Guru Parampara

sada shiva samarambham shankaracharya madhyamam !
asmadacharya paryantham vande guru paramparam !!

I greet every on the ocassion of Guru Purnima or Vyasa Purnima. It is celebrated on ashada paurnima every year. On this day Sage Veda Vyasa was born to Matsyagrandhi (Satyavayi) & Sage Parashara on an island in river Ganga.

Our Guru Parampara is (Sringeri & Other Amnaya Peethams of Adwaitha Sampradaya):

Divine Group :

1. Lord Shiva in the form of Dakshina Murthy
2. Narayana or Lord Maha Vishnu
3. Brahma

Semi Divine Group:
1. Vashista
2. Shakti
3. Parashara
4. Vyasa
5. Shuka
6. Gauda Pada
7. Govinda Bhagavathpada
8. Shankara Bhagavathpada

Jagadugurus (Sringeri Tradition):
1. Shankaracharya
2. Sureshwaracharya
....
12. Vidyaranya Tirtha (Sage who built & mentored Vijaya Nagara Kingdom)
....
32. Sri Nrusimha Bharathi
33. Sri Sacchidananda Shivabhinava Nrusihma Bharathi
34. Sri Chandrasekhara Bharathi
35. Sri Abhinava Vidya Tirtha
36. Sri Bharathi Tirtha Mahaswamigal (Present)

Dakshina Murthy is a form of Shiva. He gives us knowledge. Since he is giver of knowledge / Gnanam, he has no agnanam. Daskha thought Shiva did not respect him & tried to do a Yagam with out Shiva. As a result of which, his Yagam was disrupted, his human head was burnt and Sati Devi left her body. Daksha was given with head of a Goat / lamb (Aja Mukham - Pashu Prayam - like an animal).

So, if we try to disrespect knowledge givers or Gurus, it means that we are behaving like animals. Animals can not distinguish between Good & bad. But Humans can. Also, it implies that we are doing an act which is equal to eating grass and following a flock of sheep.

Dakshina Murthy sits under a Vata Vruksham in Dhyanam facing South. He does not speak a single word. Sages sit under the tree facing him for gnanam. Dakshina Murthy is younger and Sages are old. With out opening his mouth, Dakshina Murthy transfers knowledge to the knowledge seekers. Even Shishyas spend time in silent meditation in front of him.

Maha Vishnu obtained knowledge from Dakshina Murthy which he passed on to Lord Brahma who was born in the lotus from Nabhi of Maha Vishnu.

People who chant Vishnu Sahasram know the shlokam "Vyasam Vashishta naptaram ..". It describes Guru Parampara & Family of Vashishta.

Brahma started "Srushti" - process of creation. He created Vashishta from his "Manassu". Brahma asked Vashishta to take part in Srushti process by becoming "Prajapathi". Vashihsta was born with Vairagya and refused to become Prajapathi & chose the way of "Tapassu". Vashishta is first among Saptarushi's. His wife is Arundhathi. The newly married couple will be shown Arundhathi star at the end of marriage ceremony. She has "Akshaya Kumkuma" & Jasmin flowers that never fade. A newly married girl needs both of them for rest of her life. That is the greatest wealth she possesses on this earth.

Vashishta's son is Shakti. Shakti Maharshi died (I think in rivalry between Vashishta & Vishwa Mitra.) . Vashishta wanted to commit suicide by jumping into water. He tied himself with ropes & creepers. He jumped into Ganga. Ganga dried immediately and appeared as woman infront of him. She told him that she can not take away the life of Vashishta. Then he saw Shakti's wife who was carrying. The male baby inside her womb was chanting Vedam. The baby learnt from father inside mothers womb.

Vashishta took care of the baby after his birth. He was named Parashara. Parashara is great sage. Once he wanted to cross river Ganga. He went to nearby fisherman's kings house to arrange for a boat. The fisherman was eating food. He asked his daughter to help Parashara. Her name is Satyavathi. She was also called as Matysagrandhi as her body smelled of fish. She was found inside stomach of a fish.

Satyavathi was very beatiful. She helped Parashara to cross Ganga. While crossing Ganga, Parashara wanted to have a son with Satyavathi.

Sathyavathi accepted - but asked for 2 boons:

1. Her body should smell of pure Gandham for a distance of 1 Yojanam (10 miles).
2. She has to remain a "Kanya" even after sleeping with sage Parashara. Also, others should not see when they sleep together.

Parashara gave those boons. They slept on a small sand island in Ganga river. He created fog so that others can not see them. Vyasa was born as a result through a process called "Sadyoda Garbham". He was black in color and was named Krushna Dwaipayana. Sathyavathi's body lost the odor of fish & started smelling chandanam. The smell could be felt for a distance of 1 yojanam, hence the name Yojana Grandhi.

Vyasa was born as 5 year old boy (not 1 day baby). He had vairagya & vedic knoweldge. He left with his father. He told his mother that He would come to her when ever she thinks of him in her mind.

Vyasa later on divided Vedas into 4, wrote 18 purana's & Maha Bharatham. He likes Badarika Phalam (Regu Pandu). He lives in Badarika Vanam and got the name Badarayana. Vyasa lived in present day "Basara" for many years. Mahan Kali, Maha Lakshmi & Maha Saraswathi in Basara are installed & worshipped by Vyasa. Basara's original name is Vyasapuri.

Vyasa's son is Shuka. Shuka was born with out involvement of women. Vyasa did penance for 1000 years & Shiva gave him boon that son will be born to him. He returned to Himalaya's thinking of woman to give birth to a son. There was Apsarasa named Ghruthachi in sky. He was generating fire in "Arani" in Vedic way. He looked at her. She was scared and assumed the form of a parrot (Shuka Pakshi). He was staring at her and had "Veerya Skalanam" - {sperms came out of his body}. His veeryam fell on churning "Arani" and a handsom young boy took birth while churning his "Veeryam". He had parrot color body, parrot beak like nose and spoke as sweetly as a parrot. He was named Shuka. Shuka narrated Bhagavatham to us.

Shuka is avadhotha & continuously roams. He does not wear clothes and he has no distinction of men & women.

Shuka's direct disciple is Gaudapadacharya. Gaudapada lived for 5000 years. He is the first person to write commentary on Upanishad's in Adwaitha Sampradaya. He wrote "Karika's" on "Mandukyopanishad". We call them as Gaudapadiya Karikas. Gauda Saraswath Brahmins of Chitrapur, Konkan Region claim that Gaudapada belongs to their community.

Gaudapada's shishya is Govinda Bhagavathpada. He used to live on the Bank of Narmada river. He lived for 2000 years. He is the Guru of Shankaracharya. He taught 4 vedas and Brahma Sutrams to Shankaracharya in 4 years.

Shankaracharya wrote commetaries for Brahmasutra's, Upanishads, Vishnu Sahasram, many independent works like Viveka Chudamani & stotrams like Dakshina Murthy Stotram.

Shankaracharya established 4 mutts - Puri, Sringeri, Dwaraka & Badari.

The Guru parampara in Sringeri is an unbroken lineage from Dakshina Murthy.

Guru can give you every thing in 3 worlds. Bali Chakravarthy conquered 3 worlds with Anugraham of his Guru - Shukracharya. When Guru anugraham was lost, even Bali Chakravarthy lost his control over 3 worlds to Vamana Murthy.

"Pooja moolam guror padam;
Mantra moolam guror vakyam;
Moksha moolam guror kripa "

The feet of guru should be worshipped & meditated up on. Guru's words should be taken as sacred Mantra's & Guru krupa will ensure us the Moksham.

You should not see if Guru is younger to you or older to you. Dakshina Murthy stotram tells that Guru is young and Shishya are old. Even Shankara - Sureswhara is Young Guru - Old Shishya combination. You have to worship Guru all the time - with out any hesitation. You can visit Guru even with out taking bath if you are in deep trouble.
Guru paduka will give you gnanam, aishwaryam and moksham.

Let us all worship Guru on this Guru Purnima day !

With humble pranams at lotus feet of Jagadguru Bharathi Tirtha Mahaswamigal

- Nachiketha