The world abounds with a variety of Gurus today. We
find Gurus of various sorts everywhere. The priest in the temple, the
astrologer, the palmist, the hatha yoga teacher, the music/dance teacher,
the pranayam teacher are all called Gurus. The heads of monasteries and ashrams
are all called Gurus. Now we have Gurus arising in new and hitherto unknown areas, viz., Management Gurus, online Gurus, correspondence Gurus, Gurus who take mass
class, Gurus who teach one to one.
With so many Gurus around it is confusing.
Who is a Guru and what are his functions? Is everyone who teaches something a Guru? Is everyone who teaches
something new (without any consideration of whether the teaching is right or
wrong) a Guru?
How do we know who is a Guru and who is a Param
Guru? What are the differences between Guru and ParamGuru?
On this issue, let us take the most expert opinion
– that of Lord Shiva.
Once Devi Parvati saw Lord Shiva saluting the
ParamGuru. She was surprised as Lord Shiva is called Mahadev - the Great God. When She
questioned Him, He taught Her about ParamGuru. The teachings of Lord Shiva
about the Guru, his qualities and functions are given in the ‘Guru Gita’. The ‘Guru
Gita’ gives seven classifications of Gurus.
The classifications are based on the functions, qualities and capacities
of the Gurus.
·
The “Suchaka” Guru
o one who is well-versed (well-educated) and has
mastery over at least one external worldly science. i.e. he has a mastery
over anyone science or art. e.g. astrology, mathematics, management
etc
·
The “Vachaka” Guru
o The instructor of
the duties of the different castes and orders (Varna and Ashram), Dharma,
Adharma, etc is the “Vachaka” type.
·
The “Bodhaka” Guru
o The Guru who
initiates the disciple into the five lettered mantra etc is of the “Bodhaka”
type and he is superior to the Vachaka and Suchaka types.
·
The Nishiddha Guru – the prohibited Guru
o The Guru who
initiates one into the lower types of Vidyas, like Mohana, Marana, Vashya etc
is called by the name of Nishiddha Guru and he is prohibited Guru.
·
The Vihita Guru
o “The Samsara is
transitory and an abode of calamities”- Viewing the world as an abode of
miseries, the Guru who shows the path leading to Vairagya (dispassion), is
known as the Vihita Guru.
·
The “Karanakhya” Guru
o The Guru who
initiates the disciple into Mahavakya, Tattvamasi (Thou are that) etc, he is
called the “Karanakhya” Guru. He is the remover of the disease of this mundane
world.
·
The “Param Guru"
o He, who is expert
in total removal of all types of doubts, and who removes the fear of birth and
death, is considered to be the “Param Guru” i.e. the Supreme Guru.
The ParamGuru is self realised and knows the way to
God. We get a ParamGuru or Supreme Guru as a result of merits acquired in many births.
Having attained such a Guru, the disciple never falls prey to bonds to Samsara (material life and its traps), and is liberated forever.
The Supreme Power sends us various types of Gurus according to our needs
and stages of development. As the stages of our worldly and spiritual
development develop, change and evolve, we find new
Gurus in our lives. These Gurus teach us and give us the knowledge needed for
that stage and then we move on.
In its cycle of evolution, the soul dons many
bodies and lives many lives. As it moves through the cycle of birth and death,
the soul understands life, God and His Love.
When the yearning for God is very powerful and the
soul performs spiritual practices to reach God, the ParamGuru appears and shows
the way. He gives the Guru Mantra and teaches other spiritual practices and
leads the soul to God.
We must give respect to all Gurus who are around
us.
Each Guru fulfils the needs of the people around
him. The greatness of a Guru is not judged by the mass of followers. The
need for material knowledge and basic spiritual knowledge is far more than need
and yearning for God for sake of God.
There is no need to judge and compare. Acquire
knowledge from various Gurus but work towards deep bhakti for God. Then the
ParamGuru will come to you. Only the ParamGuru who is self-realised
and knows that He is One with God, can take you to God
