Series Sanatan Dharma the eternal wisdom
GURU GITA
The Song of the Guru (verses from Skanda Purana)
J. Amba Ed.
Series Sanatan Dharma the eternal wisdom
GURU GITA The Song of the Guru (verses from: Skanda Purana)
Transliteration and Translation from Sanskrit in English by Haidakhandi Samaj, India Translation from English, Edition, Graphics and Computergraphics by Kalavati Maria Cristina Chiulli Illustrations from traditional Indian iconography
Digital Edition e-book ISBN 978-88-86340-41-0 Š Copyright
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OM SHRI SADGURUVE NAMAH Om I bow to the true Guru
“To tend to Liberation one should rely on a Guru. When your mind receives his blessing, emancipation is within your reach.” (from the Song of Mahamudra by Tilopa)
SADGURU “Now I shall tell you how to attain easily success in Yoga, by knowing which the Yogis never fail in the practice of Yoga. Only the knowledge imparted by a Guru, through his lips, is powerful and useful; otherwise it becomes fruitless, weak and very painful. He who is devoted to any knowledge, while pleasing his Guru with every attention, readily obtains the fruit of that knowledge. There is not the least doubt that the Guru is father, the Guru is mother, and the Guru is even God; and as such, he should be served by all with their thoughts, words and deeds. By the Guru’s favour everything good for to one’s self is obtained. So the Guru ought to be served daily; otherwise there can be nothing auspicious. Let the disciple salute his Guru after walking three times round him, and touch with his right hand his lotus-feet.” (Lord Shiva is speaking: from “Shiva Samhita”, cap. III, v. 10-15)
“The Guru is nothing but the embodiment of ecstasy. A Guru is not a teacher; he does not teach anything; he does not care about doctrines and principles. A Guru is a presence. Do not think too much, go to him like a lover instead, because a Guru is found through perception. The Guru is to be eaten, the Guru is to be drunk; listening to him is useless. He is a living phenomenon: in front of you there is his energy. It’s a matter of love. It’s impossible to prove somebody that you have found the Guru. There is no possible evidence. Do not even try, because anybody can demonstrate the contrary. But you have found him and you know; you have tasted him and therefore you know.
It’s a knowledge of your heart, of your feeling. The word “Guru” is loaded with meaning. The word “Master” has not the same meaning. Guru means “heavy”. The Guru is very heavy; he is a cloud heavy with rain, waiting only for your thirst to pour its contents. He is a flower full of scent, waiting only to meet your nostrils to spread it. Guru means heavy, very heavy: heavy for the energy of the unknown, heavy of the Divine, heavy like a pregnant woman. A Guru is pregnant of God; he is heavy of the Divine, he is ready to pour it. Your mere thirst is enough; a thirsty ground is enough. The Guru is a ripe, heavy fruit, waiting to fall down. If you are ready to receive him, he falls in you. When a disciple bows down in total faith to the feet of his Guru, something invisible for the eyes occurs. An energy pours down from the Guru into the disciple. If aware enough, one can see the aura of the Guru, his rainbow, pouring into the disciple. The Guru is full of Divine energy. And he has infinite of it: he can pour it into an infinite number of disciples. He can work alone with millions of disciples. He never dries up, because he is connected with the whole, he has found the source of everything. Through him you too can jump into that abyss. It is difficult to surrender to God, because nobody knows where He is: He never gave his address to anybody. But you can find a Guru. Therefore, if you like to know from me what is a Guru, well, a Guru is the address of God.” (Osho Rajneesh, 16th february 1975)
Guru Gita The Song of the Guru
Atha shrìgurugìtà pràrambhah
Now the Song of the Holy Guru begins
Om asya shrìgurugìtàstotramantrasya bhagavàn sadàshiva rishi nànàvidhàni chamdàsi shrìguruparmàtmà devatà ham bìjam sah shaktih krom kìlakam shrìguruprasàd siddhyarthe jape viniyogah Om. Now, presenting the mantras of the Song of Worship of the Guru, written in various meters, the Supreme Eternal Shiva is the seer, the Supreme Soul, the respected Guru is the deity. Ham is the seed-mantra, Sah is its energy, Krom is the pin. These mantras are to be recited to attain the grace of the Guru.
Atha dhyànam
Now the Meditation
Hamsàbhyàm parivrittapatrakamalairdivyairjagatkàranair vishvotkìrnamanekadehanilayaih svacchamdamàtmecchayà taddyotam padashàmbhavam tu charanam dìpàmkuragràhinam pratyakshàksharavigraham gurupadam dhyàyedvibhum shàshvatam mam chaturvidhapurushàrthasiddhyarthe jape viniyogah The lotus is surrounded by the petals Ham and Sah, that are the divine Cause of the perceivable existence. According to his desire and to his own rhythm, he perceives all existence and resides in innumerable bodies. Meditate on the syllables Gu Ru, that are the manifestation of the eternal in the perceivable form of letters, on the one who shows the principle ‘That’, who always remains in the state of perfect equilibrium, whose feet emit light.
Sùt uvàcha
Sut said: 1. Kailàshshikhare ramye bhaktisam dhànanàyakam pranamya pàrvatì bhaktyà shankaram paryapricchata On top of the wonderful Mount Kailash, Pàrvati bowed down with devotion to Lord Shiva, the teacher of union with God by means of devotion, and asked Shiva Shankar:
shrìdevyuvàcha
the Supreme Goddess said:
2. Om namo devadevesh paràtpar jagadguro sadàshiva mahàdev gurudìkshàm pradehi me Om. To thee I bow Lord, Lord of all gods, higher than the highest, Guru of the universe; O eternal Shiva, great God, please bestow upon me the initiation of the Guru. 3. kena màrgena bho svàmin dehì brahmamayo bhavet tvam kripàm kuru me svàmin namàmi charanau tav O Master, teach me the path which a seeker has to follow to become one with Brahman. O Swami, o Master, show me Thy compassion. I bow to Thy feet.
ishvar uvàcha
The Supreme Lord said:
4. mam rùpàsi devi tvam tvatprìtyartham vadàmyaham lokopakàrakah prashno na kenàpi kritah purà O Goddess, you are my own form. By my love for you I will answer to this question to benefit the worlds. Never before has anyone asked this. 5. durlabham trishu lokeshu tacchnushva vadàmyaham gurum vinà brahma nànyat satyam satyam varànane This is difficult for all the beings of the three worlds. Listen while I speak to you. The Guru is truly no other than the Supreme Divinity. This is the truth. This is the truth, o Giver of boons. 6. vedashàstrapurànàni itihàsàdikàni cha mantrayantràdividyàshcha smritirucchàtanàdikam 7. shaivashàktàgamàdìni anyàni vividhàni cha apabrahmshakarànìha jìvànàm bhràntacetasàm In the Vedas, Shastras, Puranas, in stories and other literatures, in the mantras, yantras, other forms of knowledge, in Smritis (books taught orally), in the special mantras for attaining specific powers and others; in the treatises of the Shaiva or Shakta, in the different commentaries and others, those whose consciousness is confused or wavering can find a source of confusion.
8. yaghyo vratam tapo dànam japastìrtham tathaiva cha gurutattvamavighyàya mùdhàste charate janàh Those who perform sacrifices, yagyas, sacred vows, purifying austerities, offerings, recitation of mantras, sacred pilgrimages, without understanding the principle of the Guru perform all this like fools. 9. gururbuddhyàtmano nànyat satyam satyam na sanshayah tallàbhàrtham prayatnastu kartavyo hi manìshibhih The Guru is no other than the soul of intellect. This is the truth, without a doubt this is the truth. It is necessary that the ones who rule their minds strive to attain That. 10. gùdhavidyà jaganmàyà dehe chàghyànasanbhavà udàyah yatprakàshen gurushabdena kathyate The Maya of perceivable existence veiles knowledge and in the individual originates the darkness of ignorance. The one who raises the light, by which enlightenment is known, is called by the word Guru. 11. sarvapàpvishuddhàtmà shrìguroh pàdasevanàt dehì brahma bhavedyasmàt tvatkripàrtham vadàmi te By the selfless loving service to the feet of the respected Guru the soul is purified from all sins. I will tell you about that grace by which one is merged into the Supreme Divinity. 12. gurupàdàmbujam smritvà jalam shirasi dhàrayet sarvatìrthàvagàhasya sampràpnoti phalam narah
By spreading water upon your head while remembering the lotus feet of your Guru you will obtain the fruit of bathing in all the sacred waters of the places of pilgrimage. 13. shoshanam pàp pankasya dìpanam ghyàntejasàm gurupàdodakam samyak sansàràrnavatàrakam The water from the Guru’s feet has the power of purify from all sins, to light the flame of knowledge and to carry easily across the ocean of this world. 14. aghyànmùlaharanam janmakarmanivàranam ghyànvairàgyasiddhyartham gurupàdodakam pibet Whoever drinks the water of the feet of the Guru is liberated from the root of ignorance and purified from the karma of life and obtains perfection, wisdom and detachment. 15. guroh pàdodakam pìtvà gurorucchishtbhojanam gurumùrteh sadà dhyànam gurumantram sadà japet Drink the water of the Guru’s feet and eat of his prasad, the remnants of his food. Meditate constantly upon the image of the Guru and always repeat the mantra of the Guru. 16. kàshìkshetram tannivàso jàhnavì charanodakam gururvishveshvarah sàkshàt tàrakam brahma nishcitam His abode is the sacred city of Kashi (Benares). The water of his feet is a sacred river. The Guru himself is Vishveshvar, the Lord of the universe; with no doubt he is the true shining star and the Supreme Divinity.
17. guroh pàdodakam yattu gayà-sau so-kshayo vatah tìrtharàjah prayàgashcha gurumùrtyai namo namah The water of the feet of the Guru is sacred. The Guru is Gaya (place of pilgrimage) and he is the banyan tree. The Guru is the king of the places of pilgrimage and the most sacred prayag (confluence of holy rivers). To the divine image of the Guru we bow. 18. gurumùrtim smarennityam gurunàm sadà japet guroràghyàm prakurvìt guroranyanna bhàvayet Always remember the image of the Guru, always recite the name of the Guru, always observe the instructions of the Guru, always think of no other than the Guru. 19. guruvaktrasthitam brahma pràpyate tatprasàdatah gurordhyànam sadà kuryàt kulastrì svapateryathà The Supreme Divinity resides in the mouth of the Guru and is obtained by his grace. Always meditate on the Guru just as a loving woman dreams of her husband. 20. svàshramam cha svajàtim cha svakìrtipushtivardhanam etatsarvam parityajya gurornyanna bhàvayet Renounce all thoughts about your status in your life, the nobility of your birth, your own fame and increase in this world. Deeply intuit the attitude of the Guru without thinking of anything else. 21. ananyàshchintayanto màm sulabham paramam padam tasmàtsarvaprayatnena guroràràdhanam kuru
The attainment of the highest status is easy by contemplating nothing else but Me. Therefore all efforts should be made to please the Guru. 22. trailokye sphutvaktàrò devàdyasurapannagàh guruvaktrasthità vidyà gurubhaktyà tu labhyate In the three worlds Gods, demons, celestial beings and others unanimously proclaim that the knowledge residing in the mouth of the Guru is obtained by devotion to the Guru. 23. gukàrstvandhakàrashcha rukàrasteja ucyate aghyàngràsakam brahma gurureva na sanshayah The syllable Gu means darkness, Ru means light. The Supreme Divinity who destroys ignorance is verily the Guru. 24. gukàrah prathamo varno màyàdigunabhàsakah rukàro dvitìyo brahma màyàbhràntivinàshanam The first letter is Gu: there Maya resides with other qualities. The second letter is Ru, where the Supreme Divinity destroys the confusion of Maya. 25. evam gurupadam shreshtham devànàmapi durlabham hàhàhùhùganaishchaiva gandharvaishcha prapùjyate And the feet of the Guru are the ultimate goal difficult to attain even for the Gods. Even Hà Hà and Hù Hù (two famous celestial beings) and multitudes of other divine beings desire to worship them. 26. dhruvam teshàm cha sarveshàm nàsti tattvam guroh param àsanam shayanam vastram bhùshanam vàhanàdikam
27. sàdhaken pradàtavyam gurusantoshakàrakam guroràràdhanam kàryam svajìvitvam nivedayet Those who can worship him are firmly fixed in the highest principle of the Guru, who is the Supreme Lord of all. A seat, a bed, clothes, ornaments, conveyance and other things ... ... the disciple should offer these things to satisfy the Guru: offerings of the necessities of life to produce delight in the life of the Guru. 28. karmanà manasà vàchà nityamàràdhayed gurum dìrghadandam namaskritya nirlajjo gurusannidhau Eternally please the Guru through your actions, thoughts and words. Offer respect to the Guru without shame, modesty or hesitation. 29. sharìrmindriyam prànàn sadgurubhyo nivedayet àtmadàràdikam sarvam sadgurubhyo nivedayet Offer your body, senses, life itself to the Sadguru, the True Guru. With your bursting soul open your heart and offer everything to the Sadguru. 30. krimikìtbhasmavishthàdurgandhimalmùtrakam shleshmaraktam tvachà màmsam vamchayenn varànane O Giver of boons, don’t be attached to this body full of germs, foul smelling feces and urine, phlegm, blood and meat covered with skin, which will ultimately become scattered ashes. 31. samsàravrikshamàrùdhàh patanto narakàrnave yena chaivoddhritàh sarve tasmai shrìgurave namah We bow down to the respected Guru,
who allows us to climb up beyond the tree of the phenomenal world and rescues all from falling into the ocean of the hell of conflict and confusion. 32. gururbrahmà gururvishnurgururdevo maheshvarah gurureva parabrahma tasmai shrìgurave namah The Guru is Brahma, the Guru is Vishnu, the Guru is Lord Maheshwar. The Guru is actually the Supreme Divinity, and therefore we bow down to the Guru. 33. hetave jagatàmeva samsàràrnavasetave prabhave sarvavidyànàm shambhave gurave namah He is the one who actually dissolves the perceivable universe, he is the bridge across the ocean of objects and relationships; he is the one who illuminates all knowledge with great delight. We bow down to the respected Guru. 34. aghyàntimiràndhasya ghyànàñjanshalàkyà chakshurunmìlitam yena tasmai shrìgurave namah He applies the ointment of wisdom to the eyes closed by the darkness of ignorance, and therefore we bow down to the respected Guru. 35. tvam pità tvam cha me màtà tvam bandhustvam cha devatà samsàrapratibodhàrtham tasmai shrìgurave namah You are my father, you are my mother. You are my friend, you are all of the Gods. To understand this world of objects and relationships, we bow down to the respected Guru. 36. yatsatyena jagatsatyam yatprakàshen bhàti tat
yadànanden nandanti tasmai shrìgurave namah
We bow down to the Guru, whose truth makes true the perceivable existence, whose illumination illumines That, whose bliss makes everything blissful. 37. yasya sthityà satyamidam yadbhàti bhànurùpatah priyam putràdi yatprìtyà tasmai shrìgurave namah We bow down to the respected Guru, whose existence reveals this truth, who shines through the form of the sun, whose love makes us love the children and all others. 38. yena cetayate hìdam cittam cetayate na yam jàgratsvapnasushuptyàdi tasmai shrìgurave namah We bow down to the respected Guru, who instigates the consciousness to illuminate the object of awareness, while consciousness itself is not illuminated; who illuminates the waking, dreaming and deep dreamless sleep and other states of consciousness. 39. yasya ghyànàdidam vishvam na drishyam bhinnabhedatah sadekarùparùpàya tasmai shrìgurave namah By whose gift of wisdom and inspiration the universe is perceived as undivided. We bow down to the respected Guru, who is the one form of truth of all forms. 40. yasyàmatam tasya matam matam yasya na ved sah ananyabhàvbhàvàya tasmai shrìgurave namah One who has an opinion does not understand.
One who has no opinion has the right understanding. We bow down to the respected Guru, who realizes the absence of many opinions. 41. yasya kàranarùpasya kàryarùpen bhàti yat kàryakàranarùpàya tasmai shrìgurave namah To the one who is the form of the cause, as well as the light by which the form of the effect is illuminated; who is the form of effect and cause, to this respected Guru we bow down. 42. nànàrùpamidam sarvam na kenàpyasti bhinnatà kàryakàranatà chaiv tasmai shrìgurave namah Everything appears as various forms, whereas for the Guru there is no differentiation. He alone is the manifestation of cause and effect. Therefore we bow down to the respected Guru. 43. yadanghrikamaladvamdvam dvamdvatàpanivàrakam tàrakam sarvadà-padbhyah shrìgurum pranamàmyaham His lotus feet remove the heat of conflict. Those feet are always shining. To the respected Guru we bow down. 44. shive kruddhe gurustràtà gurau kruddhe shivo na hi tasmàtsarvaprayatnena shrìgurum sharanam vrajet If Shiva has anger the Guru can remove it, whereas if the Guru has anger Shiva cannot. Therefore all effort should be made to take refuge in the respected Guru.
45. vande gurupadadvamdvam vànmanashcittagocharam shvetaraktaprabhàbhinnam shivashaktyàtmakam param Worship the feet of the Guru with words, mind and illumination of consciousness. He illuminates the colours white and red, representing the supreme manifestations of Shiva and Shakti (consciousness and nature). 46. gukàram cha gunàtìtam rukàram rùpvarjitam gunàtìtasvarùpam cha yo dadyàtsa guruh smritah Gu is beyond all qualities. Ru excludes all forms. One should remember the Guru as the intrinsic nature of that which is beyond the attributes. 47. atrinetrah sarvasàkshì achaturbàhuracyutah achaturvadano brahmà shrìguruh kathitah priye Without three eyes he is the witness of all (Shiva). Without four arms he is Vishnu (all circumstances). Without four faces he is Brahma, the Supreme Divinity. O Beloved, so it is said of the respected Guru. 48. ayam mayàñjalirbaddho dayàsàgarvriddhaye yadanugrahato jantushcitrasamsàramuktibhàk I clasp my hands with respect before the one whose ocean of compassion increases, by whose compassion living beings may attain liberation from the phenomenal world. 49. shrìguroh paramam rùpam vivekachakshusho-mritam mandabhàgyà na pashyanti andhàh sùryodayam yathà
The Guru is the supreme form of nectar, the bliss of immortality to those who see with the eye of discrimination. Those whose minds are not so fortunate to perceive this divinity are just like the blind who do not see the rising sun. 50. shrìnàthacharanadvamdvam yasyàm dishi viràjate tasyai dishe namaskuryàd bhaktyà pratidinam priye O Beloved, everyday you should bow down in whatever direction are situated the feet of the respected Guru. 51. tasyai dishe satatmañjaliresha àrye prakshipyate mukharito madhupairbudhaishcha jàgarti yatra bhagavàn guruchakravartì vishvodayapralayan àtkanityasàkshì O You who are purified by knowledge, with handfuls of flowers buzzing with bees in search of honey worship the eternal Witness of the drama of creation and dissolution of the universe, in whatever direction be situated the wakeful Supreme Lord who has dominion. 52. shrìnàthàdigurutrayam ganapatim pìthatrayam bhairavam siddhaugham batukatrayam padayugam dùtìkramam mandalam vìràn dvyashtachatushkashashtinavakam vìràvalìpañchakam shrìmanmàlinimantraràjasahitam vande gurormandalam By means of the king of mantras, the Guru Gita, we bow to the circle that surrounds the Guru, to the Supreme Lord, our Guru, and the three other previous Gurus; to Ganapati, to the three places of worship of Bhairava; to the Siddhas (realized beings), to the three Batukas, to the two feet (of the Guru), to the order of ambassadors to the circle, to the heroes, the sixteen, the sixty-four and the nine ones, to the five heroes that sacrificed, to the respected makers of garlands.