Guru Charitra - Concise version - chapters 17 & 18

Sri Guru charitram

Sri Gurubhyo namaha – Hari Aum

chapter 17

guru’s grace

 

Siddhamuni continued thus:

As Sri guru took resort under the holy Aaudumbhara vriksha, devotees thronged in large numbers to seek his blessings. The master blessed them all. After a few months, he decided to stay alone in a secret place.  But the devotees got to him like the calves reaching the mother cows, when they are hungry.

 

There was a Brahmin in Karaveerapura, a scholar in Vedas. His only son was a dull boy. People around him teased him as dull headed. The boy was disgusted and decided to end his life. Before this, as divine will had it, he decided to have the holy darshan of Sri Bhuvaneswari. He fasted for three days at the Kshetra. He cut his tongue with a knife and placed before the Devi out of desperation.

 

Sri Bhuvaneswari appeared before him and said:

‘Son, do not lose hopes. Go to Sri Guru near audumbhara. Seek His blessings. He is the divine trinity who can give you everything.

 

As per Devi’s instructions, the Brahmin left for Sri guru Dharshan. The Guru identified him from a distance as a cow would recognize her calf. He prostrated before the guru and composed stotra in his praise.

Here ends the 17th 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 18

the master blesses poor

Sri Narasimha saraswathy swamy stayed a few days at Bhilwadi and visited Varunasangam. In other two days he reached the banks of Krishna river where several pilgrim centres dot the area. The master visited the Pancha ganga. The confluence of Shiva, Krishna, Bhogawathi, Saraswathi and Kumbhi rivers. It is also called Amarapuram. Sri amareshwara Shiva is worshipped there. He stayed here for twelve years. Many devotees visited him during this rare occasion. The guru blessed them all. He never looked for caste or learning. All that he expected was a child like devotion and pure love.

 

There lived a Brahmin in Amarapuram. He was learned but suffered from poverty. His learning was not  recognized by moneyed ones .Once Sri guru visited him uninvited. The Brahmin felt ashamed at his poverty. However he offered him some cowpeas he had grown in the backyard.

“Look! Your poverty shall go! You will prosper”, so blessed the guru. Strange is the behaviour of the great. The guru did a strange thing before he left the brahmin’s house. He took out the cowpea plant from its roots and threw away. The poor brahmin’s wife was annoyed. She ridiculed the guru. But the  Brahmin who believed that Guru is next only to god and a moving god pacified her. He started digging the soil to remove the roots of the bean plant. Much to his surprise, he heard a metallic sound from the earth. Later he discovered three copper pots filled with gold coins. He took these pots as guru’s gifts. The Brahmin immediately rushed to the place the guru had resided. He narrated the incident and sought his pardon for his wife’s rebukes.

 

The Guru said:

Doesn’t matter. Poverty might have made her to speak so. Go home. Do not tell the wealth you got. Live a happy life. Offer whenever you can to the poorer. Never eat alone. Keep your dependents happy. May Lord bless you.

 

The satisfied man returned him and lived for a long time helping those in trouble. He was a regular visitor to Sri Guru’s place thereafter.

Here ends the 18th chapter of Sri guru charitram.

Sri Gurubhyo namaha!

Aum Sai Ram!

May Lord Sri Dattatreya bless us all!