Hinduism is a unique religion. The concept of Guru is unique to Hindu religion. Guru has got more powers than God. Other religions do not have this concept. Guru can ‘veto’ (nullify, annul, invalidate) one’s fate or boons and curses of God. But they will use it very rarely. I have already written about the power of Bhaktas/devotees. When someone does something wrong to a devotee God never interferes. He leaves it to his devotee to punish or pardon the offender. In the article about curses and boons, I have pointed out Hindu gods obey certain rules. They can’t even violate their own words. Truth is God. (Please look at the list of earlier posts on this subject at the bottom of this post).
We know five big powers Russia, United States, China, France and Britain have got veto power in the Security Council. Security Council of the United Nations has the responsibility of maintenance of peace and military action towards this goal. But if one of the five powers uses the veto power it can’t pass a resolution. Indian Gurus have the same power. If they decide something, God has to obey it.
Sanskrit word Guru has entered even Oxford English dictionary. According to OED, Guru means: Hindu spiritual teacher or Head of a religious sect. Now the meaning has expanded to an influential teacher or a revered mentor in any field. E.g Financial Guru, Advertising Guru.
Guru is praised as Brahma, Vishnu, Maheswara in the famous Sanskrit hymn Gurur Brahma, Gurur Vishnu…………
Guru initiates his or her disciples into new ritual or a mantra. S/He takes all responsibilities of the omissions and commissions of his/her devotees or disciples. S/He passes all his/her powers to a favourite disciple. Ramakrishna Paramahamsa passed his powers to his disciple Swami Vivekananda. Guru can do it by looking at his disciple (Nayana Diksha= power transfer by sight) or by touching (Sparsa Diksha= transfer of power by touch). There are other methods as well.
Look at the following anecdotes that illustrate Guru’s veto power:
Sundarar was one of the Four Great Tamil Saivite Saints. He lived in Tamil Nadu in the eighth century. He maintained good friendship with the Chera (Now Kerala) king Cheraman Perumal Nayanar. Chera king was also a Shiva devotee and considered Sundara as his mentor. When Sundarar was 18 year old, Shiva decided to take him to his abode Kailash. He sent the celestial white elephant Airavata to bring him to Kailash. Sundarar left the world happily. Chera king learnt it by intuition. Immediately he commanded his horse to take him to Kailash. It was after all a horse on the earth. It can’t go to heaven. But Cheraman knew the power of Pachakshara and said it in the ears of the horse. It flew like a space vehicle and left him at the gates of Kailash.
(Panchakshara is OM “NAMA SIVAYA”. It is found in the middle of Rudram/ Chamakam of Yajur Veda
At the gate of Kailash, Sundrar was allowed, but not the Chera king. He was treated like a person without ticket. When Sundarar represented his case to Shiva, he asked his gate keeper Nandikeswara to bring him in. Shiva asked him why he came without a ticket ( permission). He told him that he cant live without Sundarar. When Sundarar praised Lord Shiva with a hymn, Shiva allowed Cheraman in to Kailash. The moral of the story is, Even if the devotee (cheraman) is undeserving, if he is devoted to a Guru, he will also find a place in the kingdom of god.
Picture of Swami Shanthananatha with Kanchi Sri Paramacharya
Narada’s Clash with Vishnu
Narada was going to Vaikunda, abode of Lord Vishnu, through a village. A devotee saw him and asked him to do a favour. Narada was ready to help him because the villager was an ardent devotee of Vishnu. The villager told Narada, “Oh, Guru, I have no children even though I was married several years ago. Please find out from Vishnu when I would get a child. Narada faithfully did what he was asked to do. Unfortunately Narada came back to the village to give him the bad news that he would not get a child at all.
Several years passed and Narada happened to pass through the same village again. He saw three children playing in the villager’s house. Narada’s curiosity knew no bounds. Immediately he went into the house and found out the three children were villager’s own children! The villager told that he met a Guru/saint and that he served that Guru for some time. And he blessed him that he would get three children.
Narada rushed back to Vaikunda and accused Lord Vishnu of speaking untruth. Vishnu smiled at him and asked why he was very angry. Then Narada told Vishnu what he saw at the villager’s house. Vishnu laughed and said, “That must be surely the work of some saint, for saint alone can change one’s destiny!”
Picture of Adi Shankara
Tamil Saint Valluvar
Tamil saint Valluvar in his Tirukkural praises Great men in Chapter 45.In another Chapter (90) he severely warns not to offend the great men (Gurus).
“If those of rigorous penance become enraged, even Indra will crash from power and position” (Kural 899)
“To please great men and make them one’s own is the rarest of all rare blessings” (Kural 443)
Pictures are taken from different sites.
Source books: Sixty Three Nayanar Saints by Swami Sivananda, Stories as told by Swami
Ramdas; I have compared them and added my comments.
Please read my earlier posts on this subject:
1.Do Words Have Power? An interesting Study on curses and Boons.
2.யார் பெரியவர்? கடவுளா? பக்தனா?
Those who reproduce my articles should publish the Blog name and author’s name London Swaminathan.
