As Vedas and Upanishads were complex with lot of nuances, Puranas and ItihAsAs came about to engage with people to talk about the above two.
In this category, Srimad Ramayanam is important as it is considered to be a guide to 2
Srimad Ramayanam - Qualities of an ideal guru
Our sAstrAs (Vedas and Upanishads) essentially talk about two things - dharmam and brahmam.
Dharmam is how to conduct oneself in everyday life (foundational elements) which helps in cleansing the mind and would help uplifting 1
As Vedas and Upanishads were complex with lot of nuances, Puranas and ItihAsAs came about to engage with people to talk about the above two.
In this category, Srimad Ramayanam is important as it is considered to be a guide to 2
Veda defines the characteristics of an ideal guru with the verse ‘SOtriyam brahma niStam’
SOtriyam - knowledge of sAstrAs which means 3
Brahma niStam - knowledge and personal experience of brahmam
Srimad Ramayanam’s first sloka is as below:
तपःस्वाध्यायनिरतं तपस्वी वाग्विदां वरम्
नारदं परिपप्रच्छ वाल्मीकिर्मुनिपुङ्गवम्
The literal meaning of this sloka is that ascetic Valmiki inquired 4
But, the greatness of this sloka is that it provides 6 qualities for an ideal guru. Let us look at them.
तपःस्वाध्यायनिरतं -
1) तपः tapas - jnAnam someone who 5
2) स्वाध्याय svAdyAyam - knowledge of sAstrAs that enables him to understand brahmam
These two are absolutely critical for the following reasons:
a) If someone is qualified just in the shastras, 6
b) On the other hand, if one has the experience of brahmam but does not have knowledge of sAstrAs, that would be inadequate as the validation of that experience 7
Tapas also has multiple meanings. It means jnAnam, anuStAnam, brahma swarUpam
3) If tapas is interpreted as anuStAnam, then the guru should be able to live as prescribed in the sAstrAs. So, the disciple who is following this guru will be able 8
4) वाग्विदां वरम् - most skilled in the ability to articulate the knowledge of sAstrAs and the experience of brahmam adequately to inspire his followers.
Often, one gets attracted to a guru through pravachanams. 9
5) र्मुनिपुङ्गवम् - Who keeps thinking about bhagavad viSayam all the time and does not engage with any materialistic conversations. Unless he keeps 10
6) नारदं - Mahabharata explains the word Narada as ‘nArAyana DaDAti iti nAraDaH’ - someone who gives Narayana, so the ideal guru should also be able to give Narayana.
This is a great insight as it helps 11
Radhekrishna
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