Guru Charitra Concise version - Chapters 23 & 24

Sri Guru charitram

Sri Gurubhyo namaha – Hari Aum

chapter 23

duties of a House holder

 

Siddha yogi continued to narrate Gurucharitram to namadharak. His greatness spread like parijatha flower. People from different parts of the country thronged to have Guru dharshan.

 

Sri Narasimha saraswati yati blessed them all. None returned with out a wish granted or spiritually enlightened. His fame reached far corners of India. Though He stationed Himself in Ganagapur, devotees from North, East and west directions sought His blessings.

 

He was the celestial tree and celestial cow for the seekers. The poor Brahmin blessed with prosperity through his cattle made a good living thereafter.

 

On a certain day, a farmer approached him for asking his buffalo on rent. He politely refused. He narrated Sri Guru’s grace and showed the milching buffalo. News of this miracle reached the village head.

 

The village head visited Sri Guru’s ashram the next day with choicest fruits, flowers and gold. Sri Guru asked him not to offer them to Him. Instead he could help those in need. Why did you arrive here? I am an ascetic who does not have anything. Do not bother me with worldly gifts and offerings he said.

 

The villagers prostrated with their leader and one among them spoke:

Oh! Great master! You are the Divine Trinity on Earth. We have learnt your kindness, grace and powers. Kindly bless us all and accept our little offering though your kind self is not in need of them. Please be here with us. We shall build a Matam for you. Please accept our small request.

 

Sri Guru agreed and soon as Ashram was built in Ganagapur. Villagers arranged a grand procession of Sri Guru. The procession stopped in front of a land lord’s house. There was a huge peepal tree opposite the house. Sri guru wanted to stop a while there. When He came out of the palanquin, there was a thunderous noise. A Brahma rakshasa haunting the house hold and the village spurted out from the tree. It stood before the Master in human form.

 

The spirit bowed & said, Oh! Great Master, All my sins have dissolved on your Holy dharshan. Show mercy on me & save me from this treacherous form.

 

Sri guru blessed him and ordered him to bathe in the sangam. The evil spirit lost its form after the holy bath & attained Moksha by Master’s grace. The holy Master solved miseries of many. He did not expect any thing in return. It was a motherly affection to those who sincerely believed in Him.

 

Master also taught a lesson or two to those who came with a mal intention. Those who teased Him verbally or spiritually or physically returned speech less after turning to Him as disciples.

 

Once a group of scholars wanted to test the knowledge & scholarship of the divine Master. They arrived at His monastery with elaborate preparation.

 

The leader of the group entered the premises. To his surprise he saw Lord Narasimha, his own house deity and bowed before Him.  In a moment, He saw Sri. Guru. All His followers surrendered.

 

Here ends the 23rd 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 24

Guru Mahima

Siddhayogi continued to narrate Gurucharitram to namadharak. He described how the Master removed the pride and ignorance of people who thought big of themselves. A proud scholar by name Trivikrama Bharathi was from Kumsi near Bidar. The Master knew this by His yogic vision. One day He called a disciple and said, let us visit Kumsi. I want to meet the great vedic scholar there.

 

Trivikrama  Bharathi was an Upasaka of Lord Narasimha. On that day he was mentally worshipping the Lord. But to his amazement he couldn’t concentrate for a long time. He was disturbed during meditation.

 

 He woke up from meditation and looked out. He found a saffron clad Swamiji and His disciples. For him, the swami ji looked like his Lord Narasimha Himself. Earlier, he had ridiculed the Guru as a man of miracles and black magic. Now he realised and felt ashamed.

 

When the retinue reached nearer, Trivikrama bowed to the Master and prostrated before Him. He with folded hands prayed to Him,‘Oh! Guru! You are indeed great. Pardon me; you are an avatar of the Trinity. I ridiculed you earlier by ignorance. I was interested in verbal arguments and debate than real spiritual path. I wasted my time with out knowing the path of Guru Bhakti and dedication. Please pardon me’.

 

The Guru blessed him. He said ‘look, do not think little of other spiritual masters, Do not decide by scholar ship, the status of a yogi. Jnana and Bhakti are important. One should follow the path of vairagya. Take care of your inner self and spiritual evolution. Stop fighting with grammar and scholarship. Verbal knowledge never helps any one in self attainment, Words do not reach the supreme. They stop in the middle. You shall be liberated soon, He blessed.

 

Trivikrama greeted the Guru, offered Him pooja and Bhiksha and was now a changed person. Thus the Guru changed iron to gold. Whoever came in to the Master’s fold, never erred. They walked in spiritual path of Divine love and bliss.

 

Here ends the 24th chapter of Sri guru charitram.

Sri Gurubhyo namaha!

Aum Sai Ram!

May Lord Sri Dattatreya bless us all!