The Masters of the Vedic Tradition have been exponents of reality from earliest ages. In each new epoch, they have propounded the enduring truths of practical living and have set out those standards by which men's lives may attain the highest achievements and fulfilment, generation after generation. On 29 July Maharishi paid homage to his Master, Shri Guru Dev, His Divinity Brahmanand Saraswati Maharaj, Jagatguru Shankaracharya of Jyotir Math, Badarikashram, Himalayas.
Maharishi attributes all his achievements to Shri Guru Dev, His Divinity Brahmanand Saraswati Maharaj, Jagatguru Shankaracharya of Jyotir Math, Badarikashram, Himalayas—most illustrious embodiment of Vedic Wisdom in the eternal tradition of Vedic Masters: 'All the differences and dissensions of various castes, creeds, and Sampradayas dissolved in his presence, and every party felt itself to be a thread in the warp and woof of society.... Such was his universal and all-embracing nature.'
(Maharishi speaking on Guru Dev to the first teachers of Transcendental Meditation four decades ago.)
Describing his first meeting with Shri Guru Dev, Maharishi once said: ' As a thirsty man arrives at a well, so I arrived at the feet of my Master. The quest of a perfect Master was there. The first sight of his personality was enough to make me surrender at his feet. He was the most highly revered sage in India and was held as the embodiment of divine consciousness . . . .'
anantasamsArasamudratAra
naukAyitAbhyAm gurubhaktidAbhyAm |
vairAgyasAmrAjyadapUjanAbhyAm
namO nama: SrI gurupAdukAbhyAm ||
Salutation, salutation to the Sandals of Guru Dev which are like two boats for crossing the endless ocean of transmigration (samsara), which give devotion for the Guru, and whose worship grants the sovereignty of dispassion.
pApAndhakArArkaparamparAbhyAm tApatrayAheendrakhagEsvarAbhyAm |
jADyAbdhisamSoshanabAdavAbhyAm
namO nama: srI gurupAdukAbhyAm ||
Salutation, salutation to the Sandals of Guru Dev which are like a multitude of suns for the darkness of sins, which are like an eagle for the great serpent of the three-fold suffering, and which are like the submarine fire drying up the ocean of ignorance.
kavitvvArAsinisAkrAbhyAm
dAridryadAvAmbudhimAlikAbhyAm |
dUrikrutAnamravipattatibhyAm
namO nama: SrI gurupAdukAbhyAm ||
Salutation, salutation to the Padukas of the Holy Master which are like the moon on the ocean of wisdom, which are like a garland of rainy clouds for the fire of poverty, and by which all the afflictions of the bowing devotees are banished.
natA yayO: srIpatitAm samIyu:
kadAicitAbhyAsu daridravaryA: |
mUkascha vAchaspatitAm hi tAbhyAm
namO nama: srI gurupAdukAbhyAm ||
Salutation, salutation to the Sandals of Guru Dev , bowing to both of which even the poorest attain quickly one day the status of the Lord of Wealth, and the dumb the status of the Lord of Speech (Brihaspati).
kAmAdisarpavrajabhanjakAbhyAm
vivEkavairAgyanidhipradAbhyAm |
bOdhapradAbhyAm drutamOkshadAbhyAm
namO nama: SrI gurupAdukAbhyAm ||
Salutation, salutation to the Sandals of Guru Dev which destroy the multitude of serpents beginning with desire, which grant the treasure of discrimination and dispassion, which impart knowledge, and which give immediate liberation.
svArchAparANAmakhilEshtadAbhyAm svAhAsahAyAkshadhurandharAbhyAm |
svAntAcchabhAvapradapUjanAbhyAm
namO nama: srI gurupAdukAbhyAm ||
Salutation, salutation to the Sandals of Guru Dev which fulfill all the wishes of those who are devoted to their worship, which are greater than Lord Shiva, and whose worship gives purity of heart.
