In the venerable Guru Parampara of the Mulamnaya Sarvajna Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham, we have been lucky to witness yet another new milestone. The 71st Peethadhipati in the more than 2500-year-old unbroken succession of Shankaracharyas of the Peetham has just been anointed. The Peetham presided over by Adi Shankara himself in his last years on earth had the distinction of being steered by Sureshwaracharya and Sarvajnatman later. The Peetham established by Adi Shankaracharya for spreading the Jnana of Advaita Vedanta philosophy and guiding the practice of Sanatana Dharma among the general public with no distinction of birth, qualification, wealth etc. has been adorned by great Tapasvis. Some of them have been great inward-looking Jnanis, while some others have travelled far and wide to spread the fragrance of Jnana. Some have been great composers and exponents, while some others have seen kings and nobles from distant lands fall at their feet for guidance. Much has been written and spoken about the glorious leadership provided by the 68th and 69th Shankaracharyas, Pujyashri Chandrasekharendra Saraswathi (Mahaperiyava) and Pujyashri Jayendra Saraswathi (Pudu Periyava). The current 70th Peethadhipati, Pujyashri Shankara Vijayendra Saraswathi, as is well known, has been working tirelessly to inculcate the continuance of traditional Dharmic practices in the highly materialistic world around us. Not a single day passes without the Acharya announcing a new project, inaugurating a new scheme, sharing his thoughts with opinion-makers, or delivering Anugraha Bhashanams. Everyone is left wondering as to how the Guru could, within a span of twenty-four hours, squeeze the punishing schedule of elaborate Trikala Chandramouliswara Puja, non-stop Darshan to unending queues of devotees with a loving smile and offer of quick guidance, visits to temples, homams etc., detailed meetings with visitors and so on.
In our tradition, Guru is defined as the dispeller of ignorance. He bestows the light of knowledge and drives away the darkness of ignorance. गुकारश्चान्धकारस्तु रुकारस्तन्निरोध-कृत्। अन्धकार-विनाशित्वाद्-गुरुरित्यभिधीयते ॥ (१:३३) – Guru Gita. In Prasnottara Ratna Malika, Adi Shankara explains the function of a Guru in a brief sentence: को गुरुः अधिगततत्वः शिष्यहिताय उद्यतः सततम् – “Who is a Guru? He is experiencer of Truth and is ever engaged in working for his sishya’s good.” Adi Shankara also says in the very first verse of Satasloki:
दृष्टान्तो नैव दृष्टः त्रिभुवन-जठरे सद्गुरोर्-ज्ञान-दातुः
स्पर्शश्चेत्-तत्र कल्प्यः स नयति यदहो स्वर्णतां अश्मसारम् ।
न स्पर्शत्वं तथापि श्रित-चरण-युगे सद्गुरुः स्वीय-शिष्ये
स्वीयं साम्यं विधत्ते भवति निरुपमस्तेन वाऽलौकिकॊऽपि ॥ (१)
“In all the three worlds, one cannot see anyone like a Sadguru; he is like a philosopher’s stone in converting the disciple into a Jnani.” The mythical philosopher’s stone is capable of converting iron into gold, but not into another philosopher’s stone. But a Guru converts his shishya into another Guru, who in turn bestows the ultimate Jnana on his shishyas. In the history of our Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham, the Guru has been visibly observed to transfer all his knowledge and Tapas to his shishya.
In the Jnana Marga expounded by Adi Shankaracharya, the aspirant prepares himself with Sadhana chatushtaya, fourfold practice, viz. (1) Viveka (discrimination) (2) Vairagya (detachment) (3) Shamadi Shatka Sampatti – sixfold wealth of Shama (mind control), Dama (control of sense-organs), Uparati (withdrawal from mundane distractions), Titiksha (forbearance), Shraddha (faith in Guru and Shastras), Samadhana (concentration) (4) Mumukshutva (intense desire for Moksha). Then he goes to a competent and compassionate Guru, who teaches him Advaita Vedanta and initiates him into Mahavakyas. Here the disciple goes through three stages, Sravana (listening), Manana (cogitation) and Nididhyasana (internalization). This process takes time. Then the disciple is complete and is capable of guiding others as Guru.
In our Shankara tradition observed in our Matham, the disciple, no doubt, acquires all the qualifications when he is chosen for the Peetham. He is initiated into Mahavakyas by the Guru on the chosen day of Sanyasa Diksha. The process of Sravana, Manana and Nididhyasana is all over instantly and the disciple emerges as the new Guru. That is the level of preparation of the disciple and the magic of transfer by the Guru of all the power in an instant to his shishya during Diksha. In this Kaliyuga, we are indeed extremely fortunate to witness this unearthly phenomenon.
What is expected of us as shishyas? Adi Shankara in his Gurvashtakam says:
षडङ्गादिवेदो मुखे शास्त्रविद्या कवित्वादि गद्यं सुपद्यं करोति ।
मनश्चेन्न लग्नं गुरोरङ्घ्रिपद्मे ततः किं ततः किं ततः किं ततः किम् ॥ ३॥
“If a disciple masters the Vedas with their six auxiliaries, expounds shastras, composes good prose and poetry, what is the use, what is the use, what is the use, what is the use, if his mind is not attached to the lotus feet of his Guru.” We should pray for Sadbuddhi (virtuous intellect) so that we stick to the path of Dharma, against all odds. We should remember:
आहरेत् ज्ञानमर्थांश्च पुमानमरवत्सदा । गृहीत इव केशेषु मृत्युना धर्ममाचरेत् ॥
“One should always acquire knowledge and wealth as if he were immortal; but he should observe Dharma, as if he were caught by Death by his hair.” We go to our Acharyas with prayers for relief from worldly suffering or improvement in our mundane condition. But Shastras teach that it is Jnana which will bestow on us everlasting bliss. Let us submit ourselves to the twin Jagadgurus of our Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham for Preyas (material prosperity) and Shreyas (spiritual advancement).