T Ram Sewak

GURU CHARAN KAMAL

Tulsidasji's reverence for the Guru touches new heights as he dedicates the first chaupai (quatrain) of Shri Ramcharitmanas to the Guru.

"Bandaun guru pada paduma paraga. karani."

"I pay homage to the dust of my Guru's lotus feet, the repository of the four innate qualities of a lotus and the pollen. It is the sanjeevani that allays the ills of mundane existence. It brings sweet blessings and joys like the vibhuti (white ash) that adorns Lord Shiva. Its purity rubs the dirt of delusion off a disciple's mind and attracts a host of virtues when applied as a tilak".

In these chaupais, Tulsidasji lays out the contours of the Guru shishya (disciple) relationship. Earlier, he idolised his Guru as Lord Shiva, and Lord Vishnu incarnate and venerated his lotus feet. Often, humility and devotion are expressed by comparing oneself to the dust of the Guru's feet, but adoring it takes Tulsidasji's Guru bhakti to another level.

Being an ardent bhakt of Shri Ram, Tulsidasji was aware of the gigantic task he was about to undertake: narrating Shri Ram's katha (story). He understood that without being immersed in the nectar of devotion (bhakti rus), he could not compose Shri Ramcharitmanas. It could be accomplished only through HIS grace and the Guru's blessings, which flow when the defining attributes of bhakti, i.e. humility, devotion, and an attitude of complete surrender to HIM, are present. These are fervent prayers soliciting the inculcation of bhakti.

This aspect of complete surrender by a disciple reminds us of Gita 2.7, when Arjun seeks refuge and beseeches Shri Krishna to instruct him on what is good for him. Dust symbolises humility and devotion and represents our willingness to surrender to the divine. Hence, by worshipping the dust of the Guru's lotus feet, Tulsidasji exemplifies himself as a bhakt, displaying the highest levels of humility and devotion. / DAILY WORLD /

Namami Ramam Musings-52

The author is a former electrical Engineer and resides in the Himalayas. He can be occasionally reached at ramam.namami@gmail.com