We all have love for God. There is no doubt about that. But we love our bodies, our looks and the material world far more than we love God. When we call upon God, it is a half hearted call or less. In life, nothing is gained if it is done with half hearted focus or heart. If we want God to be our best friend and guide us in life, we must call upon God with all our might and love. Then only He will also answer us with His Presence and Love.
We must yearn for God intensely. The yearning for love of God must be focussed. It must be as powerful as the burning need for water of a thirsty traveller who is lost in the desert for several days. When the mind and heart are restless and keep on longing for God, the Guru appears. And the Guru shows the way to reach God. The Guru knows the potentials of the disciple and helps him to achieve them. The Guru is aware of the shortcomings and needs of the disciple and he fulfils them by his blessings. His blessings fill up all the gaps in the disciple's luck and karma. Where there is a lack in disciple's life, the Guru completes and fulfils it. This makes the life of the disciple accomplished and full of contentment. The disciple is able to fulfil his life potentials and ambitions and also focus on service to God, Guru and Mankind. The Life of a disciple who is blessed in this way is rewarding and fulfilled in all ways. Take the case of the great Shivaji Maharaj and his powerful Guru Samarth Ramdas:
Samarth Ramdas was a powerful and well known Guru of Maharashtra. Shivaji Maharaj was eager to meet him after hearing about his fame. He went to Kondhaval Chasm where the Guru was camped and waited for him all day. But the Guru was not there and Shivaji had to return without the eagerly awaited meeting. That night and the following days and nights, Shivaji’s mind was thinking of Samarth Ramdas at all times. As the time passed, his yearning to meet the Guru increased. He went to the temple of Bhavani Devi and sat in prayer. He was not aware when he fell asleep there. In his dream, Samarth Ramdas appeared wearing a saffron robe, padukas (wooden slippers), a rosary and a crutch under his arm. Seeing his radiant form, Shivaji fell at his feet and sought blessings. Samarth Ramdas touched his head and blessed him. When he woke up in the morning, he was holding a coconut. In India, a coconut is touched and given by Guru to disciple as a blessing.
From that moment onwards, Shivaji regarded Samarth Ramdas as his Guru. The Guru came later on to visit him at Shinganwadi. Shivaji performed ritualistic pooja of washing the feet of the Guru and offering him flowers and fruits The Guru blessed him and gave him a coconut. He also gave him a fistful of mud, pebbles and some horse dung as blessings. He said to him: you are born to rule and serve the people. My blessings and guidance are always with you. Whenever you think of me I am with you. Rule wisely.
The Guru was aware of the requirements and needs of Shivaji for ruling his kingdom well. The handful of things that he gave to Shivaji represented the needs of Shivaji and the Guru’s blessings for their fulfilment. The fistful of mud represented the earth or kingdom, the pebbles were hill forts which were needed for security and fighting with the enemies, the horse dung represented horses which were used for fighting, transport and escape from enemies and the coconut was for the welfare of Shivaji so that he did well in his personal life and as Maharaja of the Maratha Kingdom. The blessings of the Guru ensured that Shivaji never had a shortage of anything in his life.
Intense yearning for Guru and his blessings pulled Samarth Ramdas to Shivaji. His blessings made Shivaji a wise and competent ruler who re-established Hindu Swarajya in Maharashtra. In the rule of Shivaji, the foreign invaders were overcome, respect and position of women in society was restablished, slavery was abolished and society flourished. This was due to the blessings and guidance of the powerful Samarth Ramdas. That is why a Guru is needed!
