WORDS OF GRACE! His Holiness Sri Sri Swamiji speaks on 'Sadguru Lakshana'

Sri Swamiji has been rendering ‘Upanyãs’ (discourses), in Tamizh. This is being brought to you here.

There may appear to be variations in the ‘tense’ of the language. This is due to the fact that great effort has been taken to maintain the original style of the ‘Upanyãs’. Therefore, we request you to keep this in mind while reading the translated ‘words’ of Sri Swamiji.

Sri Swamiji,

"HARE RÃMA HARE RÃMA RÃMA RÃMA HARE HARE
HARE KRISHNA HARE KRISHNA KRISHNA KRISHNA HARE HARE"

“ 'Nãma kirtnam and Nãma japam' - 'performance of these two are not sãdhanas to attain God; dhyãna, yoga and severe penance have to be performed for the attainment of God,' is the opinion of many people. These people who hold such opinion should then be greater than the Nãyanmãrs (the 63 prime devotees of Lord Siva), Ãzhwãrs (the 12 prime devotees of Lord Vishnu) and the great people who have given us the Shãstras!

When we look into the 'pathigams' (praises on Lord Siva) of Nãyanmãrs we find that they speak of the glory of 'Siva Nãma' in several places. The whole of the 'pathigams' contains only the glory of 'Nãma'. Only songs in praises of the Lord, oozing and melting with love (for the Lord) are found in these 'pathigams'. In the case of Ãzhwãrs' 'pãsurams' (praises on Lord Vishnu) also we find that they speak only on the greatness of 'Bhagavãn Nãma' (the Name of the Lord). The need to sing the praises of Bhagavãn is also spoken in them. Bhagavãn Ramana Maharishi who advocated Ãtma vichara (Self-enquiry) to all has in many places spoken on the glory of doing japa of 'Bhagavan Nãma'.

In the same way our Shãstras have also, in several places, spoken on the glory of uttering the Name of the Lord as also the need and the glory of singing the praises of Bhagavãn. People, who possess knowledge of the Shãstras, however, seem to accept only those as the words of the Shãstras that speak of ways that are extremely difficult to tread. 'If any easy way has been spoken of, it cannot be the words of the Shãstras,' so do they conclude. If some hard to follow ways such as, 'fast ('vrata') for 45 days, bathe early morning, bathe in the evening, have food only once a day, do not have food at all', are advocated then people applaud, 'Oh! Is this not the Shãstras?' But if the same Shãstras say, 'chant the Name of the Lord and you can attain Him,' these people do not accept the Shãstras!

Man feels that only the most difficult is the highest. The mind ('manas') of man concludes that the most difficult way is the best way. This is a very wrong notion. There can be an easy, simple way. And this easy way can bestow the highest on us. The very same Shãstra that has prescribed tough ways of 'tapas', 'yoga', 'dhyãna', 'vedãnta vichãra' has also prescribed and spoken the glory of 'Bhagavan Nãma kirtan' - the glory of uttering the Name of the Lord and singing the praises of the Lord.

In the same way, 'Guru is not needed to attain God, we can attain God on our own', is the opinion of many. But Srimad Bhãgavatam tells us that Krishna - 'Poorna Brahma sanãtanam', 'Poorna Avatãr' (perfect Incarnation) who is known as 'Krishnam vande Jagadgurum', lived with Guru Sãndeepani to acquire knowledge. What is the need for Krishna who is the Jagadguru (The Teacher of the Universe) to seek a Teacher and learn from him? God, through His Avatãr, shows us how we should conduct ourselves. Though Krishna was Himself the Guru to the whole world - had offered the Gita, is non-pareil in knowledge - He sought a Guru and learnt from him just to show us that that each and every man born in the world should certainly approach and learn from a Guru. In the Ramayana we find that Rama had Vasishta as His Guru. Though God Himself comes down to the earth in all the Avatãrs, He seeks a Guru and we find the beauty of Bhagavãn receiving 'upadesa' from a Guru.

The Vedas say, 'seek a Guru!' The Shãstras says, 'seek a Guru!' In the Gita also Bhagavãn says, 'Tad Viddhi pranipãtena pariprasnena sevaya!' - approach Jnãnis who know the 'tattva' (philosophy) and through them learn the true 'tattva'. From this we can understand that all - the Vedas, the Shãstras, the Itihãsa-purãnãs, Bhagavat Avatãrs, Holy Texts - speak on the need for a Guru; hence, to say that Guru is not needed is only our opinion and not that of the Shãstras, the Vedas and the Mahãns.

We spoke on the glory of Nãmasankirtanam. We spoke about the glory of Guru. Who should be our Guru at this Age? He should be one who, conscious of the situation prevailing in this era, bestows 'upadesa' to the 'sishya' taking into account the state of the 'sishya' and his capability at this Age.

When we look at the conditions prevailing today, the state of our mind, etc. we find that our mind has lost its strength. Today, most of us are without 'mano balam' (strength of mind). Under such circumstances, the only way that all can easily follow is 'Bhagavan Nãma kirtan' (chanting the Name of the Lord).

Therefore, who is a Sadguru?
The one who calls all the people in this Kali Yuga and gives the ‘upadesa’, “Utter the Name of the Lord. You can attain God!”
Only such a one is a Sadguru.

God is for all. Each and everyone have the right to attain God. 'Bhagavan Nãma kirtan' which is the easiest way of attaining that God and performance of 'Bhagavan Nãma' japa is universal way; all can say Bhagavan Nãma; there is no bar for this; no one can stop it; all are children of God. Therefore, under the conditions prevailing today we can attain God following this great way. Only the one who advocates this 'mãrga' (of 'Nãma sankirtan') to us is verily the highest Guru. Only He can show God to us. He is verily the Avatãra Purusha.

Who is an Avatãr? It is the objective of the Avatãra 'purushãs' to give 'upadesa' as befitting the Yuga, time and conditions. So, people should be given 'upadesa' as befitting today's circumstances. And that is the 'upadesa' of Nãma kirtan. The path ('mãrga') of the day is 'Nãma kirtan'. It is only to speak on this 'mãrga' that innumerable Mahãns have been coming down in this Kali Yuga. "

GOPIKA JEEVANASMARANAM!
GOVINDA! GOVINDA!”

NOTE: Any discrepancy/lapse in the translated version of the Upanyasam is the sole responsibility of the person/s who translated the work from Tamizh into English.

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