Thiruvannamalai is one of the largest temples in South India, in Tamil Nadu. Thiruvannamalai is very famous with the presence and miracles of holy saints known as "Sidhas". Here is an incident that proves the presence of such holy miracle men at Thiruvannamalai. This news clicpping appreared in the Jaya TV a famous TV channel in India.
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Guru without head and feet!
THIRUVANNAMALAI is one of the most famous temples of the south India. The wonderful mountain “ARUNACHALAM” itself is considered as Shiva here. The temple, premises and the mountain itself is vibrant by the presents of ‘SIDHAS’ and enlightened souls. A must-visit place for any sincere seeker is THIRUVANNAMALAI temple.
There is a very wonderful myth/PURANA associated with the ARUNACHALAM and the temple. Brahma, the creator and Vishnu, the protector, once had an argument about who among them is greatest! All the demigods were worried over this issue. So they all went to lord Shiva, the guru himself for a solution.
Lord Shiva asked Brahma and Vishnu to find out either his head or feet. Whoever reached the target first would be declared as the greatest among gods. The creator, Brahma told that he will find the head. Vishnu decided to find out the feet of Shiva, the guru. Anybody who creates always has a big ego and here the same ego made Brahma to go in search of the head. For maintaining something, you need humbleness. Here also a humble Vishnu decided to find the feet!
Lord Suddenly turned into a Column of fire (‘JYOTHI’) touching the heavens and the earth in the shape of the SHIVALINGA – may be that is the ‘JYOTIRLINGA’. Brahma took the form of a swan and started flying upwards to find out the head of Shiva, the guru. Lord Vishnu took the incarnation of ‘VARAHA’ (wild boar) and started digging deep to find the feet. Both of them continued their journey for years and years, but they could not reach the target.
On his journey to find the head of Shiva, the guru, Brahma saw a flower falling from the heavens. In local Tamil language, the flower is known as ‘THAZHAM-POO’. Brahma asked the flower from where she was coming. The naughty flower in turn inquired to Brahma where he was going. Brahma told her that he was in search of the head of Shiva. The clever flower to Brahma that she was coming from Shiva’s head and she has been travelling for millions of years! Now Brahma understood that he cannot reach the head of Shiva. So he asked the flower to tell a lie to the gods that he had taken her from Shiva’s head! And she agreed!
By this time Vishnu had understood that it is not possible to find the feet of Shiva, and he also started his journey back. Both of them reached back to the demigods and Shiva was also present there. Brahma told to Shiva that he reached the head of the LINGA and took the flower from there. He made the flower a witness. A humble Vishnu agreed that he could not find the feet of Shiva, and none other than Shiva, the guru is the greatest.
Shiva became very angry at Brahma and given him a ‘SHAPA’ (curse) that nobody would either make temples for Brahma or would worship him! The lord cursed the flower too for being a false witness that nobody would use her for any POOJA. Shiva also removed one of the four heads of Brahma and from then onwards Brahma has only three heads!
It is believed that the place where Lord Shiva stood as the column of fire, ‘JYOTIRLINGA’ to eliminate the ego of the creator and protector was ARUNACHALAM-THIRUVANNAMALAI.
So this is the PURANA. But there are so much knowledge hidden here.
Shiva is DAKSHINAMURTHI, the guru himself, the master. Shiva is the guru! He simply is the greatest. The master is the greatest, greater than Brahma or Vishnu!
Even Brahma or Vishnu could not find the head or feet of the master. Guru does not have head or feet! The Master does not have head! Means what? Head is responsible for all the judgments, all the opinions, all thoughts, all ideas. Guru is without head – master does not make any judgments, master does not make any opinion about anybody.
Guru doesn’t have feet. Means the master is not based on anything. Nothing can influence the master, for master is not based on anything. Nobody can ever influence the master. Nobody’s opinion can affect the master. The master never judges anybody based on the opinions of anybody else!
Guru does not have head or feet. What is left is the heart! Master is just the heart, just love. That’s why the master loves everybody unconditionally. Guru, the master is true love.
Live in the Guru Tatva
http://gurutatva.blogspot.com
There is a very wonderful myth/PURANA associated with the ARUNACHALAM and the temple. Brahma, the creator and Vishnu, the protector, once had an argument about who among them is greatest! All the demigods were worried over this issue. So they all went to lord Shiva, the guru himself for a solution.
Lord Shiva asked Brahma and Vishnu to find out either his head or feet. Whoever reached the target first would be declared as the greatest among gods. The creator, Brahma told that he will find the head. Vishnu decided to find out the feet of Shiva, the guru. Anybody who creates always has a big ego and here the same ego made Brahma to go in search of the head. For maintaining something, you need humbleness. Here also a humble Vishnu decided to find the feet!
Lord Suddenly turned into a Column of fire (‘JYOTHI’) touching the heavens and the earth in the shape of the SHIVALINGA – may be that is the ‘JYOTIRLINGA’. Brahma took the form of a swan and started flying upwards to find out the head of Shiva, the guru. Lord Vishnu took the incarnation of ‘VARAHA’ (wild boar) and started digging deep to find the feet. Both of them continued their journey for years and years, but they could not reach the target.
On his journey to find the head of Shiva, the guru, Brahma saw a flower falling from the heavens. In local Tamil language, the flower is known as ‘THAZHAM-POO’. Brahma asked the flower from where she was coming. The naughty flower in turn inquired to Brahma where he was going. Brahma told her that he was in search of the head of Shiva. The clever flower to Brahma that she was coming from Shiva’s head and she has been travelling for millions of years! Now Brahma understood that he cannot reach the head of Shiva. So he asked the flower to tell a lie to the gods that he had taken her from Shiva’s head! And she agreed!
By this time Vishnu had understood that it is not possible to find the feet of Shiva, and he also started his journey back. Both of them reached back to the demigods and Shiva was also present there. Brahma told to Shiva that he reached the head of the LINGA and took the flower from there. He made the flower a witness. A humble Vishnu agreed that he could not find the feet of Shiva, and none other than Shiva, the guru is the greatest.
Shiva became very angry at Brahma and given him a ‘SHAPA’ (curse) that nobody would either make temples for Brahma or would worship him! The lord cursed the flower too for being a false witness that nobody would use her for any POOJA. Shiva also removed one of the four heads of Brahma and from then onwards Brahma has only three heads!
It is believed that the place where Lord Shiva stood as the column of fire, ‘JYOTIRLINGA’ to eliminate the ego of the creator and protector was ARUNACHALAM-THIRUVANNAMALAI.
So this is the PURANA. But there are so much knowledge hidden here.
Shiva is DAKSHINAMURTHI, the guru himself, the master. Shiva is the guru! He simply is the greatest. The master is the greatest, greater than Brahma or Vishnu!
Even Brahma or Vishnu could not find the head or feet of the master. Guru does not have head or feet! The Master does not have head! Means what? Head is responsible for all the judgments, all the opinions, all thoughts, all ideas. Guru is without head – master does not make any judgments, master does not make any opinion about anybody.
Guru doesn’t have feet. Means the master is not based on anything. Nothing can influence the master, for master is not based on anything. Nobody can ever influence the master. Nobody’s opinion can affect the master. The master never judges anybody based on the opinions of anybody else!
Guru does not have head or feet. What is left is the heart! Master is just the heart, just love. That’s why the master loves everybody unconditionally. Guru, the master is true love.
Live in the Guru Tatva
http://gurutatva.blogspot.com
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
What is the need of Guru?
Many people tell that to reach the self there is no need of a Guru! they advice to consider God as the Guru. It may be true for those enlightened souls. But the case of a novices in spiritual path is different. They need a Guru for many reasons.
Only a person who has seen the Kailash can take you to Kailash, easily. The reason is simple - He has seen Kailash. You can lit a lamp only from another lamp. Similarly only an enlightened soul can enlighten other souls.
There are so mnay scriptures. They are like forests. There are so many ways in and out; most of them are ambigous. It is too tough to get the required knowledge by travelling through the scriptures. A Guru can easily impart knowledge to you which is relevant and make your path easy!
In the presence of the Guru, you understand your short comings. Only a guru can show you your own defects. In the absence of guru, you will never be able to do that, for the nature of ego is that!
And know that all the great souls on this planet had their gurus! Lord Krishna sat at the feet of His Guru Sandipani. Lord Rama had Guru Vasishtha whogave Him Upadesa. Lord Jesus sought John to be baptised by him on the banks of the river Jordan.Even Devas have Brihaspati as their Guru. Even the greatest among the divine beings sat at the feetof Guru Dakshinamurti.
Cases of those who had attained perfection without study under any Guru should not be cited as authoritative against the necessity for a Guru; for, such great men are the anomalies of spiritual life, and not the common normality. They come into existence as spiritual masters as a result of the intense service, study and meditation practised in previous births. They had already studied under the Guru. The present birth is only its continuative spiritual effect. Hence, the importance of the Guru is not lessened thereby.
A beginner can never have the concept - GOD as guru. He needs a Guru to take him to that concept - GOD.
Only a person who has seen the Kailash can take you to Kailash, easily. The reason is simple - He has seen Kailash. You can lit a lamp only from another lamp. Similarly only an enlightened soul can enlighten other souls.
There are so mnay scriptures. They are like forests. There are so many ways in and out; most of them are ambigous. It is too tough to get the required knowledge by travelling through the scriptures. A Guru can easily impart knowledge to you which is relevant and make your path easy!
In the presence of the Guru, you understand your short comings. Only a guru can show you your own defects. In the absence of guru, you will never be able to do that, for the nature of ego is that!
And know that all the great souls on this planet had their gurus! Lord Krishna sat at the feet of His Guru Sandipani. Lord Rama had Guru Vasishtha whogave Him Upadesa. Lord Jesus sought John to be baptised by him on the banks of the river Jordan.Even Devas have Brihaspati as their Guru. Even the greatest among the divine beings sat at the feetof Guru Dakshinamurti.
Cases of those who had attained perfection without study under any Guru should not be cited as authoritative against the necessity for a Guru; for, such great men are the anomalies of spiritual life, and not the common normality. They come into existence as spiritual masters as a result of the intense service, study and meditation practised in previous births. They had already studied under the Guru. The present birth is only its continuative spiritual effect. Hence, the importance of the Guru is not lessened thereby.
A beginner can never have the concept - GOD as guru. He needs a Guru to take him to that concept - GOD.
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