the story of how adi shankara met his guru govindapada !

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Shankara's meeting with his Sat-Guru, Govinda, is an example of right

preparation for meeting the Sat-Guru. By the time he came to Govinda,

Shankara was already a serious aspirant, with a deep intuition of the

Divine.

 

He was born in the south of India and had renounced family life at

age twelve to travel on foot in search of a true Spiritual Master.

Over the course of his thousand-mile journey, he met many mystics,

Yogis, and Saints, but none of them could fully answer his questions,

nor grant perfect Realization.

 

Finally, after four years, he found the forest hermitage of his

illustrious Teacher on the banks of the Godavari River. There he

first consulted with various ascetics, who led him to the entrance to

Sage Govinda's residence—a cave whose entrance Govinda had blocked

with a huge boulder, leaving only a small opening at the bottom.

 

Shankara circumambulated the area surrounding the cave three times,

and, prostrating himself in front of the entrance, he began to chant

a hymn in praise of the Sage.

 

Govinda, seeing Shankara's feet through the opening, asked, "Who are

you?" Shankara, showing his full preparation replied, "I have come to

thee to know That."

 

Upon hearing these words, Sage Govinda was delighted, and he, through

his own Spiritual advancement, could see the full and right

preparation of Shankara. In response, referring to Shankara as

his "Dear child", Govinda said,'If you want to know That, hold on to

this," extending his foot through the entrance to the cave so that

Shankara could see it. Shankara prostrated ecstatically before the

Sage's feet in true devotion and worshipped dhe Sage's feet with a

proper ceremony of puja (devotional worship).

 

Praying aloud, and offering his unconditional love to his Master, he

also requested the Master's infinite Grace. At that, Govinda pulled

both his foot and the boy Shankara into the cave. He embraced the

youth, acknowledged his rare qualifications as an aspirant, and he

Transmitted his Spiritual Blessings to Shankara by touch, word, and

glance. Shankara stayed with his Teacher for a few days longer to

receive Instruction, and then left to fulfill his mission.

 

First, Shankara's state of preparation was extraordinary, owing to

his inherent Spiritual qualities and the purifying practice he had

already fulfilled. Next, he truly acknowledged and saw his Master as

the Divine and completely surrendered to him as Sat-Guru. It was on

the basis of these qualifications that he received and was strongly

Graced by the genuine Divine Transmission of his Sat-Guru.

 

The story of Shankara is a model of the proper preparation and

response in a devotee. Shankara's Sat-Guru readily and happily

received him and was able to instantly initiate him with his Blessing

Transmission. But the decision as to whether any aspirant is accepted

as a formal student by a Sat-Guru depends on the aspirant's genuine

qualifications, and these are most often evaluated by either the Sat-

Guru himself (or herself), or by his devotees in accordance with his

Instructions.

 

The above is from

Love of the God-Man,

by James Steinberg

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adi shankara , in his classic work, classic work, Viveka Chudamani,

defines a guru as :

 

Shaantaah mahanto nivasanti santo

vasantavalloka hitam charantah

Teernaah swayam bheema bhavaarnavam janaan

ahetunaanyaanapi taarayantah

 

The Gurus exist as men of peace, as great men, as saintly and

virtuous men who have crossed the terrible ocean of Samsara. They

also make others cross it. The spring brings blessings to the world

without expecting anything in return. This is exactly what a Guru

does for the world. In this way, the Guru is like Vasanta (spring

season), which brings benefits to the world without any reason or

motives.

 

shri gurubyo namaha !

 

jai durge ambe bhavaani maa!