3 Types of Spiritual Students

October 9, 2009

3 types of spiritual students

MahaBharataAdiParva Section-III Paushya parvaThere was a Rishi named Ayod-Dhaumya, who had three students Aruni, Upamanyu, Veda.1) How Aruni got enlightenment :Dhaumya

asked Aruni to go to field and stop the breach of water-course. Aruni

went to the field, tried all sort of things to do the bidding of his

master. Having failed in all means, and thought a way out and he atlast

put himself against the breach and stopped the flow of water. Dhaumya

called aloud his name and Aruni got up, thus releasing the water. Aruni

said, Sir I have put myself against the breach and protected the water,

only after hearing your order, I got up and let the water escape.

Dhaumya was very pleased with this, and said, Since you let the water

escape, you should be renamed as 'Uddalaka'. Dhaumya granted Aruni

wisdom and all the knowledge of vedas.Probable meaning of this para:For

Students like Aruni, one instruction of Guru is sufficient to arrest

the water(mind, thoughts) and enter into savikalpa samadhi. Aruni has

tried so many things and was finally successfull. On Guru's calling he

let the waters flow out again and emptied his mind. Then Guru's Grace

flowed and wisdom has been given to him thus enabing him to become

wise. 2) How Upamanyu got enlightenment :Dhaumya

orders Upamanyu to tend to cattle. Upamanyu does Guru's bidding and

also goes begging for alms and feeds himself. Then Dhaumya corrects

him, and tells him that without offering to Guru he should not eat.

Upamanyu, next day brings back the alms to Guru, but goes begging

second time to feed himself. Again Dhaumya corrects him and tells him

not to beg again as that would deprive another beggar. Upamanyu, then

feeds on the milk of cows that he is tending to. Again Dhaumya corrects

him, and tells him not to deprive calf of the milk. Upamanyu, then

tastes the leftover froth, after calfs drink their milk. Again Dahumya

corrects him not to take anything. Upamanyu, being hungry eats Arka

leaves and becomes blind and falls into a well. Then Dhaumya instructs

him to invoke Aswani devatas for cure. Upamanyu sings the praises of

Aswani devatas using Rigveda hymn like below,"O Aswins, I desire to

obtain you by sravana(listening to Guru's words), nidhidhyasana

(meditation on Guru's words). Igorant people think that you have a

form. Day and night, two paths one for devas (elevated path) and one

for pitrs (returning path) are decided by you. 360 cows(days) produce

one calf(samvatsara, year, or time or Kaala). That calf is the creator

and destroyer of all. Seekers of truth use this calf to milk the cows.

You are supreme brahman, you created the five elements, all colors, all

objects, all gods. You are the father, mother and infant. Please

liberate me".Aswins become pleased with his prayer and appear and

offers him a cake. Upamanyu refuses to accept it without offering to

his Guru. Aswins are further pleased with this and restore his

eyesight. Upamanyu goes back to his guru and narrates all this. Dhaumya

then grants Upamanyu wisdom and knowledge of vedas.Probable meaning of this para:Upamanyu

was taking instructions from his Guru, but also exploring with other

Gurus (begging outside). Dhaumya asked him to tend to cattle (read

scriptures), but he went and begged outside. After pointed out this

folly, Upamanyu stopped that , but he started self study of scriptures

without proper guidance (drinking milk of cows). After correcting this,

he again was following instructions meant for others (taking the

leftover froth from the mouths of calfs or upanishads). After

correcting this, he experimented without proper guidance , got wrong

knowledge , got blinded and fell into ditch (eating arka leaves, and

falling into ditch). Thats when Guru took pity on him, and showed his

Grace by showing him a path to get out of blindness and the ditch.

Having realised his follies , Upamanyu did exactly as Guru instructed

and then refused to take the result offered by Aswins without offering

to Guru(cross verifying with Guru as to the correctness of knowledge).

Thus he got enlightened.3) How Veda got enlightenment :Dhaumya

asks Veda to hang around in his proximity and in his house for a very

long time and do whatever he says. Veda served his master with

shradda(faith, devotion), and worked like an ox to do whatever his

master bade him to do. Very soon his master Dhaumya is pleased with him

and granted him wisdom.Probable meaning of this para:Self explanatory. This type of student is one who needs to do lot of karma with faith in Guru.Guru's

compassion, and Grace are one and same on all three types of students.

We need to keep in mind the pitfalls that awaits any sadhaka as

mentioned in story of Upamanyu, work like ox on Guru's instructions

like Veda with faith, and be innovative like Aruni.Ramachandran