Guru charitra Concise version - chapters 31 & 32
Sri Guru charitram
Sri Gurubhyo namaha – Hari Aum
chapter 31
Sthree dharma –Pathi vratha dharma
Siddhayogi continued to narrate Guru Mahima to namadharak. The Mater then preached the sacred duties of a woman in case of her husband’s death. Dharma needs to be safeguarded always. He quoted an anecdote from skandapurana to highlight the greatness of Pathi vrata dharma.
Sage Agasthya was in Kashi with his wife Lopamudra. Mean while, Vindhya had a tiff with him. Once sage Narada played a small trick with him. He made fun of Vindhya Mountain as smaller that Meru, which was outgrown.Vindhya was in rage and suddenly started to grow.
People on either side of vindhya could not look at the sun as he was an obstacle. The sages complained this to Lord Indra and Brahma. They requested the great Sage to solve their problem by taking pride out of Vindhya. Infact, Agasthya had helped them earlier by consuming Ocean waters.
Agasthya approached Vindhya to solve the problem of south Indians who could not perform Sandhyopasana properly without recognizing Sun rise or sunset.
Vindhya welcomed the sage. He saluted him and bent his head in honour. The sage ordered him to wait for him till he returns from South(which he never did). Hence Vindhya lessened his height and people breathed a sigh of relief.
Sage narada, learning this, visited Agasthyashrama and praised Lopamudra’s greatness as Agasthya’s wife which empowered the sage to help the southerners.
Lopamudra is regarded as greatest of women. Anasuya, Arundathi are both wives of Rishis, Sanjana and Swaha are wives of Agni. Suniti, mother of Dhruva also belongs to this Nari panchaka group. Hence Pathi vrata dharma can work wonders.
A devoted wife has to follow certain rules. This is called Pati Vrata Dharma. She has to look after the husband, parents-in-law and the family. She shall not do anything with out her husband’s knowledge and permission. . she should always be clean, well-dressed and sport Kumkum and other auspicious things. Cow has to be worshipped everyday. She shall follow all decent manners befitting the dignity of the house hold. Laughing in an indecent manners, poking into other’s affairs, loaning unnecessarily, impulsive buying are all evils. A lady shall never do all these.
A devoted wife shall always keep her family’s interests than her own. She shall not hide anything from elders and her husband. The husband should also respect her. A good wife only makes a home.
In case of husband’s death she shall not leave these basic mannerisms. She shall lead a simple life. She has top divert her attention to children when they are young. Then she can continue in the spiritual path of life. Thus siddha preached datta’s wife the duties of a devoted wife.
Here ends the 31st 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 32
Duties of a woman
Siddhayogi narrated the duties of a house wife to all women through Namadharak. Incase of unfortunate and untimely death of the husband, the woman has to follow certain discipline in her routine.
She shall eat once a day with simple, vegetarian diet. She has to avoid all luxuries and perfumes in order to avoid unnecessary attention of other male folk.
A widow shall wear white or red clothes and avoid jewels and costly dress. She shall do whatever is fit to her husband’s welfare in his next life or heavens.
So saying Sri guru as a Siddha blessed Datta’s wife. Savitri, his wife wanted to burn herself with her husband’s pyre as Sati. The siddha blessed her with Bhasma and Rudraksha. He also advised her to sprinkle holy waters of Sangam on his dead body and soon disappeared.
Datta’s wife bathed in Sangam, gave offerings to women and was ready for the last rites of her husband. Meanwhile she went to the guru’s place near the Aswatha tree where he was meditating. Sri narasimha saraswathy swami ji blessed her “Ashta Puthravathi Bhava”(Have eight children). So saying he gave her Bhasma.
People gathered there were surprised. When her husband is no more, how can she get children? They wondered. However guru’s blessings will not go a waste, they knew.
A Brahmin went to Sri guru and reported the situation. He smiled and rreplied. ‘Bring the body here’ They brought his body and Guru Himself made a disciple to sprinkle water from his kamandala.
Datta got up as if from a deep slumber! He got up and asked: May I know who this Yati is? When the happy wife related whatever had happened to him, he bowed before Sri Guru.
One of those in the assembly of devotees asked Sri guru: “When all know that the dead can not be brought back to life, as it is the Creator’s will, how was this possible?”
Sri guru with a divine smile answered him, It is true. But I have recalled 30 years of life from his next birth. I am here to save my children.
All of them were wonderstruck and praised guru’s Mahima.
Here ends the 32nd chapter of Sri guru charitram.
Sri Gurubhyo namaha!
Aum Sai Ram!
May Lord Sri Dattatreya bless us all!
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