. Namadharak prostrated before the great Gurudev.
“Oh! Great one! You have appeared to remove my ignorance. You have filled in me the divine light & happiness. I feel my sins have dissolved. Who are you in reality? Shall I know your name? Where do you reside? Please tell me” asked Namadharak innocently.
The great one smiled at him & spoke in a gentle, firm & divine voice.
“Oh! My child, I am a yogi. I travel a lot. I visit all the worlds. There is a place by name Ganagapur on the banks of the
sangam of Bhima & Amaraja rivers. There lives a great Guru
Sri Narasimha saraswathi Swamiji. He is my master. He is very courteous & kind to all. He blesses them with whatever they want” said the Yogi.
Namadharak was in surprise. “Swamiji, my ancestors were ardent devotees of the great Guru. I also continue to be so. But I am a poor unfortunate one put into lot of hardships. The great master can only solve my problems, I believe.” He said in pain.
The yogi smiled & continued: My child, believe in sri Guru firmly as a child believes its mother. He is an avatar of the divine trinity. He shall certainly bless you on your selfless, sincere prayers. Be convinced, let Sri guru bless you.”
The yogi narrated the guru’s previous avatars, on his request later on.
The previous avatars:
Four vedas Rig, yajur, sama & atharvana evolved from Brahma dev. Eighteen puranas manifested later. Bhagavan Veda Vyasa is also an avatar of Lord Narayana. He popularised & preached the puranas through his disciples.
Lord Mahavishnu, after the great dissolution of the universe, slept as an infant on a banyan leaf. Brahma evolved from his navel. He made Brahma the creator.
Vishnu ordered Brahma to continue the work of creation. Sanaka, sanadhana, sanat kumara, sanat, sujatha were manifested. Gods & demons were created. Four time divisions 4 yugas emerged.
Krita yuga was called Satya age as lies did not exist then. It was an age of knowledge, sacrifice,divinity & goodness. There was no place for evil forces.
The form of Satya yuga asked the creator: “How can I get into earth, full of cheating, violence, non-truth and abuses?” Brahma ordered him to be there for some time & return.
Later came Treta Yuga, where Yagnas were prominent. People were ritualistic & honest. This was followed by Dwapara Yuga, where virtues(punya) & sins(Paapa) were Dwa-para equal. At the end of Dwapara, the present Kali age started.
Kali stood before the creator as an ugly, old, cunning one. “Tell me Oh! Deva! What are my duties? “ Brahma asked back “What are you holding in your hand?” Kali replied: “It is the human tongue & Lingam. I can win over the world by using these two weaknesses of humans.” Brahma designated Kali with the management and discipline of this era.
Yugadharma of kali age;
Deterioration of Dharma is the basic nature of this era. War, indiscipline, mistrust, jealousy prevail in abundance. The learned and the enlightened do not get basic respect.
Brahma continued: “Life span is very less during the kali age. The benefit of pooja, tapas, yajnas are easily gained. Help them to do so” he added.
Kali responded: “India(Bharata Khandam) is a land of virtues. I am afraid to go there. A number of sincere god fearing devotees still live there. I can’t get well with them. What shall I do?”
Brahma replied: “Do not panic.Meritorious people are in less number there. You will not affect the attainment of the noble and the good. Those who respect the Brahmanas, the cows and Gods shall not be your victims.” He concluded. “Only serving a guru can solve worldly troubles. Guru is the saviour always from evil effects of Kali age”, he added. He narrated an illustrative episode on the greatness of Guru.
There was an ashram on the abnks of the river godavari. A Brahmin by name Tailaputra was teaching Vedas to his disciples there.
One day he called his disciples. He told them to look after his hermitage, as he was going to Kashi for penance. He wanted only one disciple to accompany him.
A disciple Sandeepaka agreed to join the Guru on his spiritual journey. The master told him: “In coming days I may be handicapped due to sins of earlier births. You have to serve me for 21 years. Can you?”
Sandeepaka readily agreed to guru’s orders. They started their journey. Both halted in an ashram on the bank of Manikarnika. Guru fell sick. He wouldn’t eat anything. The disciple went to beg for alms. The guru threw the bowl and screamed at him. But Sandeepaka continued to serve him. Lord shiva appeared there. He prayed for guru’s health. Shiva agreed to bless him.
The guru said “Do not bother to resolve my sins. I have to enjoy their results. I shall suffer. No need of divine help”. Lord shiva returned.
Lord Vishnu manifested thereafter and promised a boon. Sandeepaka refused and asked Him just to give him guru’s grace. It was readily granted.
Sandeepaka related this to the guru. Guru blessed him with the choicest of blessings. He laid his mortal coil in Kashi. Thus spoke Brahma to Kali on guru’s greatness.
Here ends the 2nd chapter of Sri guru charitram.
Sri Gurubhyo namaha!
Aum Sai Ram!
May Lord Sri Dattatreya bless us all!
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