Gurur Brahma, Gurur Vishnu, Gurur Devo Maheshwara Guru Sakshat Parabrahmah Tasmai Shree Guru Veh Namah

Shri Guru Charitra Introduction 'Shri Guru Charitra' is the i!e o! 'Shri Guru Dattatre"a' #an incarnation o! Brahma, Vishnu and Maheshwara$% It was ori&ina " written in 'vi !orm #a Marathi Metre$ in Marathi b" Shri Saraswati Gan&adhar, whose ancestor Sa"amdev had (ersona " ived and served with devotion, Guru Narasimha Saraswati, an incarnation o! Shri Dattatre"a about )** "ears a&o% It was ater trans ated into Sanskrit b" Shri Vasudevananda Saraswati #Temb"e Swam"$, who is re&arded b" man" as an incarnation o! Shri Dattatre"a and who ived about a hundred "ears a&o% It has been ater trans ated into severa other an&ua&es% This vo ume is re&arded as Divine+ ca(ab e o! b essin& one and a who read it with res(ect and is ( aced with ima&es o! Gods and adored in a most a devotees' houses o! Maharashtra% It is much res(ected and is ver" (o(u ar ike Vedas, ,ama"an, Mahabharat, Bha&awat and other Puranas in Sanskrit and Dn"aneshwari, Dasbodh, -kanathi Bha&awat etc% in Marathi% In the ast centur", it has s(read its in! uence !ar and wide and e&ion are the e.(eriences &ot b" those devotees who read it re&u ar " with res(ect%

Shri Dattatre"a had taken birth at the /shram o! /tri and /nasu"a in ver" ver" o d times #0rita 1u&$ and it is be ieved that his two incarnations name " Shri(ada Shri Va abha and Shri Narasimha Saraswati had taken ( ace in the Deccan in about the 23th and 24th Centur" #/%D%$ res(ective "% Shri Manik"a Prabhu, Shri /kka kot Mahara5, Shri Sai Baba o! Shirdi and Shri Vasudevananda Saraswati are some o! the &reat Saints who are considered as the /vatars #incarnations$ or /msas #takin& a (art o! 6is (owers$ o! Shri Dattatre"a% This is the historica (eriod when the Bahamani 0in&dom was s( it u( into !ive di!!erent 0in&shi(s, one o! which vi7%,'Bidar' is mentioned in this vo ume% 8Shri Guru Charitra8 de(icts the i!e missions o! these two incarnations% The ori&ina vo ume contains 49 cha(ters and it is written in the !orm o! conversation between Naamdharak and his s(iritua Guru Shri Siddha Muni, who was a disci( e o! Shri Narasimha Saraswati% Severa miracu ous deeds are associated with these two Gurus : 4 such deeds are re atin& to Shri(ada Shri Va abh #cha(ters 4 to 2*$ and 9) are re atin& to Shri Narasimha Saraswati, #cha(ters 22 to 42$ besides man" m"tho o&ica #Puranik$ ta es have a so been narrated in this vo ume b" wa" o! i ustration% The main aim o! the book is to e.to the &reatness o! the S(iritua (rece(tor #Guru$ and to dis(e the i&norant notion that 6e is 5ust another human% /ccordin& to researches made in connection with Shri Guru Charitra, b" a Gurubhakta, Shri ,% 0% a ias /nnasaheb 0amat o! Dur&a Datta Mandir, Mashai , Goa, ' Shri Guru Charitra' contains 8Shri Guru Geeta8 as its 3;th cha(ter% It is com(osed o! 2<) Sanskrit s okas and =3 Marathi 'vis : 2= at the be&innin& and 92 in the end% In some o! the atter scri(ts it seems that this cha(ter o! Shri Guru Geeta is de eted, (robab " it bein& in Sanskrit and the 32st cha(ter is s( it u( into two cha(ters, kee(in& the number o! cha(ters the same i%e% 49% The &ist o! Shri Guru Geeta is inc uded in this vo ume% #Shri Guru Gita is a dia o&ue between Shri Siva and 6is Divine consort Shri Parvati and !orms a (art o! Skandha Puran% It dea s with the &reatness o! Guru and estab ishes that Guru is Brahma, Guru is Vishnu, Guru is Maheshwara, wh", it (roc aims, Guru is identica with Para Brahma, >ho is considered the 'ri&in o! a inc udin& the Trinit" o! Brahma, Vishnu and Maheshwara% Since Sri Dattatre"a is a so an incarnation o! the three Deities, 6e is revered as the /adi Guru% Shri Dattatre"a is an /vinash /vatar, i%e% 6e did not shed 6is bod" when 6is mission was com( eted ike Sri ,ama, Sri 0rishna etc%, but is continuin& even toda"% 6is mission is to he ( a 6is devotees cross this 'cean o! >or d " e.istence%$ The research scho ars o! Medica Sciences have a &ood o((ortunit" o! thinkin& over and ana "sin& the means that have been used b" Shri Guru !or cure o! acute &astric (ain, e(ros", to.ic irritations, reviva to i!e, steri it" o! !ema es etc% '! course it is an admitted !act that the "o&ic and Divine (ower o! Shri Guru is main " res(onsib e !or these mirac es to a &reat e.tent% Shri Sai Baba o! Shirdi a so (er!ormed simi ar 'mirac es' to rein!orce the !aith o! 6is devotees%

In order that the &enera (ub ic, ma es and !ema es, shou d be ac?uainted with the contents o! this &reat (o(u ar vo ume, this author made a humb e attem(t and 8Subodh Shri Guru Charitra8 in Marathi (rose was (ub ished in November 2;49, on Datta @a"anti #Mar&ashir Poornima$% It is an e.(erienced !act that the readin& o! such iterature &ives menta (eace to those who are worried due to di!!erent miseries o! this wor d " i!e and a so encoura&es and &uides them to &o ahead on the (ath o! se !:emanci(ation b" makin& their ives sub ime and !u o! hi&hest b iss% AAAAA Shri Guru Charitra Cha(ter I Namdharak sees Shri Guru in Dream% / devotee o! Shri Guru b" name Namdharak, &reat " worried due to domestic miseries, e!t home and started on !oot with the intense desire o! seein& Shri Guru% >hi e on his wa", he was (ra"in& to Shri Guru a the time% 8'h, Guru, a sa", 'Thou art Paras' #the Phi oso(her's stone that turns iron into &o d b" mere touch$% But then wh" shou d I be re?uired to su!!er so much, thou&h I have been recitin& "our name a the time, and havin& !u !aith in "ouB8 8In this 0a i"u&, "ou are the incarnation o! Trimurti #three (rinci(a Gods : Brahma, Vishnu and Maheshwara$% 'h, Shri Narasimha Saraswati, "ou are the Guide to and treasure o! the kindness to the devotees%8 8/s a mother does not !orsake her chi d, in the same wa" ( ease do not kee( me awa" !rom "ourse !, as "ou are m" mother, !ather, brother, sister, !riend, re ative : one and a %8 81ou are the (rotector o! this Cniverse, donor o! Gods, "ou have a the know ed&e% 1ou made Ba i, the kin& o! Pata , "ou &ave Vibhishan the 0in&dom o! Danka #Ce" on$% 1ou made this -arth devoid o! the 0shatri"a race and then &ave it in charit" to the Brahmins% 1ou o!!ered ever: astin& ( ace to Dhruva% But what did "ou receive in return !rom ever" one o! theseB I! "ou have received nothin&, then what can an innocent human:bein& ike m"se ! o!!er "ou, who 6imse ! the Dord o! Dakshmi #Goddess o! >ea th$ isB8 8>hen a chi d, on the a( o! its mother, o(ens its mouth to drink mi k, what does the mother e.(ect !rom the chi dB It does not become "ou, a &reat Giver o! boons, to !irst receive and then to &ive%8 8/ the we s on the earth do not adore Varun, the God o! rains, but "et Varun &ives rains in abundance to one and a %8 8M" !ore!athers have been "our devotees !or &enerations% I (ossess on " this treasure o! services o! m" !ami " unto "ou% 0ind " &ive me some oan !rom this treasure, as I am in ver" (ecu iar circumstances% I am seekin& "our she ter considerin& and 1ou, on "our (art, over ook m" misdeeds and do not be an&r" with me%8 8I! a mother is an&r" with the chi d, the chi d seeks !ather's she ter% 1ou are m" Mother and Eather too% So wi "ou not (rotect me, an innocent chi dB /re "ou not even inc ined to isten to m" miserab e ta eB8 Bein& tired o! wa kin&, he sat down under a tree and soon he was as ee(% In his dream, he saw a Persona it" with hair: ocks on head, ash markin&s on a the bod" and !ace !u o! kindness% 6e soon reco&ni7ed him to be Shri Guru, who a(( ied ashes to his !orehead and ( aced his b essin& hand on his head% Shri Guru Charitra Cha(ter II Siddha Muni Guides Namdharak Namdharak was &reat " ama7ed to see the dream% 6e awoke and be&an to (roceed !urther on his (ath% >hi e &oin& he was a the time thinkin& over the dream, he had seen in the (revious ni&ht% 6e now observed that simi ar (ersona it", a ike that seen b" him in the dream was comin& !rom

the !ront% 6e (rostrated himse ! humi it" be!ore him and said, 81ou are m" mother and !ather% 0ind " !avor me, an or(han chi d% 0ind " te me "our name and ( ace o! residence%8 The Siddha Muni said, 8I am a 1o&i% I ive on earth and in heaven a so% I have been visitin& ho " ( aces and now I have come here% I am a disci( e o! Shri Guru Narasimha Saraswathi, who resides at Gan&a(ur near San&am, the meetin& ( ace o! the Bhima and /mara5a rivers% 6e is in the incarnation o! Thrimurties and a wa"s !ound in meditation% 6e has come to this earth !or the sa vation o! his devotees% 6is devotees &et !ood, cows and other wea th in abundance8 6earin& this Namdharak asked him, 8Thou&h m" !ore!athers have been devotees o! Shri Guru !or &enerations, wh" shou d be in such adverse conditionsB >i "ou kind " satis!" me in this res(ectB8 Shri Siddha said,81ou sa" that "ou worshi( Shri Guru and "et com( ain adversities% Then it seems that "ou are not worshi(in& Shri Guru who ehearted "% -ven i! Shri Vishnu or Shri Shiva is an&r" with his devotee, Shri Guru can sure " (rotect him% But i! Shri Guru is enra&ed, even Shri Vishnu or Shiva cannot (rotect him%8 Namdharak said, 80ind " te me wh" Shri Guru is said to be the incarnation o! Trimurti : Brahma, Vishnu, and Mahesh% 6ow is it that i! Shri Guru is enra&ed none e se can (rotectB >here can I !ind this re!erenceB 0ind " e.( ain a this to me, so that m" mind wou d become more !irm in devotion8 Shri Siddha said, 8Eour Vedas came out as utterances o! !our headed Brahma% Erom the Vedas 2F Puranas were construed% Brahma Vaivarta is one o! these and it is stated in it that in the Dwa(ara 1u&, V"asa, the Vishnu incarnate, s(read the i&ht o! know ed&e on -arth, throu&h such vo umes known as Brahma Sutras% ,ishis and Munis istened to the ta es !rom V"asa, which I am narratin& to "ou% 8'nce u(on a time, 0a i"u& asked Brahma about the Greatness o! Shri Guru8% Namdharak intervened askin&, 8>h" did Brahma narrate this to 0a iB8 Shri Siddha (roceeded sa"in&, 8In the start o! evo ution /dinara"an, Shri Vishnu was "in& on a ea! o! Vat% 6e desired and otus came out o! his umbi icus% 'n it was seated Brahma, who ooked to the !our directions and he &ot !our heads% 6e thou&ht that he was a Su(reme% ,ea i7in& this Shri Vishnu smi ed and said 8/h, I am here, bow to me8% Brahma bowed to him and (raised him% Bein& ( eased Shri Vishnu asked Brahma to create this Cniverse% Shri Vishnu &ave him !our Vedas and a so to d him to create this wor d accordin& to the (rocess &iven in the Vedas% Brahma then created this >or d, which has severa animate and inanimate thin&s such asG: 2$ Sweda5G those born o! (ers(iration as bu&s etc% 9$ /nda5G those comin& out o! e&&s as birds, =$ @ara5G those be&ettin& !rom ( acenta i%e%, womb as human bein&s and 3$ Cdbhi5G i%e% comin& out o! earth i%e% ( ants, cree(ers, trees etc% Simi ar " Brahma created three Dokas #>or ds%$% This (rocess o! creation has been stated in the Brahma Vaivarta Purana in the !o owin& mannerG : Brahma ca ed ever" 1u& one a!ter the other and asked him to &o on -arth% Eirst came 0rita 1u&, who did not s(eak a ie was earned and devoid o! !ami " attachments, had sacred thread and neck ace o! ,udraksha:beads around the neck% 6e said, 8The (eo( e o! -arth s(eak a ie, and are sin!u % 6ow can I &o and sta" thereB Brahma said, 8Sta" there !or some time% I sha be sendin& another 1u& to !o ow "ou8% Then came Treta 1u&% Eat in bod" (ossessed artic es o! sacri!ice in his hands% In this 1u& (eo( e (er!ormed sacri!ices and abode b" the ru es o! re i&ions and ritua s and most o! them were Brahmins% /!ter the Treta 1u&, Dwa(ara 1u& is a((roached Brahma% 6e had arrows and other wea(ons in his hands% 6e was both kind and wicked% Virtue and sin were both visib e in him% Dast " 0a i 1u& was ca ed !or &host ike a((earance, thou&ht ess heart, o d a&e, stru&& in& and des(isin& menta it" were his characteristics% 6e came be!ore Brahma and be&an dancin& and utterin& chi dish words% /t one moment he au&hed, at another he we ted and then abused an"bod"% Seein& him in such stran&e mood, Brahma asked, 8>h" are "ou naked and abusin& so !i!th "B8

0a i re( ied, 8I sha win over (eo( e b" these two means% I am not a!raid o! an"bod"%8 Brahma smi ed and to d me to &o the -arth and show the in! uence o! his evi intentions% 0a i said, 8I se !ish, destro"er o! Dharma, I ike ?uarre , des(isin& and I on& !or the wea th and wives o! others% I am a !riend to those who (retend to be a saint and I am an enem" o! a the virtuous%8 Brahma to d him, 8In 0a i 1u& the s(an o! i!e o! the human bein&s wou d be on " hundred "ears% In the !ormer 1u&as, as the i!e s(an was too on& (eo( e !o owed the (ath o! (enance and devotion in order to attain su(reme know ed&e% In 0a i 1u&, a man can attain sa vation, the observin& (enance and devotion !or ess time% 1ou shou d he ( such virtuous (ersons%8 0a i said,H Such virtuous men are m" enemies% I am a!raid o! such (ersons% 6ow shou d I then &o to the -arthB8 Brahma said, 8Take 0a and /tma with "ou% The" wi destro" the re i&ious mindedness and even induce virtuous (ersons to commit sins%8 0a i said, 8The" are enemies, who abide b" the re i&ion and are devotees o! Vishnu and Siva, who isten to Puranas, &ive charities and who have (eace!u hearts% But on the contrar", I ove those who ove their wives and chi dren, dishonor their (arents who des(ise Vedas and Sastras, who see se(arateness in Vishnu and Siva and des(ise them% 8 Brahma said8, 1ou are c ever% Peo( e wi !o ow "ou and act as (er "our wishes as soon as "ou &o there% I! a !ew (ersons are virtuous, "ou do not troub e them%8 0a i said, 8I am crue % P ease te me how I shou d he ( the virtuousB P ease direct me as to how I shou d behave on the -arth%8 Brahma said, 8I am sendin& 0a and /tma a so with "ou who wi direct "ou% The virtuous on " can wi "ou, a others wi soon be "our s aves%8 0a i asked, 86ow a Sadhu #Saint$ is to be knownB8 Brahma said 8P ease do not harass the earned and those who worshi( 6ari, 6ar, who serve (arents, Gods and Brahmins, cows and ( ants as Tu si, "ou need not a!!ect these8% 0a i a&ain asked, 8>hat is the im(ortance o! GuruB 6ow he is to be knownB8 Brahma said '/ (habet #&u $ means Siddha and #,$ and #C$ im( " Shri Ganesh who is Guru% Shiva, Vishnu, Brahma, (arents are a Gurus o! this -arth% 0now ed&e imbibed with devotion and rationa thinkin& #Viveka$ is seen in the heart o! the Guru% Stud" o! Dharma and Shastras without Guru is !uti e% 6e directs in action, thou&ht, devotion and disinte&ration% 'ne cannot sur(ass wor d " miseries without the he ( and &uidance o! Guru% 6e throws a ! ash i&ht on the dark i usionar" (ath% Service to the Guru makes one (ure in bod", s(eech and thinkin&% I sha 5ust te a ta e as an e.am( e% 'n the bank o! Godavari, there was the /shram o! /n&iras ,ishi% Man" disci( es were bein& trained in this /shram% 'ne disci( e named Sandee(ak served his Guru, Veda Dharma, with &reat devotion% 'nce Veda Dharma Muni &athered his disci( es to&ether and said, 8I! "ou rea " ove me, do as I bid "ou%8 / re( ied, 8Gurudev, we sha act as (er "our command, !or one who doesn't obe" his Guru, &oes to he and cannot &et sa vation%8 The Guru said, 8I have committed sins in m" (revious births% The e!!ect o! man" o! them has been wi(ed o!! b" m" (enance, but sti some o! them are (ersistin&% I wi not &et sa vation un ess I su!!er the evi e!!ects o! these sins with m" bod"% I, there!ore, wish to &o to 0ashi, sta" there and &et rid o! these sins% 1ou have to attend on me and serve me durin& this (eriod% 'ne who is stron& enou&h shou d undertake this hard task8% Sandee(ak acce(ted this bid% Veda Dharma said, 8It is better to &et rid o! the sins so on& as one has sound hea th, otherwise the" s(read ike (oison% So I shou d &o to a ho " ( ace and su!!er the bad e!!ects m"se !% -ven Gods have to su!!er, then how can a human bein& ike m"se ! avoid the same8% Sandee(ak said, 80ind " te me what I shou d do% I sha s(are no (ains in servin& "ou%8 Veda Dharma said, 8I sha become b ind, ame and a e(er, "ou wi have to serve me !or 92 "ears in such condition% I! "ou are reso ute, then on " "ou shou d acce(t this 5ob%8 Sandee(ak said, 8Gurudev, I reso ve that I sha a so be b ind, ame and a e(er and serve "ou devoted " and see that "ou &et rid o! a the sins8%

Veda Dharma was much ( eased with his words% 6e !urther said, 8'ne shou d su!!er the evi e!!ects o! one's sins onese ! and shou d not a ow the son or the (u(i or an"one e se to su!!er !or him% The sins wi not be wi(ed o!! un ess the" are borne b" one's own bod"% It is ver" ta.in& to serve a diseased (erson% So "ou wi have to take troub es even more than m"se !% P ease take me to 0ashi and do serve me there%8 Sandee(ak assured his Guru and soon he took him to 0ashi% The" ived there at 0amba eshwar to the North o! Mankarnika% The Muni took a bath in Mankarnika and worshi(ed Vishweshwar and be&an to su!!er the (an&s o! diseases% /s the time (assed on, e(ros" deve o(ed a over his bod" and he became b ind osin& his e"esi&ht% 6is bod" was (etri!ied and (us, b ood and &erms ! owed out o! it% 6e be&an to have !its a so% Sti Sandee(ak took a (ains to nurse his Guru with &reat devotion% 6e used to brin& a ms dai " !or his Guru, !ed him and served him, thinkin& him to be 0ashi Vishweshwar% Veda Dharma bein& in a diseased condition became (eevish b" nature and o!ten was enra&ed and s(oke harsh words to his disci( e, Sandee(ak% Some da" he wou d not take !ood, some da" he wou d abuse him crue " !or brin&in& insu!!icient !or unde icious a ms% Some da" he wou d throw awa" the !ood in an&er and des(air% Sometimes he wou d even beat him severe "% /nother time he wou d com( ain that he did not c ean his bod", wounds, c othes smeared with stoo and urine and conse?uent " he was much troub ed b" ! ies% >hen Sandee(ak was attendin& on him, he wou d sa" wh" did he not &o out !or a ms% In this wa" Sandee(ak was harassed ever" now and then% 1et Sandee(ak tried his best to brin& &ood de icious !ood and ve&etab es as directed b" his Guru% Thou&h he was ivin& in 0ashi, he never went to the Vishweshwar tem( e to worshi( and see the most ho " shrine o! Vishweshwar% Simi ar " he did not think o! an" other thin& but he so e " devoted himse ! to the nursin& and &ivin& best service to his Guru, whom he res(ected as God Shiva, Vishnu and Brahma% Thou&h the Guru &ot enra&ed o!! and on, he did not retort harsh "% Seein& his such devoted service to his Guru, 0ashi Vishweshwar was so ( eased that he a((eared be!ore him and to d him to ask !or some !avor or b essin&% Sandee(ak re( ied, 8>ithout the a((rova o! m" Guru, I cannot ask !or "our b essin&s8% 6e then came to his &uru and said 80ashi Vishweshwar is ( eased to o!!er me some b essin&% I! "ou (ermit me, I sha (ra" him to remove "our (h"sica (an&s and &ive "ou sound hea th%8 6earin& this, Veda Dharma was enra&ed% 6e said to Sandee(ak 8Do not (ra" Vishweshwar !or m" hea th% I! I do not su!!er these (an&s, I wi have to su!!er in the ne.t birth and this wou d abstract m" (ath o! sa vation%8 Sandee(ak returned to 0ashi Vishweshwar, and to d him, 8 M" Guru doesn't ike me to acce(t an" b essin&s !rom "ou%8 Bein& ama7ed 0ashi Vishweshwar went to Shri Vishnu and re(orted this wonder!u incident to him% 6earin& this, Shri Vishnu and Shri 0ashi Vishweshwar desired to see this disci( e and his Guru and so the" both came to 0ashi and a((roached Sandee(ak% Shri Vishnu said, 8'h Sandee(ak, I am ( eased with "our devotion to "our Guru% 1ou ma" ask !or what ever "ou desire% I sha !u !i "our wishes%8 Sandee(ak said, 8'h Nara"an, even a!ter undertakin& (enance in dense !orest !or in!inite (eriod, "ou disa((oint "our devotees% But when neither did I worshi( "ou, nor recite "our name, wh" shou d "ou be ( eased with me and ask me to have a boon !rom "ouB8 Shri Vishnu said, 8>hatever devoted service "ou have rendered to "our Guru, has been received b" me% I ove such disci( es ver" much% I am under his in! uence and I wi in& " o!!er him m" b essin&s% I ike wi!e's devotion to her husband, bowin& to Brahmins% /scetics and San"asis, and such (ersons come to m" ( ace in the end%8 Sandee(ak said, 8'h Mahavishnu, I have !u !aith that I sha attain a know ed&e o! Vedas and Shastras !rom m" Guru% /s Guru is m" God, Trimurties #Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh$ are within m" reach, whatever b essin&s "ou &ive me+ I sha be &ettin& the same easi " !rom m" Guru% I am, there!ore, servin& m" Guru devoted "%8 'n this Shri Vishnu said ( easin& ", 8Sandee(ak, "ou are the best amon&st a the disci( es% 1ou are m" ovin& chi d% Shri Shiva and m"se ! are ( eased with "our devotion% /sk !or a boon%8 Sandee(ak said, 8I! "ou are so keen to !avor me with "our b essin&s, kind " &ive me such &uidance as wou d enab e me to serve m" Guru with sti more devotion%8

Shri Vishnu said, 8/menI >e o!!er "ou what "ou desire% 1ou have known Guru and a so e.(erienced Par:Brahma in "ourse !% The word Guru contains on " two a (habets+ sti it is the ocean o! nectar% 'ne, who di(s into it even !or a moment, wi cross this wor d " ocean% 'ne who a wa"s remembers Guru is res(ected in a Dokas%8 >hen Sandee(ak went to his Guru, the Guru asked him, 8>hat did Mahavishnu &ive "ouB8 Sandee(ak re( ied,H I asked him to &uide me to serve m" &uru with more devotion and he was ( eased to &ive me this b essin&% I wish I shou d serve "ou we and incessant "8% 6earin& this Veda Dharma too was e.treme " ( eased% 6e said,H 1ou are the best o! a the disci( es% 1ou shou d sta" in 0ashi% >hat ever "ou sa" wi be true% 1ou wi receive the wea th o! 0uber #God o! >ea th$, the miseries o! those who remember "ou wi come to an end8% The same moment, the bod" o! Veda Dharma muni became hea th" and bri&ht% 6e had su!!ered !rom e(ros" and other (an&s on " !or testin& his disci( e% In this wa", Brahma to d 0a i this ta e o! Sandee(ak, 'h, Namdharak, "ou shou d a so worshi( Shri Guru with such devotion and then on ", "ou sha easi " (ass over the wor d " miseries% Contro "our sense, 0arma, Dn"an and a so heart and other b" "ou wi win even the Great God i%e%, Parameshwar%8 Shri Guru Charitra Cha(ter III Durwas Curses 0in& /mbarish Namdharak : 8Swami5i, "ou have removed m" doubt b" &ivin& me the know ed&e o! the &reatness o! Shri Guru% I am much ( eased at heart% >i "ou kind " in!orm me where "ou sta"B >hat is "our !oodB I wish to be in "our service% 0ind " acce(t me as "our disci( e8% Shri Siddha embraced him with a!!ection and b essin& him said, 81ou wi see that miracu ous incidents are occurrin& at the dwe in& ( ace o! Shri Guru% Stud"in& the i!e o! Shri Guru is ike drainin& nectar% I a wa"s read this i!e a&ain and a&ain8 sa"in& this he showed his sacred book tit ed #Di!e o! Shri Guru$ to Namdharak and !urther said, 8>hatever ( easure or socia status we desire, we sha &et it soon b" readin& this% >e sha not be a!!ected b" an" disease incurred due to dis( easure o! the ( anets or other reasons% The sin o! ki in& a Brahmin is a so wi(ed o!! i! this book is read with devotion and concentration o! mind8% Namdharak : 8'h the 'cean o! kindness, "ou a((ear to me be Shri &uru himse !% I wish to know the i!e o! Shri Guru% >i "ou ( ease remove the darkness o! m" i&norance b" the i&ht o! this i!e o! Shri Guru, which is as bri&ht as the SunB8 Shri Siddha assured him and ho din& his hand took him to a ove " ( ace, seated him under /shwattha tree, which is ike 0a (a Vriksha, i%e% a tree !u !i in& one's desires and be&an to narrate him the nectar ike i!e o! Shri Guru% 6e to d him, 81ou do not know how to serve Shri Guru and hence "ou have to su!!er !rom an.ieties, (ains and miseries% 1ou shou d there!ore, tr" to know Shri Guru b" &ood actions and !irm be ie!8% Namdharak : 8M" bod" is burnin& due to three!o d !ires in this earth " ocean% I am obsessed b" se., an&er and tem(tation% So kind " take me in the boat o! know ed&e, steer it b" the wind o! kindness and thus &ive sa vation to me8% Shri Siddha said, 81ou need not be an.ious% 1ou wi sure " be re ieved o! "our miseries, en&rossed in i usion and tem(tation, those who doubt the &reat (ower o! Shri Guru, the" have a wa"s to su!!er !rom (overt" and hardshi(% So &ive u( sus(icion% Shri Guru is an 'cean o! 0indness% 6e wi &ive "ou ever"thin&% @ust as c ouds &ive rain ever"where, simi ar " Shri Guru &ives showers o! kindness% /s water is stored in the dee( (ortions o! earth and on the rock" ( ace, so an individua attains Shri Guru's !avor% There!ore worshi( Shri Guru who ehearted "%8 Namdharak : 8M" mind is c ear now and I am an.ious to isten to the i!e stor" o! Shri Guru% 0ind " te me wh" Shri Guru took birth in BharatB8 Shri Siddha : 8'hI M" &ood disci( e, "ou have &iven ins(iration to me% Shri Guru's i!e is ike 0amadhenu% 1ou wi &et a the !our va orJs or !avors vi7%, re i&ion, wea th, ( easure and sa vation%

8Shri 6ari and Shri 6ar have to come this -arth in the !orm o! di!!erent s(ecies at di!!erent times !or the bene!its o! their devotees% Three Murtis have three di!!erent characteristics : Brahma's ,a5as, Vishnu's Satwa and Shiva's Tamas% But these do not e.ist se(arate "% 8In !ormer times there ived a 0in& b" name /mbarish% 6e observed -kadashi !ast #22th da" o! ever" !ortni&ht dark and bri&ht$% 6e induced Shri Vishnu to come to -arth% 8In order to test /mbarish's -kadashi Vrata, Durwas ,ishi came to him as a &uest% That da" Sadhan Dwadashi was on " !or 93 minutes a!ter Sunrise% /mbarish received the ,ishi warm ", worshi(ed him and re?uested him to return soon !or dinner !inishin& his mornin& bath and ritua s% 8Durvas went to the river, took bath and started ritua s% Seein& that the time !or Dwadashi #29th da" o! !ortni&ht$ was !inishin& and !earin& the break o! his Vrata, /mbarish took ho " water and dines% In the meanwhi e Durvas returned and seein& that /mbarish had dined be!ore him, he was enra&ed and so he cursed /mbarish% 8/mbarish (ra"ed Shri Vishnu, Protector o! devotees% Shri Vishnu came !rom Vaikunda, his abode% /mbarish to d Shri Vishnu that Durvas had !or no reason cursed him to take birth in di!!erent s(ecies% Shri Vishnu to d Durvas that he had cursed /mbarish in vain and that he shou d curse him #Vishnu$ instead o! /mbarish% 8Durvas thou&ht that (eo( e on -arth cannot see Shri Vishnu, so it wou d be better to ask Shri Vishnu to descend on -arth with Shri Dakshmi !or the sa vation o! the (eo( e% So he said to Shri Vishnu, '1ou shou d descend on the -arth ten times'% Shri Guru Charitra Cha(ter IV Birth o! Shri Dattatre"a 8In the !irst instance there was a water ever"where% Then an e&& K6iran"a &arbha' #with Go d inside$ came into e.istence% Cniverse has come out o! it% Due to K,a5as' Brahma came into e.istence% 6e is known as 6iran"a&arbha% It broke into two hemis(heres L the earth L the sk" came into e.istence% Brahma thus created 23 Bhuvans, 2* directions, mind, s(eech, time, si. enemies as desire, an&er etc% Brahma created seven sons #manas (utras$ name ", 2% 9% =% 3% 4% )% <% Marichi, /tri, /n&iras, Pu asti, Pu aha, 0ratu and Vasishta%

'! these Shri Guru took birth in the house o! /tri% 8/nasu"a #devoid o! hatred$ was the devoted wi!e o! /tri ,ishi% She was ver" beauti!u a so% Seein& her e.ce(tiona devotion to her husband, the Gods in heaven be&an to !ear that someda" she mi&ht overcome them% 6ence Indra and other Gods went to Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh and said to them, 86ow can one describe the &reatness o! the devotion o! /nasu"a to her husband /tri% She served her husband with bod", mind and s(eech% She a so serves &uests &ivin& them desired !ood% None returns disa((ointed !rom her ( ace% Eire, Sun and >ind are a so a!raid o! her% >e a are a!raid o! her% She ma" sometime win over this heaven% There!ore kind " do somethin& to &ive us re ie!'% 6earin& this, Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh said an&ri ", 8>e sha test her devotion8% Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh came to /tri Muni's /shram in the mendicants' dis&uise, when /tri had been out to the river !or dai " ritua s% The mendicants said to /nasu"a, 8>e are ver" hun&r"% Give us !ood% >e have come here hearin& "our &ood name !or o!!erin& the &uests their desired !ood8% /nasu"a bowed to them res(ect!u " and said, 8"ou ( ease return soon a!ter !inishin& "our bath and dai " ritua s8% The three Gods re( ied, 8>e have a read" taken bath and !inished the ritua s% /tri ,ishi ma" take time to return% Better "ou serve us !ood soon8%

/nasu"a seated them on car(ets and be&an servin& !ood on ea!:( ates% The &uests said to /nasu"a, 8>e have one more desire% >e have come here !rom a on& distance as we have heard o! "our beaut"% >e wish "ou to (ut o!! "our &arments and then serve us with !ood% I! "ou do not com( " with this% >e sha eave this ( ace without mea s8% This made /nasu"a bitter " an.ious% She rea i7ed that some &reat (ersona&es have come to test her chastit"% She thou&ht that i! the" return without !ood she wou d ose sanctit" o! her (enance% Be ievin& that her mind is (ure and that her husband's (enance wi (rotect her in this ordea , she to d them, 81ou have "our !ood without an" doubt% I sha serve "ou !ood as "ou desire8% She went into her kitchen and rememberin& her husband, (ut o!! her &arments and sa"in& KThe &uests are ike m" chi dren', she came out to serve !ood to the &uests% Instant " a the three Gods were trans!ormed into three new " born cr"in& babies% She was terri!ied to see three cr"in& babies% She (ut on her c othes and took the babies one a!ter the other to her breast !or !eedin&% >hat &reat (ower does a Pativrata (ossessI Those who have 23 Bhuvans, < oceans and !ire in the be ", were a satis!ied with the itt e mi k in her breast% /nasu"a thus became the mother o! the three Great Gods% She ( aced them in a crad e and (u ed the strin& to and !ro and be&an sin&in& u abies% It was midda"% /tri ,ishi returned !rom the river a!ter !inishin& his ritua s% 6e was ver" much astonished to see /nasu"a (u in& the strin& o! a crad e and sin&in& son&s% /nasu"a narrated a that had ha((ened% /tri ,ishi b" (ower o! intuition knew that the babies were Trimurties and so he bowed to them% The three Gods were a so much ( eased% The" stood be!ore him and to d /tri to ask !or a boon% /tri said to /nasu"a, 81ou ma" ask !or whatever "ou desire8% /nasu"a said, 8These babies shou d sta" in this /shram as our sons8% The Trimurties readi " com( ied% /nasu"a be&an to nurse and !eed them% Brahma was known as Chandra, Vishnu was ca ed Datta and Mahesh was ca ed Durvas% /!ter some time Chandra and Durvas to d their mother /nasu"a that the" both were &oin& awa" !or (enance and that the third Datta wou d be sta"in& with her+ she shou d know him as Trimurti% /!ter this Chandra and Durvas went awa", Chandra went to Chandra ok and Durvas went to he !orest !or (enance% Datta or Dattatre"a remained with /nasu"a% Dattatre"a is the !ounder o! the seat o! Shri Guru% Shri Guru Charitra Cha(ter VI Birth o! Shri(ad Shri Va abha Shri Siddha : 8Namdharak, Shri Vishnu had severa incarnations as Mats"a #Eish$, 0achha #Tortoise$, Varah #Bear$, Narasimha #Man with ion's head$, Vaman, Parashurama, ,ama, 0rishna, Buddha and 0a ki to (rotect the Sadhus and (unish the wicked% Bha&irath did his utmost to brin& the Gan&es on the -arth !or the sa vation o! his !ore!athers, the Sa&ar 0in&s% Simi ar " a Brahmin woman worshi((ed Shri Dattatre"a and hence Shri Dattatre"a took birth !rom her womb% I sha now narrate this ta e to "ou% 8/ Brahmin named /(a ra5 ived at Peetha(ur in the -ast% Sumatha was his most devoted wi!e% 'n one /mavas"a da" there was an anniversar" da" at the house o! /(a ra5% 'n that da" Shri Datta came in dis&uise to his house !or a ms% Genera " a ms are not &iven to be&&ars, on the anniversar" da"% But thou&h the Brahmins invited !or the ceremon" had not dined, Sumatha o!!ered him a ms% 6ence Shri Datta was much ( eased and he disc osed his divine a((earance to her% She humb " bowed to Shri Datta who said, 8Mother what do "ou desireB8 She said, 8 1ou are a treasure o! kindness and (rotector o! the devotees% 1ou are we known in a the 23 Bhuvans% 1ou 5ust ca ed me Kmother'% I be&ot chi dren, but some o! them died soon and o! those that are survivin&, one is b ind and one is ame% I there!ore !ee m" i!e to be !uti e without a &ood son% I wish I shou d have a son who wou d be wor d !amous and earned ike "ourse !% >i "ou !u !i this desire o! mineBH Shri Datta said, 81ou wi have a son we known in 0a i"u&% 1ou abide b" his wishes% 6e wi be earned% 6e wi !u !i a "our desires8% Sa"in& this Shri Datta disa((eared% Sumatha to d this to her husband% 6e too was much ( eased% Both be ieved that Shri Datta himse ! wou d come to their home in the !orm o! a chi d% The husband said, 8Shri Datta ives at Mahur and

0o ha(ur% 6e comes in the mendicant's !orm dai " a ms at midda"% 1ou shou d a wa"s &ive him a ms8% Sumatha to d her husband that she had o!!ered a ms to Shri Datta that da" even be!ore the Brahmins invited !or (er!ormin& the Shraddha had dined% The husband said 1ou did ver" we M" !ore!athers wi be more satis!ied, as Shri Datta himse ! has taken a ms to da"% /s "ou have obtained b essin&s !rom him, "ou wi sure " &et a son% 1ou need not worr"8% Thus the" were (assin& their time with ( easure% Sumata became (re&nant% /!ter the !u (eriod o! nine months, she &ave birth to a son% Brahmins !oreto d that this chi d wi be a &reat Guru and an ascetic% Thinkin& him to be an incarnation o! Shri Datta, he was ca ed a!ter one o! Datta's name KShri(adJ+ 6is thread ceremon" was (er!ormed when he was seven "ears o d% -ven at this a&e, he knew a !our Vedas, Mimansa, Thark #Do&ic$ etc% / (eo( e wondered at his bri ianc" and said he must be a God in human !orm% 6e tau&ht the Brahmins o! the cit" various sub5ects as /char, V"awahar, Pra"aschitta, Vedant, Bhash"a, Vedarth etc% >hen Shri(ad was si.teen "ears o! a&e his (arent be&an to think o! his marria&e% Shri(ad warned that wou d marr" with the woman ca ed disintri&ation% / other adies iked mother to him% 6e said, 8I am a Brahmachari and an ascetic% I ove 1o&a and m" name is Shri Va abha% I now intend to &o to the !orests !or observin& (enance and obtainin& divine know ed&e%8 6earin& this, the (arents reco ected the words o! Shri Datta, the mendicant and rea i7ed that he wou d have his own wa"% Sti due to a!!ection, the" were ver" much a&&rieved% The mother said, 8we e.(ected "ou to (rotect us in our o d a&e8% Sa"in& so the mother became unconscious% Shri(ad conso ed her and said, 8Do not be an.ious% I sha &ive "ou what "ou wish% Be ieve in me and ive ha((i "8% The mother said, 8M" Dear son, I !or&ot a m" (revious miseries on " on account o! "ou and I cherished a &reat ho(e that "ou wou d (rotect us in our o d a&e% >e have two other sons+ but one is ame and the other is b ind, who wi ook a!ter themB8 Shri(ad ooked at his ame and b ind brother with nectar ike si&ht% Instant " the b ind brother &ot his si&ht and ame one &ot his e&s% Both became earned, we versed in Vedas, Shastras and V"akaran% Th" (rostrated be!ore Shri(ad Shri Va abha and he b essed them% @ust as iron is trans!ormed into &o d b" the touch o! the (hi oso(her's stone, so both the brothers were en i&htened and the" became res(ectab e due to the b essin&s o! Shri(ad% 6e then said to the brothers, 81ou wi have sons, &randsons and &reat &randsons and "ou a sha ive ha((i "%8 6e to d his brothers !urther, 8Serve "our (arents% 1ou wi be ha((" in this wor d and sha &et sa vation in the end%8 6e then said, to his mother, 8"ou shou d be ha((" now% But "our sons wi ive !or 2** "ears% The" wi have sons and dau&hters and "ou wi see them ivin& merri "% The" wi have wea th !or &enerations and sha be !amous !or their earnin&% Now do not (revent me !rom &oin& to !orest% I have to &o to the North to &uide the Sadhus%8 Sa"in& this, Shri(ad Swami disa((eared and came to 0ashi where he be&an to ive secret "% /!ter some da"s he went to Badri Nara"an% 6e visited ho " ( aces one a!ter the other and in course o! time one da" reached Gokarna%8 Shri Guru Charitra Cha(ter VI ,avana and Gokarna Mahaba eshwar Namdharak: 8Swami, thou&h Trimurti was Siddha, #6avin& 1o&ic (ower to do and undo thin&s$ wh" did he visit di!!erent ho " ( aced and wh" did he (re!er Gokarna to other ( acesB >hat is its si&ni!icanceB8 Shri Siddha 8I am much de i&hted with "our ?uestion and I am encoura&ed to narrate incidents !rom Shri Guru's i!e% Shri(ad Shri Va abha reached Gokarna and on his wa" he made disci( es and &ave them divine advice% Gokarna is a sacred ( ace o! Shri Shiva and one o! the twe ve !amous @"otir in&as% Shri Ganesh !ounded here the ori&ina Din&a:ima&e o! Shiva% It is known as Mahaba eshwar, the ta e o! which I sha narrate to "ou now%

8,avana's mother 0aika"a #wi!e o! Pu asti Manasa (utra o! Brahma$ was a &reat devotee o! Shiva% She worshi(ed a new Shiva Din&a ever" da"% 'ne da" she cou d not &et a new Shiva Din&a% Eearin& that her KVrata' wou d be !uti e, she (re(ared an earthen Din&a and be&an to worshi( it with devotion% Seein& this, ,avana asked her what she was doin&% She said that she was worshi(in& a Shiva:Din&a% ,avana said, 81ou bein& m" mother, it is a &reat mis!ortune that "ou shou d earthen Shiva Din&% >e what do "ou intend to achieve b" this worshi(B8 Mother re( ied that thereb" she wou d &et a ( ace in 0ai as, abode o! Shiva a!ter death% Thereu(on ,avana said, Kwh" do "ou take so much troub esB I sha brin& 0ai as itse ! to "ou'% Sa"in& this, he went to 0ai as and be&an to shake it vio ent " with his 9* hands% 6e tried to i!t it u(% Due to this action o! his, < Pata s were shaken, Shesh moved his hood, the tortoise be&an to tremb e with !ear% /mar(ur #ca(ita o! Indra the 0in& o! Gods$ and 6eaven were shocked% Parvati went to Shri Shiva with !ear and said, K>hat has ha((ened to 0ai as to da"B >hen ever"one was distress how are "ou "in& at easeB P ease do somethin& to check this ca amit"%' Shri Shiva said to her, K1ou need not be an.ious% ,avana, one o! m" devotees, is ( a"in& a &ame'% Parvati entreated, K0ind " (rotect the Gods who terri!ied'% Shri Shiva (ressed ,avanaJs 2* heads and 9* hands underneath the 0ai as% Eindin& himse ! in distress, ,avana uttered KShiva:Shiva' and !urther (ra"ed KShri Shiva', I have made a mistake% Eor &ive me% I seek "our she ter% 0ind " do not ki me, "our devotee%' 6is (ra"er ( eased Shri Shiva, who is ver" sim( e and kind,, so he took him u( !rom breath% ,avana then cut his head, turned his hands into vio in, he attached his intestines to serve as musica wires% 6e then be&an to chant Sam Veda and sin& other ,a&as on the tune o! this musica instrument% 6e (raised Shri Shiva in Nine ,asas and Thirt":si. ,a&as% Bein& much ( eased b" ,avanaJs (er!ormance at &reat (ersona sacri!ice, Shri Shiva a((eared be!ore him and said, KI am much ( eased% /sk !or whatever "ou desire'% ,avana said K'h God o! Gods, Da.mi is m" maidservant% I (ossess a the F treasures% Brahma is m" (riest, and a == crore Gods are servin& me da" and ni&ht% The Sun, the Moon, the Varuna and the >ind a so obe" me% /&ni #Eire God$ washes m" c othes+ 1ama does not take awa" an"bod" without m" (ermission% Indra5it is m" son and 0umbakarna is m" brother% 0amadhenu is at m" doors% Now I have come to take awa" 0ai as with me as m" mother has acce(ted a KVrata' to worshi( "ou dai "% 0ind " !u !i m" mother's desire%' 0ai as(ati Shri Shiva said, KI! "our mother wishes to worshi( me, what is the necessit" o! takin& 0ai as to her% I sha &ive "ou /tma:Din&a, which wi !u !i a her desires instant "% It is 5ust ike m" sou % Sa"in& this, he &ave his /tma:Din&a to ,avana and said, K/!ter bath, ( ace this at a ho " ( ace recitin& ,udra sukta and worshi( it with 2*F a( recitation o! a (articu ar mantra% 'ne, who worshi(s this Din&a continuous " !or = "ears, wi &ain m" (rowess% 'ne, who (ossesses this Din&a, wi ive !or eternit"+ one is re ieved o! an" &reat sin, sim( " with the si&ht o! this Din&a% Do not ( ace this on the &round ti "ou reach Danka%' Takin& the /tma:Din&a, ,avana at once started !or Danka% Narada Muni immediate " a((roached Indra and said to him, K6ow are "ou sittin& id eB ,avana has become immorta % 1ou wi ose a "our (rominence% Shri Shiva has &iven him /tma:Din&a and has assured him that i! he wou d worshi( it !or = "ears with devotion, he wi be Ishwar himse !% 6ow wi "ou then rescue == crores o! &ods who are in his custod"% Better "ou a be his s aves% / so send divine damse s ike Crvashi, ,ambha, Menaka etc% to him'% Bein& shocked, Indra re?uested Narad to advise what he wou d do% Narad asked him to &o to Brahma% Indra and Narad went to Brahma and narrated what had taken ( ace% Then accom(anied b" Indra and Narad, Brahma went to Shri Vishnu and re?uested him to devise some means to overcome this ca amit"% Shri Vishnu was enra&ed to hear this ta e% 6e, with a others immediate " went to Shri Shiva% Shri Vishnu said to Shri Shiva, '>hat made "ou &ive /tma:Din&a to ,avana, the most wicked, who has made a the &ods his ca(tivesB 6ow do "ou b ess such crue (ersonsB Now he wi con?uer even heaven%' Shri Shiva said, 'I was e.treme " ( eased with his devotion% 6e cut his head and hands and made a vio in usin& his intestines as strin&s and san& Sam Veda and other son&s in di!!erent ra&as% This time i! he had asked !or Parvati, I wou d have &iven her even to him%'

Shri Vishnu said, '1ou &ive such b essin&s and the demons become im(udent and then we are troub ed much as the" harass the &ods and Brahmins and I have to descend on the earth% >e te me when did "ou &ive the Din& to ,avanaB' Shri Shiva said, 'I &ave it to him on " two hours be!ore%' 6earin&s this Shri Vishnu immediate " sent his Sudarshan Chakra to hide the Sun and asked Narad to ,avana and induce him to in&er on the wa", as he wou d ike to observe evenin& Sandh"a% Then he ca ed Ganesh and said to him, ',avana a wa"s disre&ards "ou% / bow to "ou !irst and "ou !u !i their desires% >hi e those who s(eak i o! "ou, "ou brin& obstac es in their undertakin&s% ,avana deceived Shri Shiva and has taken awa" !rom him the most va uab e /tma:Din&a% So "ou shou d &o to him in the !orm o! a Brahmachari bo" and winnin& his con!idence, take the /tma: Din&a !rom him at Sunset, when he wou d en&a&e himse ! in the evenin& Sandh"a and ( ace the Din&a on the earth% I! "ou do so, the Din&a wi remain there% Sa"in& this Shri Vishnu &ave Ganesh various sweets, ti ba s, &ur, coconut kerne , mi k, &ee su&ar etc% Narad had a read" (roceeded% Ganesh !o owed him hurried "% Narad a((roached ,avana and said, 'I had 5ust been to 0ai as and knew that "ou ( eased Shri Shiva b" "our hard (enance and have brou&ht his /tma:Din&a !rom him% 1ou have obtained e.traordinar" (ower and stren&th due to this% This Din&a has &reat si&ni!icance% P ease et me see the Din&a, I sha e.( ain to "ou a its ?ua ities%' /s ,avana did not be ieve Narad, he showed him the Din&a !rom a distance% Narad asked, 'Do "ou know when and how this Din&a came into e.istenceB This is a ver" interestin& account% / b ack skinned bri&ht deer havin& a !ra&rant thin&s was "in& in Brahmand:0hand% Brahma, Vishnu, and Mahesh once went there !or huntin&% The" ki ed this deer and satis!ied their hun&er with its ! esh% The deer had = horns on its head and = Din&as be ow% -ach one o! them took one Din&a and (reserved it as his /tma:Din&a% 'ne, who worshi(s this !or = "ears, becomes Ishwar himse !% The ( ace where this Din&a is ( ace is ike 0ai as% There!ore Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh have &reat (rominence over a other &ods%' ,avana interce(ted, ' I have no time to isten to "ou, as I have to reach Danka soon% Det me (roceed !urther on m" wa"%' Narad said, MNthis is evenin& time% 1ou know the Vedas, "ou shou d act as (rescribed b" the Vedas% This is the time !or evenin& Sandh"a% Det us (er!orm the same%H Sa"in& this Narad went awa" !or Sandh"a% In the meantime ,avana saw Ganesh in the !orm o! a Brahmachari bo" who was ( uckin& NdurvasJ #a (articu ar &rass$% ,avana thou&ht that that bo" wou d not deceive him% Better observe Sandh"a entrustin& the Din&a to that bo"% So thinkin& he a((roached Ganesh, who was a!raid to see ,avana with ten heads comin& to him% But he be&an to run awa"% ,avana asked him, 'who are "ouB >ho are "our (arentsB' Ganesh said, '>h" are "ou in?uirin&B >hat does m" !ather owe "ouB ,avana smi ed and said 'Don't be a!raid o! me% I am askin& this on " out o! curiosit"%' Ganesh re( ied, 'I am the son o! Shri Shiva% 6e has ash marks a over the bod", has a neck ace o! ,udra:beads around his neck and bears hair: ocks on his head% M" mother is Parvati% M" !ather rides a bu Nandi with m" mother and be&s !or a ms dai "% ,avana said, '"our !ather is a (au(er% 6e be&s !or a ms !rom door to door% So it seems that "ou are unha((" at home% Inside in a beauti!u cit" Danka, rich with ma&ni!icent bui din&s, &ardens and other wea th% 1ou ive with me% I sha &ive "ou whatever "ou desire%' Ganesh said, 'there are man" rakshasas in Danka% The" wi devour me, a bo" ivin& in !orest% 6ence I wou d not come to Danka% I am hun&r" and so I am eatin& these sweets%' ,avana a&ain entreated him to ho d the Din&a in his hand ti he observed Sandh"a% Therea!ter Ganesh said with hesitation, 'I am an i&norant bo"% I won't ho d this Din&a in m" hand, as it ma" be heav"% Det me &o to m" ( ace%' Sti ,avana (ersuaded him and induced Ganesh to ho d the Din&a and he (roceeded to observe Sandh"a on the sea shore% Ganesh warned him, 'Mind, as soon as I !ee the Din&a heav", I sha ( ace it on the earth%' Sa"in& this Ganesh took the Din&a and waited there% / the &ods had &athered in the sk" and were witnessin& this event%

>hen ,avana was o!!erin& ar&h"as #water ab utions to !ire &od$, Ganesh ca ed ,avana and said that he is !ati&ued and he shou d take his Din&a !rom him soon%' ,avana made si&ns b" hand and asked him to wait !or a itt e more time% /!ter a whi e Ganesh a&ain ca ed ,avana and asked him to come immediate " as it was becomin& unbearab e !or him to ho d the Din&a% ,avana was meditatin& this time% Seein& that ,avana was not comin&, Ganesh reco ected Shri Vishnu's words and ( aced the Din&a on the &round in the (resence o! the &ods in the sk"% / the &ods were &reat " ( eased to see this and showered ! owers in the head o! Ganesh in admiration% Soon a!ter ,avana returned and seein& that the Din&a was ( aced on the &round, he was much anno"ed% 6e be&an to thrash Ganesh in wrath% ,avana tried his best with a his mi&ht to i!t u( the Din&a% The earth tremb ed but the Din&a cou d not be shaken a bit% /s ,avana tried to i!t it u( b" screwin&, it took the sha(e o! an ear o! the cow and so it is known as 8Gokarn8 and as ,avana e.ercised a his mi&ht to i!t it u( it is ca ed 8Mahaba eshwar8% In des(air ,avana then went to the !orest !or hard (enance% There are man" other incidents si&ni!"in& the &reatness o! this ho " ( ace% This is narrated in the Skandha Purana% Shri Guru Charitra Cha(ter VII Soumini and Mada"anti at Gokarna Namdharak: 8Swami, wi "ou te me who were bene!ited b" visitin& this ho " ( ace o! GokarnaB8 Shri Siddha: 8@ust isten% Eormer " there ived a brave kin& in the !ami " o! Ikshwaku% 6e knew a the Shastras% 6e was considerate, stron& and kind% 'nce he went on huntin& and seein& a demon ike a ! ame o! !ire, he aimed an arrow and the demon !e on the &round sense ess% The brother o! the demon we(t bitter " in &rie!% Be!ore d"in&, the demon asked his brother to take reven&e o! his death% The brother a((roached the kin& in human !orm and sou&ht his service and was en&a&ed as a cook% 'n the anniversar" da" the kin& had invited ,ishis ike Vasishta and others% >hen Vasishta and others were seated on their seats, the new cook served human ! esh in the ( ate o! Shri Vasishta% Bein& enra&ed, Vasishta cursed the kin& that he wou d become a Brahmaraksha% The kin& was a so anno"ed to see that he was bein& cursed !or no !au t o! his% 6e there!ore, took water in his hand and intended to curse Shri Vasishta in return, Maharani Mada"anti hastened to the kin& and entreated and (revented him !rom cursin& his Guru% She re?uested him to (ra" Vasishta !or KCssha(' #b essin& to nu i!" the e!!ects o! the course$% Bein& (aci!ied, the (oured the water in his hands on his own !eet, whereb" a!ter bein& a Brahmaraksha, he was ca ed O0a mash(ad'% Mada"anti bowed to Vasishta and (ra"ed !or Cssha( !or the kin&% Vasishta was a so coo ed b" this time% 6e assured her that the kin& wou d attain human !orm and return !rom the !orest on com( etion o! 29 "ears% 0a mash(ad ived in a dense !orest% 'nce he saw a "oun& Brahmin cou( e (assin& b"% 6e c as(ed the Brahmin "outh with the intention o! devourin& him% The "oun& wi!e o! the "outh we(t bitter " and re?uested 0a mash(ad with !o ded hands, sa"in&, Kkind " re ease m" "oun& husband who is we versed in Vedas and thus &ive me m" Sowbha&"a% B" doin& this "ou wi add to "our virtues% Treat me as "our dau&hter% I! I be&et a son I sha &ive him "our name%' But the demon did not isten to her and ki ed the "outh and ate his ! esh% The wi!e o! the "outh co ected the bones o! her husband, arran&ed a ("re and set !ire to it% Be!ore burnin& herse ! in the same ("re, she cursed the demon, K1ou wi die instant ", when a!ter 29 "ears "ou become kin& and touch "our wi!e%' The kin& returned to his cit" a!ter 29 "ears% 6e to d his wi!e ,ani Mada"anti a about the curse o! the Brahmin's wi!e% Mada"anti was much &rieved to hear it% She e.c aimed, K-ven a!ter sta"in& in the !orest in hardshi( !or 29 "ears "ou are not re ieved o! the evi e!!ects o! "our evi actionsI There is no son in our !ami "% >hat shou d we do nowB The kin& ca ed the o d (riest and to d him KI have ki ed a Brahmin when I was a demon and was sta"in& in the !orest% 6ow can I be re ieved o! its evi e!!ectsB'

The (riest said, K"ou shou d visit a the ho " ( aces and then a "our sins wi be wi(ed o!!' The kin& then started to visit a the ho " ( aces one a!ter the other% 6e (er!ormed sacri!ices, &ave mone" in charit", served mea s to the Brahmins and the (oor and did other virtuous acts% Sti the sin o! Brahma:hat"a !o owed him ike a shadow% /ccidenta " he met Goutam Muni% 6e bowed to the Muni res(ect!u "% Goutam asked, K>hen "ou have "our own state #kin&dom$ wh" are "ou wanderin& !rom ( ace to ( ace and wh" are "ou so much worriedB' KI have committed a Brahmahat"a% I (er!ormed sacri!ices and severa Vratas% I visited ho " ( aces and did virtuous acts% 1et I am not re ieved o! this sin% I am !ortunate to see "our ho " se ! to da",' re( ied the kin&% Goutam said, K1ou need not worr"% Shri Shiva wi (rotect "ou% 1ou shou d &o to Gokarna to &et rid o! this sin% Mrit"un5a"a #the con?ueror o! Death$ Shri Shiva a wa"s sta"s there% Thou&h the !ire and the moon can do awa" with the darkness o! the ni&ht, "et there is the necessit" o! the Sun% Simi ar " thou&h "our sins are not wi(ed o!! even a!ter &oin& to severa ho " ( aces, sti i! "ou &o to Gokarna, a "our sins wi be destro"ed% -ven i! "ou have committed 2*** Brahmahat"as, a wi be destro"ed and "ou sha become sin ess% -ven Vishnu and Brahmadeo ived there !or (enance and their desires were !u !i ed% Gokarna is ike 0ai as and Shri Shiva sta"s there% /t the instance o! Shri Vishnu, Shri Ganesh insta ed this Shiva Din&a% / the &ods, demons, ,ishis, Munis, Siddhas ive and worshi( Shri Shiva and thereb" the" attain a the !our va ous #(urusharthas$ with the b essin& o! Shri Shiva% Brahma, Vishnu, 0artavir"a, Vina"ak, Dur&a and others have a so insta ed Din&as here known a!ter their names% / waters here ho "% This is thus the most im(ortant ho " ( ace% In 0rita 1u& this Din&a was white, in Treta it became red, in Dwa(ara "e ow, and in the 0a i"u& it has become b ack% The root o! this Din&a is in the Sa(ta Pata be ow% -ven with the si&ht o! this Din&a one is re ieved o! the sins o! Brahmahat"a, &ets one's desires !u !i ed and a!ter death one attains sa vation% The devotees sta"in& here &o to 0ai as in the end% 'ne shou d bathe and o!!er charities on Sunda", Monda" and >ednesda"% It is virtuous to worshi( here on 8V"ati(at8, Makar Sankrant and Maha Shivaratri da"s% Bho enath Shiva (asses 5ud&ment over a our actions% In the month o! Ma&h, i! one observes !ast on the Shivaratri da" and o!!ers 8Be 8 ea! to Shri Shiva Din&a, one's entrance in the heaven is ensured%' Goutam Muni !urther said, Kso man" have been bene!ited b" visitin& Gokarna% I m"se ! have witnessed a most wonder!u incident, when I had been to that ( ace% >hen I was sittin& under a tree, I saw a e(er sutra woman% She was without !ood the who e da"% / her bod" was a!!ected and (us and &erms were seen a over% She had ost her teeth and had no c othes on her bod"% Bein& a widow, her head was shaved and she was much troub ed due to midda" hot Sun% She sat under a tree bein& tired, and soon died% Shiva Dootas came there with a divine ( ace to take her to the 0ai as% >hi e ivin& with the sutra, she ate ! esh Shudras+ she ate ! esh and took wine dai "% 'ne da" she ki ed a ca ! thinkin& it to be a amb and reserved its head !or the ne.t da"% >hen it was time !or mi kin& the cow she ooked !or the ca ! and she came to know that m" mistake, she had ki ed it% In &rie! she uttered the words Shiva' KShiva' and K>hat a &reat sin I have committed unknowin& "'% Eearin& the wrath o! her husband, she buried the head, ! esh and bones o! the ca ! and to d (eo( e that a ti&er took her ca ! awa"% >hen she died 1am Dootas took her to the 1am(uri and ( aced her in he % She su!!ered tortures and was a&ain born as a Shudra woman% She was u& ", b ack and b ind% 6er (arents cared !or her !or some time and a!terwards she be&&ed !or her !ood% She was an or(han without an" she ter% She deve o(ed e(ros" and in course o! time she &rew o d% Man" (eo( e were &oin& to Gokarna on Maha Shivaratri da" e.(ectin& to &et &ood a ms, she a so !o owed them% It bein& a !ast da" nobod" o!!ered her !ood% In:5oke, some one ( aced 8Be 8 ea! in her hand% 0nowin& that it was not eatab e, she threw it awa", which b" chance, !e on the Shiva Din&a and thus she had the credit o! worshi((in& Shiva in that dark ni&ht% This ( eased Shri Shiva and hence we have come to take her to Shiva ok% Shiva dootas s(rink ed nectar on her bod" and soon she ooked ike a heaven " woman, she was then taken to Shiva Dok' 6earin& this the kin& was de i&hted% 6e went to Gokarna and was re ieved o! a his sins% Gokarna has &reat si&ni!icance% 6ence Shri(ad Shri Va abha had a so been there and sta"ed there !or = "ears%8

Shri Guru Charitra Cha(ter VIII Shri(ad Shri Va abha B esses a Brahmani and 6er Son Namdharak:86ow on& Shri Guru Shri(ad Shri Va abha sta"ed at Gokarna and what ha((ened aterB8 Shri SiddhaG : 8Shri Guru ived secret " !or = "ears and !rom there he went to Shri&iri% /!ter 3 months he went to Nivriti San&am and thence to 0urava(ur on the bank o! the 0rishna river% There ived a Brahmin we versed in Veda and Shastras% >e had a &ood:natured devoted wi!e /mbika b" name She be&ot chi dren but none survived e.ce(t one son% In due course his thread ceremon" was ce ebrated+ but he was du , !oo ish and dumb% 6ence the (arents were much worried% The Brahmin &ot tired whi e trainin& him and at times beat him !or not earnin& his essons% 6is wi!e cou d not bear this crue treatment to her on " son% The Brahmin died a!ter some time% The woman ived with her son be&&in& !or their ive ihood% The bo" &rew u(+ but bein& !oo ish and (oor no one iked to &ive one's dau&hter in marria&e to him% Peo( e said to him, K"our !ather was a earned man+ but "ou are ike a stone% 1ou have brou&ht dis&race to his !ami "% 6ow are "ou not ashamed o! be&&in& !or "our ivin&B Better &ive u( "our i!e in the Gan&a ,iver% 6e was a&&rieved to hear such harsh words o!! and on% 6e there!ore intended to &ive u( his i!e in the dee( waters o! a river% Seein& this his mother said to him in &rie!, KI sha a so com(an" "ou%' The" both went on the river 0rishna% Shri(ad Shri Va abha a so had been there% Seein& him, the mother bowed to him and said, Kwe both have decided to &ive u( our ives in this river+ but as committin& suicide is a sin, how sha we be re ieved o! our miseries without bein& o!!endedB' Shri Guru asked, K>hich miseries induce "ou to &ive u( "our ivesB' Narratin& her who e account the woman said, KSwami, we visited ho " ( aced and observed KVratas' !or &ettin& a son and a!ter this we &ot this son+ but he is a du ard% / des(ise him and sco d him% I there!ore, re?uest "ou to b ess me with a son who wi be (ious ike "our &ood se ! at east in the ne.t birth% 6e shou d (rove &ood !or a our !urther &enerations%' Seein& her devotion Shri Guru said, K"ou worshi( Ishwar i%e% Shri Shiva with devotion and "ou wi have &od ike son% Nanda Gawa i worshi((ed God and hence Shri 0rishna ived at his home% 1our desire wi a so be !u !i ed i! "ou worshi( him devoted "%' The woman asked, K6ow did the cowherd worshi( Shri 6ariB >hat Kvrata' did the" observeB' Shri Guru :K'n ever" KShani:(radosh%' worshi( God Shiva% / ta e in this res(ect is narrated in the Skandha Purana%' There ived a ri&hteous kin& Chandrasen in C55ain% Manibhadra was his chie! counse or% 6e worshi((ed Shri Shiva most devoted " and Shri Shiva and !avored him with the most bri&ht KChintamani' bead which he had &iven to his master Chandrasen% / mere touch o! the bead turned iron into &o d% B" mere si&ht o! the bead, one's desires were !u !i ed% So a other kin&s desired to have such bead% Man" kin&s tried to &et the bead !rom the kin& and o!!ered him mone" !or the same% But a e!!orts were in vain% So the" a combined their !orces and attacked C55ain, when Chandrasen was en&a&ed in worshi((in& Shri Shiva on a KShani (radosh' da"% The chi dren o! the cowherds watched the worshi( o! the kin& and the" a so wished to worshi( Shri Shiva simi ar "% The bo"s &athered stones and (re(ared a Shiva Tem( e and ( aced one stone as ima&e o! Shiva Din&a and be&an worshi((in& it with ! owers and other herbs% The mothers' o! the bo"s came there and took their sons !or mea s to their homes% But one bo" did not &o home% 6is mother thrashed him an&ri " and said, Nit is ni&ht now% Come to have "our mea s%' She broke the Tem( e and threw awa" the ima&e o! Shiva Din&a% Seein& this the bo" be&an to wee( in &rie! and intended to &ive u( his i!e% But a!ter some time he !e t as ee(% Shri Shiva was ( eased with his devotion and created a beauti!u Tem( e a Din&a o! (recious Stones was insta ed in it% Shri Shiva awoke the bo", ooked at him with a!!ection and asked him to have a boon !rom him% The bo" was much de i&hted% 6e bowed to Shri Shiva and said 'M" mother has broken the evenin& worshi(% 0ind " !or&ive her%'

Shri Shiva said, '/s "our mother has seen the evenin& worshi(, she wi &et a son named Shri 0rishna in ne.t birth and "ou wi a so have a the ( easures%' The !orces o! the enemies were emer&ed% The" s(oke amon&st themse ves% '>hat wonder is thisI 6ow this bri&ht beauti!u Tem( e has been created here within a ni&ht% Det us &ive u( enmit" and see the kin&, who is so virtuous on !riend " terms%' The" sent their messen&ers to the kin&% The kin& re?uested them to come to the Shiva Tem( e, where he wou d see them% Chandrasen was a so wonderstruck to see Sun ike bri&ht Shiva Tem( e s(run& u( durin& the ni&ht% The cowherd bo"Js house a so ooked ver" bri&ht% The kin& asked the bo" the reason o! this mirac e% The bo" narrated the who e stor" to a the kin&s who had &athered there% / were much ( eased to hear him% The" said, '1ou rea " become the kin& o! the cowherds%' The" o!!ered the bo" man" &i!ts and and and e.ce(tin& Chandrasen a the kin&s returned to their ( aces% The bo" went home and narrated to his mother a that had occurred% 6e said, 'Shri Shiva was ( eased with m" evenin& worshi(% /s I re?uested him to !or&ive "ou even thou&h "ou had broken the tem( e, he was not an&r" with "ou% Besides he assured that the incarnation o! Shri 0rishna wi sta" at "our home%' Shri(ad Shri Va abha narrated the si&ni!icance o! the 'Shani (radosh' worshi( to the Brahmani and seein& her devotion, ( aced his (a m over the head o! her son and b essed him% -ventua " the bo" instant " had the know ed&e o! the Vedas, Shastras, Tark, Bhash"a etc% / the Brahmins and his mother were wonderstruck to see this% The mother res(ect!u " bowed to Shri Guru and said that she was !ortunate to see Shri Guru and to &et his b essin&s% She said, '"ou are God "ourse !% >e sha worshi( "ou in the evenin&% I ho(e I sah have a son ike "our &ood se ! in m" ne.t birth% Det not "our words be untrue%' Sa"in& this she be&an to worshi( Shri Guru ever" evenin& with devotion% 6er son &ot married and had sons and &randsons% Those who are b essed b" Shri Guru, receive a eisure in the same wa"%' Shri Guru Charitra Cha(ter IP / >asherman B essed to be a 0in& 8There ived a washerman at 0urav(ur% 6e was a &reat devotee o! Shri Guru% Shri(ad Shri Va abha used to &o to the river, have bath, mornin& Sandh"a and other ritua s 5ust ike ordinar" Brahmins% The washerman wou d &o to the river, wash Shri Guru's c othes and wou d bow to him with reverence% 'nce Shri Guru asked him, 'wh" do "ou take so much troub es !or me% I am ( eased with "our services% Go home and ive ha((i "%' 6earin& this the washerman &ave u( househo d attachment, ived at Shri Guru's dwe in& ( ace, swe(t the court"ard and s(rink ed water on it ever"da"% Thus he served Shri Guru with more devotion% 'nce in s(rin&, in the month o! Vaishakh, a Mus im kin& came to the river a on&:with his harem o! beauti!u woman, wearin& (recious ornaments and c othes with man" servants, e e(hants, horses, musica instruments and was en5o"in& 5o"!u "% The washerman was ookin& at the s( endor and & or" o! the kin&% 6e be&an thinkin&, '6ow !ortunate sha I be, i! I cou d a so en5o" such & orious i!e%' 0nowin& his intentions, Shri Guru asked him what he was thinkin& about% The washerman re( ied, 'I was 5ust thinkin& what deit" this kin& mi&ht have ( eased, so as to have such s( endor and & or"B 6owever I do not on& !or it% I have a m" ( easures at th" !eet%' Shri Guru said, ' "ou are stru&& in& hard in i!e% Do "ou as(ire to en5o" ro"a & or"B I! en5o"in& their ob5ects does not satis!" the senses, the" obstruct the (ath o! 'Moksha' #!reedom !rom worries o! i!e and death$% So "ou better take birth in a Mus im ro"a !ami " and en5o" kin& " i!e%' >asherman: '0ind " do not ask me to &o awa" !rom "ou'% Shri Guru: '1ou wi have birth in the ,o"a !ami " o! Bidar and I sha meet "ou in "our ater i!e, I sha a so have another birth and sha be known as 'Narasimha Saraswati%' I sha be eadin& a San"asi's i!e%

Sa"in& this, Shri Guru a owed him to &o, but a&ain asked whether he wou d ike to en5o" ,o"a i!e in that ver" birth or in the ne.t birth% >asherman e.(ressed, 'I am now &rown o d% It wou d be &ood i! I en5o" ro"a ( easures !rom the chi dhood%' Soon a!ter the washerman died% 6e was ater born in the ,o"a !ami " o! Bidar% 6is account is narrated ater in the 4*th cha(ter o! this book% Shri Guru was thus much (raised and res(ected durin& his sta" at 0urav(ur, I am unab e to describe a the mirac es o! his i!e, 0urav(ur has become a !amous ho " ( ace due to his residence% Shri(ad Shri Va abha disa((eared in the river 0rishna on /shwin Vad"a 29, which is known as 'Guru Dwadashi'% ,ea devotees can sti see here Shri(ad Shri Va abha, the Dattatre"a incarnate% Man" have e.(erienced this%' Shri Guru Charitra Cha(ter P Va abhesh Saved !rom Thieves Namdharak, : 'P ease te me the ne.t birth #incarnation$ o! Shri(ad Shri Va abha'% Shri Siddha: 'Shri(ad Shri Va abha had man" incarnations% / (ossessed the omni(otence o! Shri Nara"an% Devotion o! Shri Guru is never !uti e% Shri Guru never disa((oints his disci( es% There!ore serve him !rom "our heart% I sha narrate to "ou one ta e as an i ustration% Va abhesh, a ri&hteous Brahmin, was doin& business% 6e used to &o to Shri(ad Shri Va abha Padukas at 0urav(ur ever" "ear% 'nce he dec ared that i! he made &ood business he wou d !eed 2*** Brahmins at 0urav(ur% Eortunate " he earned &ood (ro!it% 6e a wa"s recited Shri Guru's name% 6e started !or 0urav(ur with &ood mone"% 0nowin& this, some thieves a so accom(anied him% /!ter two or three da"s, one ni&ht the thieve ki ed the Brahmin when he was as ee( and wanted to take awa" a his mone"% In the meantime Shri(ad Shri Va abha, with ocks o! hair on his head and trishu and 0hatwan& in his hands a((eared on the scene% 6e ki ed three thieves+ but one, who surrendered himse ! sa"in&, 'I am innocent% I did not know that these three (ersons wou d ki the Brahmin% 1ou are omniscient% 0ind " save me'% 6earin& his (ra"er, Shri(ad Muni to d him to rub the 8Vibuthi8 #enchanted ashes$ a over the bod" o! the Brahmin, /s soon as the enchanted Vibuthi was a(( ied to the Brahmin's bod", he woke u( It was dawn when Shri(ad Muni disa((eared !rom the ( ace% Va abhesh asked the (erson sittin& b" his side, 'wh" have "ou he d me+ who has ki ed these menB' The (erson re( ied, ' / &reat ascetic had come here% 6e ki ed these thieves with his Trishu % 6e saved me !or "ou% 6e asked me to rub enchanted Vibuthi to "our bod"% 6e woke "ou and made "ou sit b" his hands% 6e has 5ust disa((eared% 6e mi&ht be the &reat &od Shri Shiva% 6earin& this the Brahmin rea i7ed that a this has been done b" Shri Guru Shri(ad Shri Va abh% Takin& the amount !rom the thieves, he went to 0urav(ur% 6e worshi((ed the Padukas #!oot s"mbo $ o! Shri Guru with &reat devotion and !ed about 3*** Brahmins% ''hI Namdharak, thou&h Shri(ad Shri Va abha has disa((eared he sti devotees% Shri Guru Charitra Cha(ter PI Birth o! Shri Narasimha Saraswati /n account o! a Brahmani has been &iven in the Fth cha(ter% She was worshi((in& Shri Shankar devoted " in the evenin& on Shani Pradosh #29th da" o! a !ortni&ht !a in& on Saturda"$% She died in course o! time and took the ne.t birth in a Brahmin !ami " at 0aran5ia in Bidar% 6er name was /mba Bhavani% She was married to a Brahmin "outh Madhava, who was a so a devotee o! Shri Shiva% comes to (rotect his

/s (er her nature o! the (revious birth /mba Bhavani worshi((ed Shri Shiva a on& with her husband devoted "% She became (re&nant when she was si.teen "ears o d, customar" ceremonies were (er!ormed in the =rd and 4th months% She used to have &ood desires% She advised (eo( e with hi&h (rinci( es% Ei in& o! 'oti' #(uttin& o! corn, coconut etc% in the o(en side o! the sari worn b" a woman$ in the <th month and Simanti was a so observed% /!ter com( etin& ; months, a son was born to her% The bab" uttered ''m' !rom the ver" birth% Peo( e wondered to see this% The astro o&ers !oreto d, '6e wi be a &reat ascetic and @a&at&uru% 6e wi not marr"+ but wi be known and revered a over the earth% Bein& an incarnation o! &od, he wi wi(e o!! a "our miseries and !u !i "our desires%' The (arents o! the chi d were ver" much ( eased to heart this and the" &ave mone" and c othes to the Brahmins% In order that the bab" ma" not su!!er !rom the evi e"e o! an" (erson, emon and sa t were waved on him and thrown awa"% 6e was named 'Sha i&ramdeo' but his (et name was 'Narahari'% 6e was ater (ub ic " known as Narasimha Saraswati%' 'ne da" /mba to d her husband that there was not su!!icient mi k in her breast !or their bab"% So et us have a !eedin& nurse or a shee( 6earin& this the bab" smi ed and 5ust touched the ri&ht (a( o! its mother% Immediate " mi k s(ran& out in =9 teats and her c othes became wet% 0nowin& thus that the bab" was an incarnation o! &od, the (arents bowed to him% The mother (ut the bab" in a crad e and san& u ab" son&s% But the bab" wou d (re!er to a" down on the ! oor and ( a" cheer!u "% The chi d became on "ear o d+ but it did not utter an" other words e.ce(t 'M% The (arents were an.ious to see that the chi d s(eaks other words a so% /s da"s (assed on, the" were a!raid o! his bein& dumb% Some wou d sa" he has a the know ed&e, but (ur(ose " he does not s(eak% The chi d became < "ears o d% The (arents cou d not known how to ce ebrate his thread ceremon"% /s the" were Brahmins, the thread ceremon" was most essentia % The" worshi((ed Gouri, observed Pradosh and other !asts but the" were o! no avai % The" were now an.ious to know how to make the chi d recite Ga"atri Mantra #the mantra in (ra"er o! the Sun &od$, which a Brahmin bo" earns at the time o! his thread ceremon"% Seein& the (arents in de5ected mood, the son wou d a((roach them and tr" to conso e them% 'nce he he d an iron bar in his hand and instant " it was turned into a &o d bar% Seein& this the (arents were astonished% The" &ave him some more iron and that too was turned into &o d% Then the (arents asked the son, when and how he wou d s(eak% 6e moved his hand around his chest and oin and e.(ressed that when the sacred thread wou d be worn and Nun5 &rass wou d be tied around his oin, he wou d s(eak% The (arents were much ( eased and the" started enthusiastica " the (re(arations !or his thread ceremon", sti some doubted the success o! the !unction% The (arents invited a the re atives, !riends and earned Brahmins !or the !unction% The ceremonies started% 'n the !irst da" 'chou ' #shavin& the hair on the head$ and dinner took ( ace% Ne.t da" a!ter the bath o! the bo", the sacred thread was (ut on his e!t shou der% The bo" dined with his mother and other bo"s o! his a&e% The !ather then uttered 'Ga"atri Mantra' in the ears o! the bo" Narahari, who recited it in his mind% The mother then came with a ms% /!ter o!!erin& the !irst a ms, the mother asked the bo" to recite ,i& Veda #the !irst o! the !our Vedas$% Narahari recited 8/&ni Mee e etc8% /!ter &ivin& the second a ms, the mother asked Narahari to recite 1a5ur Veda% Narahari recited 8 1a5ur Veda Ishetwa etc% /!ter the third a ms Narahari recited 8/&na /a"ahi8 !rom Sama Veda, the third Veda% Thus (eo( e rea i7ed that Narahari had the know ed&e o! a the Vedas and the" a bowed to him with reverence% Narahari then said to his mother, 81ou have asked me to be& !or a ms% I wou d, there!ore, ive on be&&in&% So a ow me to &o to visit the ho ":( aces8% 6earin& this the (arents were much a&&rieved% The mother !e on the &round sense ess% /!ter recou(in& she said, 8>e e.(ected that "ou wou d take out care% So !ar due to out mis!ortune "ou were not s(eakin&% Now seein& that "ou can s(eak, we are much de i&hted and we think that our devotion to God has been !ruit!u % But now "ou are ta kin& o! eavin& us and this make us ver" uneas"%8

Narahari said, 81ou need not be sorr"% 1ou sha have !our sons and the" wi obedient "%8 So sa"in& he ( aced his (a m over her head%

ook a!ter "ou ver"

She instant " reco ected her (revious i!e and saw Shri(ad Shri Va abha standin& be!ore her% She bowed to him humb " Narahari raised her head and said, 'Mother, kee( this a secret% >e San"asis kee( ourse ves a oo! !rom !ami " i!e% /s I have to do m" mission ( ease a ow me to &o%' Mother : 'Dear son, do not &o eavin& us a one% No re i&ion asks one to be an ascetic in such a tender a&e% 1ou shou d have Brahmachar"ashram !or 29 "ears% The second is Grihasthashram, the most im(ortant in a the !our ashrams% /!ter &oin& throu&h the third /shram vi7% Van(rasthashram, one becomes iab e !or the !ourth /shram vi7% San"asashram% So sa" the Shastras% So stud" Vedas in the Brahmachar"ashram% Dater on &et "ourse ! married and have the ( easures o! the !ami " i!e% Then (er!orm sacri!ices and therea!ter become a San"asi% But it is not desirab e to be a San"asi in the chi dhood%

Shri Guru Charitra Cha(ter PII Narahari Becomes Shri Narasimha Saraswati Narahari said, KThis bod" is (erishab e% >hat is its &uaranteeB So on& one has sound bod", one shou d act virtuous "% 1our advice is !or them, who have won victor" over death% The" can sa", the" wi !o ow re i&ion ater% So one shou d do re i&ious deeds in the chi dhood% There are three sta&es o! i!e : the chi dhood, the "outh and the o d a&e% But it is not certain when one wi die% 1amra5 #God o! death$ is countin& ever" moment o! man's i!e, da" and ni&ht% 0nowin& that the i!e is runnin& !ast, those who do not ead re i&ious and virtuous i!e are ike beasts% 6ouse, (ro(ert", wi!e, chi dren, mother : nothin& is eterna % ' d a&e ki s a man, 5ust as a crocodi e devours him% There!ore, the wise man shou d do virtuous deeds in "oun& a&e% >h" do "ou then (revent me !rom &oin&B This i!e is ike a dream% /s a (ower dries in air, the bod" o! a man is &ettin& more and more dr" da" b" da"% This bod" ma" (erish in a moment% Mother : KDear chi d, "ou are advisin& me% 1ou to d me that I wou d have !our sons% So "ou shou d sta" with me ti I have at east one son% I! "ou &o disre&ardin& m" re?uest, I wou d &ive u( m" i!e instant "%' Narahari smi ed and said, Kwhat I have said wi not be otherwise% 6owever, a!ter "ou &et two sons et me &o% Then I sha not sta" here% I (romise to sta" here !or one "ear%' Thus Narahari ived there ha((i "% / (eo( e wondered to see that a bo" o! seven knows a the Vedas and can teach the same% Crown u( earned (ersons a so came to him to earn Vedas and Shastras% 6is mother became (re&nant% /!ter nine months she &ave birth to two handsome sons% The (arents were & ad to have two more sons% B" the end o! one "ear the two babies became = months o d% Narahari to d his mother that her desire was !u !i ed% She wou d &et 9 more sons and the" wi a ive ha((i "% She shou d now (ermit him to ive as (er San"asdharma% The (arents bowed to Narahari and said, K1ou are our !ami " God% >e cannot sa" an"thin& be!ore "ou% P ease !or&ive us i! we have s(oken an" harsh words, thinkin& "ou to be our son% 'ur devotion to Shri Shankar has materia i7ed% 1ou made us & orious% >hen sha we see "ou a&ainB Narahari : KI sha be be!ore "ou whenever "ou remember me% 1ou wi have one dau&hter and two more sons% 1ou wi have no miseries and in the end "ou wi attain the best ( ace in Par ok% I have now to (roceed to Badri Nara"an to meet Siddhu% So ( ease a ow me to &o' The (arents, ma es and !ema es o! the town wa ked with Narahari% Some said Ksee how a Brahmachari is &oin& !or (enance% 6e is an incarnation o! God% - se at such tender a&e o! on " seven, how can he know a the !our VedasB' / others bowed to him and returned% The (arents sti !o owed Narahari, who then a((eared be!ore them in the !orm o! Shri(ad Shri Va abha% The (arents (ut their heads on his !eet and then Narahari immediate " went awa"% Narahari started !or Badrinara"an% 'n the wa" he reached the ho " K0ashi'% 6e did (enance here and saw the Vishweshwar% 6e a so (racticed here a the kinds o! 1o&as% Man" San"asis a so observed (enance at this ho " ( ace% Narahari showed &reat (ro!icienc" in 1o&a% Man" San"asis came to see him%

There had been one o d San"asi named K0rishna Saraswati' who had rea i7ed Brahma% 6e a so showed res(ect !or Narahari% 6e said to a the San"asis, '6e is not an ordinar" human bein& but he is an incarnation o! God and deserves res(ect !rom a % Det us re?uest him to be a San"asi and b ess the (eo( e'% /ccordin& " a went to him and said, KIt wi be better i! "ou now acce(t San"as:diksha as (er re i&ious ru es and acce(t worshi( and res(ect !rom us and !avor us with "our b essin&s% San"asis are des(ised in this 0a i"u&% Thou&h there are di!!erent means o! devotion, San"as in (articu ar is dishonored% Shri Shankarachar"a re5uvenated San"asdharma in the seventh centur"% But now 0a i bein& more in! uentia , the San"as is bein& de&enerated% So "ou ( ease re5uvenate it%' Narahari conceded to the re?uest and acce(ted San"as:diksha !rom Shri 0rishna Saraswati% Namdharak interru(ted, 8>hen Narahari himse ! was Shri Guru Dattatre"a incarnate, wh" did he have another GuruB8 Shri Siddha, 8In !ormer da"s Vasishta was the Guru o! Shri ,am, and Sandi(ani was the Guru o! Shri 0rishna, in the same wa", 0rishna Saraswati became Guru o! Narahari and herea!ter he was known as KShri Narasimha Saraswati% In human i!e human customs are to be !o owed and so Narahari a((roached the we known a&ed 1ati #san"asi$ 0rishna Saraswati and acce(ted him as his Guru%8 Shri Shankar is the !irst Guru, Shri Vishnu the second, Brahmadeo is the third% /!ter these !o owed Vasishta, Parashara and V"asa, who was the incarnation o! Shri Vishnu% Therea!ter Shuka, Goud(ad, Govind:&uru, Shankarachar"a, Vishwaru(var"a, Dn"anbodh&iri"a, Girira5, Ishwartirth and bharatitirth succeeded one a!ter the other% Therea!ter, Vid"aran"a, Shri(admuni, Vit"atirth, Ma ianand, Deotirth, Saraswatitirth, Saraswati 1adeovendra and his disci( e was 0rishna Saraswati% Such is the ine o! succession o! Gurus% Shri Guru Narasimha Saraswati was ver" much res(ected in 0ashi !or his dee( know ed&e o! the Vedas% /!ter some time Shri Guru went to Badrinara"an with man" !o owers% Ta kin& a round o! the Maru&iri and seein& the ho " ( aces o! Navakhand, Shri Guru came to Gan&a sa&ar% 6e then went b" the bank o! Gan&a and came to Pra"a&% / earned Brahmin KMadhav' saw him there% Shri Guru initiated him with San"as and named him KMadhav Saraswati'% Dater on Shri Guru had man" more !o owers%8 Shri Guru Charitra Cha(ter PIII Brahmin's Co ic Pain Subsided NamdharakG : 8Guru dev, Shri Guru initiated San"as to Madhav at Pra"a&% P ease et me know what occurred ater8% Siddha : 8Shri Guru ived at Pra"a& !or some da"s% 6e had man" disci( es there% These inc uded Ba Saraswati, 0rishna, Saraswati, C(endra Saraswati, Madhav Saraswati, Sadanand Saraswati, Dn"an5"oti Saraswati and m"se ! as seven chie! disci( es% 6e then visited ho " ( aces in the south and came to 0aran5ahim, he was invited door to door% The mother reco ected that he was Shri(ad Shri Va abha and ca ed herse ! !ortunate% She to d this to her husband when both re?uested him to iberate them !rom the wor d ":sea% Shri Guru said, KI! a (erson acce(ts San"as his !ort":two &enerations #92 Parenta L 92 materna $ are iberated% Their issues have no !ear o! the God o! death% 1ou wi see that "our sons ive !or hundred "ears% Then "ou wi &o to 0ashi, the ho " ( ace o! iberation% There is no doubt about this% ,atnai, his sister re?uested Shri Guru, KI am entan& ed in a !ami " tra(% P ease take me out o! this% I wish to do (enance%' Shri Guru : KServe "our husband and this wi iberate "ou% 'ne has to su!!er as (er one's !ate% Eema es can win over this wor d " sea on " with the he ( o! their husbands% Thinkin& the husband to be Shri Shiva, serve him% This is what the Vedas, Shastras and Puranas dictate%' She !urther asked, K"ou know the (ast and the !uture a so% P ease te me what is m" !uture%' Shri &uru : KIn the (revious birth, "ou hit a cow with "our e&s, "ou made the nei&hborin& cou( es ?uarre amon&st themse ves, so "ou wi deve o( e(ros" !or hittin& the cow and "our husband wi eave "ou and be a San"asi%'

6earin& Guru : K1ou sha ive amicab " !or some "ears% In o d a&e "our husband wi acce(t San"as% >hen "ou have e(ros", "ou wi see me% 1ou come to Pa(vinashi on the bank o! the Bhima ,iver in the South% Nearb" is the Bhima /mar5a San&am and Ganan&a(ur% /!ter bathin& in the Pa(avinashi, "ou wi be cured o! e(ros"%' Shri Guru then went to Tr"ambakeshwar, the ( ace o! (enance o! Goutam Muni% Shri Shankar was ( eased b" the (enance o! Goutam who brou&ht Gan&a #Godavari$ on the earth !or the bene!it o! the (eo( e% Shri Guru trave ed b" the Bank o! Godavari and came to Man5rika% / earned Brahmin KMadhavaran"a' ived here% 6e adored KNarasimha'% Seein& that Shri Guru a((eared 5ust a KNarasimha', he bowed to him and (raised him in Sanskrit% Shri Guru was ( eased and he a((eared be!ore him in his divine !orm% Madhavaran"a (rostrated be!ore him and chanted (ra"ers% Shri Guru then b essed him% Shri Guru then went to Brahmeshwar% 6ere a Brahmin su!!ered !rom acute co ic (ain% 6e was ro in& in the sand o! the river due to severe (ain% 6e had to be on !ast !or severa da"s% >henever he dined he had severe (ain% 6e was intendin& to &ive u( his i!e b" drownin& himse ! in the river and thus &ettin& rid o! the acute co ic (ain% 0nowin& his intentions, Shri Guru asked his disci( es to brin& the Brahmin to him% >hen he was brou&ht be!ore him, Shri Guru asked him, K>h" are "ou committin& suicideB This is a &reat sin% >hat is "our miser"B%' Brahmin : KI am burdensome on this earth% I dine once in a !ortni&ht or a month, but I have to bear a ver" severe co ic (ain% The bod" ives on !ood and i! !ood cannot be taken how can this bod" surviveB' Shri Guru :KI sha &ive a medicine% 1ou have a !u mea toda"%' The Brahmin was much encoura&ed with Shri Guru's words% In the meanwhi e the o!!icer o! the town came to the river !or bath% Seein& Shri Guru, he bowed to him with reverence% Shri Guru in?uired KMa" I know "our name and whereaboutsB' The o!!icer said, KI be on& to 0oundin"a Gotra and am a Brahmin o! /(astamb shakha% M" name is Sa"amdeo% I come !rom 0anchi% I am servin& here as a Town : o!!icer o! a Mus im ,u er !or one "ear% I !ee m"se ! ver" !ortunate to see th" ho " se ! toda"% Sins are wi(ed o!! b" seein& the Gan&a, heat o! the bod" subsides b" seein& the moon and (overt" is destro"ed b" the !avor o! a 0a (a:Taru% But b" seein& th"se ! a on&, a these three miseries are wi(ed o!! and one &ets a the !our va ours% Sa"amdeo humb " e.(ressed, KGurudev, he dined "esterda" a!ter one month and subse?uent " he had severe co ic (ain% I! he is &iven !ood toda" and i! he dies, sha I not be he d res(onsib e !or his deathB' Shri Guru : KI am &ivin& medicine which shou d be !ried in &hee and &iven to him% Besides &ive him !ood containin& su&ar and mi k% Do not have an" doubt in the mind%' Sa"amdeo a&reed and !urther re?uested Shri Guru to &race his home b" his (resence and acce(t a ms at his house% Shri Guru & ad " acce(ted his invitation% Shri Guru, three Brahmins and other disci( es came to Sa"amdeo% Sa"amdeo's wi!e @akhai was a devoted wi!e% Both worshi((ed Shri Guru ceremonious "% The" worshi((ed the disci( es a so% / had a ha((" dinner that da"% The co ic (ain o! the Brahmin disa((eared instant " b" the &race o! Shri Guru% / were wonderstruck to see this mirac e% Shri Guru b essed Sa"amdeo sa"in&, "our !ami " wi ! ourish and devotion o! Guru wi be continued in the ater &enerations o! "our !ami "% Shri Guru Charitra Cha(ter PIV Mus im 0in& !avors Sa"amdeo Sa"amdeo bowed to Shri Guru and said, KGurudev, thou&h "ou are Trimurti incarnate, due to our i&norance, "ou a((ear to us as a human bein&% In truth, "ou are a (ervadin&% It is be"ond our inte ect to describe "our &reatness% I am the servant o! a Mus im 0in&, who is ver" crue % 6e invites a Brahmin ever" "ear and ki s him% 6e has invited me to da"% I! I &o to him, he wi ki me, but as I have now seen "our ho ", how can he dare to ki meB' Shri Guru ( aced his (a m on his head and said, K"ou do not care a bit% 1ou &o to the kin& !ear ess "% 6e wi receive "ou we and send "ou back to me% 6ave !aith in m" words% I am here ti

"ou return and then I sha (roceed !urther% 1ou have been m" devotee, "ou wi have astin& wea th%'

ive ha((i " and

Sa"amdeo went to the crue Mus im 0in&% 6e was recitin& Shri Guru's name a the time% /s soon as the kin& saw Sa"amdeo he turned his !ace and went inside% Sa"amdeo said to himse !, K>hat harm a crue kin& can do to one, who is b essed b" Shri GuruB 6ow can a ser(ent bite the kids o! a &arudB 6ow can an e e(hant ki a ionB / Devotee o! Shri Guru has no !ear even !rom death'% The Mus im kin& !e t drows" and had a sound s ee(% 6e saw in a dream that a Brahmin was beatin& him% >hen he awoke and came outside, he saw Sa"amdeo% 6e came to him, !e at his !eet and said, K"ou are m" master, who ca ed "ou hereB 1ou can &o back ha((i "'% Sa"in& this he o!!ered c othes and ornaments to Sa"amdeo% Sa"amdeo soon returned to his ( ace% 6e !irst went to see Shri Guru on the bank o! the river% 6e bowed to Shri Guru and re(orted what had ha((ened% Shri Guru a&ain b essed him and said that he wou d now (roceed southwards% Sa"amdeo !o ded his hands and said, KNow I sha not eave these !eet% I sha a so come with "ou% 1ou on " can iberate us !rom this wor d " sea% Sa&ar brou&ht the Gan&a on this earth !or the iberation o! his !ore!athers% In the same wa" "ou have descended on the earth !or our iberation%' Shri Guru : I am &oin& southwards !or certain (ur(ose% 1ou sha a&ain see me a!ter 24 "ears, I sha be then sta"in& near "our ( ace% 1ou shou d then come to me with "our !ami " and chi dren% 1ou shou d ive without worr"% / "our miseries and wants are wi(ed o!! now%' Sa"amdeo o!!ered c othes and ornaments to Shri Guru% Shri Guru came to /ro&"a Bhavani Vai5nath and ived there secret "%8 Shri Guru Charitra Cha(ter PV Princi(a 6o " P aces o! Bharat Shri Guru ived at /ro&"a Bhavani secret " because man" (ersons a((roached him at an" time% These inc uded the &ood and bad, honest and dishonest, cunnin&, rich and (oor, diseased men o! a castes, cu ts, se., and a&es% Parashurama ki ed 0artike"a #/r5una$ and &ave the earth in charit" to the Brahmins% Sti the Brahmins a((roached him and asked !or more% So Parashurama ived in the sea secret "% Simi ar " Shri Guru sent a his disci( es on (i &rima&e and himse ! ived secret "% The disci( es asked, 'Gurudev, wh" are "ou indi!!erent with us% Vedas and Shastras sa" that: a the ho " ( aces are at th" !eetB >hen 0a (ataru is near us, wh" shou d we &o e sewhereB' Shri Guru: /s "ou are San"asis, "ou shou d visit di!!erent ho " ( aces and make "our mind !irm% I sha &o to Shri Shai "a in Bahudhan"a Sanwatsar% 1ou shou d come and see me there% The disci( es : one disobe"in& Shri Guru has to &o to he % So we &o to the ho " ( aces as (er "our instructions but kind " te us to which ( aces we shou d &o% Shri Guru : 0ashi is a !amous ho " ( ace on earth% It is on the bank o! Bha&irathi #Gan&a$% 1ou trave )* "o5ans #"o5an:9mi es$ b" its bank and observe )* 0rishhra (ra"ashchittas% Then &o to Pra"a& #/ ahabad$ and observe 29* 0richhras% There are 94 &ram #town$ on the bank o! 1amuna and 3* on the bank o! Saraswati% Take bath in the river dai "% This is ike (er!ormin& a sacri!ice% 'ne attains Brahma in the end% Trave b" the tank o! rivers as Varuna, 0ushavarti, 0rishnaveni, Vitasta, Saraswati, Marudvriddha, /sikni, Madhumati, Pa"asvini, Ghritvati, Deonadi etc% /t ever" ( ace take bath and Pra"ashchitta% -ven sin o! Brahmahat"a is wi(ed o!!% Trave b" the banks o! Chadrabha&a, ,evati, Shar"u, Gouthami, Vedika, 0oushiki, Mandakini, Sahasravakra, Purna Bahuda, /runa% Bath at a San&am con! uence o! rivers is ike that o! Pra"a&% There are other ho " ( aces as Pushkar, Vairochani, Ea &u, Tirth at Ga"a, Setubandha, ,ameshwar, Shri ,an& Padmanabh, Purushottam, Nemisharan"a, Badri Nara"an, 0urukshetra, Shri Sha "a, Pitru Tirth, 0edar, 0oti% Narmada, Matrukeshwar, 0un5, 0okamukhi, Prabhas, Gokarna, Shankh:0arna, /"odh"a, Mathura, 0anchi, Dwarka% Ga"a, Sha i&ram and Shamba &ram are the < cities &ivin& iberation% Trave in& b" the bank o! Godavari &ives !ruit o! doin& Va5(e"a sacri!ice% Visit Bhimeshwar, Va5ra san&am and 0ush% Trave b" the bank o! Purna, 0rishnaveni, Tun&abhadra, Bhima% Visit Pam(a

sarova , 6arihar, Pandhar(ur, Matru in&, Gan&a(ur, Near Bhima /mar5a:san&am% There is an /shwattha on the /mar5a and in the north is Varanasi, in the east are Pa(ivashi ,udra(ad, Chakratirth, 0esheodeo, Vina"ak, 0otitirth, Mammath, 0a wshwar% See Varada Ma (rabha San&am and Nivritti San&am% >hen The Guru #@u(iter$ is in the Sinha # eo$ a the rivers have union with Bha&irathi% >hen &uru is in 0an"a #Vibro$ Bha&irathi comes in 0rishna% 6ave bath in Pata Gan&a and see Ma ikar5una% Baths at 0averi San&am, Pa"aswini and Bhavanashini are virtuous% See ( aces ike Samudraskanda, Sheshadri, Shri ,an&nath, Padmanabh, Shrimat /nant, Trimama a, 0umbhakonam 0an"akumari, Mats"atirth, Pakshitirth, ,ameshwar, Dhanushkoti, Maha akshmi at 0o ha(ur, Mahaba eshwar, ori&in o! 0rishna% Bahe, Narsinhadeo at 0o e&aon Bhuvaneshwari at Bhi awadi, Shru(a i, Chha"a Bha&wati #Vishwamitra's ( ace$ Shweta Shrin&, whence 0rince ! ows northwards, 0a "an etc% / river is said to be in menses when she &ets new rainwater and so bath in the river is not desirab e on that da"% / the disci( es then bowed to Shri Guru and de(arted !or visitin& the various ho " ( aces% Shri Guru Charitra Cha(ter PVI Greatness o! Shri Guru Namdharak: when a the disci( es went awa" on the (i &rima&e who served Shri GuruB Siddha: I was in a swoon o! de usion% But "our ?uestion has &iven rise to the Sun o! know ed&e% Shri Guru's i!e is ike 0amadhenu% Shri Guru ived secret " at /ro&"a Bhavani near Va5nath% I was with him this time% / Brahmin came to Shri Guru, (raised him and said humb ", KI am doin& (enance, but m" mind has not become sti % I am &reat " a((eased to see "ou, kind " te me means to attain know ed&e and iberate me% The Brahmin !urther said, K Gurudev, I had a Guru, 6e used harsh words and asked me to do undesirab e service% 6e did not teach me o&ic, &rammar, bhash"a etc% 6e said that m" mind is not sti , so I e!t him in an&er%' Shri Guru:1ou are a !oo , harmin& "ourse ! and treacherous to Guru% 1ou s(eak i o! Guru, how can "ou have know ed&eB >h" did "ou come to me eavin& Guru, who is a 0amadhenuB B" ( easin& the Guru b" service and &ivin& res(ect to him one can know Vedas, Shastras and ei&ht Siddhis #a boon to do (articu ar mirac es$% The Brahmin ( aced his head on the !eet o! Shri&uru and asked, KGurudev, kind " te me who is a Guru and how to serve himB' Shri Guru: Mother and !ather are Gurus% Brahma, Vishnu, Maheshwara are Gurus% 'ne serves his Guru with devotion% I narrate to "ou a ta e in this connection% Dhoum"arishi ived at Dhwarawati% 6e had three disci( es+ /runi, Baid and C(man"u% In !ormer times, the Guru tested his disci( es be!ore &ivin& know ed&e to them% Dhoum"s said to /runi, K&o to m" !ie d and !i it with cana water%' /runi went to the !ie d% The cana water was ! owin& with &reat !orce% Padd" was sown in the !ie d, which was on hi&her and than the eve o! the water% 6e ( aced stones to divert the water to the !ie d% 6e then aid his bod" across the cana and thus ha ! the ! ow o! water entered the !ie d% -ven b" sunset, as /runi did not return, Dhoum"a went to his !ie d and ca ed him oud "% 6e !eared a ser(ent mi&ht have bitten or a ti&er mi&ht have attacked him% 6earin& the Guru's voice, /runi came out o! the cana and bowed to the Guru, and stood near him Dhoum"a embraced with ( easure and b essed him sa"in& K"ou wi know a Vid"as% Go home &et married and ive ha((i "'% Dhoum"a then said to Baid, KGo to the !ie d, kee( watch on the cro( and when it is rea(ed, brin& it home% Baid accordin& " went to the !ie d, and ke(t the watch da" and ni&ht% >hen the cro( was rea(ed, a cart with one bu!!a o was &iven to him% Baid ( aced the corn in the cart, "oked the bu!!a o on one side o! the "oke and he himse ! (u ed the cart on the other side% 6e cou d not draw the cart with the bu!!a o+ sti he drew it with much strain% The bu!!a o &ot stuck in the mud and cou d not &o !orward% So he a one drew the heav" cart% Subse?uent " his neck was stran& ed and he had to !ace &reat strain% In the meantime, Dhoum"a came there and re eased him !rom the "oke% 6e embraced Baid and said, K"ou know Vedas and Shastras we %'

The third disci( e C(man"u was !at and du Dhoum"a asked him to take the catt e !or &ra7in& the !orest% C(man"u took the catt e to &ra7e% /t times, bein& hun&r" he wou d return ear " !rom the !orest% The Guru to d him not to come !rom the !orest ti sunset% The catt e wou d &ra7e on the bank o! a river C(man"u wou d bathe, take a ms !rom the Brahmins ivin& nearb"% Thus he satis!ied his hun&er% 'ne da" the Guru asked him, K6ow are "ou ivin&B' 6e said that he took a ms and dined% Guru said, K6ow do "ou dine without usB Give the a ms in the /shram and a&ain &o to the !orest%' C(man"u acted as directed b" the Guru% 6e wou d &ive the a ms in the /shram% But as he did not &et !u mea s at the /shram he a&ain took a ms !rom some Brahmin houses and satis!ied his hun&er% >hen the Guru knew this% 6e an&ri " said, KGive both the a ms in the /shram%' /s directed, he &ave both the a ms in the /shram% 6e was an.ious now how to satis!" his hun&er% 6e saw ca ves drinkin& mi k o! cows and much mi k !e on the &round and was wasted% 6e he d that mi k in his hands and drank it% /!ter some da"s the Guru asked him how he was !at, 6e said that he drank the mi k that !e whi e the ca ves drank the mi k !rom the cows% The &uru said, K"ou shou d not drink mi k tasted b" ca ves as this mi k makes "ou di %' >hi e remainin& in the !orest, he saw mi k ike (aste comin& out o! the 8rui8 ( ant% 6e he d the mi k in eaves and whi e he was drinkin& it, some dro(s thereo! entered his e"es% Subse?uent " he ost his e"esi&ht and became b ind% Now he thou&ht the Guru wou d be an&r" with him% 6e be&an to co ect the catt e+ but as he cou d not see, he !e in a we % >hen Dhoum"s knew that C(man"u did not return b" the evenin&, he went to the !orest and ca ed him oud "% C(man"u res(onded !rom the we and in!ormed him about his whereabouts% Dhoum"a came near the we and said to him with s"m(ath" K,ecite /shwinikumar mantra'% /!ter doin& that, he &ot back his e"esi&ht% 6e came out o! the we , bowed to his Guru and stood b" him% Dhoum"a ( aced his (a m on his head and instant " he had a the know ed&e% Dhoum"a said to him, 8Go home, &et married and ive ha((i "% 1ou wi be we known% 'ne o! "our disci( es, Cttank wi brin& 0unda #ear ornament$ and win the Shesh% 6e wi advise 0in& @anme 5a"a to (er!orm sacri!ice o! the ser(ents and ki a the ser(ents in the sacri!ice8 /s stated, Cttank caused @anme5a"a to (er!orm the sacri!ice in which even Indra had to come down a on& with Takshak #the kin& o! ser(ents$% This is a due to the &reatness o! Guru% 6e wi iberate "ou% 1ou shou d tr" to ( ease him% The Brahmin said, KGurudev, "ou have &iven me the ri&ht advice% /s I have o!!ended m" Guru, how can I ( ease him nowB It is ver" di!!icu t to a((ease the wounded heart% I wou d, there!ore, eave this worth ess bod" o! mine,' sa"in& this, he bowed to Shri Guru% Shri Guru rea i7ed his re(entance and knowin& his desires, Shri Guru said, K/ "our sins are wi(ed o!! now% ,emember "our Guru%' The Brahmin !o ded his hands and (ra"ed, K1ou are the Guru o! a the wor d and incarnation o! three &reat Gods% 6ow can there be darkness a!ter the rise o! the SunB 1ou ( ease (rotect me%' 6earin& this Shri Guru was kind to ( ace his ri&ht (a m on his head and instant " he had know ed&e o! Vedas, Shastras, Mantras etc% B" the touch o! the (hi oso(her's stone, iron is chan&ed into &o d, simi ar " the Brahmin became earned% Shri Guru a&ain asked him to &o to his Guru% The Brahmin went to his Guru% Shri Guru then went to Bhuvaneshwari near Bhi avadi and sta"ed under an /udumber tree on the bank o! the 0rishna secret "% Shri Guru Charitra Cha(ter PVII / Du Brahmin bo" becomes earned Shri Guru observed Chaturmas ivin& under the /udumber tree near Bhuvaneshwari secret "% Sti his name and !ame s(read in a the ?uarters% Namdharak:>h" Shri Guru ived secret "B >h" did he observe anushthan and asked !or a msB

Siddha:Shri Shankar and Shri Guru Dattatre"a ike to be& a ms% Shri Guru roamed throu&h ho " ( aces !or (rotectin& his devotees% Peo( e came to him and harassed him !or tri! es and hence he ived secret "% But thou&h the 0asturi is hidden, its !ra&rance cannot be hidden, simi ar " bri&htness o! Shri Guru cou d not be hidden% There ived at 0avir a earned Brahmin who knew the Vedas% 6e had a du !oo ish son% 6is (arents died in his chi dhood% >hen he was seven, his thread ceremon" was ce ebrated, but he cou d not do Sandh"a and recite KGa"atri' mantra% Doca Brahmins abused him sa"in&, K"our !ather knew Vedas and Shastras+ but "ou have s(oi ed his name% 1our i!e is worth ess% Chintamani is best amon& the beads, so is the know ed&e !or a (erson% / man is honored !or his know ed&e% / 0in& is res(ected b" his (eo( e+ but even a kin& res(ects earned (ersons, as know ed&e is wea th%' The bo" re?uested them to su&&est means !or his im(rovement% The Brahmins said, K"ou wi have know ed&e in the ne.t birth% 1ou shou d be& !or "our maintenance in this i!e%' The bo" bein& de5ected went to a !orest% 6e was thinkin& o! &ivin& u( his i!e% In the evenin& he reached Bhi avadi% 6e took Darshan o! Bhuvaneshwari and sat at the door o! the tem( e% Ne.t mornin& he cut his ton&ue and ( aced it at the !eet o! the &oddess and said, KI! "ou do not be kind with me% I sha even o!!er m" head at "our !eet%' That ni&ht he had a dream in which Devi a((eared be!ore him and said, 8'h Brahmachari, wh" are "ou &ettin& an&r" with meB There is an /vatarik Purusha sittin& under an /udumber tree on the bank o! the 0rishna% Go to him% 6e wi !u !i "our desires%8 6e woke u( and at once ran and crossed the river% 6e ro ed at the Guru's !eet and started (raisin& 6im% Guru was ( eased with him, b essed him and (ut his hand on his head as Varad 6astha% /t once the bo" &ot know ed&e and en i&htenment% 6e a so &ot his ton&ue back% I! a crow has a di( in the Manasa:Sarovar it wi become a 6amsa #swan$% So a so he who touches Guru's !eet wi ac?uire a know ed&e% Guru is / mi&ht"% 6is & or" needs to be sun&% Shri Guru Charitra Cha(ter PVIII / Poor Brahmin Gets >ea th Varuna San&am is known as 0ashi in the south% Shri Guru came here !rom Bhi avadi and sta"ed near Panch Gan&a San&am !or 29 "ears% Shiva, Bhadra, Bho&avati, 0umbhi and Saraswati are the !ive rivers% This is a !amous ho " ( ace ike 0ashi and Pra"a&% There is a tem( e o! /mareshwar and an /udumbar tree as a 0a (ataru% Si.t" !our 1o&inis ived here% There are F ho " ( aces in the nei&hborhood% The" are Shuk a Tirth, Pa(avinashi, 0an"a Tirth, Siddha Varad, Pra"a& Tirth, Shakti Tirth, /mar Tirth and 0oti Tirth% Shri Guru ived under the /udumbar tree here% 6e wou d &o to /mar(ur !or a ms% In /mar(ur ived a Brahmin knowin& Vedas% 6e had a devoted wi!e% 6e had a sem cree(er at his door% >hen he cou d not &et su!!icient corn he wou d ive on the boi ed seems% 6e adored Shri Guru with devotion% 6e invited Shri Guru !or a ms one da"% /!ter takin& the a ms Shri Guru b essed him sa"in& that his (overt" was wi(ed o!!% >hi e eavin& the (remises, Shri Guru cut the root o! the sem cree(er% Seein& this the BrahminJs wi!e bitter " sa"in& Kour means o! ive ihood are ost%' The Brahmin tried to conso e her sa"in&+ Nthere must be some &ood intention o! Shri Guru in cuttin& the root o! the sem% It is our &ood !ortune that Shri Guru in cuttin& came to us !or a ms% Do not b ame Shri Guru who b essed us% 6e wi (rotect usJ% The Brahmin took awa" the eaves o! the cree(er !rom the court"ard and whi e di&&in& to take o!! the root o! the cree(er, he !ound a vesse !u o! coins% 6e to d this to his wi!e ho was much ( eased and now re(ented !or b amin& Shri Guru% Both then went to Shri Guru and worshi((ed him with devotion and re(orted what had occurred% Shri Guru said, KDo not te this to an" bod", e se the wea th wi be destro"ed, "ou sha ha((i " with "our sons and &randsons%' Shri Guru Charitra Cha(ter PIP Greatness o! /udumbarG Gan&anu5's Povert" wi(ed o!!% ive

NamdharakG 8Deavin& other ho " trees wh" Shri Guru ived under the /udumbar treeB Greatness o! /shwattha is described even in the Vedas, >h" then he (re!erred /udumbarB8 SiddhaG 8Shri Vishnu took Narasinhawatar to ki the demon 6ran"akash"a(u% 6e tore the be " o! the demon b" his nai s, took out the intestines and (ut them around his neck as a wreath% Narsimha's nai s were !i ed with stron& (oison and so caused &reat heat in his bod"% Shri Dakshmi took /udumbar !ruits and thrush Narsimha's nai s in them% The (oison and the heat o! the bod" subsided and Dakshmi and Narasimha were ( eased% So the" b essed the /udumbar tree, K1ou sha a wa"s bear !ruits and (eo( e wi worshi( "ou as the 0a (ataru% Stron& (oisons wi be subsided even b" "our si&ht and steri e women wi &et issues i! the" worshi( "ou with devotion%' /udumbar is a 0a (ataru in 0a i"u&, hence Shri Guru ived under it Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh ive here in the !orm o! Shri Dattatre"a% >hen Shri Guru ived here, )3 1o&inis used to come to him at midda" and take Shri Guru to their ( ace under the waters o! the river, worshi((ed and o!!ered him de icious !ood and Shri Guru wou d return to his ( ace under the /udumbar% Brahmins wondered how this san"asi ived a on& under the /udumbar, as he did not &o in the town to an"bod" !or a ms% Some Brahmins ke(t a watch but at midda" the" &ot !ri&htened and so the" &ave u( the idea% Gan&anu5 was a !armer who had his !ie d at the riverside% /t midda" he saw that )3 1o&inis came out o! the river, bowed to Shri Guru and took him to the river% / (assa&e was created !or him b" the bi!urcation o! the river water% /!ter some time Shri Guru returned b" the same (assa&e% Ne.t da" Gan&anu5 a so !o owed Shri Guru when he was bein& taken b" the 1o&inis% 6e saw that there was a nice ( ace with bui din&s o! (recious stones, and there was a hi&h and we :decorated throne% Shri Guru was seated on the throne% 6e was du " worshi((ed, had /arti and was Shri Guru saw Gan&anu5% Shri Guru asked him% K6ow did "ou come hereB' 6e re( ied, KI came here to see Th" ho " se !%' Sa"in& so, he bowed to Shri Guru, who said to him, K1our miseries are wi(ed o!!% 1our desires wi be !u !i ed% Do not disc ose to an"one whatever "ou have seen here% - se "ou wi ose a instant "%' Then Shri Guru came to the /udumbar with him% Gan&anu5 came to his !ie ds and !ound a treasure% 6e &ot know ed&e a so% 6e served Shri Guru with his wi!e and chi dren with more devotion therea!ter% 'm Ma&h Poornima Gan&anu5 said to Shri Guru KIt is said that bath at 0ashi and Pra"a& is ver" virtuous% 6ow can this be (ossib e !or meB Shri Guru said, KPancha Gan&a San&am is ike Pra"a&, @u&u is 0ashi and 0o ha(ur is ike Ga"a% I! "ou wish to see 0ashi:Pra"a& I sha show it to "ou%' Shri Guru was sittin& on a ti&er skin% 6e asked Gan&anu5 to shut his e"es and to ho d the hind (art o! the skin !irm " and the" instant " reached Pra"a& in the mornin&% /!ter havin& bath the" went to 0ashi at midda"% The" had Darshan o! 0ashi Vishweshwar and went to Ga"a in the a!ternoon% The" returned to /udumbar b" the same evenin&% Shri Guru now thou&ht o! eavin& the ( ace% )3 1o&inis re?uested him, >h" are "ou eavin& usB / our miseries are wi(ed o!! when we see "ou%' Shri Guru smi ed and said, KI am a wa"s at this /udumbar% 1ou ive here ha((i "% /mar(ur is a so m" dwe in& ( ace% Those who worshi( "ou, this /udumbar and the Padukas here, a their desires wi be !u !i ed, and the" wi &et !our (urusharthas% 'ne who takes bath at Pa(avinashi, 0an"a and Siddha Tirthas, worshi(s the /udumbar and these Padukas !or seven da"s, even i! his wi!e is )* "ears o d and steri e% I! one recites a mantra, under this /udumbar with a (ure mind, it wi be a &reat virtue% 'ne akh rounds o! this tree wi wi(e o!! e(ros" and one's bod" wou d be bri&ht as &o d% Such is the si&ni!icance o! this ( ace%' Sa"in& this, Shri Guru came to Gan&a(ur on the bank o! Bhima% Shri Guru Charitra Cha(ter PP / Brahmani ,e ieved !rom Brahmahat"a and &ets Issues% Gan&adhar, a Vedic:Brahmin ived at Shiro % 6is wi!e was devoted and &ood:natured% But the miser" was that she had no chi dren% She &ot issues but the" a died a!ter birth in the chi dhood%

She &ot issues but the" a died a!ter birth in the chi dhood% She observed !asts and Vratas, but the" bore no !ruit% Some Brahmins said, KThis is due to the sin o! the (revious birth% Those who commit abortions become steri e% Those who ki a cow or a horse and take other's wea th, have no issues in the ne.t birth%' 'ne Brahmin to d her K1ou took some mone" !rom a Brahmin o! Shounak Gotra% 6e asked "ou to (a" the mone" man" times and at ast he committed suicide% 6e s(irit does not a ow "our issues to ive%' The Brahmin was ver" sorr" to know this% She re?uested the Brahmin to su&&est means to &et re ie! !rom the s(irit troub e% The Brahmin said, K/!ter the death o! the Brahmin his death ritua s were not (er!ormed% 1ou &o to the bank o! 0rishna, observe !ast !or one month, bathe in the Pa(avinashi and worshi( /udumbar !or < da"s, do /bhishekam to Shri Guru, bathe in the 0am"a Tirth and &ive ,s%2**Q: to a Brahmin o! Shounak Gotra and observe the death ritua s o! the Brahmin Then Shri Guru wi (rotect "ou%' The Brahmin said to her, KShri Guru ives at the /udumbar% 6e (rotects his devotees !rom a the miseries% 1ou s(end mone" as (er "our circumstances on the advice o! Shri Guru%' The Brahmini went to the ( ace% Bathin& in the Pa(avinashi, she took rounds o! the /udumbar% Bathin& in the 0am"a Tirth she worshi((ed Shri Guru and observed !ast% /!ter = da"s the Shounak Gotra Brahmin came in her dream and be&an to thrash her% She took she ter o! the /udumbar tree% Shri Guru a((eared and asked the Brahmin wh" he was beatin& the Brahmani% 6earin& what the Brahmin to d, Shri Guru said, KI! "ou harass m" devotee, I sha (unish "ou% /cce(t whatever this Brahmani o!!ers to "ou and eave her% Mind i! "ou a&ain harass her%' The Brahmin's s(irit bowed to Shri Guru and said, KIt is m" &ood !ortune that I cou d see "ou% I sha act as (er "our order% 0ind " iberate me%' Shri Guru to d the Brahmini, K1ou &ive the mone" "ou have, in charit" in the name o! the Brahmin's s(irit, KShri Guru to d the s(irit% K/!ter the ritua s o! 2* da"s, "ou sha be !ree !rom this i!e%' >hen the Brahmani had worshi((ed the /udumbar !or < da"s, Shri Guru came in her dream and said, K/ "our sins are wi(ed o!!% 1ou wi now have sons and dau&hters% >ho wi have on& i!e%' She acted as asked b" Shri Guru !or 2* da"s% 6er sin o! Brahmahat"a was wi(ed o!! and the s(irit o! the Brahmin was iberated !rom the s(irit i!e% 'n the ast da" Guru a((eared in her dream and ( aced two coconuts in her sari and asked her to do the ast !unction #Cd"a(an$ o! her vrata% The Brahmin cou( e worshi((ed Shri:Guru with devotion% Shri Guru a((eared be!ore them% The Brahmin &ot two sons in course o! time% Thread ceremon" o! the !irst son was du " ce ebrated% Chout #shavin& the hair on the head$ ceremon" o! the second was to be (er!ormed+ but the bo" !e sick due to tetanus and died on the third da" a!ter &reat su!!erin&% The (arents be&an to wee( in &rie!% The Brahmani said, KShri Guru, "ou are the donor o! true and rea thin&s% I be ieved in "our words% 6ow did this ha((enB Due to the sin o! Brahmahat"a I took "our she ter% Due to the !ear o! a ti&er a cow &oes to a Mus im and he ki s the cow% Simi ar has been m" case% Ne.t mornin& the Brahmins o! the ( ace tried to conso e her and demanded the cor(se o! the bo" !or !unera + but she he d the cor(se o! her son at bosom and re!used to &ive it and said, KBurn me a so with this cor(se%' The Brahmins said, KDoes mother &ive her i!e with that o! a sonB 6ow !oo ish "ou areI Besides, to commit suicide is a &reat sin'% It was a!ternoon+ but she did not (art with the cor(se% In the meantime a San"asi came there and be&an to advise her%' Shri Guru Charitra Cha(ter PPI The Dead Chi d Became / ive The San"asi said, K1ou are mournin& in vain% 6e who has come to birth, in this wor d has to die% 6ow on& can ast the !oam or a bubb e in the water% This bod" is made o! !ive (rinci( es and

when the" are se(arated, the bod" a so (erishes% Satwa, ,a5as and Tamas are the three ?ua ities o! those (rinci( es% Satwa be&ets &od, ,a5as be&ets human bein& and Tamas be&ets demon% Man does &ood and bad actions and accordin& " he &ets en5o"ment or su!!erin& in the ne.t birth% Bein& de uded b" a!!ection and a&reed, men have ( easures or miseries% The" are de(endent on the actions o! the (revious birth% -ven Gods and ,ishis have to su!!er% 'n " is not &rieved at death% >hen a !ema e is (re&nant, in the be&innin& the !etus has no sha(e+ but it deve o(s and comes to birth and it is there!ore evident that it wi (erish one da"% / bod" is ike a bubb e in the water% Some die in chi dhood, some in "outh and some in o d a&e as (er actions o! the (ast i!e% But due to a!!ection, it is said that she is the mother% 6e is the !ather, son, wi!e, !riend and so on% The bod" a((ears to be c ean+ but it is !u o! ! esh, b ood, urine, !i th etc% /s one comes to birth one's en5o"ment and su!!erin& are destined% No one has won victor" over death% 'ne sees treasure in dream but o! what use can it be in (ractica i!eB 1ou had man" ives in di!!erent "onis i%e% s(ecies e%&% anima s, birds, worms, human bein& etc%+ but how man" o! these can "ou reco ectB I! "ou had been a human bein& can "ou te me whose wi!e or dau&hter "ou had beenB I! "ou cannot know this, wh" do "ou mourn sa"in& Km" sonJB 1ou &ive the cor(se to the Brahmins !or !unera %' 6earin& the advice o! the San"asi, the Brahmani said, K1ou have advised me but I am not satis!ied and i! the !ate is unchan&eab e, wh" one shou d adore GodB I! iron is not trans!ormed into &o d b" the touch o! Paris #Phi oso(her's stone$ what is its si&ni!icanceB Bein& un!ortunate, I adored Shri Guru% I! one has !ever, one &oes to a (h"sician and seeks re ie! b" his medicine% Shri Narasimha Saraswati is the incarnation o! Trimurti #Three Gods$% 6e b essed us b" &ivin& us sons with on& ives% 6ow can it be untrueB In the circumstances, wh" this ca amit" shou d be!a meB There!ore I have decided to &ive u( m" i!e%' 6earin& her decision, the San"asi said, KShri Guru has b essed "ou to have sons havin& on& ives and sti "our son has died, then "ou shou d better &o to the ( ace o! /udumbar with "our dead chi d%' Bein& encoura&ed in this !ashion, she tied the bod" o! her son at her back and came to /udumbar% She dashed her head on the Padukas and be&an to mourn% /s the ni&ht was a((roachin& the Brahmins a&ain asked !or the dead bod", but she re!used to &ive% The Brahmins said Kthe bod" wi emanate !ou odor tomorrow and then she wi have to &ive it%' Sa"in& this, the" went home% 'n " the (arents remained there% Dater on a!ter midni&ht the (arents !e drows" and &ot a na( due to e.ertion% In her dream she saw a (erson with vibuthi marks on the bod", a wreath o! ,udraksha round the neck, a Trishu in the hand and a ti&er skin on the bod"% 6e said to her, K>h" are "ou b amin& me and mournin&B >hat ai s "our sonB Sa"in& so he a(( ied bhasma or vibuthi to the !orehead o! the son, o(ened his mouth and b ew air into it b" his mouth% Thus o."&en was in!used in his bod"% The resu t was that the bo" be&an to move his imbs and came to i!e% /t !irst si&ht she was !ri&htened% She thou&ht that one sees in one's dream whatever is in one's mind% But as she awoke she !ound that the bo" was makin& movement and his bod" was warm% /t !irst she ( aced the bo" awa" out o! !ear but the bo" sat and asked !or somethin& to eat as he was hun&r"% She took him to her breast% Mi k came out (ro!use " !rom the (a(s% Then she &ave u( !ear and was de i&hted% She aroused her husband% Both bowed to the Padukas o! Shri Guru and (ra"ed, K0ind " !or&ive us !or our harsh words%' The" took rounds o! the tree and went !or bath% /!ter bath the" washed the b ood on the Padukas and worshi((ed them with &reat devotion% B" this time it was mornin&% The Brahmins came there a&ain !or the !unera , but the" were wonderstruck to see the chi d a ive% / were & ad to see this mirac e and (raised the &reatness o! Shri Guru% Shri Guru Charitra Cha(ter PPII /n o d, barren bu!!a o &ives mi k Shri Guru was sta"in& at the San&am and used to &o to Gan&a(ur !or a ms% There were about a 2** Brahmin !ami ies in Gan&a(ur% /mon&st them a (oor Brahmin ived with his devoted wi!e% 6e

had an o d barren she bu!!a o% Puttin& a ro(e in her nostri s, she was hired !or carr"in& oad, earth and other artic es% 6e ived on the (ett" amount o! the hire thus received% 'ne da" Shri Guru came to this Brahmin at midda" !or a ms% 'ther Vedic Brahmins said, K>e have &ood de icious !ood at our houses% Sti Shri Guru (re!erred to &o to this (oor Brahmin The" !e t sorr"% Shri Guru wished to do (armath without discretion o! rich or (oor% Shri 0rishna went to sta" with Vidur instead o! 0in& Dur"odhan% 6e acce(ted sim( e, coarse !ood at Vidur's house% Simi ar " Shri Guru oved Satwic (ersons more% -ven bad !ate was chan&ed b" the !avor o! Shri Guru% It was the month o! Vaishakh and so the heat o! the Sun was terrib e% >hen Shri Guru came to the Brahmin's house, he had &one out% 6is wi!e bowed to Shri Guru and o!!ered him a seat% She said, KM" husband wi soon return with corn% 0ind " wait !or a whi e%' Shri GuruG KThere is a she bu!!a o at "ours% Then wh" do "ou not &ive me mi kB' BrahmaniG This she bu!!a o is o d and has no teeth% Moreover she is barren !rom birth% So we use her !or hire and have (ut a ro(e in her nostri s% >e ive on the (ett" amount o! hire% Shri GuruG 1ou are not te in& me the truth% Go and take out mi k and &ive it to me now% >hen Shri Guru ta ked in this !ashion, the woman took a (ot and went to the she bu!!a o and be&an to mi k her% >hen two (ots:!u o! mi k were obtained, she was sur(rised and be ieved that he was not an ordinar" san"asi, but was an incarnation o! &od% She boi ed the mi k and res(ect!u " o!!ered it to Shri Guru% Shri Guru was ( eased and said, KDakshmi wi ive at "ours incessant "%' 6e then went to the San&am% >hen the Brahmin returned, he earnt what had ha((ened% 6e said to his wi!e, K'ur (overt" is now wi(ed out% Det us &o to Shri Guru%' The" both went to the San&am and worshi((ed Shri Guru with devotion% /s b essed b" Shri Guru, the Brahmin had a son, dau&hter, wea th and on& i!e and the" ived ha((i "% Shri Guru Charitra Cha(ter PPIII Diberation o! Brahma:,akshas -stab ishment o! a Math at Gan&a(ur Ne.t da" some (eo( e came to the Brahmin to take his she bu!!a o on hire% The Brahmin said that he wou d not &ive her as she was &ivin& mi k% 6e showed to the (eo( e the two (ots o! mi k she was &ivin&% She was barren ti "esterda" and she had never been (re&nant% 1et she was &ivin& mi k% / were sur(rised to see the mirac e% The news s(read a over and the chie! o!!icer o! the town a so came to know about it% 6e came to the Brahmin and asked him about the mirac e% The Brahmin said, KThis mirac e has occurred due to the b essin& o! the San"asi ivin& at the San&am% 6e is an incarnation o! God% 6e came !or a ms at midda" "esterda"% /s there was no corn at home, he asked to &ive him mi k as a ms% M" wi!e to d him that the she bu!!a o was barren% The San"asi was an&r" and he asked her to mi k the bu!!a o in his (resence% It was rea " wonder that the bu!!a o be&an to &ive mi k !rom that time% She has become a 0amadhenu !or us%' 6earin& this, the Gramadhi(ati with his wi!e and chi dren and other men went to the San&am to see the San"asi% 6e bowed to him and be&an to (raise him% Sri Guru asked him about his intention o! comin& there% The o!!icer said with !o ded hands, 8Instead o! ivin& in the 5un& e, Swami shou d estab ish a math and ive in the town and &uide us in s(iritua i!e !rom time to time% I wi bui d the math !or "ou%8 Sri Guru thou&ht that it was time to disc ose 6imse ! to the societ"% 6e there!ore a&reed to the (ro(osa % The o!!icer seated Sri Guru in a (a khi #(a an?uin$ with res(ect and took him to the Gan&a(ur to the accom(animent o! music% / the (eo( e o! the town came !or Guru's Darshan and worshi((ed 6im% The" (raised 6im with the words, 86ai , 'h Dord, Victor" to 1ou%8 The Swami reached the South Gate o! the town% There was a Pee(a tree there in which a !erocious demon was ivin& !or a on& time% 6e had been ver" crue in his (revious i!e% / houses around the tree had been destro"ed% But when the demon saw Sri Guru comin& in the (rocession he ran towards him, bowed at 6is otus !eet and said, 8'h Guru, redeem me% 1our Darshan has destro"ed a m" bad ?ua ities%8 Guru said, 8Go to the San&am immediate ", take a bath in it, then "our sins wi be washed awa" and "ou wi &et iberation%8

The demon then took a bath in the San&am, returned and bowed at Guru's !eet% Sri Guru ( aced his hand on the demon's head and b essed him% Thereu(on the demon chan&ed into a human bein& and was iberated !rom his curse% Durin& Sri Guru's Smaran he e!t the ( ace% / those who saw this incident said, 8'h Guru, "ou are not a morta bein&% 1ou are a mani!estation o! Dattatre"a 6imse !% Victor" to 1ou% 'h Sri Guru Deva Datta%8 /s (romised, the Gramadhi(ati bui t a math !or Sri Guru and worshi((ed 6im ever" da" with devotion% Sri Guru went to the San&am ever" da" !or /nushthan% The Gramadhi(ati took him there in a (a an?uin and went with 6im% Thus Guru's !ame s(read !ar and wide, and with the touch o! 6is otus !eet Gan&a(ur became a Pun"a 0shetra, a ho " ( ace o! (i &rima&e% Shri Guru Charitra Cha(ter PPIV Trivikram bharati Sees Vishwaroo( o! Shri Guru 0umasi is a vi a&e near Gan&a(ur% 6ere ived Trivikram Bharati, who had studied three Vedas% 6e was a devotee o! Shri Narahari, 6earin& the name o! Shri Guru, he said, 8Such kind o! hi&h ivin& does not become a San"asi%' 6e critici7ed Shri Guru in this wa"% Shri Guru asked Gramadhi(ati to arran&e !or &oin& to 0umasi% - e(hant, horses, (a&eantr" and musicians were &athered% Shri &uru was seated in a (a khi and a &rand (rocession started towards 0umasi% /s usua Trivikram was worshi((in& Narahari in his mind% But he cou d not see the shrine o! Narahari in mediation% 6e saw a the (ersons were San"asis with sticks in hand and havin& the a((earance o! Shri Narahari% 6e was ama7ed% 6e !e ! at be!ore the (rocession (ra"in& '1ou are Trimurti God, Guru o! the universe% I cou d not know "ou due to m" i&norance% 0ind " disc ose "ourse ! in "our rea !orm% 1ou are a :(ervadin& Narasimha Saraswati% I see here that a are "atis havin& the same a((earance% I cannot reco&ni7e "ou and bow to "ou% I have committed man" sins but I have been doin& "ou Kmanas(u5a' dai "% It seems that it is bearin& !ruit toda", and I have the ( easure to see th"se !% 1ou have descended !or the iberation o! the i&norant (ersons ike us% So kind " show me "our rea ha owed !orm%' Bein& (raised b" Trivikram in this wa", Shri Guru a((eared be!ore him in his rea !orm in the (rocession% Shri Guru said to him, K1ou have been critici7in& me and have ca ed me a (retender% @ust te me who is a (retender%' Trivikram said, K0ind " (ardon me% >i(e o!! m" i&norance% I am sinkin& in the sea o! i&norance% Give me a i!t in the boat o! know ed&e and take me with "ou% Shri 0rishna showed Vishwaroo( to /r5una% Simi ar " "ou have !avored me b" showin& "our universa !orm% 'h &uru o! the Cniverse, "our &reatness cannot be !u " described b" (eo( e ike me%' Shri GuruG K1ou have known the Paramartha% 1ou wi Trivikram Shri Guru returned back to Gana&a(ur% not have an" birth herea!ter%' B essin&

Shri Guru Charitra Cha(ter PPV Im(udent Brahmins vanit" There was a crue Mus im kin& in Vidura% 6e used to ca the Brahmins, ask them to recited Vedas and e.( ain their meanin&% 6e wou d then &ive mone" to such Brahmins% 6e wou d sa" that i! Brahmins ki anima s in sacri!ices, then wh" shou d the" b ame us !or ki in& anima sB 'ne da" two Brahmins, knowin& three Vedas, came to the kin& and said to him, KI! there are an" earned Brahmins in "our cit", ca them to discuss with us on a the !our Vedas% The kin& in?uired, but no earned Brahmin came !orward to discuss with these Brahmins% The" decided to visit other ( aces in the countr" and discuss% Vedas with Brahmins and obtain victor" certi!icates !rom them% In course o! time the" came to 0umasi and invited Trivikram Bharati !or discussion or e se demanded a certi!icate !or victor"% Trivikram Bharati humb " dec ined to discuss% But due to their (ersistence he said, KM" Gurudeo resides at Gana&a(ur% Det us &o there% 1ou wi be &iven certi!icates i! necessar"%'

Trivikram Bharati and two Brahmins came to Gana&a(ur% Trivikram bowed to Shri Guru and to d him wh" those Brahmin had come there% Shri Guru asked the Brahmins' K>h" do "ou want to discussB >e bein& San"asis do not &ive an" im(ortance to victor" or de!eat% >hat wi "ou &ain b" such discussionB' The Brahmins said, K>e have roamed a over the countr" and have won victor" ever"where% 6ere we have severa certi!icates o! victor"% 6ence "ou and Trivikram can both discuss with us%' Shri GuruG KVanit" resu ts in destruction% >hat was ba i's !ateB >hat did Banasur &ainB ,avana and 0auravas have a so (erished% -ven Brahma and others do not know a the Vedas% So think over a&ain and &ive u( the idea o! discussin&%' Sti he im(udent Brahmins insisted to have a discussion% Shri Guru Charitra Cha(ter PPVI Vedas /na "7ed Shri Guru said, K-ven ,ishis had to take &reat (ains to earn Vedas% In 0a i"u& the s(an o! i!e bein& short, it is im(ossib e to earn a the Vedas com( ete "%' Bharadwa5a asked Brahmadev to teach him the Vedas% Brahmadev showed him three hea(s o! Vedas, which a((eared as hu&e as hi s% Bharadwa5 was stunned to see them% 6e then re?uested Brahmadev to &ive as much o! the Vedas as he cou d earn% Brahmadev &ave him three hand!u s o! Vedas% 6e cou d not stud" even these% Mantras o! the three Vedas were se(arated, which !ormed the !ourth Veda:/tharva Veda% V"asa, the incarnation o! Shri Vishnu, tau&ht these !our Vedas to his !our disci( es% 6e narrated ,i& Veda to KPai '% It was ta and o! a (rominent neck% It had a shar( si&ht and was as bri&ht as the Sun% It's Gotra was /tri, it's God% Brahma, it's Chand #Metre$:Ga"atri and C(aveda /"urveda% It has 4 (arts and ) Brahmans and /rans% V"asa narrated KVaisham(a"an', the second disci( e, 1a5ur Veda, which is !u o! ritua s !or di!!erent sacri!ices% It was 4:,anti ta % It's Gotra was Bharadwa5, it was thin and its Chhand was Trishtu(% Its God was Mahavishnu% It was a so as bri&ht as the Sun and its C(aveda was Dhanur Veda% It has F) (arts% Sam Veda is the third Veda, which ( eases b" its music% V"asa narrated this to K@aimini' his third disci( e% It is ):,atni ta , ca m and contro ed% Its i(s are red, and a has a stick in its hand% Its Gotra is 0ash"a(, Guru is ,udra, and chhand is @ati% Its C(aveda is Gandharva% It is divided in man" (arts% 6i&h " earned V"asa narrated KSumantu,' his !ourth disci( e, the !ourth K/tharva Veda'% Its God is Devesh, Gotra is bai5an, chhanda is Swachhanda and C(aveda is /stra Shastra% It has ; (arts and 4 0a (as% No one can know a these !our !u "% 0nowin& on " a (art o! the Vedas, how do "ou sa" "ou know a the VedasB Due to know ed&e o! Vedas, Brahmins were hi&h " res(ected in the (ast% The" were ca ed Gods: o!:the:earth:Bhoosur% -ven kin&s worshi((ed them% Three &reat &ods were under their contro due the stren&th o! the Vedas% Indra and other Gods were a!raid o! the Brahmins as the" cou d turn a straw into a mountain and a mountain into a straw% Shri Vishnu a so re?uested the Brahmins% In 0a i"u& the Brahmins have &iven u( the Vedic:(ath and so their (ower is ost% The" serve ower c asses, se Vedas% Thou&h there are severa (arts o! the Vedas, man" (arts are ost% 1ou sa" that "ou know !our Vedas, but do "ou know the end o! an" VedaB So do not (ersist !or discussion% Better "ou &o awa" !rom here% Do not waste "our ives in vanit"%' The im(udent Brahmins cou d not a((reciate Shri Guru's advice and the" sti discuss with us or &ive us a certi!icate to that e!!ect%' said, K-ither

Shri Guru was enra&ed to see their attitude% 6e said, KDet it be as "ou desire% @ust is a rat cuts the sides o! a bo. o! a ser(ent or a butter! " 5um(s on a am(, "ou are di&&in& "our own &rave%' Shri Guru Charitra

Cha(ter PPVII 6ari5an Becomes / Dearned Brahmin Shri Guru saw a man (assin& b"% 6e asked his disci( es to ca him% 6e was a 6ari5an% 6e bowed to Shri Guru and (ra"ed !or iberation% Shri Guru &ave a stick to a disci( e and asked him to draw seven (ara e ines% 'n doin& this Shri Guru asked the 6ari5an to cross a ine% The 6ari5an crossed the !irst ine and Shri Guru asked him who he was% 6e said he was a 0irat% 'n crossin& the second ine, he had more know ed&e% 'n crossin& the third he said he was a &an&asut i%e% a boatman% 'n crossin& the !ourth he became a Shudra% 'n crossin& the !i!th he became Somdatta Vaish"a% 'n crossin& the si.th he was a 0shatri"a named Godavari% 'n crossin& the seventh ine, he said, KI am a Brahmin% I know Vedas, Shastras, V"akaran and m" name is /dh"a(ak #Teacher$% Shri Guru said, KThese two Brahmins have come to discuss Veda Shastras% 1ou ma" discuss with them' So sa"in& he asked him to a(( " enchanted vibuthi to his bod" due to which he ooked more bri&ht% Seein& this mirac e, the Brahmins be&an to tremb e with !ear and started &ettin& (ain in the heart% The" !e on the !eet o! Shri Guru and said, K>e are &reat o!!enders% 0ind " !or&ive us and iberate us% 1ou are incarnation o! three Gods and Guru o! the wor d% 1our &reatness is indescribab e%' Shri Guru said, K1ou have harassed Trivikram Muni and have committed man" other o!!enses' 1ou wi become Brahma:rakshasas and have to su!!er !or "our sins%' The Brahmins a&ain entreated, K6ow sha we be !ree !rom this wor d " seaB' Shri GuruG '1ou sha be Brahma:,akshasas !or twe ve "ears% Shuknara"an, a Brahmin wi come and advise "ou and then "our sins wi be wi(ed o!! and "ou wi be iberated% 1ou &o to the river now%' The Brahmins went to the river% The" had severe heart:(ain and the" died, The" ived as Brahma:,akshasas and a!ter twe ve "ears the" were iberated% The 6ari5an Brahmin said to Shri Guru, 'I was a Brahmin, then how was I de&eneratedB >hat sins had I committedB 0ind " en i&hten me%' Shri Guru Charitra Cha(ter PPVIII /dvice o! 0arma Vi(ak to the 6ari5an Shri Guru said, KI wi te "ou the account o! "our (ast i!e% 'ne &ets birth as (er one's &ood or bad actions% I! Shudra en5o"s with a Brahmin woman he becomes a Chanda % Brahmins and (ersons o! other castes are de&enerated i! the" ead a !au t" i!e% 'ne who eaves his (arents or Guru and &oes e sewhere and who !orsakes his wi!e becomes a Chanda % 'ne who adores other deities, eavin& one's !ami " &od, who s(eaks a ie, who ki s anima s, se s his dau&hter, takes Shudra's !ood, se s horses, en5o"s with Shudra women, sets !ire to the !orest, se(arates a cow !rom its ca ves, rides on an o., becomes a Chanda % / Brahmin a!ter &oin& to a ho " ( ace, does not bathe there and does not observe si. 0armas, his !irst wi!e bein& a ive, marries with another and !orsakes the !irst, who en5o"s with widows, becomes de&enerated% Simi ar " one who breaks tanks and we s, causes s( it in Brahmins' houses, en5o"s with wives o! master, Guru or a !riend, takes mea s in the evenin&, runs awa" !rom the batt e !ie d eavin& the master, te s Vedas to Shudras, does not observe shraddha, #anniversar" o! (arents etc%$ s(eaks about one's virtues, administers medicines without knowin& the (u se, censures 6ari and 6ar a so &ets birth in a Chanda !ami "% 'ne who earns mantras !rom Shudras, mi.es water in cow's mi k, becomes a do&% 'ne, who critici7es Vedas, disres(ects% Brahmins, su!!ers !rom stone in the b adder% 'ne, who causes abortions o! women, becomes neutra and even i! he has issues the" do not survive% 'ne who stea s &o d, su!!ers !rom s"(hi is, he who stea s book becomes b ind% 'ne who stea s at his !riend's house, su!!ers !rom & ands in the neck% / thie! o! !ood artic es su!!ers !rom tumor% 'ne who takes awa" other's wi!e, becomes a Brahma ,akshas% 'ne who takes awa" mone" o!!ered to &od becomes a e(er% 'ne who takes awa" mone" o!!ered to God becomes a stea s cow's mi k becomes a e(er%

The bad resu ts o! adu ter" are &iven in Shanti(arva o! Mahabharat% 'ne, who embraces other's wi!e, becomes a do& !or 2** ives and then a ser(ent% 'ne who sees the va&ina o! other's wi!e becomes b ind% 'ne who en5o"s with a !riend's wi!e or materna aunt, becomes a do& I! a Shudra en5o"s with a Brahmin woman, both wi become worms%' 6earin& this Trivikram asked, KI! one has committed a sin, how can it be wi(ed o!!B' Shri GuruG KI! there is rea re(entance, the sin is wi(ed o!!% Pra"ashchittas #Puritive acts$ are &iven in K0arma Vi(ak' as !o ows% Take Brahmadand% Give cow with ornaments in charit" to a Brahmin% I! this is not (ossib e &ive mone"% I! the sin is minor then &ivin& o! a &o d coin wi su!!ice% I! a man and his wi!e both have committed a sin both shou d take Pra"ashchitta or recite KGa"atri' mantra ten thousand times or !eed 29 Brahmins% KGa"atri 0richhra' KPra5a(ati 0richhra' means to take mea once a da" or take Kmadhukari' #!ood a ms taken at Brahmins$ and have !asts !or = da"s, mi d sins are wi(ed o!! b" this act% In K/ti 0richhra' take 24 morse s o! !ood in the mornin& and 29 in the ni&ht or take ei&ht morse s o! madhukari !ood each in the mornin& and in the ni&ht% Take &hee !or = da"s and mi k !or = da"s, ive on " on air !or = da"s and then on " mi k !or = da"s and then take on " mi k !or 92 da"s% / weak (erson can observe !ast takin& ti, &ur, (arched (add" #Dahi$% In KParna 0richhra' water in which eaves o! certain trees are di((ed, is to be taken% 'ne shou d dec are one's sin in meetin& o(en "% KTirth 0richhra' means to &o to a ho " ( ace, take bath and recite Ga"atri mantra !or twe ve hundred times% / sins are destro"ed b" doin& this% Bath at Setubandh wi(es o!! sin o! ki in& a chi d in womb% ,ecitation o! a crore o! Ga"atri mantra wi(es o!! even the sin o! a Brahmahat"a% Pavmansukta, Indra mitra, Shunah she(, /(amadh"a, Tadvishnoh, Purushsukta !rom the Vedas wi wi(e o!! sins i! recited dai "% Takin& o! Pancha Gav"a #mi.ture o! 4 thin&s i%e% Cow's mi k, curds, &hee, cow's urine and dun&$ a!ter re(entance, destro"s sins committed due to i&norance% Brahmahat"a, drinkin&, en5o"in& with &uru's wi!e, the!t o! &o d and coo(eration in these crimes are the !ive &reat sins which are destro"ed b" the !avor o! Shri Guru'% Shri Guru to d the 6ari5an, K1ou were a Brahmin but "ou disre&arded "our (arents and there!ore, "ou have become a Chanda % 1ou bathe at the San&am !or a month and "our sins wi be wi(ed o!!'% The 6ari5an said, K/ crow becomes a ,a5hansa on &oin& to the Manas ake+ simi ar " I have been (ure b" "our si&ht #Darshan$% 6ow can the iron trans!ormed into &o d b" the touch o! (aris #Phi oso(her's stone$ be iron a&ainB' /ssimi ate me now amon&st the Brahmins'% Shri Guru smi ed and said, K1ou are born in a ow caste% 6ow can "ou be a Brahmin without chan&e o! the (resent da"B In the !ormer times, Vishwamitra was born as 0shatri"a+ b" (enance he ca ed himse ! a KBrahmarishi'% Indra and other &ods said, KI! our &uru Vasishta ca s "ou KBrahmarishi' we sha !o ow his verdict%' Vasishta did not address Vishwamitra as KBrahmarishi' Vishwamitra was enra&ed and he ki ed 2** sons o! Vasishta and came to eat the ! esh o! the cor(se% Thus the bhasma touched the dead bod" o! the Brahmin 6e bein& a sinner, was bein& taken b" the 1amadoots% But as his bod" had the marks o! bhasma, Shivadoots a so came to carr" him to Shiva's ( ace% The Shivadoots attacked the 1amadoots, who then e!t the Brahmin's cor(se and com( ained to 1ama, who came to the Shivadoots and an&ri " asked them% 8>h" did "ou take that sin!u Brahmin !rom m" menB8 The Shivadoots to d him, 8The bod" o! the Brahmin and marks o! bhasma on it and so as (er Shiva's orders we are takin& him to touch the bod", with marks o! Bhasma%8 Bein& satis!ied 1ama then went awa"% Brahma ,akshas said, K>hen I was the kin&, I had constructed a tank in a !orest and had &iven some and to the Brahmins% So as to d b" 1ama, I had the !ortune to see "ou in this 94th i!e% 0ind " te me how bhasma is to be a(( ied and iberate me !rom the c"c e o! births and deaths%' Vamdev said, KShri Shankar had &one to Mandracha a on& with his ,udra&an% Indra, Brahmadev, Vasishta, Narad, 1aksh, Gandharva and ,ishis a so had come there to see Shri Shankar% >ho was seated on a beauti!u throne, havin& seven back&rounds, a ver" bri&ht and made o! (recious stones% 6e had the Moon on his !orehead, ocks o! hair on his head, Takshak on one ear and Vasuki on the other and wreaths o! ser(ents around this neck% 6e had trishu in one hand, Damaru #drum$ in the second, sword hands, he d di!!erent wea(ons% 6e was sittin& with Parvati Devi, who was wearin& rich c othes and ornaments% Sanatkumar re?uested Shri Shankar to te some means b" which one cou d attain a the !our Purusharthas%

Shri Shankar said, 'have tri(undra #= ines$ on the !orehead and a(( " bhasma on the bod"% This wi destro" a the sins, such as takin& the wea th o! others, en5o"in& with others, wives, ca5o in&, &ivin& !a se witness, stea in& o! cow, and, &o d or ti , se in& mi k, ! esh, sa t and doin& adu ter" etc% and a!ter death one &oes to heaven% Vamdev &ave enchanted Bhasma to the Brahma ,akshas who a(( ied it to his bod" and had tri(undra on his !orehead% 6e was at once trans!ormed into a ce estia (erson and a ( ane descended to take him to the heaven% Thou&h Bhasma has much &reatness, the &reatness o! Shri Guru is sti more and so due to the !avor o! Vamdev the Brahma ,akshas was iberated%8 Shri Guru Charitra Cha(ter PPIP The Great Power o! Bhasma #Vibuthi$ Trivikram bowed to Sri Guru and asked% 8'h Guru, how did the Chanda &et know ed&e% /nd how did it vanish a!ter the bathB8 Sri Guru said,H 6e received know ed&e when I s(rink ed Vibuthi, the sacred ashes on him% 6is know ed&e disa((eared when the ashes disa((eared% 'ne who a(( ies Vibuthi wi become (ure and who e and &et know ed&e o! Brahman%8 Then 6e narrated a stor"G In 0ritha"u&a there was a Maha"o&i named Vamadeva% 6e used to a(( " Bhasma to 6is bod"% 6e was without (ride and desire% 'nce 6e wandered into a !orest named 0rauncharan"a% There a demon came to eat 6im% But as 6e he d Vamadeva, some bhasma on Vamadeva's bod" rubbed o!! onto his bod"% /s a resu t, the demon's sins were washed awa" and he received en i&htenment% 8'h, Trivikrama, one's sins are washed awa" on one's comin& into contact with a (erson o! &ood character and inte&rit"%8 The demon bowed to Vamadeva and (ra"ed !or redem(tion% Sri Guru asked the demon about him% The demon said,H Now I remember m" 94 (revious births, be!ore which I was a kin& named Dur5a"a% I was a wicked kin&, harassed m" citi7ens, inc udin& women, and drank a coho % Due to a this I had to &o to he and become a &host !or a hundred "ears% Then I took birth as a do&, a 5acka , and other anima s% I was tired o! a these births% Then I became a demon% / thou&h I eat so man" anima s, I am sti hun&r"% So I came to eat 1ou% But the contact with 1our bod" has washed m" sins awa"% I have attained (eace and ac?uired know ed&e% 'h com(assionate one, redeem me, and e.( ain to me how I attained know ed&e due to contact with the Bhasma on 1our bod"%8 Vamadeva said, 8The (ower o! Bhasma is &reat and imit ess% 1ou touched m" bod" on which I had a(( ied the sacred ashes%8 >ith these words he (ut the (ower o! the Shiva mantra into the Bhasma and &ave it to the demon to a(( "% The demon said, 8'h Sri @a&at&uru, I met 1ou due to m" &ood deeds in m" (revious birth% /s a kin& I had bui t a water tank, and &ave ands and cows to Brahmins, so now I have been rewarded% I have been (uri!ied%8 >ith these words he a(( ied Bhasma to his bod"% 'n doin& so he immediate " &ot a heaven " bod"% Vamadeva was an incarnation o! Trimurth" #Dattatre"a$ in !orm o! a ,ishi% /s @a&at&uru 6e wandered !rom ( ace to ( ace to redeem humans% This demon bowed to Vamadeva and attained Moksha% This was the stor" Sri Guru to d to describe the & or" o! Bhasma% The (ower o! Bhasma is &reat% -ven a demon was saved b" it% But no Mantra is success!u un ess it is b essed b" a Guru% That is wh" the" sa" no sa vation is (ossib e without the Guru% 6e is the iberator and the (rotector% Shri Guru Charitra Cha(ter PPP The Death o! a 1oun& Brahmin 6usband >hen Shri Guru ived at Gana&a(ur, his name and !ame s(read a over the countr"% The desires o! a were !u !i ed b" the !avor o! Shri Guru%

Go(inath a rich Brahmin ived at Mahur% 6is issues did not survive% Both the Brahmin and his wi!e were devotees o! Shri Datta% The" had a son% >hen he was o! 4 "ears, his thread ceremon" was ce ebrated% >hen he became twe ve "ears o d, his marria&e was ce ebrated% >hen he was o! 2) "ears, the cou( e ooked ver" charmin&% Both oved each other intense "% Cn!ortunate " the "outh !e i % Man" medicines were &iven% 6is wi!e served him devoted "% 6e cou d not take !u mea s% So she a so did not take mea s% /!ter = "ears he deve o(ed consum(tion% 6is bod" emitted !ou odor% -ven (h"sicians did not ike to &o near him% But his wi!e served and nurses him with &reat devotion% She took on " as much !ood as her husband took% The medicines &iven to him were a so taken b" hr% She &ave u( rich &arments and ived a ver" sim( e i!e% The (arents o! the cou( e were rich% The" were (ained to see the su!!erin&s o! their son and dau&hter:in: aw% @a(, vrata, charit", sacri!ices, !eedin& o! the Brahmins and the (oor had been done+ but a was !uti e% / were (assin& da"s in &rie!, re "in& on the / mi&ht" God% The "outh tried to conso e his (arents and wi!e in various wa"s% The wi!e re?uested her !ather and mother:in: aw to send then to some &ood ho " ( ace% She said,H M" husband wou d recou( his hea th there% Shri Guru Narasimha Saraswati ives at Gana&a(ur% 6is name and !ame have s(read a over the countr"% 6ence send us to him%8 The (arents mana&ed !or their 5ourne" to Gana&a(ur and bade them &ood:b"e with heav" hearts% 'ne the wa", the "outh had tridosh and when the" reached Gana&a(ur, the "outh died% The wi!e we(t bitter "% She dashed her head on the &round% The oca (ersons tried to conso e her but it was in vain% She e.c aimed, 'I brou&ht "ou awa" !rom "our (arents and have been the cause o! "our death% I have committed a &reat sin% 6ow can I show m" !ace to them nowB8 She !e on the dead bod" and we(t% She decided to observe 'sati' and burn herse ! with the bod" o! her husband% In the mean whi e, there arrived a bri&ht ookin& san"asi with ash #bhasma$ marks on his bod", with a wreath o! ,udraksha round the neck and ocks o! 6ari on his head% 0nowin& the cause o! her mournin&, he be&an to advise her sa"in&, 'ever"one &ets the !ruit o! his actions in the (ast% 1ou need not mourn on the death o! this "outh% -ver" one who is born has to die one da" or the other% >hen Gan&a is ! ooded, o&s o! wood !rom di!!erent ( aces come to&ether and a&ain (art% Severa birds come !or she ter on a tree in the ni&ht and ! " awa" in the mornin&% Simi ar is a !ami " i!e% Due to a!!ection, we sa" m" !ather, mother, husband, son, dau&hter etc% but 5ust as !oam or bubb es in water do not ast on&, so is the i!e on this earth% Di!e is ike a dream, so do not mourn%' Shri Guru Charitra Cha(ter PPPI Code o! >oman's Behavior 6earin& the advice, the "oun& wi!e re?uested the San"asi to te her how she shou d behave% The San"asi e.( ained to her the code o! !ema e behavior% 6e said, 'This code is mentioned in the 0ashi 0hand o! the Skandha Purana% /&asti Muni ived in 0ashi% 6is wi!e Do(amudra was a &reat devoted wi!e% Vindh"a&iri #mountain$ was a disci( e o! /&asti% 'nce Narad came to Vindh"a and said, '"ou are (raise worth" in a res(ects, but there is on " one thin& wantin& in "ou% 1ou are not as hi&h as Meru&iri%' 6earin& this, Vindh"a &ot enra&ed and be&an to &row% 6e &rew so hi&h that he touched the sk"% Due to this, the entire countr" in the south o! Vindh"a ( un&ed into darkness% Conse?uent " the Brahmins cou d not observe their dai " rites and sacri!ices% The ,ishis to d this to Indra, who went to Brahmadev L narrated this to him% Brahmadev said, '/&asti is the Guru o! Vindh"a&iri% Send him southwards% Seein& /&asti Vindh"a wi come down to bow to him% /&asti shou d then ask him to be in that ver" (osition and not &row hi&h% In this wa" this ca amit" can be removed%' Indra, accom(anied b" Brihas(ati and other &ods, came to /&asti at 0ashi% The" worshi((ed /&asti and Do(amudra and (raised them% /t that time Brihas(ati #Guru o! the Gods$ narrated the code o! behavior o! a devoted wi!e% 6e said, '/rundhati, Savitri, /nasu"a, Dakshmi, Parvati, Shantaru(a, Menka, Suniti, Sandh"a Devi, Sur"akanta, Swaha Devi have a been devoted wives% So is Do(amudra a &reat:devoted wi!e% -ver" devoted wi!e dines a!ter her husband has dined% She res(ects the &uests, and the e ders and &reets her husband, when he comes !rom outside% She does not disobe" her husband% She worshi(s her husband thinkin& him to be Shri Shankar% She serves him in the ni&ht and &oes to s ee( a!ter her husband has s e(t% She &ets u( be!ore her

husband, c eans the court"ard and s(rink es it with water% /!ter bath she worshi(s her husband and takes his teerth #Toe di((ed water$% She dresses and wears ornaments when her husband is at home% >hen he &oes out, she does not have a make u(% -ven i! the husband s(eaks harsh " to her, she does not retort% She does not abuse him% >hen he comes home she &reets him and asks him what he wants% / devoted wi!e, when she &oes out, does not ook at other (ersons and returns home soon% She does not observe an" vrata or !ast or does not &ive an" thin& in charit" without the (ermission o! her husband% I! there is some !unction, !air or ceremon" in the town, she does not &o without the husband's instructions% I! the husband is ha((", she is not de5ected and i! he is in &rie!, she wi not come 5o"!u % I! she is in month " course, she does not come in !ront o! her husband and does not hear the Vedas% /!ter bath on the !ourth da", she &ives com(an" to her husband and in his absence she on " sees the Sun% She a(( ies ha ad:kunkum:ka5a and wears the man&a sutra round her neck, ban& es on her wrists !or the on& i!e o! her husband% She does not make !riendshi( with the washerwomen, concubines, atheists and those who ca5o e their husbands% / woman shou d not ive desertin& her mother and !ather:in: aws, brother:in: aw, brother and sisters% She shou d not bother (uttin& o!! a her c othes% She shou d not sit on &rindin& stone or mortar:(est e% She shou d not ar&ue with her husband% She shou d not behave in such a wa" that he wou d he dis( eased% -ven i! the husband is mone" ess, miserab e, weak, diseased or thou&ht ess the wi!e shou d consider him as &od and be obedient to him% She shou d not com(are him with other rich and stron& (ersons and censure him% Devoted service o! the wi!e to her husband ( eases Trimurti Dattatre"a% / woman retortin& an&ri " to her husband becomes a do&, !o. or dumb or (au(er in seven ives% -ven i! the husband is weak, he shou d not be disre&arded% She shou d not s(eak oud " or au&h in (resence o! the e ders% She shou d not ook towards other (ersons with ust% I! she does so, she is de&raded mora "% / husband is the sou o! his wi!e% She is re&arded aus(icious as on& as her husband is a ive% /!ter the husband's death, she is re&arded inaus(icious% >hi e &oin& to some ( ace, i! a widow is seen, it is considered inaus(icious e.ce(t to her own son% I! the wi!e observes, 'Sati' i%e% she burns herse ! with the dead bod" o! her husband, she attains a & or"% She iberates the (ersons o! 39 &enerations #92 o! the husband and 92 (aterna $% I! the husband is sin!u , sti she takes him to heaven 1ama's servants a so are a!raid o! a 'Sati'% The virtue o! &oin& 'sati' is immense% 'n the contrar" i! a woman is adu terous, she sends her 39 &enerations to the he % Those who have a Sati in their homes are rea " !ortunate% The" attain !our va ours #Purusharthas$% Their acts are virtuous% That home is ike a !orest, which is without a Sati% In this wa" Brihas(ati to d Do(amudra re&ardin& the behavior o! a devoted wi!e% The same was narrated b" the San"asi to the mournin& woman%' Shri Guru Charitra Cha(ter PPPII Behavior o! a >idowG Dead 6usband Made / ive Brihas(ati to d re&ardin& the behavior o! a widow as !o owsG I! the husband dies in the (resence o! the wi!e, then shou d observe KSati'% But i! she is (re&nant, i! she has a chi d, who is bein& !ed, on her breast or i! the husband dies at a !ar o!! ( ace, then she shou d not observe KSati'% She shou d ive as a widow% She shou d shave o!! the hair on the head+ e se the husband &oes to he % She shou d bathe dai " and shou d have on " one mea ever" da"% She shou d observe KChandra"an' i%e% take one morse o! !ood on the !irst da" o! the bri&ht #shuddha$ !ortni&ht, increase one morse dai " and take 24 morse s on the Poornima% In the dark !ortni&ht #0rishna or Vad$ she shou d &o on decreasin& one morse dai " and take on " one morse o! !ood on the /mavas"a #new moon da"$% She shou d notG take mi k, shou d not s ee( on the bedstead, shou d not take man&a bath, nor take K(an'% I! she has no son, she shou d do Kti tar(an', worshi( Vishnu dai " and act as (er the wishes o! her dead husband% She shou d wear white c othes% In the Vaishakh month she shou d &ive an earthen vesse in charit"% In the 0artik 'dee(' shou d be &iven to a Brahmin% She shou d o!!er umbre as and shoes to (ersons &oin& on (i &rima&e% She shou d take mea cooked out o! on " one corn in 0artik% >hatever vrata she observes, it ud"a(an #endin& !unction$ shou d a so be du " done% I! she has a son, she shou d act as (er his wishes% >idows behavin& in this wa" are virtuous and even i! their husbands were su!!erin& in he , the" wou d take them to heaven a!ter their death%

Brihas(ati had to d to Do(amudra in re ation with the code o! !ema e behavior and the same was narrated b" the San"asi to the bereaved "oun& woman% Then he said,J 1ou now act as "ou wish% I! "ou have coura&e, "ou can observe, 'sati' and i! "ou act as a widow, it wi a so be virtuous% Bowin& to the San"asi, the woman said, '1ou are ike m" Parents, brother and a % I have no re atives here% 1ou have to d me the ru es o! behavior o! a Sati and widow% I think it wi be di!!icu t !or me to act as a widow, !or as I am "oun& and !air the (eo( e at ar&e wi s(eak i o! me% So I think it is better to observe sati% 1ou kind " &ive me "our b essin&s%' The San"asi b essed her and said, K"ou have come !rom a on& distance with "our diseased husband to see Shri Guru% >hat was destined to ha((en has ha((ened% -ven &reat men as 6arishchandra, Bhishma, cou d not avoid it% Sti "ou better see Shri Guru who can even win K0a ' and then observe Sati%' 6e a(( ied bhasma to her !orehead, &ave her 3 ,udra beads and said% KTie two in "our husband's ears and two around "our neck and s(rink e teerth on the bod" o! "our husband and on "ourse ! a!ter rudrabhishek to Shri Guru% /!ter doin& this, "ou ma" observe Sati'% The san"asi then went awa"% The "oun& woman started (re(arations !or observin& sati% She ca ed Brahmins, &ave (ra"ashchitta to the bod" o! her husband% She took a bath, wore a si k sari and then ornaments, a(( ied ha adi kunkum and became read" to observe sati% The bod" o! her husband was taken to the river and she was &oin& in !ront o! the cor(se with !ire (ort in her hand% The "oun& &ir o! si.teen a((eared as bri&ht as &oddess Dakshmi and a wondered to see her coura&e% / ("re o! wood and cow dun& cakes was (re(ared% The "oun& woman o!!ered va"an 6a di 0unkum and man&a sutra to married women, bowed to them and said, K( ease in!orm m" (arents and !ather and mother:in: aws that we are sta"in& at ho " ( ace and are in &ood hea th% 'therwise out o! &rie! the" wi &ive u( their ives%' She was (ra"in& a the wa" in the mind% K'h Trimurti, "our !ame is wides(read, and "ou (ossess a Siddhis% I! a com( aint is made to a ru er, he &ives 5ustice% I! one &oes to a (h"sician, he &ives, medicine !or re ie!% I came crossin& 9* vi a&es with the ho(e that m" husband wi recover% I am comin& to ask "ou how m" husband e.(ired on the wa"% She saw Shri Guru sittin& be ow an /shwattha tree and she bowed to him res(ect!u "% Shri Guru, b essed her and said, K"ou sha have Sowbha&"a !orever% She a&ain bowed to Shri Guru and he e.c aimed K"ou wi have F sons' the Brahmins accom(an"in& her to d Shri Guru, Kher husband has e.(ired and she has come here to see "ou be!ore observin& Sati%' 6earin& this Shri Guru smi ed and said, K6er Sowbha&"a is ever astin&% Brin& her husband's bod" here immediate "% Det me see when he ost his i!e%' Some (ersons soon brou&ht the dead bod" be!ore Shri Guru% The strin&s were cut and the c oth coverin& was removed% The Tirth o! rudrabhishek was s(rink ed on the dead bod" and Shri Guru ooked at it with his si&ht !u o! nectar% Immediate " the Brahmin "outh sat u( as i! aroused !rom s ee(% 6e was ashamed to see himse ! without c othes% 6e wore the dhoti and asked his wi!e wh" she did not awake him be!ore, wh" he was brou&ht there and who was the San"asi% The wi!e narrated to him a that had occurred% Then both o! them bowed to Shri Guru with devotion and be&an (ra"in& to him% / The (ersons who had assemb ed there were de i&hted to see the mirac e% 'ne c"nic (erson said to Shri Guru% KThis Brahmin died as (er his !ate% 6ow can he be a iveB' Shri Guru smi ed and said, KI re?uested Brahmadev to &ive =* "ears' i!e !rom his ne.t i!e to this Brahmin "outh%' / were astonished to hear this% / bowed to Shri Guru and returned% The" "oun& Brahmin cou( e bathed at the San&am, worshi((ed Shri Guru devoted " and ( eased the Brahmins and the (oor b" &ivin& in charit"% Shri Guru Charitra Cha(ter PPPIII / Devoted Concubine Ne.t da" the "oun& Brahmin cou( e bowed to Shree Guru and sat be!ore him% The wi!e asked Shri Guru, Kwhen I was mournin&, a San"asi advised me, &ave me 3 ,udra beads and asked me to tie 9

breads in the ears o! m" husband and to (ut 9 beads round m" neck% 6e a so to d me that when I &o to see Shri Guru, I shou d s(rink e the Teerth o! rudrabhishek on m" 6usband's bod" and mine% >ho was that San"asiB' Shri Guru smi ed and said, Kseein& "our devotion, I m"se ! &ave "ou the ,udra beads% Sins do not touch them who wear ,udraksha% The si&ni!icance o! ,udraksha is ver" &reat% 'ne shou d wear a wreath o! 2*** ,udrakshas% I! this is not (ossib e then have a wreath o! 2*F beads round the neck, 3* on the head, 29 in both ears% The wreath shou d contain si ver, &o d and (recious stones as diamond, emera d, (ear , cora , etc% 'ne who bathes with ,udra beads on his bod" &ets the credit o! Gan&a bath% I! ,udraksha is worshi((ed, it is ike worshi((in& Shri Shiva Din&a% The ,udrakshas have 2, 4, 22 or 23 ho es% I sha now te "ou a ta e in this res(ect% There ived a kin& Bhadrasen in 0ashmere and his son's name was KSudharma'% The name o! his minister's son was KTarak'% Both were !ast !riends% The" were o! the same a&e% Both o! them had studied to&ether% The" were devotees o! Shiva% The" were wreaths o! ,udraksha and a(( ied Bhasma to their bodies% The" did not ike rich c othes and ornaments o! &o d and &ems% 'nce Parashara ,ishi came there% The kin& &reeted and worshi((ed him% The kin& said to the ,ishi, Km" son is !ond o! ,udraksha and has no ikin& !or &ood c othes and ornaments be!ittin& a ,o"a !ami "% P ease advise, him (ro(er "%' Parashara said, Kthe account o! the (revious birth o! "our son and that o! "our Mantri, is wonder!u % There ived a concubine in Nandi&ram She was ver" beauti!u % She wore &o den sanda s% 6er ornaments, and her bedstead was webbed with (recious stone% She had constructed a hi&h c ass dancin& ha , where she san&, and danced dai "% She had man" attendants% She tied ,udraksha round their necks and tau&ht them to dance% She was a &reat devotee o! Shiva and &ave a ms to the Brahmins and others (ro!use "% 'ne da" a rich Vaish"a, wearin& a ,udraksha wreath, came to her% 6e had in his hand a Shiva Din&a o! (recious stones, which was a bri&ht as the Sun% The concubine on&ed to have that Shiva Din&a% She asked her maidservant to ask the Vaish"a i! he wou d se the Shiva Din&a, or he wou d &ive it to her i! she acce(ted to serve him as a devoted wi!e !or three da"s% >hen the maid servant to d this to the Vaish"a, he au&hed and said, KI wou d & ad " &ive this Din&a to "our mistress, i! she a&rees to serve me as a devoted wi!e !or three da"s%' The Vaish"a then said to the concubine, K"ou are a (rostitute b" (ro!ession and caste% 6ow can I be ieve that "ou wou d be honest with me !or three da"sB Take an oath !or this%' The concubine took the oath% KI sha serve "ou devoted " !or three da"s%' 6e then &ave the Din&a to her hand said, KI ove and re&ard this Din&a even more than m" i!e% I! it is ost or destro"ed, I sha &ive u( m" i!e% It shou d not be with "ou at se.:( a"% 0ee( it sa!e%' She a&reed and ke(t the Din&a tied to a (i ar in the dancin& ha % Both then entered the inner a(artment% >hi e the" were en5o"in&, the dancin& ha cau&ht !ire and was burnt in no time% -!!orts to e.tin&uish the !ire were made, but the Din&a was burntI Seein& that the (recious Din&a was burnt, the Vaish"a arran&ed a ("re and burnt himse !% The concubine was much &rieved% She decided to observe Ksati' as she had a&reed to be a devoted wi!e o! the Vaish"a% 6er re atives tried to (ersuade her !rom &ivin& u( her i!e, but she was !irm in her reso ution% She ca ed the Brahmins and &ave mone" in charit"% She arran&ed the ("re, took three rounds around it and ea(t in the !ire o! the ("re% Instant " Shri Shiva with !ive heads and ocks o! hair on his head, cau&ht her in his ten hands and took her out o! the !ire and said, KI am ( eased with "our devotion% 1ou are rea " a Ksati% 1ou can ask !or a boon% I m"se ! had come to "ou as the Vaish"a to test "ou I m"se ! set the dancin& ha on !ire and entered the ("re and &ot burnt%' The concubine said, K0ind " take me with a m" re atives and servants to "our ( ace%' Shri Shankar seated them a in his divine ( ane and took them to 0ai as% Shri Guru Charitra Cha(ter PPPIV ,a5kumar and Mantrikumar devotees o! Shri Shiva Parashara !urther said, KThe monke" has taken birth as "our son and the cook has become the Mantri 0umar% Due to the trainin& o! the (revious birth both are KDn"anis' and devotees o! Shiva%

6earin& this the kin& asked, K"ou have narrated the account o! the (revious births o! these 0umars, but what is their !utureB' ParasharaG K1ou ask about the !uture o! "our son, but "ou wi be &rieved to know the same%' The 0in&G 0ind " te me the truth% I! it &ives me &rie!, kind " su&&est the means to &et rid o! it%' ParasharaG K1our son wi ive !or two "ears% 6e wi die on the ei&hth da" !rom toda"% Eor this "ou worshi( Cmakant #Shri Shiva$, the Guru o! the Cniverse, with ,udra sukta% The si&ni!icance o! this ,udra sukta is ver" &reat% This wi save the i!e o! "our son% KThe !our Vedas came out o! the !our mouths o! Brahmadev% 1a5urveda contains this ,udra sukta% Brahmadev to d this ,udra to Maricha, /tri etc% These ,ishis tau&ht this to their disci( es% Thus it has come on this earth !rom &eneration to &eneration% B" recitin& ,udra a the sins are wi(ed o!!% 1ou invite a hundred earned Brahmins and have ten thousand ,udra:/bhisheks on Shri Shiva Shankar% This wi enab e "our son to ive a on& i!e%' The kin& invited Brahmins as instructed and ,udrabhishek was started ceremonious "% 'n the ei&hth da" at midda" the ,a5kumar a o! a sudden !e on the &round sense ess% /bhishek teerth was s(rink ed on his bod" and the Brahmins a so threw enchanted Kakshat' #rice$ o! ,udra on the same% Due to this, 1amadoot did not dare to come near the ,a5kumar who soon awoke !rom the swoon% 6is death was thus averted% The kin& and the (eo( e were ver" much de i&hted% The kin& s(ent much in charit"% In the meantime, Narad Muni came there and said, K'h kin&, whi e 1amadoots were takin& awa" "our son, Shivadoots attacked them and !reed "our son% The 1amadoots ! ed awa" to 1ama and com( ained% 1ama went to Shri Shankar and asked, Kwh" did "our doots attack m" dootsB' Shri Shankar said, Kwhen ,a5kumar was &ranted on& i!e wh" did "our doots &o to snatch him without consu tin& Chitra&u(ta #record:kee(er o! ives o! a bein&s$B The" ou&ht not to have &one, >hen record o! Chitra&u(ta was checked, it was !ound that thou&h the 0umarJs i!e was twe ve "ears at !irst, he was &ranted ten thousand "ear's i!e ater on% Seein& this 1ama re(ented and went awa"% 1our son &ot on& i!e b" virtue o! ,udra:@a(% 6is death is averted% Such is the &reat (ower o! ,udra sukta% Shri Guru Charitra Cha(ter PPPV 0ach:Deva"ani The "oun& wi!e asked Shri Guru, K>hat is our !utureB 6ow shou d I ive herea!terB P ease !avor me with a mantra' Shri Guru said, K/ wi!e shou d serve her husband devoted "% She needs no other advice or mantra% I! a mantra is &iven to a woman some ca amit" !a s% This is evident !rom the ta e o! 0ach: Deva"ani% KIn o den da"s the &ods and demons were o!ten at war% Shukrachar"a, the Guru o! the demons, wou d recite Mrit"un5a"a mantra and the dead demons wou d be made a ive% There!ore it was rather di!!icu t !or the &ods to win the war% Indra, the kin& o! the &ods went to Shri Shankar and to d him this !act% Shri Shankar was ver" an&r" and he asked to ca Shukra% Nandi, Shri Shiva's bu , went to Shukra, who was in meditation at that time% Nandi there!ore he d him in his mouth and brou&ht him to Shri Shankar% Shri Shankar at once devoured him% /!ter some da"s, Shukra came out o! the bod" o! Shri Shankar throu&h his urine% 6e a&ain started recitin& Mrit"un5a"a mantra and brou&ht the demons to i!e% Indra to d Brihas(ati, Guru o! Gods, about /mrit San5eevini mantra o! Shukrachar"a and said, KThe &uru o! the demons makes them a ive with the he ( o! this mantra% 1ou bein& the Guru o! the &ods wh" shou d "ou not (rotect the &odsB' Brihas(ati said, KI! San5eevini mantra is heard b" si. ears, it wi ose its im(ortance% So it wou d be better to send someone as a (u(i to earn the mantra !rom Shukrachar"a% Det m" son 0acha be sent to him% 6e wi earn the mantra and return%' 0acha took eave o! the &ods and came to Shukrachar"a% 6e bowed to him and stood be!ore him% Shukrachar"a in?uired who he was and wh" he had come to him% 0acha re( ied KI am a Brahmin: 0umar% 6earin& "our !ame, I have come to earn at "our !eet% Shukrachar"a's on " dau&hter Deva"ani was standin& b" her !ather% She iked the Brahmin "outh and re?uested her !ather,

Shukrachar"a to acce(t him as his (u(i % Shukrachar"a a&reed and 0acha started sta"in& with him% The demons did not a((rove o! this as the" sus(ected that the &ods wou d earn the San5eevini mantra !rom Shukrachar"a and then it wou d be im(ossib e !or them to win a victor" over them% There!ore, when 0acha had been to the !orests !or brin&in& darba #a kind o! &rass$, the demons ki ed him% In the evenin&, when 0acha did not return home, Deva"ani re?uested her !ather to brin& him home soon% Shukra, b" intuition knew that was dead so he recited San5eevini mantra and brou&ht him to i!e% 0acha then came home% 'nce a&ain when 0acha had been to the !orest, the demons ki ed him and the (ieces o! his bod" were thrown in a directions% Deva"ani &ain showed an.iet" !or 0acha% Shukra a&ain recited San5eevini mantra and brou&ht him to i!e, as Deva"ani was his on " dau&hter and Shukrachar"a had &reat a!!ection !or her% The demons now contrived to ki 0acha on -kadashi !ast da"% The" then mi.ed his ! esh in wine and o!!ered it to Shukrachar"a !or drinkin&% Eor the third time when 0acha was missin&, Deva"ani we(t and re?uested him to brin& him to i!e% Shukrachar"a rea i7ed that 0acha was not seen an"where but he was in his be "% 6e to d Deva"ani that 0acha was in his be " and i! he is taken out, he himse ! wou d die% Deva"ani said, K1ou are brin&in& to i!e a (eo( e and sa"in& that "ou wou d die% 6ow is thisB 0acha is m" sou % I! he does not come back, I wi &ive u( m" i!e%' Shukrachar"aG KBesides m"se ! none e se knows San5eevini mantra% There is a condition that this mantra shou d not be divu &ed to an"one% I! it is heard b" si. ears #three (ersons$ it wi oose its e!!ect% This is a (rob em with me%' Deva"ani said, KTeach me the mantra% I sha recite it and make "ou a ive%' Shukrachar"aG KThe Shastras (rohibit te in& a mantra to a woman% Deva"ani who was &reat " de5ected said, KThen "ou ma" ive with "our mantra ha((i "% I wi &ive u( m" i!e%' Sa"in& so she !e on the &round sense ess% Shukrachar"a brou&ht her to consciousness and &ave her the San5eevini mantra% >hi e he was recitin& the mantra, 0acha, who was in Shukra's be ", a so heard it% Shukra recited the mantra and 0acha came out o! his bod" tearin& his be "% Conse?uent " Shukrachar"a !e dead% Then Deva"ani recited the mantra third time and Shukra became a ive% Thus 0acha heard the mantra thrice and made it b" heart% Now 0acha !o ded his hands and said to Shukrachar"a, 'I have studied at "our house so !ar% The demons do not a ow me to ive here (eace!u "% 0ind " there!ore a ow me to &o home now%' Deva"ani interru(ted, 'I have made "ou a ive thrice% I ove "ou% 1ou shou d marr" me%' 0acha G 'Bein& the dau&hter o! m" &uru, "ou are m" sister% 1ou made me a ive !rom time to time and so "ou are ike m" mother% I! I marr" "ou (eo( e wi b ame me%' 6earin& this, Deva"ani !e t sorr" and at the same time she was enra&ed% She cursed him, '1our earnin& wi be !uti e% 1ou wi !or&et a that "ou have earnt%' 0acha said, '1ou have cursed me in vain% 1ou wi marr" a (erson other than a Brahmin% 1our !ather has tau&ht "ou San5eevini mantra a&ainst the ru es o! Shastras% 6ence it wi not work now%' Sa"in& this 0acha went awa"% Seein& that 0acha had returned, Indra and other &ods were de i&hted, Shri Guru said, 'Eor a woman, service o! her husband is the (rinci(a mantra% She shou d obe" him and observe vrata, etc% with his consent on "%' Chandran&ad : Simantini The "oun& wi!e then re?uested Shri Guru to su&&est some vrata% Shri GuruG 8I wi te "ou a vrata b" which "ou KSowbha&"a' wi be (er(etua and "our husband wi &et (ros(erit"% This vrata was to d b" Soot to ,ishis in !ormer da"s% In this vrata "ou have to worshi( Shri Shiva ever" Monda", observe !ast on that da" and kee( contro over "our senses% This vrata can be observed b" the married women #havin& husband$% 0umaries #unmarried &ir s$, widows, "oun& and o d (ersons o! both se.es% 8Chaitravarma was a (ious kin& in !ormer times% 6e had a dau&hter named Simantini, who was beauti!u and &ood:natured% 'ne astro o&er had said that a the stars in her horosco(e were

&ood, but she wou d be a widow at the a&e o! 23% The kin& and others were e.treme " (ained to hear this% 8'nce Maitra"ani, wi!e o! 1adn"ava k"a, came to the kin&% Simantini re?uested her Kkind " te me a means, b" which m" Sowbha&"a wi be (er(etua %' Maitra"ani then to d her to observe Monda" vrata and said, Kb" observance o! this vrata% 1our desires wi be !u !i ed and "ou wi &et a (ros(erit"% Simantini there!ore be&an to observe this vrata devoted "% 8Simantini was married to Chandran&ad, son o! Indrasen o! the !amous KNa ' !ami ", with due !estivities% Chandran&ad sta"ed at Chitra"arma !or some da"s% 'nce he went to 0a indi #1amuna$ river with some !riends% The" were trave in& in a !err"boat% / o! a sudden the boat sank in the river% -ven a!ter di i&ent search no trace o! Chandran&ad was !und% Simantini and her (arents were &reat " shocked to know this% Indrasen and his wi!e were dee( " &rieved% 6e ost interest in the a!!airs o! his kin&dom% Ta kin& this o((ortunit", his enemies usur(ed the throne and (ut Indrasen and his wi!e in 5ai % Simantini reso ved to observe Ksat' as (er the re i&ious ru e o! a devoted wi!e% But as the dead bod" o! her husband was not !ound, she cou d not observe the sati:rite as (er Shastras% So she was (revented !rom the observance o! sati% Simantini continued her Monda" !ast and worshi( o! Shri Shiva% >hen Chandran&ad was drowned, the Na&kan"as took him to Vasuki in Pata , in a beauti!u cit" with bui din&s & itterin& with (recious stones% The &ate o! the cit" was &o den and a (ersons in it were ike ser(ents% Takshak the kin& with 2*** hoods was sittin& on a bri&ht throne% Chandran&ad was brou&ht be!ore him% Takshak in?uired about him with a!!ection and assured him about his sa!et" and asked him to ive there ha((i "% /!ter some da"s Chandran&ad re?uested Takshak, 8I am the on " son o! m" (arents% I am recent " married and m" wi!e simantini is on " 23 "ears o! a&e% M" (arents, wi!e and mother and !ather:in: aw must be mournin& dee( " !or me% So kind " arran&e to send me to them ver" soon%8 Takshak &ave him nectar to drink and o!!ered him cost " c othes, ornaments and (recious stones% 6e a so &ave him a swi!t horse and a Na& 0umar to accom(an" him% The" instant " a((eared on the bank o! 0a indi, where accidenta ", it bein& Monda", Simantini a so had come with her !ema e attendants !or bath% It was the ver" ( ace where Chandran&ad had drowned% Dookin& at him, Simantini said to her attendants, 8>ho is this ce estia (erson comin& out the waterB I remember to have seen him be!ore% P ease in?uire%8 Chandran&ad ooked at Simantini and be&an to think, Kshe a((ears ike m" dear wi!e% But how is it that she has to man&a sutra around her neck and 0umkum on her !orehead'B 6e descended !rom the horse, came near Simantini and in?uired about her with a!!ection% Simantini was ashamed to see him come near% She to d her attendants to narrate her account% The attendants to d him, KThree "ears be!ore, her husband was drowned here in this river% She is continuin& her Monda" vrata in &rie! and toda" bein& Monda", she has come here !or bath% 6is enemies have usur(ed her husbandJs kin&dom and the" have (ut her mother and !ather:in: aw in 5ai % Simantini then asked, KMa" I know who "ou areB God or GandharvaB >h" are "ou in?uirin& about meB ' She reco ected the !ace o! her husband and be&an to mourn% Seein& her de5ected, Chandran&ad he d her hand in a!!ection and to d in her ears in a ow voice, K"ou need not mourn% 1our husband wi meet "ou on the third da"% But do not disc ose this to an"bod"%' 6e rode the horse and went awa" with the Na& 0umar to see his (arents% >hen he reached the outskirts o! the cit", and Na& 0umar entered the cit" and to d the then ru er, KChandran&ad has returned !rom Pata with an assurance o! assistance !rom Takshak% ,e:insta Indrasen on the throne with honor, otherwise "ou are doomed%' The ru er was a armed% 6e re eased Indrasen !rom 5ai and seated him on the throne with honor Indersen embraced Chandran&ad with a!!ection% / messa&e o! 5o" was sent to Chitravarma, who with Simantini and others, was &reat " re5oiced to hear the news% Indrasen started with his (ara(herna ia to meet Chitravarma ceremonious "% /&ain a ceremon" ike weddin& was ce ebrated and Chandran&ad and Simantini met each other%

Chandran&ad o!!ered the ornaments, (recious stones, !ruits o! 0a (ataru, etc% brou&ht !rom Takshak to Simantini% She attained a this & or" due to observin& the Monda" vrata with &reat devotion% /s advised b" Shri Guru the "oun& cou( e started observin& Monda" vrata% Their (arents a so came there, bowed to Shri Guru and were & ad to see the &ood hea th o! the cou( e b" the &race o! Shri Guru% The" &ave much in charit"% Then a returned to their ( ace% The cou( e ater on had some issues% The" used to come to see Shri Guru ever" "ear and had a (ros(erit"% Shri Guru Charitra Cha(ter PPPVI Code o! Brahmin's Dai " ,itua s There ived a (ious Vedic Brahmin% 6e did not take !ood at others% 6e wou d be& a ms o! corn and maintained on the same% 6is wi!e was discontented and hot tem(ered% / rich (erson came to Gana&a(ur !or Samaradhana #!eedin& Brahmins and others$% But as this Brahmin did not acce(t !ood at others, his wi!e a so was not invited and she was discontented !or not havin& &ood, de icious !ood and sweets% 'nce a ver" rich (erson came to Gana&a(ur to observe Shraddha% 6e invited a Brahmin cou( es and o!!ered &ood Dakshina #mone"$, c othes and rich de icious !ood% She to d her husband about this% 6e said, KI! "ou wish "ou can &o there, but as I do not acce(t !ood at others, I cannot come'% The wi!e went to the Brahmin host and said, KM" husband does not take !ood at others% Can I come a one to "ou !or mea sB' The host said, KI invite Brahmin cou( es% So "ou can come with "our husband%' The >i!e cou d not know what to do% She came to Shri Guru Narasimha Saraswati and narrated to him her &rievance and said, KI ike to en5o" rich, de icious !ood% But m" husband does not take !ood at others and so I am a so not invited b" an"bod"% /t (resent a rich Brahmin is invitin& a the Brahmin cou( es and o!!erin& them &ood Dakshina, c othes and rich de icious !ood% 0ind " advise m" husband to acce(t this invitation%' 6earin& this, Shri Guru smi ed and asked his disci( es to ca her husband% >hen he came, Shri Guru said to the Brahmin, K"our wi!e desires to take de icious !ood% 1ou shou d acce(t invitation o! the Brahmin and !u !i "our wi!e's desire% Married women shou d not be dis( easedB The Brahmin said, KGurudev, I am observin& vrata o! not takin& mea s at others% But as (er "our adesh #order$ I sha acce(t this invitation%' This Brahmin cou( e went !or mea s at the rich Brahmin's who o!!ered them &ood, de icious !ood% >hi e dinin& the Brahmin wi!e observed that do&s and (i&s are a so dinin& with her% Bein& dis&usted, she &ot u(, returned home and to d this to her husband% 6e said, KI had to break m" vrat !or "ou and acce(t !ood eaten b" do&s and (i&s%' Both then came to Shri Guru% Shri Guru asked the wi!e, K6ow did "ou en5o" the !ood o! the rich Brahmin hostB 1ou a wa"s b amed "our husband% Now are "ou satis!iedB' The wi!e said, KGurudev, I am a si " woman% I broke the vrata o! m" husband b" askin& him to take !ood at others, kind " !or&ive me%' Shri Guru said to the Brahmin, K1our wi!e's desire o! takin& de icious !ood is !u !i ed% Now she wi act as (er "our wishes% I wi te "ou the ru es o! actin& as (er the order o! re i&ion% I! a Brahmin is in need o! a Brahmin !or some re i&ious !unction and !or anniversar" #Shraddha$, "ou shou d &o !or mea s% I! "ou do not &o, "ou wi be committin& an o!!ense% 1ou shou d take !ood at the Guru, disci( e, materna unc e, !ather:in: aw, brothers and saints% I! "ou recite Ga"atri Mantra, "ou are not o!!ended%' The Brahmin then asked, '0ind " te me which and at whose house the !ood shou d be avoidedB Shri Guru, 'Good natured Brahmins shou d not dine at one who takes service !rom (arents, who is &reed", who &ives in charit" dis( easin& his wi!e and chi dren, who is (roud, armed or a teacher o! ! ute or outcast, who ives on be&&in&, who (raises himse ! and ca5o es others, who does not observe viaishwadev% 6e shou d a so not dine with a Guru who &ets enra&es% >ho is crue adu terous and a (retender, who !orsakes his wi!e, a woman who ives !orsakin& her sons and husband, a Brahmin, who se s wine and does the (ro!ession o! a b acksmith, a washer man or a

&amb ers, one who is a (rostitute, a thie!, a doorkee(er, who teaches a Shudra b" takin& mone", who se s horses, who is 6aridas #0irtankar$, one who does not bathe and does not observe Sandh"a and Shraddha, who is treacherous, who des(ises others, one who !orsakes his (arents and ca5o es his Guru, who ki s a cow, a Brahmin or a woman, one who does not &ive in charit", who has no issue% >ho des(ises one's !ood and (raises the !ood o! others% Eood at such (ersons shou d a so be avoided% I! one takes !ood on /mavas"a he oses virtue o! one month% Cn ess one's dau&hter has an issue, one wou d not dine at her house% / these sins are wi(ed o!! i! one abides b" one's own re i&ion%' The Brahmin !urther asked Shri Guru, 'kind " te me the code o! dai " rites o! a Brahmin%' Shri Guru:'I wi te "ou the code o! rites o! a Brahmin as narrated b" Parashara to the ,ishis in the Nemisharan"a% 'ne shou d &et u( on Brahma muhurta i%e% 9 hours #4 Ghatkas$ be!ore the Sunrise and bow to Shri Guru and &od% Go to the southwest !or e.cretion at a ( ace awa" !rom the residence o! (eo( e and the source o! water% 'ne shou d sit !acin& the south at ni&ht and !acin& the north in the mornin& and the evenin&% /rms, hands and e&s shou d be washed with so!t earth and water% 6e shou d take 9 'achman' #takin& ten dro(s o! water sa"in& bow to 0eshav, bow Nara"an, bow to Madhav etc%$ I! there is no water at hand "ou shou d touch the e"es and ears% Seven deities sta" at the ri&ht ear o! a Brahmin as described in the !o owin& S okas% #Eire, >ater, Vedas, Sun, Moon and the >ind are the seven deities who a wa"s reside in the ri&ht ear o! a Brahmin$ Holy places on the Palm 'Brahma Tirth' is at the root o! the thumb, '/&ni Tirth' is one the (a m, 'Pitru Tirth' is at the root o! the thumb and the !ore !in&er, 'Dev Tirth' is at the ends o! the !our !in&ers #e.ce(t the thumb$ and ',ishi Tirth' is at the root o! this sma !in&er% >hi e o!!erin& 'tar(an to !ore!athers, Gods and ,ishi water, ti etc% are to be (oured thou&h the res(ective Tirthas% Achaman Sa"in& 'Bow to 0eshav, Nara"an, Madhav, the itt e water on the Brahmatirth is to be taken in the mouth and is to be drunk% The itt e water is to be (oured in ( ate a!ter sa"in& bow to Govinda% I! one is touched b" a Shudra o! an im(ure one, i! one becomes wet in the rains, i! one comes home !rom a !unera , one becomes (ure b" takin& 9 achamans% Washing of teeth and mouth Teeth shou d not be c eaned b" 'datoon'#stem o! some tree$ on (arva , (rati(ada, shashti, Noumi, Dwadashi and on Saturda"s, Shraddha and weddin& da"s% This does not mean that the mouth, teeth and ton&ue shou d not be c eaned at a % 'n " datoon shou d not be used on these da"s% Datoon sticks shou d be taken o! Babu , karan5, (a m, a&hada, audumbar and rui trees% /!ter use the datoon shou d be thrown to the Southwest% Bath (Snan) Mornin& bath &ives one ust, stren&th, i!e, inte ect, ( easure and nutrition% / Grahastha and Vana(rastha shou d bathe in the mornin& and midda"% / 1ati, Ta(asi on San"asi shou d bathe thrice whi e a Brahmachari shou d bathe once a da"% I! these is no su!!icient water and in case o! di!!icu t" an" one o! the !o owin& a ternatives ma" be chosen% '/&nisnan':means to stand in the Sun% KMantra snan' means to s(rink e water on bod" a!ter recitin& K/(ohistadi' mantra% KBhasmasnan' means to a(( " bhasma or vibuthi a over the bod"% KVa"usnan' means to take the dust at the !eet o! the cow% KTirthsnan' means to brin& the ido o! Vishnu in the mind% /!ter sa"in& K/(avitrah Pavitrova etc% i! water is s(rink ed on one's bod", it is ike a bath% / weak (erson shou d s(on&e his bod" with c oth di((ed in warm water% 6ea th" (ersons shou d bathe with co d water% In case o! di!!icu t" do Ku(snan' i%e% #wash hands, !eet and rub the bod" with a wet c oth$% I! co d water is not to erab e, hot water bath shou d be taken% >ater itse ! is (ure% 6eated water is more (ure% / Grahastha shou d bathe with hot water% 6e shou d take achaman in the midst o! the bath% Eema es shou d not bathe over their head dai "% In the bath at home do not do K/&hamarshan' #sa"in& o! mantra wi(in& o!! the sins$ and KTar(an' #o!!erin& ti to Gods, !ore!athers and ,ishis$% Do not take hot water bath on the da" o! birth o! a son on da" o! Shraddha or death on Sankranti, Purnima and /mavas"a% Take the darbha in hand,

tie the hair on the head #shikha$ with them, and enchant the water o! "our bath with K/(ohishta' etc%, mantra and three Ga"atri% Take co d water !irst and then hot water% >hi e takin& bath in the river, !ace to the ! ow o! the river and do K/&hamarshan'% In the bath at home, turn "our !ace to the east in the mornin& and to the west in the evenin&% Bath (uri!ies the bod" i! taken a!ter wee(in&, vomitin&, se.:act and si&ht o! bad dreams% / Grahastha shou d not wear wet and sa!!ron c oth% 6e shou d have a Ku(wastra' such as du(atta% I! there is no u(wastra, the credit o! the bath &oes to ,akshas% The Brahmins shou d wear white dhoti and shou d have a c oth, a du(atta or a shaw on the bod"% Bhasma or Vibuthi /!ter bath one shou d a(( " Basma or Vibuthi as (er Shastra ru es% I! it is not avai ab e 'Go(ichandan' shou d be a(( ied% Devotees o! Vishnu have vertica ines o! Bhasma #tri(undra$ on the !orehead% Eor ac?uirin& on& i!e one shou d a(( " bhasma with the midd e !in&er, !or devotion use the tar5ani i%e% the 9nd !in&er near the Thumb, !or !ood use the anamika i%e% the 3th !in&er Bhasma shou d not be a(( ied on the da" o! Shraddha, Thread, >eddin& and other ceremonies and a!ter !unera bath% Darbha (kind of grass) These are re?uired !or Brahma"adna and Tar(an, Durva, wa a, darbha, kush, kunda, wheat, (add", mo a, na&armotha, Bhadra and mustha are the ten kinds o! &rass which can be used as darbha% Darbha shou d be brou&ht on Bhadra(ad and Shravan /mavas"a and stored and used !or a "ear% Brahma is at the end o! the darbha, ,udra is at the root and Vishnu is in the midd e% Pavitraka #rin&$ o! darbha shou d be ke(t in a !in&er% Sins are wi(ed o!! due to this% >hi e doin& 5a( #recitation$, ta( #(enance$, homa, #sacri!ice$ and chantin& o! Vedas, &o d or si ver rin&s shou d not be taken o!!, !or wearin& the darbha (avitraka% ,in& shou d not be (ut in the tar5ani b" one who has !ather% ,in& with ; &ems destro"s sins% / Brahmin shou d have a rin& with at east one &em% Sandhya / Brahmin shou d start Sandh"a a!ter bath, ear " in the mornin& when the nakshatra #stat$ is visib e in the sk"% 6e shou d o!!er '/r&h"as' #o!!erin& water$ to the Sun at Sunrise% I! the norma time !or the /r&h"a has e a(sed one more /r&h"a shou d be &iven% Mandesh demons are a wa"s !i&htin& with the Sun% To nu i!" the obstruction in the risin& o! the Sun, these /r&h"as are to be &iven% These /r&h"as strike the demons ike wea(ons and in order to wi(e o!! this sin, one has to move round onese ! sa"in& '/savadit"a Brahma%%%' ecitation of !ayatri /!ter this reco ect the names o! ,ishis etc% and recite 'Ga"atri Mantra%' Eor this (ur(ose a wreath o! ,udraksha, cora beads or white stone beads shou d be used% The wreath shou d not have an" broken beads% 'ne shou d observe 'moun' #nons(eakin&$ whi e recitin&% 'ne shou d recite the mornin& and midda" Sandh"a a!ter standin& and the evenin& Sandh"a a!ter sittin&% ,ecitation o! Ga"atri at home &ives one credit+ i! done outside it &ives doub e credit% I! done on the bank o! a river the credit is three!o d, and i! done at a cowshed or a vrindawan #Tu si ( ant ( anted in the ha ow stone or in brick construction$ the credit is ten!o d% The recitation at a ( ace o! /&nihotra, &ives 2**:!o d credit+ at a ho " ( ace or near a shrine o! &od it &ives 2*** !o d credit, whi e recitation near Vishnu &ives crore:!o d credit and near Shiva it &ives immeasurab e credit% ,ecitation made whi e sittin& on a broken wood ( ank causes miser", and that done whi e sittin& on &rass, causes oss o! &ood !ate and & or"% ,ecitation done whi e sittin& on a stone causes disease+ that done whi e sittin& on bhasmasan causes cure o! diseases% / b anket seat &ives ( easure+ a seat o! the skin o! a b ack deer &ives know ed&e, whi e that o! the skin o! a b ack deer &ives know ed&e, whi e that o! the skin o! a ti&er &ives sa vation% 0ushasan causes h"(notism and destro"s a diseases and sins% The a((earance #Dh"an o! Ga"atri in the mornin& Sandh"a is o! 0umari% 6er co or is red, her c othes are red% She is ridin& a &oose% She has !our hands and !our heads% The a((earance o! Ga"atri in the midda" Sandh"a is o! a "oun& ad"% 6er co or is white% 6er c othes are white% She is ridin& on o.% She has !ive heads%

The a((earance o! Ga"atri in the evenin& Sandh"a is o! an o d ad"% 6er co or is b ack% 6er c othes are b ack% She rides Garud% She has !our heads% Sunmukh, Sam(ut, Vitat, Vistrat, Dwimukh, Trimukh, Chaturmukh, Panchmu"kh, Shanmukh, /dhomukh, V"a(an5a ik, Shakat, 1Gam(ash, Gnanthit, Sanmukhonmukh, Pra amb, Muohti, Mats"a 0urma, Varaha, Sinhakranti, Mahakranti, Mud&ar and Pa ava are the 93 mudras #(oses$% ,ecitation o! Ga"atri with mudras is more !ruit!u % Ga"atri has three (arts #(ad or charan$, and the" shou d not be recited without (ause a!ter each (art% 'Man' means mind and 'Tra' means Pran #sou $% ,ecitation o! a mantra shou d there!ore be done with the union o! mind and sou % / Brahmachari and a Grahastha shou d recite Ga"atri Mantra 2*F times dai "% / Van(rastha, 1ati or a San"asi shou d recite it 2*** #thousand$ times% In case o! di!!icu t" one ma" recite it at east 2* times a dai "% ,ecitation in the mind is the best% >his(erin& in mouth is medium and oud recitation is worst% >hi e recitin&, with a wreath, do not trans&ress the menu or the head bead% I! it is trans&ressed = (rana"ams shou d be observed% ,ecitin& Ga"atri a crore time !u !i s a desires% /!ter 5a(, u(sthan #(ra"er$ shou d be recited whi e standin&% Bow to ten dishas #directions$, Gods, Brahmin, Guru, (ronounce one's Gotra and birth name and end the ritua o! Sandh"a% The home shou d be swe(t dai " and ke(t c ean% The earthen ! oor shou d smeared with cow dun& and water% ,an&o i #stone(owder$ desi&ns shou d be drawn in the court"ard and be!ore the shrines o! worshi(% / Grahastha shou d kee( a cow, a Sha i&ram, #so!t b ack round stone as Vishnu$, Gau"a and Grih"a&ni at home% / Brahmin shou d (er!orm Sandh"a dai " and shou d a so worshi( &ods dai "% 'ne who does not worshi( &ods is ike a beast% In the mornin& the worshi( shou d be done with 2) u(chars and in the ni&ht, i&ht o! &hee #/arti$ shou d be waved be!ore the shrines% 1ama (unishes those who do not worshi( &ods% The ei&ht ( aces or ob5ects o! worshi( are as !o ows% The Shrine o! &ods, the Sthandi #earthen e evated construction !or !ire o! sacri!ice$, the /&ni #Eire$, the Sun, the water, the heart, the Brahmin and the Sad&uru% The Brahmin ma es shou d worshi( &ods with Veda mantras, whi e the !ema es and Shudras shou d worshi( with Purana mantras% E owers brou&ht !rom trees in the !orest are o! medium va ue% Those (urchased are worst% The ! owers &rown b" one se ! in one's house &arden are the best% E owers eaten b" worms and havin& ho es shou d not be used% Shri Dur&a shou d not be o!!ered' Kdurva' #a kind &rass$, 0evada shou d not be o!!ered to Shri Shiva, Tu si shou d not be o!!ered to Shri Ganesh and ! owers o! Dhotra and ,ui shou d not be o!!ered to Shri Vishnu% 0ee( the (ot o! water at the e!t hand a the artic es o! worshi( at the ri&ht hand% 2) iuchars o! worshi( shou d be observed devoted " with (anchamrit #mi.ture o! mi k, curds, &hee, hone" and su&ar$% Shankh #Conch$ shou d be ke(t on the e!t and Ghanta #be $ on the ri&ht hand% /!ter bowin& to &ods, do achman and the Sanka (a #(ronunciation o! desire o! worshi( mentionin& the time, "ear, a"an, ritu, month, (aksh #!ortni&ht, dark or bri&ht$ tithi #(articu ar da" o! a month$, Nakshatra #star$, ( aces o! various ( anets on the da" and (ur(ose or desire o! worshi(% Then start ordinar" bath with water, (anchamrit, abhishek #(ourin& water$ chantin& Purush Sukta, Vishnu Sukta, Shri Sukta, Dakshmi Sukta, ,udra Sukta, Pavaman Sukta, etc% #as (er devotion a or (articu ar Sukta or Suktas ma" be se ected !or /bhishek%$ /!ter /bhishek, dr" the shrines with a (iece o! c oth and ( ace them at their ( aces and o!!er c othes, ornaments, Gandha, 6a ad, 0umkum, ! owers or wreaths, Tu si, be eaves sa"in&, K&ive me she ter, (rotect me%' >ithered !o owers taken out o! the shrines shou d be touched, to one's head and nose and ke(t aside to be immersed in the river or rivu et% The bhasma scented sticks be a(( ied to !orehead and the Tirth #ho " water o! bath o! &ods$ shou d be drunk% Eor (uri!ication o! !ood and wi(in& o!! 4 &reat sins, one shou d do waishwadeo in the mornin& and in the evenin& be!ore mea s% 6oma in the mornin& is a sacri!ice !or &od% Ba i is &iven !or the &hosts, and Tar(an is the sacri!ice !or !ore!athers% /t the time o! dinner, one shou d wait !or a &uest% I! a &uest comes, &ive him !ood% I! he is a 1ati, &ive him !ood and water a so% Be!ore takin& mea s wash "our !eet, hands and the mouth% I! an unknown (erson dines with "ou, o!!er him !ood at a distance% There shou d not be distinction o! !ood !or (ersons dinin& at a time% /!ter !our Chitrahutis take !ive Pranahutis% 'bserve Kmoun' durin& mea s or at east u( to Pranahutis% Do not eave thin&s in ( ate e.ce(t itt e !or "our wi!e% There shou d be no noise whi e takin& water or i?uid artic es% I! whi e dinin& the am( &oes o!!, then sto( takin& !ood ti the am(

is re( aced% >hi e dinin& do not see and hear the words o! !ema es in month " course, do not touch each other when dinin&% I! &ases (ass, i! the !ood contains worms or i! there is vomitin&, then sto( dinin&% I! hair is !ound, it shou d be (ut o!! and the !ood shou d be s(rink ed with Tirth% I! onion and &ar ic are taken one is de(rived o! Brahmanism% KSatwic' !ood increases know ed&e, whi e KTamas' !ood increases i&norance% >hi e dinin&, !irst take i?uid artic es and then take others% Dast Ka(oshan' shou d be ha ! taken and ha ! shou d be (oured down% >ash "our mouth with the !ore!in&er% Eor (uri!ication o! mouth and !in&ers, two achmans shou d be taken% /!ter dinner, take (an and hear Purana% -venin& Sandh"a etc% /nd mea s shou d be taken as in the midda"% It wou d be better i! artic es (re(ared with mi k were taken in the ni&ht% Do the (ro!essiona work durin& the da"% 8Sour Path8 shou d not be chanted a!ter sunset% Be!ore &oin& to bed bow to the God and dedicate a the 0arma #acts$ o! the da" to him% Goin& outside at the !erti i7ation (eriod o! the wi!e is sin!u % Durin& this time o! the !irst !our da"s Parvaka , Mu , Ma&ha and ,evati stars shou d be avoided !or se. act% There shou d be no se. act on the Shraddha da" and durin& da"time% I! these ru es are !o owed, even a Grahastha is a Brahmachari #i%e% !o ower o! Veda Shastras in se. act$% 'ne shou d not en5o" with an o der !ema e% There shou d be no !ee in& o! des(ise, or &rie! at the time o! the se. act% The Brahmins who behaved as instructed b" Shri Guru attained &ood 8Par ok8% Shri Guru Charitra Cha(ter PPPVII Dharma o! a Brahmin Sri Guru e.( ained the customs that Brahmins shou d !o ow% 6e said, 81ou shou d use 0rishna5ina in the house and kee( the house c ean% The (ra"er room shou d be c ean and decorated with ,an&o i% Meditate in si ence and worshi( God% >ooden and stone ido s ma" be worshi((ed, as the" are !orms and abodes o! God% Sit on a &ood , c ean seat and do Prana"ama, worshi( God with ! owers, and with !aith worshi( Vishnu with Tu si, as 6e oves Tu si, worshi( Shiva with Be :(athra% Gana(athi oves Durva% In the a!ternoon !eed &uests and visitors, whether touchab e or untouchab e% Dotus ea! and banana ea! are &ood to use !or eatin&% 1ou must not eat in ead or co((er ( ates% Bron7e ( ates are the best !or eatin&% -at sweet dishes !irst% ,ice shou d not be eaten !irst% It wi not &et di&ested% -atin& e!tover !ood is !orbidden% /!ter !ood "ou ma" have Thambu a, bete ea! and nut with ime% There is no harm i! one eats !ood with &hee or oi % /!ter !ood "ou shou d stud" the Vedas%8 8'ne must not s ee( on the cremation &round, in a di a(idated tem( e, on the riverbank, near an anthi or a crossroad% Parashara ,ishi has aid down these customs and Dharma% There is no di!!icu t" !or him who (ractices these customs as directed b" the scri(tures% 6e is revered even b" the &ods% 0amadhenu wi come to his house% Dakshmi wi ive in such a house !orever% Such a (erson wi become a Brahma5nani%8 The Brahmin was ha((" to receive this &uidance on Dharma and said, 8'h, ocean o! merc", "ou have taken this incarnation to redeem devotees% 1ou are ike the am( o! know ed&e and "ou have removed the darkness%8 Sa"in& so the Brahmin bowed at Sri Guru's otus !eet% Guru b essed him% This is the stor" o! Guru Charithra% >hoever istens to it wi &ain &reat know ed&e% It is a source o! i&ht !or the i&norant% Shri Guru Charitra Cha(ter PPPVIII Eour Thousand Eed with Eood o! = Seers on " Someone did Samaradhna #!eedin& o! Brahmins$ on ever" da" and Shri Guru was invited with his disci( es% 'nce a (oor Brahmin named Bhaskar, o! 0ash"a( Gotra came there% 6e a so wished to do Samaradhna and o!!er a ms to Shri Guru+ but due to (overt" he was an.ious as to how this cou d be achieved% 6e had &athered some ! our and rice, which he ke(t in the math% 'ther

Brahmins ridicu ed him sa"in&, K6ow can "ou do SamaradhnaB 'ut o! whatever rice "ou have, "ou cannot &ive even one (artic e to each Brahmin% Seein& his devotion, Shri Guru asked Bhaskar one da" to do samaradhna% 6e was & ad and even encoura&ed b" Shri Guru's words% 6e brou&ht &hee and ve&etab es and (re(ared the !ood a!ter bath% / Brahmins thou&ht that the" wou d have to dine at their homes and have ordinar" mea s that da"% Shri &uru asked Bhaskar to invite a the Brahmins !or Samaradhna% Bhaskar said that the Brahmins ( a"ed 5oke with him% So it wou d be better i! a disci( e was sent% /s instructed the disci( e invited Brahmins to come to Math !or Samaradhna% Shri Guru asked Bhaskar to brin& the !ood (re(ared b" him and cover it with Shri Guru's c oth% >hen this was done, Shri Guru s(rink ed ho " water !rom his bow on the !ood and said, Kwithout removin& the coverin& c oth, take out the artic es in other (ots and serve them o the Brahmins The Brahmins sat !or dinner% Eood was served to thousands and "et much !ood was in ba ance% /!ter the Brahmins, had taken !ood the" were re?uested to send their wives and chi dren !or dinner% /!ter them, a others in Gana&a(ur were invited !or dinner with !ami ies% Then Shri Guru asked Bhaskar to dine% /!ter his dinner, it was !ound that a the !ood ori&ina " (re(ared was sti in ba ance% Shri Guru asked Bhaskar to throw the !ood in the river so that the creatures in the water wou d a so be satis!ied% This was a &reat mirac e% The !ood su!!icient on " !or three (ersons was (rovided to over 3*** (ersons% Severa such incidents have occurred in the i!e o! Shri Guru%8 Shri Guru Charitra Cha(ter PPPIP )* 1ear ' d Steri e >oman Be&ets Chi dren There ived one Shounak Gotri, /(astamb Brahmin named Somanath% 6is wi!e Gan&a was a devoted wi!e, (ious b" nature% She was )* "ears o d, but she had no issue% She used to come to Shri Guru and bow to him devoted " ever" da"% Shri Guru bein& ( eased, one da" asked her, K>h" are "ou worshi((in& me dai "B >hat do "ou desireB God wi !u !i "our desire% She said, KGurudev, a woman's i!e is !uti e without an issue% >ithout a son the home is ike a !orest% Issue ess (ersons &o to he % P ease &ive me a boon so that I wi have a son at east in ne.t i!e%' Shri Guru smi ed and said, KService to the /shwattha wi not be !uti e% There is an /shwattha tree at the Bhima /mar5a san&am% I am (resent there a!ter the bath in the river% There!ore worshi( the /shwattha devoted "% The &reatness o! /shwattha is narrated in the Puranas% Brahmadev is at its root, Vishnu is in its midd e (ortion and the ,udra is on its to( and the /&ni #!ire &od$ ies in the interior o! this tree% In the months o! /shadha, Poush or Chaitra, when Guru and Shukra are not set, when the moon is !avorab e on an aus(icious da", observe !ast and start worshi((in& the /shwattha% Do not touch the tree on Sunda", Sankranti and in the evenin&% The ! oor at the root shou d be smeared b" cow dun& and have ,an&o i desi&ns% >orshi( the /shwattha thinkin& it as a Trimurti, with 2) u(chars, then sa"in& Purushsukta and observin& Kmoun' take rounds o! the tree% Two akhs rounds destro" even the sin o! Brahmahat"a% The /shwattha &ives !our (urusharthas% 6e a so !u !i s the desire o! a son% ,ecitation o! Mrit"un5a"a sittin& at the /shwattha on Saturda" avoids accidenta death and &ives on& i!e% 'ne &ets credit o! !eedin& severa Brahmins, i! one Brahmin is !ed under this tree% I! one /shwattha tree is &rown, 39 &enerations are iberated+ but i! one /shwattha is cut, it is a &reat sin (er!ormed% 6ome (er!ormed under the tree &ives credit o! a &reat sacri!ice% Do 6oma o! one tenth o! the number o! rounds and !eed Brahmins and &ive &o den /shwattha in charit"% She started worshi((in& /shwattha as advised b" Shri Guru% 'n the third da", she had a dream% / Brahmin to d her to &o to Shri Guru at Gana&a(ur, have seven rounds o! Shri Guru and take the (rasad that is &iven to her and that her desire wi be !u !i ed% She awoke% 'n the !ourth da" she went to Shri Guru and had < rounds% Shri Guru &ave her 9 !ruits and said, K-at these !ruits% 1our desire wi be !u !i ed%'

She then com( eted her vrata o! the worshi( o! /shwattha% Durin& mea s she ate the !ruits &iven b" Shri Guru% In the evenin& she started menses% 'n the !ourth da" a!ter bath she went to Shri Guru and bowed to him% She had se. act on he !i!th da"% She became (re&nant, In the seventh month she was &iven K'ti' and she &ave Kva"an' to married women% KSeemant' was (er!ormed in the Fth month% /!ter ; months she be&ot a dau&hter% /!ter 2* da"s she came to Shri Guru with the bab"% Shri Guru smi ed and b essed her bab" and said, K1ou wi have one more son, what do "ou (re!erB / we :behaved son o! =* "ears o! a&e or a !oo havin& 2** "ears' i!eB' The woman said, KI wou d ike to have a we :behaved son, who shou d have 4 sons%' Shri Guru b essed her, as she desired% Dater on she had a son who became earned and won !ame% 6e had 4 sons in course o! time% The dau&hter's husband (er!ormed sacri!ices and was we :known as KDi.it%' Shri Guru Charitra Cha(ter PD De(er Brahmin Cured 'nce a Brahmin KNarahari' b" name came to Shri Guru at Gana&a(ur and bowin& to him said, KM" i!e is !uti e% I studied 1a5urveda, but as I am su!!erin& !rom e(ros"% / (eo( e des(ise me and do not invite !or 0arma% I have visited severa ho " ( aces but the disease is there, kind " b ess me%' Shri Guru &ave him a dr" o& o! /udumbar and said, KGo to the San&am and ( ant it on the bank o! Bhima in the east% /!ter bath, worshi( /shwattha at the San&am% /&ain bathe and &ive water to this o& thrice a da"% >hen it s(routs &reen !o ia&e, "our sins wi be wi(ed o!! and "ou wi be !ree !rom e(ros"% /s instructed b" Shri Guru, Narahari ( anted the o& on the bank o! Bhima and be&an to water it thrice% Some (ersons said to him, K/re "ou madB 6ow can a dr" o& bear &reen !o ia&eB Sti Narahari continued his waterin& o! the o& devoted "% 6e a so observed !ast !or < da"s% Shri Guru was in!ormed b" his disci( es re&ardin& the devoted service o! Narahari to the o&% Shri Guru said, 8'ne &ets the !ruits as (er one's devotion% There is a ta e in the Skandha Purana in this connection% Soot narrated to the ,ishis, KIn !ormer da"s there ived a kin& Sinhaket in Pancha % 6is son Dhanan5a"a once went to a !orest with a Shabardut, who (icked u( a Din&a: ike stone near a Shiva Tem( e% ,a5kumar asked him K>hat wi "ou do with this stone B There are so man" Din&as ike this s(read over here%' Shabardut said, KI wish to worshi( this Din&a dai "% P ease te me how to worshi( it%' ,a5kumar said, KTake this Din&a home, worshi( it with ! owers and be eaves a on& with "our wi!e% '!!er naiveid"a o! !resh chita #cor(se$ bhasma dai "% >hatever !ood "ou have, shou d a so be o!!ered%' The Shabar took the Din&a home and started the worshi(% 'ne da", he cou d not &et !resh Chita bhasma% 6e was much worried% 6is devoted wi!e said, KBurn m" bod" and o!!er Chita bhasma to &od Shiva, Kthe Shabar was ver" much (ained to hear this% 6e said, KI sha be doin& a &reat sin i! I burn "ou%' The wi!e said, KDeath wi occur some da" or the other% I! I &ive m" bod" !or Shiva's worshi(, I sha have ( ace in 0ai as% So "ou need not be sorr"%' The Shabar burnt her and the Chita bhasma was o!!ered to the Shiva Din&a% /s usua he ca ed his wi!e to take (rasad% She a so came smi in& and took the (rasad% The home a((eared to be norma , as i! nothin& had occurred% Seein& this, the Shabar was much astonished% 6is wi!e said, KI heard "our voice and was as i! aroused !rom s ee(% KGouri ,aman Shiva a((eared be!ore them% Both bowed to him Shri Shiva was ( eased and b essed the cou( e% Such is the &reatness o! the devotion o! Guru% 'ne who has im( icit !aith in the words o! Guru's &ets such !ruit%' Shri Guru went to the San&am to see the e(er Brahmin% 6e was ( eased to see his devotion% The Brahmin was &ivin& water to the o&% Shri Guru s(rink ed the ho " water o! his bow on the o& and instant " &reen !o ia&e s(routed on the o&% The e(ros" o! the Brahmin disa((eared and his bod" became hea th" and bri&ht% Narahari bowed to Shri Guru and be&an to (ra" 6im% 6e com(osed F s okas, which are bein& chanted at Gana&a(ur in the ni&ht, a!ter /arti dai ", ti now%

Shri Guru ( aced his hand on the head o! Narahari and b essed him% 6e returned to the Math with Narahari% / (ersons wondered to see this mirac e% Man" did Samaradhna% Shri Guru named Narahari as '1o&eshwara' and asked him to come with his !ami " and ive with him% Shri Guru &ave him 8Vid"a Saraswati8 mantra a so% Shri Guru Charitra Cha(ter PDI Sa"amdev Serves Shri GuruG 6is 0ashikhand Maha"atra Namdharak% K6ow did m" !ore!athers serve Shri GuruB' Shri Siddha : 1our &rand !ather's !ather, Sa"amdev, had worshi((ed Shri Guru at 'sar&ram% Shri Guru had a!!ection !or him% Shri Guru ater came and sta"ed at Gana&a(ur% 6is !ame s(read a over the countr"% 0nowin& this, Sa"amdev a so came to Gana&a(ur% 6e came to the Math, bowed to Shri Guru and (ra"ed him% Shri Guru was ( eased% 6e ( aced his (a m on his head, b essed him, and said K1ou wi be m" devotee !or &enerations%' Shri Guru asked him to bathe at the San&am and return !or the mea s to the Math% /!ter returnin& !rom the San&am, Sa"amdev worshi((ed Shri Guru with 2) u(chars and o!!ered severa de icious artic es o! !ood, as naiveid"a% 6e dined with Shri Guru, who in?uired about his !ami "% Sa"amdev said, KM" re atives and sons are ivin& at Cttar 0anchi #Gad&anchi$ hai and hea th"% I wish to sta" with "ou and serve "our ho " se ! now% Shri Guru said M" service is di!!icu t% I ive in a town !or some time, whi e in the !orest at other time% It is troub esome to ive in a !orest% I! "our mind is !irm then on " "ou shou d sta" here%' Sa"amdev conceded and said, K/ devotee o! Shri Guru has no !ear%' Three months (assed% 'ne evenin& Shri Guru went to the San&am a on& with Sa"amdev a one and sat be ow the /shwattha tree% There was a &reat storm, !o owed b" heav" rain, Sa"amdev stood stretchin& a c oth over Shri Guru to (rotect him !rom the rain% There was a shiverin& co d in the ni&ht% So Shri Guru asked Sa"amdev to &o to the Math in the town and brin& !ire% Thick darkness and s(read a over and there was i&htin& now and then% Shri Guru warned Sa"amdev not to ook to his ri&ht or e!t side% /n"how Sa"amdev reached the Math, took !ire and returned% 'ut o! curiosit", he ooked to his ri&ht side and saw a Cobra &oin& with him% 6e was !ri&htened% 6e then ooked to the e!t side% 6ere too he saw another Cobra% 6e recited Shri Guru's name and wa ked strai&ht% 6e came to Shri Guru and it the !ire% The two Cobras came be!ore Shri Guru, bowed to him and went awa"% Shri Guru said to Sa"amdev, K>h" are "ou so much a!raidB I had sent these Cobras to (rotect "ou% I sha te "ou a ta e, about service to Shri Guru, to (ass this ni&ht% K>hen Shri Shiva was sittin& on a (eak o! the 0ai as mountain with Parvati, she asked him, K6ow can Shri Guru be served with devituib%' Shri Shiva said, K'ne who serves Shri Guru with sincerit", can attain a that one desires% Brahma had an incarnation, which was ca ed Tashthra Brahma% 6e had a handsome son% >hen his thread ceremon" was (er!ormed his !ather sent the bo" to a Guru !or stud" o! Vedas and Shastras% 6e served the Guru devoted "% 'nce there was rain and the water came in the ashram o! the &uru% The &uru to d the (u(i to construct a astin& house with a conveniences, which shou d ook a wa"s new% The wi!e o! the Guru asked the bo" to brin& her a b ouse, which shou d neither be sewn nor woven% The son o! the Guru said, KBrin& sanda s !or me, that wou d enab e me to wa k on waters and take me to an" desired ( ace% The dau&hter o! the Guru asked the bo", KBrin& earrin&s !or me and a ( a"house o! an e e(hant tooth havin& one (i ar and a the conveniences% / so brin& (ots in which !ood wi be warm and which wi not be b ack due to suit% The (u(i took eave o! Guru and went to a !orest% 6e was an.ious how a these thin&s cou d be obtained% 'n the wa" he met an ascetic, who in?uired Kchi d, wh" are "ou so worriedB' The Brahmachari bo" bowed to him and said, K0ind " &uide and (rotect me% It is m" &ood !ortune that I cou d see "ou in this !orest% K6e to d him what his Guru, Guru's wi!e, son and dau&hter had asked him to do% 6e said, 'I am an.ious as to how a these thin&s can be achieved% The ascetic assured him and said, KDon't worr"% 0ashi is a ho " ( ace o! Vishweshwar% 1ou &o there and worshi( 6im% / "our desires wi be !u !i ed% 0ashi is known as K/nand 0anan'% 'ne attains a the !our (urusharthas a!ter &oin& there'%

The Brahmachari asked, K>here is 0ashiB 6ow can I &o thereB' The ascetic : I sha take "ou there% Due to "ou, I sha a so have the !ortune to see the ho " ( ace a&ain%' Sa"in& so both went to 0ashi instant " b" "o&in (ower% The ascetic then to d the Brahmachari to do /ntar Graha"atra, Dakshin manas"atra and utta manas"atra% >hi e visitin& ho " ( aces bath shou d be taken there% Then do 'anchkroshi "atra+ Shuk a and dark !ortni&ht "atras shou d a so be (er!ormed% >orshi( nine Din&as and 0ashi Vishweshwar% I! "our devotion to Guru is !irm, Shri Shiva Shankar wi be ( eased and !u !i a "our desires,' Sa"in& this the ascetic went awa"% The Brahmachari (er!ormed a the "atras as instructed b" the ascetic% Shri Shankar was ( eased% 6e a((eared be!ore the bo" and asked him to have a boon% Twashthrakumar narrated his account and mentioned the artic es re?uired !or Guru, Guru's wi!e, son and dau&hter% Shri Shankar b essed him sa"in&, K1ou wi be as e!!icient as Vishwakarma%' The Brahmachari (re(ared a the artic es ski !u " returned to the Guru's ( ace% The Guru was a so ( eased to see him back with success% 6e a so b essed him sa"in&, K1ou wi be (ro!icient in a Vid"as%' Shri Guru e.( ained the &reatness o! Guru to Sa"amdev in this wa"% B" this time the sun was risin& on the eastern hori7on% Sa"amdev said, K1ou e.( ained 0ashi "atra in detai s% >hi e hearin& the same, I cou d see and a so visit the res(ective ho " shrines, tanks and ( aces with "our ho " se ! and thou&ht as i! we were in 0ashi% 6e then (ra"ed Guru with F s okas, which are dai ", chanted a!ter /arti at Gana&a(ur ti now% >hi e (ra"in&, his throat choked and his hair stood erect on his bod"% Shri Guru was much ( eased% 6e b essed him and said, KBrin& "our !ami " and chi dren here and sta" with me% Do not bow to Mus ims herea!ter%' Sa"amdev went to his ( ace and returned to Gana&a(ur with his !ami " and chi dren on bhadra(ad Shuddha 23, the /nant Chaturdashi da"% This time he (ra"ed Shri Guru with ei&ht S okas in 0annad% Shri Guru seated him b" his side and in?uired about a % Sa"amdev had two sons% Shri Guru oved the e der, Na&nath% Shri Guru ( aced his (a m on the head o! Sa"amdev and said, K1ou do not serve the Mus ims now% 1ou a have bath at the San&am%' Sa"amdev and his !ami " bathed at the San&am, worshi((ed the /shwattha there and returned to the Math% Shri Guru said to Sa"amdev, KToda" is /nant Chaturdashi% / Brahmins worshi( /nant on this da"% 1ou too shou d do /nant Pu5a%' Sa"amdev said, K1ou are m" /nant%' Sti Guru insisted on him to do the /nant Pu5a% Shri Guru Charitra Cha(ter PDII Si&ni!icance o! /nant Vrata Shri Guru narrated the si&ni!icance o! /nant vrata to Sa"amdev% 6e said, KDharmara5, the son o! Pandu, did this vrata% 6e re&ained his kin&dom, which was ost in a &ame o! chess with the 0auravas% Therea!ter the Pandavas were ivin& in the !orest with &reat su!!erin&s% The 0auravas sent Durvas ,ishi to the Pandavas !or harassin& them even in the !orest% Shri 0rishna, (rotector o! his devotees, assisted Pandavas in di!!icu ties% 'nce Drou(adhi and the !ive Pandavas bowed to Shri 0rishna and asked , K6ow sha we be re ieved !rom this vanvas # ivin& in !orest$B' Shri 0rishna advised them to do the /nant vrata% Shri 0rishna said, K/nant shou d be worshi((ed on bhadra(ad Shuddha 23% I wi te "ou a ta e re&ardin& this Vrata% In the 0rit:"u& there ived a Brahmin named Sumantu o! the Vasishta Gotra% Deeksha was his devoted wi!e% She be&ot a dau&hter named Sushi a% Dater Deeksha died and in order to continue the Grahastha rites he married with 0arkasha, who used to ?uarre with her husband and dau&hter ever" now and then% Due to this, Sumantu was a wa"s de5ected% /s Sushi a &rew, she became !it !or marria&e% 'ne da" 0oundin"a came to Sumantu, who &ave Sushi a to him in marria&e% In /shadha and Shrawan months, Sushi a and 0oundin"a ived with Sumantu, but 0arkasha ?uarre ed with Sushi a dai "% So 0oundin"a re?uested Sumantu to a ow him to &o home% Sumantu !e t ver" sorr", as his on " dau&hter wou d be &oin& awa"% 6e said, KThis is not m" wi!e but she is m" enem"% Now m" dau&hter wi &o awa"% >here there is no (eace, the home is ike a !orest%

0oundin"a conso ed him% Due to his (ersuasion, he a&reed to sta" !or 29 da"s more% 'n the 2=th da" Sumantu asked his wi!e to (re(are de icious !ood !or his dau&hter and son:in: aw, as the" were de(artin&% 0arkasha entered the inner room, shut the door and ( aced stones a&ainst the door so that it shou d not be o(ened easi "% /t east Sumantu &ave wheat konda to Sushi a and bade them &ood:b"e% Ne.t mornin& the" reached a river% 0oundin"a &ot down !rom the chariot and went to the river !or bath and ritua s% Sushi a saw that man" !ema es wearin& red si k saris, had &athered in the sand and the" were worshi((in& some &od% Sushi a went to them, and in?uired what the" were doin&% The !ema es re( ied, K>e are worshi((in& /nant% B" doin& this vrata, a the desires are !u !i ed%' Sushi a took instructions !rom them% She &ave 23 knots to a red strin& and (re(ared /nant and Shesha #cobra$ o! darbha and worshi((ed /nant with 2) u(chars% She then tied the /nant on her wrist% 'nce when the" were sittin&, 0oundin"a observed the red strin& on the wrist o! Sushi a% 6e asked an&ri ", 'Did "ou tie this red strin& to kee( me under "our thumbB' She said, KThis is /nant, b" whose !avor we &ot this kin&dom and (ros(erit"%' 6earin& this, 0oundin"a took the strin& b" !orce and threw it into !ire% 6e remarked, KIt is due to m" (enance that this kin&dom is obtained b" us%' Sushi a was ver" de5ected% She hastened to take out the /nant !rom !ire and (ut it in mi k% But due to this the /nant was enra&ed% The kin&dom and a their & or" was destro"ed in no time and 0oundin"a became a (au(er% 0oundin"a now re(ented and reso ved that so on& as he wou d not see /nant, he wou d neither drink nor eat% 6avin& reso ved, he started with Sushi a and went into a !orest% 6e saw a tree aden with !ruits but no bird touched its !ruit% 0oundin"a asked the tree i! it had seen /nant% The tree said, KI have not seen /nant, but i! "ou see, ( ease s(eak to him about me%' Eurther he saw a cow and a ca !% The" were tr"in& to eat &rass+ but the" cou d not do so% Then he saw a bi& bu % Eurther he saw two akes% The &oose and other birds did not drink the water% Dater he came across an e e(hant and an ass who cou d not s(eak% 0oundin"a had asked a i! the" had seen /nant% The" a denied, but said i! he saw /nant, he shou d s(eak about him to each o! them% /t ast 0oundin"a was tried o! wa kin& and he a" down on the &round% In the meantime an o d Brahmin came there and in?uired about him% 0nowin& the cause o! his worr" he said, KI sha show "ou /nant% Come with me%' 0oundin"a !o owed him and saw a !ine cit"% Brahmin seated 0oundin"a on the throne o! (recious stones and a((eared be!ore him in his rea !orm% Seein& this, 0oundin"a was ama7ed and he bowed to Shri /nant and be&an to (raise him% Shri /nant was ( eased and &ave him = boons% B" the !irst he attained Dharma, b" the second his (overt" was destro"ed and b" the third he &ot abode in Vaikunda% 0oundin"a re!erred to the tree, the cow with the ca !, the bu , the two akes, e e(hant, ass and the o d Brahmin% Shri /nant said, KThe tree, aden with !ruits, was a Brahmin, who was (roud o! his earnin& and did not teach his students, hence he became a tree% The cow had &iven an in!erti e and to a Brahmin in charit"% The bu was a rich Brahmin who did not &ive in charit" to an"one% The two akes were two sisters who e.chan&ed charit" amon& themse ves% The e e(hant is "our an&er and the ass is "our vanit"% The o d Brahmin "ou met was m"se !% >homsoever "ou have seen, are a iberatedB /!ter receivin& the b essin& o! Shri /nant, 0oundin"a ived as a ru er !or man" "ears and in the end went to heaven% Sri 0rishna to d this to 1udhistra, who then worshi((ed /nant with devotion% Shri Guru to d this Sa"amdev and asked him to et his e dest son Na&nath to do /nant Poo5a% Sa"amdev did as advised, arran&ed &rand samardhana and dined with Shri Guru% Sa"amdev then returned to his ( ace, ke(t the !ami " there and he a one returned to Shri Guru to serve him% In this wa" "our !ore!athers attained the !avor o! Shri Guru% Shri Guru Charitra Cha(ter PDIII Tantuk's Shri Shai "a 1atra on Maha Shivaratri Tantuk, a weaver, was one o! Shri Guru's devotees% 6e served Shri Guru devoted "% 6e did his (ro!ession ti a!ternoon, then bathed and swe(t the court"ard o! Shri Guru's Math% Maha Shivaratri was a((roachin&% 6is (arents and other re ations started !or Shri Shai "a, and asked Tantuk to come with them% Tantuk said, 'M" Shri Shai "a is here' and he ived a one at home%

Shri Guru asked him '>h" did "ou not &o !or "atraB' 6e re( ied, 'M" "atra is at "our !eet%' 'n the Maha Shivaratri da" Shri Guru went to San&am !or bath% Tantuk observed !ast and he a so went to the San&am and bowed to Shri Guru% Shri Guru said '/ "our re atives went !or "atra% 1ou on " remained behind% Do "ou want to see Shri Shai "aB Eo ow me, I sha show "ou% Shut "our e"es and ho d m" Sanda s !irm "%' KSa"in& so, he took him to Shri Shai "a within a moment% Shri Guru asked him to o(en his e"es% Tantuk saw Shri Giri be!ore him% Shri Guru to d Tantuk to do 0shour, bathe and see the Ma eshwar% 6e went to the river where he met his (arents and re atives% The" asked him Kwh" did "ou not come with us but came stea thi ",' 6e asked, KI came 5ust now with Shri Guru%' Some (eo( e did not be ieve in his words% Doin& 0shour and takin& Kbe ' and ! owers he went to the tem( e% >hi e worshi((in&, he saw Shri Guru sittin& on the Din&a% 6e o!!ered Poo5a with devotion and came back to Shri Guru who asked him, K>i "ou sta" or come with meB' Tantuk said, KI saw a wonder toda"% >hi e worshi((in& Shri Shankar, I saw "ou in the ( ace% >hen "ou are there wh" (eo( e come so !arB 0ind " e.( ain this to me%' Shri Guru said, KGod is a over% But si&ni!icance o! the ( ace is there% The &reatness o! this ( ace is narrated in the Skandha Purana% Eormer " Vimarshan was a kin& o! the 0irat desh% 6e had won a the kin&s% 6e was adu terer, and ate was (ious and devoted% She once asked the kin&, K1ou are adu terer and eat meat% 1et how are "ou devoted to GodB' The kin& said, KI sha te "ou an account o! m" (revious birth% I was a do& in Pam(a cit"% 'n the Shivaratri da" a were worshi((in& Shri Shiva in the tem( e% I went there ho(in& to &et somethin& to eat% The (eo( e be&an to drive me out o! the tem( e and beat me with sticks and stones% I ran round the tem( e and entered into a drain% I saw the worshi( o! Shiva that was bein& (er!ormed there but due to the thrashin& &iven to me b" the (eo( e+ I died in !ront o! the tem( e% Due to that meritorious deed, I became a kin& in this i!e, but the nature o! do& o! eatin& an"thin& has not e!t me%' The ?ueen asked, K1ou narrated "our (revious i!e% P ease te me o! m" (revious i!e%' The kin& said, K1ou were a 0a(oti #Bird$% 1ou were ! "in& with a (iece o! ! esh in "our mouth% / kite saw this and it attacked "ou, 1ou ran in the !orest at Giri and be&an to take rounds at the Shiva tem( e% The kite !o owed "ou a a on&% C timate " "ou &ot tired, "ou sat at the to( o! the tem( e and the kite attacked "ou and took awa" the ! esh that "ou had% 1ou too died instant "% Due to the merit o! the rounds o! the Shiva tem( e, "ou became m" ?ueen in this i!e%' The ?ueen !urther asks, '>hat wi be our !uture i!eB The kin& said, 'I sha be kin& o! the Sindhu desh and "ou wi be born in the Srin5a"a desh and "ou sha a&ain be m" ?ueen% Dater I sha be the kin& o! Sourashtra and "ou sha be born in 0da in& and sha be m" ?ueen% In the !ourth birth I sha be the kin& o! Gandhar and "ou wi be born in Ma&adh and sha be m" ?ueen% In the !i!th, I sha be the kin& o! /wanti and "ou wi be born in Dasharha and sha be m" wi!e% Ne.t I sha be the kin& o! /nart and "ou bein& a dau&hter o! 1a"ati, "ou wi marr" me% Seventh time I sha be the kin& o! Pand"a and 'Padvarma' wi be m" name% 1ou bein& the Vidarbha (rincess 'Vasumati' sha marr" me in a Swa"amvara% /!ter (er!ormin& man" sacri!ices, I sha acce(t San"as and stud" Brahmavid"a at /&asti MuniJs /shram and in the end I sha &o to the heaven with "ou%' Such is the &reatness o! the worshi( o! Shri Shai "a% 'Shri Guru then said, 'There is 0a eshwar in Gan&a(ur% Thinkin& him as Ma ikar5una worshi( 6im% 'Tantuk said, '>hen I saw th"se ! at the ( ace o! Ma ikar5una, wh" shou d I worshi( other shrinesB' 6earin& this Shri Guru smi ed and asked Tantuk to shut his e"es and ho d his Padukas #sanda s$ !irm " and instant " both returned to Gana&a(ur% Shri Guru sent Tantuk in the town to ca his disci( es% Seein& Tantuk in c ean shave, (eo( e wondered and asked him wh" he had shaved% Tantuk said, 'I had been to Shri Shai "a% 6ere is the bukka and (rasad%' / au&hed and said, '>e saw "ou here in the mornin&% 6ow can "ou &o to and return !rom Shri Shai "a so soonB' 6e said, ' I had been there with Shri Guru and have 5ust returned% Shri Guru is at the San&am and he has asked me to ca "ou%' 6earin& this a were astonished% The" went to the San&am and (raised Shri Guru% The (ersons, who had been to Shri Shai "a, returned in a !ortni&ht% The" a so wondered to know this e(isode%

Shri Guru Charitra Cha(ter PDIV Nandi Brahmin re ieved o! De(ros"G 6e became a Poet Nandi was a Brahmin su!!erin& !rom De(ros"% 6e worshi((ed Tu 5a(ur Bhavani !or = "ears% 6e observed !ast% 6e sta"ed near Bhuvaneshwari at Bhi avadi !or < months and worshi((ed the deit" devoted "% 6e was to d in a dream to &o to Shri Guru at Gan&a(ur and that he wou d then be re ieved o! the disease% Nandi said, '1ou are Goddess "ourse !, how do "ou ask me to &o to a human bein&% I sha be here, no matter i! I have to ose m" i!e%' The Pu5ari a so had simi ar dream% 6e and some others to d Nandi, 'Do not troub e the Goddess herea!ter and i! "ou do not mind, we sha not a ow "ou enter this Mandir%' Bein& he ( ess he came to Gan&a(ur and went to the Math and bowed to Shri Guru% Shri Guru asked him 'Deavin& the Goddess, wh" did "ou come to a human bein&B >hen "ou doubt, how can "ou be re ieved o! the diseaseB' ,ea i7in& that Shri Guru knew what was in his mind, he said, 'I am a du ard% 0ind " !or&ive me% I have come !or "our she ter% 0ind " (rotect me% I am ver" much harassed due to this disease% M" wi!e a so e!t me and went to her (arents% Chand a Devi has sent me to "ou% 0ind " do not drive me awa"%' Shri Guru asked Somanath to take Nandi to the San&am and said, 8Det him bathe at the Shatku and have rounds o! the /shwattha% Give him new c othes, throwin& awa" his o d ones and then brin& him here !or mea s%8 /s advised b" Shri Guru, Somanath took Nandi to the San&am !or bath% /!ter bath his bod" became !ree !rom e(ros"% /!ter takin& rounds o! the /shwattha, Somanath brou&ht him back to the Math% Nandi bowed to Shri Guru and be&an to (ra" 6im% Shri Guru asked him, 'See i! a "our bod" has been !ree !rom the disease% 6e ooked to his bod" and !ound that some (atches had remained on his thi&h% Bein& a!raid he asked '/!ter havin& "our b essin&s wh" these (atches shou d be hereB' Shri Guru said, '1ou came with a sus(icion that what a man cou d do and so a itt e disease is there% 1ou shou d sta" here (ra"in& God, the itt e disease that is there wi a so be wi(ed o!! soon%' Nandi said, 'I am i iterate% 6ow can I com(ose (oems o! (raiseB' Shri Guru asked him to draw out his ton&ue% >hen he did so, Shri Guru (ut itt e bhasma on the ti( o! his ton&ue% Instant " he became wise% 6e bowed to Shri Guru and be&an to com(ose (oems in (raise o! Shri Guru% The summar" o! those (oems is as !o owsG : 'I was sinkin& in the wor d " ocean, bein& de uded b" the a!!ection !or m" !ami " members% I was roamin& throu&h di!!erent s(ecies as sweda5, /nda5, Cdbhi5a and @ara5 i%e% anima i!e% 6uman i!e is the best o! a % I had no know ed&e in the Shudra birth% The birth o! a Brahmin is the best amon&st the human bein&s% But i! a Brahmin is a so a du ard, how can he have know ed&e o! Shri GuruB The b ood o! the mother and the semen o! the !ather unite and a !etus comes into e.istence as a bubb e% /!ter 24 da"s it becomes i?uid% >ithin a month a sma so id !etus is !ormed% I the second month the head and the imbs take sha(e% >hen the !ive &reat e ements i%e% the earth, the water, the uster, the wind and the sk" unite, the sou enters the !etus% In the !i!th month the skin and the hair are !ormed% In the si.th month the !etus starts res(iration% In the seventh month, the ear, the ton&ue, the brain and the marrow become so id% In this wa" I was &rowin& in the mother's uterus% The mother wou d eat hot, sa t, sour, (un&ent and acidic artic es, due to which I was &reat " troub ed% I then took birth% M" s(an o! i!e was !i.ed% 6a ! o! the time i%e% the ni&hts were s(ent in s ee( in vain% The remainin& ha ! is divided in the three sta&es, chi dhood, "outh and o d a&e% In the chi dhood, I had to su!!er much% I we(t due to (ain in the stomach, but m" mother thou&ht that I was hun&r" and took me to her breast% /nd when I was hun&r", she thou&ht I was ai in& and &ave

me bitter medicines% /t times due to scor(ion bite, in the crad e I wou d cr"% She wou d then sin& u abies and move the crad e to and !ro and tried to ure me to s ee( or she wou d think that I am a!!ected b" some s(irit and so the tried Mantra : Tantra and tied a b ack strin& on m" wrist% M" mother wou d take (un&ent and sour artic es and I had to su!!er !rom diarrhea, cou&h etc% In the "outh, I was in! uenced b" (assion% I disre&arded the (arents and the &uru and a wa"s thou&ht about the !ema e:se.% Due to vanit", I des(ised Sadhus, saints and o d (ersons% 6ow cou d have I adored Shri Guru durin& this (eriodB In the o d a&e cou&h, &ases and other troub es a!!ected me% M" hair became white whi e takin& care o! m" !ami " and chi dren% I ost m" teeth, I cou d not hear we and see (ro(er "% -ven in this state I did not serve Shri Guru% 1ou are the (rotector and iberator o! the universe% P ease iberate me%' I iterate Nandi com(osed such (oems% / wondered to see his !eat Nandi !urther said, 'Vedas sa" that the !eet o! Shri Guru are ho " there is no other wa" than the !eet o! Shri Guru, to be !ree !rom the wor d " sea% B" the !avor o! Shri Guru, a m" sins are wi(ed o!!% Shri Guru Narasimha Saraswati is ike 0amadhenu% So (eo( e shou d adore him and &et iberated% Nandi was ater ca ed '0avishwar' due to his (oetr"% The (atches o! e(ros" on his thi&h a so disa((eared in course o! time% Nandi &reat " re5oiced at the cure% 6e be&an to serve Shri Guru with more devotion% Shri Guru Charitra Cha(ter PDV Poet Narahari Becomes a Disci( e o! Shri Guru 'nce some disci( es took Shri Guru to their town 6i((er&e% This is a ho " ( ace o! 0a eshwar% / Brahmin Narahari ived there% 6e was a &reat devotee o! God 0a eshwar% 6e dai " com(osed !ive new stan7as in (raise o! 0a eshwar and worshi(ed him devoted "% Peo( e to d him the &reatness o! Shri Guru and re?uested him to com(ose (oems in his (raise% But Narahari said, 'I have so d m" ton&ue to 0a eshwar and I sha not com(ose (oems in (raise o! a human bein&'% /s usua he went to the tem( e to worshi( 0a eshwar% >hi e worshi((in&, he had a na( and he &ot as ee(% 6e saw a dream that Shri Guru was sittin& on the Shiva Din&a and that he was worshi(in& Shri Guru% Dater the Din&a disa((eared and Shri Guru on " was seen% Shri Guru smi ed and asked him '1ou do not be ieve in a human bein& and then wh" are "ou worshi(in& meB'% Narahari awoke and wondered about the dream% 6e re(ented !or underestimatin& Shri Guru Narasimha Saraswati, who was a incarnation o! Shri Shiva% Immediate " he went to see Shri Guru, bowed to him and said, '0ind " !or&ive me% >ithout knowin& "our &reatness I underestimated "ou, but now I know that "ou are 0a eshwar himse !% >hen 0amadhenu is at home, wh" shou d one be an.iousB 0ind " et me have "our b essin&s% I wish to serve "ou herea!ter%' Sa"in& this he be&an to (raise 6im% Shri Guru was ( eased% 6e &ave c othes to Narahari and acce(ted him as his disci( e% Shri Guru said to him, '0a eshwar is &reat% 1ou continue to worshi( him% Narahari said, '>hen "ou "ourse ! are 0a eshwar, wh" shou d I worshi( other 0a eshwarB I sha not &o awa" eavin& th" !eet now%' In this wa", Narahari (oet a so became a &reat devotee o! Shri Guru%' Shri Guru Charitra Cha(ter PDVI Shri Guru Visits -i&ht P aces at 'ne Time /t the time o! Diwa i !estiva , seven devotes o! Shri Guru came to Gana&a(ur Math and re?uested Shri Guru to come to their ( aces !or Diwa i% /s Shri Guru oved them a a ike, it was a (rob em be!ore him as to whose invitation shou d be acce(ted Shri Guru said to them, '1ou are a !rom di!!erent ( aces% 6ow can I come to "our homes at the same timeB 1ou decide amon& "ourse ves as to where I shou d &o !irst and where I shou d &o ater%'

-ach devotee wished that Shri Guru shou d come to him !irst% So the" cou d not decide and be&an to ?uarre , Shri Guru ca ed the devotees one b" one and to d each o! them 'I sha come on " to one house% So don't ar&ue unnecessari "%' Then the devotees said, ''h Guru, do not make an" distinction between the rich and the (oor% P ease treat us e?ua "% I! "ou ne& ect us we sha end our ives, we serve "ou and we do whatever "ou sa"%8' >ith these words the" a (rostrated themse ves be!ore him humb "% Thereu(on Sri Guru said, '/ ri&ht, I sha visit "ou a % ,est assured about that%' 'ne o! the disci( es asked him, '6ow can we be sure that "ou wi visit the homes o! a o! usB Then Sri Guru ca ed each o! them se(arate " and said, 'I wi come to "our house, but do not te others%8 / the seven devotees therea!ter went back to their res(ective ( aces, ( eased% >hen the devotees o! Gana&a(ur knew this, the" re?uested Shri Guru+ '1ou shou d not &o out o! Gana&a(ur !or Diwa i%' Shri Guru (romised them a so that he wou d be there, and that the" need not worr"% In the mornin& o! Narak Chaturdashi da", Shri Guru took ei&ht !orms and went to < ( aces o! < devotees and a so sta"ed at Gana&a(ur Math% 6e acce(ted Pu5a in a the ( aces% Dater the devotees &athered at Gana&a(ur !or Dee(aradhan on the 0artik Poornima% -ach one to d that Shri Guru had been to him in Diwa i and showed the c oth (resented to him b" Shri Guru% The (eo( e o! Gana&a(ur said, 'Shri Guru was here in the Math durin& Diwa i%' But on seein& the artic es (resented b" Shri Guru a rea i7ed that Shri Guru had taken F !orms in Diwa i and the" a were ama7ed% The conviction that Shri Guru is the incarnation o! Trimurties became more !irm and the" adored him with &reater devotion% 6e who worshi(s Sri Guru wi have a is desires !u !i ed% / tr" to e.(erience the va ue o! Guru Bhakti, but !oo s cannot a((reciate /mrit% 'n " @nanis and devotees can re ish the /mrit o! Guru Nama% The Vedas and Shastras (roc aim that he who ooks down u(on Guru as an ordinar" human bein& wi be born an anima % Sri Guru Charitra is e?ua to Veda:Shasta% 'n " Guru can iberate one !rom the throes o! Samskara% Those who &o to Gana&a(ur and serve Guru with devotion wi sure " &et a their desires !u !i ed% So isten, a o! "ou (uri!" "our mind and visit Gana&a(ur% Shri Guru Charitra Cha(ter PDVII Parbati had Bum(er Cro(s even in Scarcit" There ived (ious !armer, named Parbati, in Gana&a(ur% 6e used to bow to Shri Guru when he went to San&am in the mornin& an a&ain at midda" when Shri Guru returned% 6is !ie d was on the wa" to the San&am% 'nce Shri Guru asked him, 8>h" do "ou take this troub e dai "B >hat is "our desireB8 Parbati said, 8I wish that m" !ie d "ie ds a &ood cro(8% Shri Guru, 8what have "ou sownB8 Parbati said that 5awar was sown in his !ie d% 6e !urther added, 8It is due to "our !avor that this "ear the cor( is &ood% I wish that "ou shou d kind " come to m" !ie d and have a ook at the cro( b" "our si&ht which showers nectar%' Shri Guru went to the !ie d, ooked at the cro( and said, 'I! "ou have !aith in me, do as I bid "ou%' Parbati said, 'I sha obe" "ou !rom the bottom o! m" heart'% Shri Guru : 'Ti I return at midda", cut o!! this cro('% Sa"in& so, Shri Guru went to the San&am% Parbati a((roached the ,evenue '!!icer and asked him to (ermit him to rea( the cro( on the rent as (er the (revious "ear% The '!!icer said, KThis "ear the cro( is &ood, hence the o d rent wi not su!!ice'% Parbati said, KI sha (a" doub e the rent% So ( ease &ive me (ermission'% The '!!icer a&reed and &ranted the (ermission%

Parbati took some men with him, went to the !ie d and rea(ed the cro(% 6is wi!e and chi dren tried to (rohibit him+ but he did not isten to them% The wi!e com( ained to the '!!icer, KThe cro( is &ood this "ear+ but be!ore the harvest, m" husband is rea(in& the !ie d on the advice o! a San"asi and is de(rivin& us o! !ood% 0ind " (rohibit him to cut the cro('% The '!!icer sent his men to ask Parbati wh" he was rea(in& the !ie d be!ore the harvest% Parbati said, KI! the '!!icer has doubt o! &ettin& the rent+ I sha (a" the corn !rom reserve and kee( m" catt e at his door'% Parbati rea(ed a the cro(% Seein& that Shri Guru was returnin& !rom the San&am, he bowed to 6im and re(orted that he had cut the cro( as instructed% Shri Guru K1ou have rea(ed in vainI' Parbati KI have read the cro( as advised b" "ou% I have !u !aith in "ou%' Shri Guru K1ou wi have the !ruit o! "our devotion, the wi!e and chi dren o! Parbati said that the" have ost their !ood% Parbati conso ed them b" savin&, KShri Guru is Shri Shiva incarnate% >ith his b essin&,>e sha have no oss% 6e to d us to do this due to some un!oreseen reason%' In about a week, there was a severe code and a the cro(s in the countr" were ost% Then on Mu Nakshatra, there was heav" rain, which was a so harm!u to the cro(s+ but Parbati's !ie d "ie ded hundred times more cro( o! &ood ?ua it"% / wondered to see this% The wi!e and chi dren o! Parbati a so re5oiced% The" be&&ed a(o o&" o! Parbati and re(ented !or underestimatin& Shri Guru% The mention o! a the above !acts is made here in order to show the a!!init" o! Shri Sai Baba to Shri Vitha o! Pandhar(ur% 'ne Sai Mandir at Phanaswadi, in the Gir&aum area o! the Bomba" cit", was !ormer " a tem( e o! Vitha and it was known as 8Shri Prema Vitha Mandir8% In this tem( e the ido s o! Vitha and ,akhumai were insta ed b" Shri Ga5anan Vina"ak Pradhan, as the tem( e itse ! was constructed m" him as his own (rivate (ro(ert"% 6owever, Shri Vasant Shastri a ias /ba Panshikar com( ete " chan&ed the Mandir and &ave it the (resent !orm% 'ne Shri Prabhakar Panshikar, is a !amous actor on the Marathi sta&e and Shri /ba Panshikar is his brother% Shri /ba Panshikar was (er!ormin& 0eertans in the Vitha Mandir re&u ar "% Shri Bho e Guru5i, who is a Sai devotee, used to attend Shri Panshikar's keertans as he was sta"in& ver" near the above Mandir, in the Mu&bhat area Gir&aum% Shri Bho e Guru5i re?uested Shri Panshikar to start (ra"in& to Shri Sai Baba% Shri Panshikar was not aware o! &reatness o! the saint o! Shirdi u( to that time and on bein& initiated b" Shri Bho e Guru5i, he & ad " became a devotee o! Shri Sai Baba% 6e ver" soon became a staunch and sincere devotee o! Sri Baba and ver" soon thou&ht o! chan&in& the Vitha Mandir into a Sai tem( e% It is because o! the 7ea and e!!orts o! Shri /ba Panshikar that the Prema Vitha Mandir is now converted into a Sai Mandir and is now known b" that name% In this tem( e, we see the ido o! Shri Sai Baba in ( aster, which is about !our and a ha ! !eet hi&h% This ido is seated on an a tar% It wi be seen !rom the (hoto&ra(h o! the tem( e (ub ished a on& with this artic e that the ori&ina ido s o! Shri Vitha and ,akhumai insta ed in the tem( e have sti be retained in the tem( e as Shri Sai Baba had reverence !or that &od as stated at the be&innin& o! this artic e% The beauti!u ido o! Shri Sai Baba in ( aster was made b" one scu (tor Shri G%V% Patkar% Thou&h the tem( e was ori&ina " constructed as a (rivate tem( e, sti it was ater on thrown o(en to ever"one !or worshi( and at (resent an"bod" can &o and o!!er ! owers or &ar ands to Shri Sai Baba or Shri Vitha : ,akhumai% In the rear side o! this tem( e, there is a ban"an tree about hundred "ears o d% /round this tree we can a so !ind the ido s o! Shri Datta, 6anuman and Pindi o! Shri Shankar% In addition to that, there are the Padukas o! Shri Sai Baba in si ver in this area% These Padukas were insta ed at the 'ctober 2;49% The (ractice o! &ettin& (re(ared the si ver Padukas o! Shri Sai Baba and &ive them to di!!erent (eo( e or institutions dedicated to Sai worshi(, was started b" this tem( e% So !ar, the Sai Padukas &ot (re(ared b" this Mandir have been insta ed at !ive di!!erent ( aces% It ma" be noted here that the Padukas insta ed at the Sai tem( e o! Smt% /5ibai >anarse at Dondon, were &ot (re(ared b" this Mandir% 8Service to humanit" and Service to the dum( mutes is the service to God8 this was the motto o! Shri Sai Baba and the mana&ement o! this tem( e has borne in mind this !act% The" have there!ore cou( ed a socia dut" with this re i&ious institution% 'n the !irst ! oor o! this tem( e, arran&ements have been made !or the !ree accommodation o! (oor and deservin& students, >ho have no arran&ements to sta" in Bomba"% / &reat number o! students have taken advanta&e o! this !aci it"

and because o! the re i&ious atmos(here o! the tem( e+ these students are &rooved in Sai devotion !rom the "oun& a&e o! their i!e% /arti, worshi( etc% are carried out at this tem( e ever" da" as (er those (er!ormed at Shirdi% ,amnavami, Guru(ournima and Vi5a"adashami are the &reat !estiva s observed at this tem( e on the same ines as is done at Shirdi% This tem( e has started one more (ractice% 'n ever" Shivaratri da", the o!!erin& o! !ruits is made to Shri Baba and the" are ater on distributed to the devotees b" wa" o! (rasad% Shri Panduran& Mahadev >aran& is a staunch Sai devotee, who mana&es the dai " a!!airs o! the tem( e with &reat care% 6e is on " thirt":one "ears o! a&e at (resent, but !or the ast twent":two "ears he is sta"in& in the tem( e (remises and is attendin& to the work o! this tem( e% The mana&ement wants to e.(and the activities o! the tem( e and arran&e some !urther (ro&rams on a ar&e sca e+ but due tot shorta&e o! s(ace the" !ee sorr" that it is not (ossib e !or them% Shri >aran& a wa"s sa"s that a his di!!icu ties are readi " so ved b" Shri Sai Baba% This shows his &reat !aith in Shri Sai Baba and his devotion to 6im% Gir&aum is a ver" crowded oca it" o! Bomba" cit"% The" area round about Da bau& and Pare which is known as the 8Mi area8 is (erha(s another e?ua " crowded area in Bomba"% The (eo( e in the 8Mi area8 are so ver" bus" in their stru&& e !or e.istence that the" have hard " an" time to think about &od or e.istence% The (eo( e in the Gir&aum area are most " white:co ar (eo( e% The" have re&u ar hours o! their o!!ice work% Simi ar " re i&ious (ractices are imbibed in them !rom their chi dhood% 6ence the" !ind the need o! a ( ace !or worshi( where the" can &et menta (eace% The (eo( e who were !ormer " the" devotees o! Vitha have started visitin& this tem( e !or the worshi( o! that &od+ but a!ter seein& the ido o! Shri Sai Baba in the tem( e and havin& come to know% 6is &reatness, the" automatica " become 6is devotees% Thus this tem( e has a &ood ( ace o! worshi( !or the devotees sta"in& in Gir&aum area o! the Bomba" cit" and is there!ore !re?uented b" a number o! devotees ever" da"% Shri Guru Charitra Cha(ter PDVIII /mar5a San&am and the Greatness o! Gana&a(ur 'n the (arva da" o! /shvin Vad 23, Shri Guru said to the disci( e, '>e sha have bath at trisha i #= 6o " ( aces i% e% Pra"a&, 0ashi and Ga"a$ with !ami " and chi dren% The disci( e said, 'Eor such a on& 5ourne", we re?uire some time !or (re(arations'% Shri Guru, 'These ho " ( aces are near about% So there is no need !or s(ecia (re(aration%' Sa"in& this he went with them a to the san&amam% / took bath there% Shri Guru said, 'The San&am is ike Pra"a&% Bhima ! ows there northwards% This /mar5a San&am is as ho " as the Gan&a:1amuna San&am o! Pra"a&% There are other ei&ht ho " ( aces #Tirthas$ near about%' The disci( es, :'>h" this river is ca ed /mar5aB' Shri Guru, :'@a undhar ,akshasas were on >ar% Indra went to Shri Shankar and said, '>e ki ,akshas but !rom each dro( o! their b ood, new ,akshasas are born and the" have s(read in Three Dokas% The" have ki ed man" Gods%' 6earin& this, Shri Shankar was enra&ed and started to ki the ,akshas in the !orm o! ,udra% Indra said, '1ou wi ki the ,akshasG but kind " su&&est an" device to make the &ods a ive%' Shri Shankar recited /mrit mantra and &ave a 5ar !i ed with nectar% Indra s(rink ed the nectar on the Gods and made them a ive% >hi e Indra was &oin& with the 5ar o! the remainin& nectar some dro(s !e on the earth and a river was created ca ed '/mar5a'% Bath in this river (revents diseases and untime " death% This river meets Bhima and this San&am is &reat ike Triveni San&am o! Pra"a&% Bath in this 0artik and Ma&ha months, on Somwati, Sankratini &rahan #ec i(se$ Parva at this San&am is ver" virtuous% Be!ore this San&am is the /shwattha, bath near which !u !i s a the desires% I a so ive here% /!ter worshi((in& this /shwattha, worshi( the 'San&ameshwar' with devotion% This is ike Ma ikar5una o! Shri Shai "a% Bow to Nandi and Chandi, have three rounds and see Shiva Shankar% There is the 'Varanasi' Tirth i% e% 0ashi one mi e ahead% 'ne Brahmin o! Bharadwa5 Gotra was a &reat devotee o! Shri Shiva% 6e roamed ever"where without c othes, (eo( e ca ed him 'mad'% 6e had two brothers Ishwar and Panduran&% The" were thinkin& o! &oin& to 0ashi% /t this time one

devotee o! Shri Shiva came there and said to his brothers, ' >h" do "ou &o to 0ashiB 6ere is 0ashi Vishweshwar%' The brothers said, '>here is itB Show us'% The devotee took a bath and sat in meditation% Shri Shankar a((eared be!ore him% The devotee re?uested him to create an ido o! 0ashi Vishweshwar there !or dai " worshi( and Darshan% Shri Shankar conceded and Manikarnika 0und was created !irst and the shrine o! 0ashi Vishweshwar came out o! it% / river ! owin& northward ike Bha&irathi a so came into e.istence% / the (rinci(a ( aces o! 0ashi were thus created here% Both the brothers then worshi((ed 0ashi Vishweshwar% These brothers ived at Pandhar(ur and were known as '/radh"e'% 6earin& this !rom Shri Guru, a took bath there and worshi((ed Shri Vishweshwar with devotion and observed other rites% Shri Guru :'6ere is ' Pa(avinashi Tirth' bath in which destro"s a sins%' Shri Guru ca ed his sister ,atnai here and said, '1ou had ki ed a cat with a stick and there!ore "ou are havin& e(ros"% 1ou bathe in this Tirth dai " and "our disease wi disa((ear%' /s advised, she bathed here !or three da"s and her disease was wi(ed o!!% / itt e !urther is '0oti Tirth'% 'ne shou d bathe here on Sankranthi, Grahan, Poornima and /mavas"a and &ive a cow with a ca ! in charit"% Eurther to this is ',udra Tirth'% It is as ho " as Ga"a% 'bserve Shraddha here% Eurther is 'Chakra Tirth' ike Dwarka% Be"ond is 'Manmath Tirth'% To the east o! it, is '0a eshwar' ike Gokarna Mahaba eshwar% B" doin& this, ei&ht & ories are obtained%' Shri Guru thus narrated the &reatness o! the ei&ht ho " ( aces and a were ( eased% The" bathed and observed other rites and returned to Gan&a(ur with Shri Guru% / &rand samardhana was arran&ed 5oint "% Shri Guru Charitra Cha(ter ID The Gist o! Guru Geeta Namdharak bowed to Shri Siddha Muni with !o ded hands and said, 8Gurudev, "ou have narrated to me the i!e o! Shri Guru and have &iven me the rea &n"an #know ed&e$ which has wi(ed o!! m" karma and b" "our b essin&, I have known the essence o! re i&ion% Devotion to Shri Guru is ike the 0a (ataru and ,ishis ike Vasishta and Shuka a so !o ow this (ath% Now kind " te me the (ath o! Sad&uru%8 Bein& ( eased with the ?uestion, Shri Siddha said, 8Namdharak, "ou are ver" !ortunate as "ou as "ou have asked ?uestion re&ardin& the eterna (rinci( es, knowin& with i usion and i&norance are wi(ed o!! and the mind becomes as c ear as the i&ht o! the sun% 'nce when Shri Shankar was sittin& on a beauti!u (oint o! 0ai as, Devi Parvati with !o ded hands said to him with devotion, 8Great God o! Gods, Guru o! the universe, &ive me Guru mantra and kind " te me the means b" which one's sou becomes united with Brahma8% Shri Shankar said, 8Dear Devi, this is a ?uestion which has never been asked to me so !ar b" an"bod"% 1ou are m" second !orm% So I sha te "ou this &ist and this wi bene!it a the (eo( e a so8% Veda, Shastra, Purana, Ithihas, Mantra:tantra vid"a, Smriti:5aran:maran #usin& the (ower o! doin& mirac es b" the devotees o! Shiva and shakti$ and other various sciences (ut one in i usion% >ithout knowin& the &ist o! devotion to Guru, (eo( e (er!orm sacri!ices, observe (enance, vrata, charit", recitation and &o to the ho " ( aces but on " a!ter the rise o! the i&ht o! Shri Guru, di!!icu t vid"a, wor d " i usion and i&norance are a wi(ed o!!% B" servin& Shri Guru, a sins (erish and the sou becomes (ure and united with Brahma% Takin& the ho " water, touched b" the otus ike !eet o! Shri Guru, is ike a bath at a ho " ( ace% This Tirth is as ho " as 0ashi or Pra"a&% / wa"s remember Shri Guru% ,ecite Shri Guru's name a the time% 'be" his orders, serve and worshi( Shri Guru with devotion% Doin& this, one can even attain m" (osition% The a (habet 'Gu' means darkness and ',u' means i&ht% Guru means the know ed&e o! the i&ht o! Brahma that destro"s darkness o! i&norance% GC is the !irst a (habet to create i usion and other

attributes% ,C is the second a (habet o! Brahma, which destro"s i usion and vain a((earance% This (ower o! Guru is su(reme and is di!!icu t even !or the Gods to obtain% / Sadhaka #disci( e$ shou d o!!er to Shri Guru &ood seat, bed, c othes, ornaments, conve"ances etc% 6e shou d serve him with devotion !or &ettin& one's (osition, ashram, caste and (ra" him with bod", senses, mone", son, wi!e, etc% c ear " and shou d not be ashamed to a" (rostrate be!ore him% Men &o to he b" ivin& in !ami " i!e, as one's bod" is !u o! worms, ni&ht soi , urine, (h e&m, b ood, ! esh and bad odor% Bow to Shri Guru, who iberates a (erson !rom the wor d " miseries% Shri Guru is Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh and Para:Brahma% 6e is the cause o! the creation o! Cniverse, iberator o! (ersons !rom this wor d " sea and &iver o! the know ed&e o! a the Vid"as% B" a(( "in& the ointment o! Shri Guru's know ed&e to one's e"es, c osed e"es are o(ened, (arents, brothers, and &ood men who &ive rea know ed&e o! wor d " i!e, are a Gurus% Thou&h there is diversit" in the universe, "et there is oneness% Shri Guru (rotects one !rom a di!!icu ties, showin& the cause and e!!ect% I! Shri Shankar or Shri Vishnu is enra&ed, Shri Guru (rotects the devotees, but when Shri Guru himse ! is enra&ed, even Shri Shankar or Shri Vishnu cannot (rotect them% @ust as the b ind man cannot see the i&ht o! the Sun, so the du (ersons do not see the nectar: ike a((earance o! Shri Guru, which is visib e on " to the e"es o! the thou&ht!u % Shri Guru is ike a monarch, who is witnessin& the drama o! creation and destruction o! the universe% Three Nath, Ganesh, = Bhairava Peethas, Siddha, = Batus, 9 Pad, = Dooties, Shri Shankar, 3, ), F, ; Veeresh, 4 Veerava ies are a associated with the best 'Shri Ma ini' mantra% Bow to this Shri Guru Manda % To think about Shri Guru's bod" is ike thinkin& about ever astin& Shri Shiva and to recite Shri Guru's name to (raise to eterna Shiva's ?ua ities% Shri Guru is birth ess, devoid o! o d a&e and has no be&innin&% 6e is se !:created, devoid o! chan&e, !u o! bri&ht b iss, minutes o! the minute, &reatest o! the &reat and eterna % 6e is se !: shinin&, s(ot ess, sk" (ervadin&, ever astin& and has no decrease% Vedas and Manu describe Shri Guru's (enance in this wa"% There!ore a wa"s remember Shri Guru% B" the know ed&e o! se !, which is (ervadin& the entire universe, moveab e and immovab e, sins o! severa births are atoned% There is no &reater (rinci( e than the know ed&e o! se !% There is no &reater (enance than the service o! Shri Guru and there is no dee(er know ed&e than the advice o! Shri Guru% Shri Guru is @a&annath # ord o! the universe$ and the Guru o! the = Dokas% Shri Guru is the universe and our sou is the sou o! a the creation% Bow to Shri Guru, who &ives this know ed&e% The (ersons, who are (roud o! (enance and know ed&e and who are en&rossed in the wor d " a!!airs, are ike the (ots movin& on the whee o! a (ot:maker% Gods, Gandharvas, !ore !athers, 1aksh, 0innar, ,ishi, Siddha, who do not serve Shri Guru, do not &et sa vation% Bow to Shri Guru, who is su(reme 5o" and who &ives the best ( easure% 6e is shrine o! know ed&e, above division, sk" (ervadin&, knower o! 'Tattwam /si' #that thou art$ (rinci( e, on " one, eterna , (ure, immovab e, who witnesses ever"thin& and who is devoid o! e.istence and three ?ua ities #Satwa, ,a5as and Tamas$% To know one's se ! is the su(reme know ed&e and the utmost &oa o! i!e% This is attained on " b" the !avor o! Shri Guru% ,emember Shri Guru ti death% -ven i! he is !ick e minded, do not !or&et or !orsake him% The wise shou d not s(eak about Shri Guru with disres(ect% Do not te a ie be!ore him% Those who des(ise Shri Guru &o to he % Those who discuss vain " with Shri Guru become Brahma ,akshas and have to ive in barren and water ess ( aces% 'h Parvati, Shri Guru (rotects his disci( es, even i! &od, Muni or (anna& curses% Gods and Munis are weak be!ore Shri Guru, whose curses can destro" them in no time% ' Devi, accordin& to Smrities and Vedas, Shri Guru is Parabrahmah% Guru is a mantra o! two s" ab es%

Bow to Shri Guru, who is (ervadin& a the universe !rom Brahma to &rass, who is eterna , who e, !orm ess, devoid o! ?ua ities, en&rossed in se !:know ed&e, above divisions and !u o! rea bri&ht: 5o" #Sat:Chit:/nand ,oo($% Brahma is eterna ike !ra&rance in cam(hor and ! owers and ike the coo ness and warmth in an ob5ect% This know ed&e can be &ot on " throu&h Shri Guru% So worshi( and serve him with (ure and c ear heart and sin&u ar devotion% 'ne, who is united with Brahma in meditation, rea i7es 0unda ini, Brahma ,andhra and !orm essness and &ets sa vation without doubt% The i&norant wins over the wor d " sea and the wise besides &ets know ed&e o! actions and no: actions b" !o owin& the (ath o! Shri Guru% Those, who read, hear or write Shri Guru Geeta and &ive it in charit" with mone", a their desires are !u !i ed% / wa"s read Sri Guru:Geeta to &et rid o! the miseries o! the wor d " i!e% -ach and ever" s" ab e o! Guru:Geeta enab es to win death, remove a di!!icu ties and !ear o! 1aksha, ,akshas, &hosts, thieves, ti&ers and diseases% It &ives the (ower o! usin& Bhasma, mesmerism and h"(notism% ' Devi, read Shri Guru:Geeta, sittin& on a site o! 0ush &rass #dharbhasan$ or white b anket with attentive mind% Cse a white seat !or (eace, red !or mesmeri7in&, b ack !or (unishin& the evi doers and "e ow !or &ettin& wea th% Eor (eace, sit !acin& the north, !or mesmeri7in& !acin& the east, !or (unishin& the evi doers !acin& the south and !or wea th !acin& the west% ,ecitation o! Guru:Geeta, &ives one incentive (ower, deve o(s one's ?ua ities, destro"s evi acts, makes &ood acts success!u , removes !ear o! Grahas #( anets$, destro"s evi dreams, &ives issues even to steri e women, &ives &ood uck to the married women #kee( their husbands a ive a their ives$ and &ives (eace o! mind% I! a widow reads Shri Guru:Geeta without ob5ect, she &ets sa vation% I! she reads with desire, she wi &et a &ood husband in the ne.t birth and a her miseries, di!!icu ties and curses wi (erish% Shri Guru:Geeta is ike a 0amadhenu to those who read it with some e.(ectation% It is ike a 0a (ataru to those, who read with desires% It is ike a Chintamani to the thinkers o! ever"thin& &ood% I! "ou read it !or sa vation "ou &et sa vation, i! "ou read it !or wor d " ( easures, "ou wi &et them% 'ne can read Shri Guru:Geeta with some ob5ect, sittin& on a bank o! a river or the sea shore, in the Mandir o! Vishnu, Shiva, Devi or other God, math, cowshed, under vat, awa a, man&o tree or near a ( ant o! Tu si or dhotra or in the cremation &round at a one " but c ean and neat ( ace% -ven thou&h a devotee o! Shri Guru ma" be a !oo , sti he is &reat, a his &ood acts, (enance, vrata, diksha become success!u % The" are never !uti e% /s Shri Guru knows Brahma, he is a wa"s (ure and wherever he &oes, there is the (resence o! God, Tirth and Peeth% 'ne who reads Guru:Geeta sittin& or "in& on a bed, standin&, wa kin&, s(eakin&, ridin& on a horse or an e e(hant, is (ure% 6e has no rebirth% / sou is one with God, 5ust as the water in the sea, the mi k in the mi k (ot, the &hee in the &hee: (ot and the sk" in the broken (ot are one with them, simi ar " the Dn"ani # earned$, is united with God and ies ost in himse ! da" and ni&ht% ' Parvati, when one is b essed b" Shri Guru, a his doubts vanish, &oddess Saraswati resides on his ton&ue and he &ets both the ( easures and sa vation b" the !avor o! Shri Guru% 'ne's recitation, vrata and (enance o! severa births bear !ruit% ' >aranane #havin& &ood !ace$, I to d "ou, this (rinci( e o! Sankh"a Sastra 'ne God, one re i&ion, one devotion, one (enance are nothin& e se but Shri Guru himse !% There is no hi&her (rinci( e than that o! Shri Guru% The home, where is devotion o! Shri Guru, (arents, !ami " and race, is !ortunate% Those, who do not adore Shri Guru due to Vanit" o! know ed&e and (enance, are un!ortunate% -ven to Brahma, Vishnu, Mahesh, Gods, ,ishi, Eore!athers, kinnar, Siddha, charan, "aksh, Munis, the !avor o! Shri Guru, is ike the &reat ho " Tirth% Shri Guru's Tirth is the root o! a the Tirth% I! one reads Shri Guru:Geeta in trave , or durin& war, at the time o! the attack o! an enem", he &ets victor" in i!e and sa vation at death% I! Shri Guru:Geeta is read with evi acts, at evi ( aces and with !ick e mind, it &ives evi e!!ects%

/s "ou are dear to me, I have to d this &ist to "ou% 0ee( it with "ourse !% Te this to one, who is not en&rossed in wor d " ( easures and has devotion+ but do not te it to him, who is not devoted, who is a deceit, cunnin&, atheist and who discusses vain "% 6ere ends the &ist o! Shri Guru:Geeta in the !orm o! a dia o&ue between Ishwar and Parvati, inc uded in the Cttarkhand o! Skandha Purana% Shri Guru Charitra Cha(ter D The Mus im 0in& Comes to See Shri Guru >e have seen a re!erence o! a ,a5ak in the ;th cha(ter% B" the b essin& o! Shri(ad Shri Va abha, he was born in a Mus im ,o"a !ami " and he became kin& o! Bidar% Due to devotion o! (revious birth he was kind and (ious% 6e treated a re i&ions and sects e?ua "% There were severa tem( es !or which he had due s"m(ath"% 6e a so had res(ect !or Brahmins% Mus im (riests des(ised Brahmins and Vedic re i&ion% But kin& said to them, 8God is one% 'n " the names are di!!erent% / are created !rom 4 &reat e ements #Pancha ::: Mahabhoot$% The earth is the mother o! a % Cows are di!!erent co ors, but their mi k is white% 'rnaments ma" be man", but the &o d is the same% Simi ar " Paramatma #God$ is ever"where% So make no di!!erence between the re i&ions and castes%8 Thus the kin& was ru in& im(artia "% 'nce he had a tumor on his thi&h, Vaid"as and 6akims treated him but to no e!!ect% The kin& had &reat (ain due to it% 6e ca ed some Brahmins and re?uested them to su&&est a remed"% The Brahmins said, 8Sins o! the (revious birth harass one in the !orm o! some disease% Eor this, visit ho " ( aces and &ive somethin& in charit"% Dive in the com(an" o! saints% 1ou &o to the Pa(avinashi Tirth and bathe there% The tumor wi subside%8 The kin& went to the Pa(avinashi Tirth% 6e met a San"asi there% 6e bowed to him and showed him his tumor The San"asi said, : 8>hen "ou see a saint, "ou wi be re ieved o! the disease% I sha te "ou a ta e in this connection%8 8/ Brahmin ived in /wanti i%e%, C55ain% 6e &ave u( bath and the Brahmin's rites i%e%, Sandh"a, Pu5a etc% and ived with a (rostitute named Pin& a% 'nce ,ishabha Muni came to them% The" treated him we % The" worshi(ed him and took the Tirth o! his !eet% >hen the Muni was as ee(, both served him kee(in& awake the who e ni&ht% Ne.t mornin& the Muni went awa"% Dater on in their o d a&e, both the Brahmin and Pin& a died% The Brahmin became the son o! kin& Va5rabahu in the ne.t birth% >hen he was in Sumati's #e dest$ womb, the "oun&er ?ueen became 5ea ous and she &ave (oison to the e dest ?ueen, who &ot eru(tions a over the bod"% She de ivered a ma e chi d, who was a so a!!ected b" eru(tions a over the bod"% The kin& &ot them treated b" (h"sicians but the" cou d be cured% The kin& sus(ected that the in!ection wou d s(read in the who e !ami " and he there!ore asked a !isherman to take the ?ueen and her son to the !orest and eave them there% Peo( e were sorr" to know about this evi act o! the kin&% Sumathi was roamin& in the !orest with her son in des(air% Due to e.ertion, she was thirst" and was searchin& !or water% She came to a Mandir and met some !ema es, who to d her, 8Padmakar is the kin& o! this countr"% 6e is kind and (ious% 6e wi (rotect "ou%8 In the mean time some maidservants o! the kin& came there% Sumathi narrated to them her sad account% The" took Sumathi to the (a ace and re(orted to the kin& about her% The kin& was ver" kind and he arran&ed !or her sta"% 6ere too the eru(tions on the bod" o! the mother and son harassed them% 'ne da" due to unbearab e (ain, the chi d e.(ired% Sumathi be&an to wee( bitter "% The adies o! the nei&hborhood tried to conso e her, but she continued mournin&% In the meanwhi e ,ishabha Muni came there% 0in& Padmakar received him warm "% /s he heard a mournin& sound he in?uired% Padmakar narrated to him the sad account o! Sumathi% ,ishabha Muni came to her and be&an to conso e her, sa"in&, 8It is !uti e to mourn !or the b"&one% / ives are ike bubb es in water, this bod" is made o! !ive e ements and when these e ements se(arate, nothin& remains behind% So do not mourn !or the (erishab e bod"% 'ne has to su!!er as (er one's (revious actions% Eor se !:emanci(ation adore Shri Shankar8% Sumathi said, 8I had to come here eavin& the kin&dom and here too I met this !ate% Now I do not wish to ive an" on&er%8 Sa"in& so she !e on the !eet o! the Muni%

The Muni was moved to see her state% 6e remembered the service that her son had &iven him in his ast birth% 6e a(( ied a itt e Bhasma to his !orehead and (ut a itt e in his mouth% Sudden " the chi d &ot i!e and be&an to move% The eru(tions on his bod" and on his mother's bod" a so vanished b" the (ower!u si&ht o! the Muni% Both ooked as bri&ht as &o d% Sumathi and the chi d bowed to the Muni devoted "% The Muni b essed them and went awa"% The &reatness o! the b essin& o! a saint is ike this% 8I! "ou serve a saint "ou wi be re ieved !rom the tumor%8 The Mus im kin& asked with !o ded hands, 80ind " te me where there is a saint, I sha &o there8% The San"asi said 8Shri Guru ives at Gana&a(ur on the bank o! Bhima% 1ou &o to him%8 The kin& immediate " went to Gana&a(ur and in?uired about Shri Guru% The (eo( e were a!raid when the saw that the Mus im kin& had come to Gana&a(ur% The" did not s(eak due to !ear% >hen the kin& asked a&ain he was to d that Shri Guru had &one to the San&am and he wou d return soon% 6earin& this, the Mus im kin& started to &o to the San&am% 'n the wa" he saw Shri Guru comin&% 6e came down Pa an?uin and bowed to Shri Guru res(ective "% Shri Guru said, 8 ', ,a5ak, where have "ou been so !arB I am seein& "ou a!ter a on& (eriod8% 6earin& this, the Mus im kin& reco ected his i!e o! ast birth% 6e a" (rostrate be!ore Shri Guru and be&an to shed tears o! ove and 5o"% >ith choked voice he asked 8Gurudev, wh" did "ou kee( me awa" so on&B Bein& entan& ed in the ro"a ( easures, I !or&ot "ou% Now I have come to "our she ter% Diberate me% I am much harassed due to this tumor on m" thi&h%8 Shri Guru smi ed and said, 8Show me, where is the tumorB8% The kin& be&an to ook his thi&h% But noI The tumor had vanishedI 6e said, 8B" "our b essin&s, I cou d en5o" the ro"a ( easures and & or"% / m" desires are !u !i ed% I now wish that "our ho " se ! shou d come to m" (a ace and b ess m" !ami " members%8 Shri Guru said, 8>e are San"asis% >e shou d not ive in cities% 1ou bein& Mus im, cows are s au&htered dai " in "our cit"% This is a &reat sin% Prohibit ki in& o! cows in "our kin&dom%8 The 0in& said, 8I am not a kin& now% I am "our devotee, a ,a5ak% Give me a ( ace at "our !eet%8 Shri Guru be&an thinkin&% Now in this 0a i"u&, crue t" wi be increasin&% It wou d be better i! I disa((ear !rom here% 6e there!ore thou&ht o! &oin& to Gouthami #Godavari$% >hi e returnin& to the math, the kin& seated Shri Guru in his (a khi and he took his Padukas #sanda s$ in his hands and wa ked on !oot behind the (a khi% Shri Guru said, 81ou shou d ride on a horse as "ou are a kin&% 1our (ersons wi b ame "ou !or servin& a Brahmin and a San"asi%8 The kin& said, 8I ma" be a kin& !or the (eo( e, but !or "ou I am "our devotee, a ,a5ak% M" bod" o! iron is trans!ormed into &o d b" "our si&ht% / m" desires are now !u !i ed8% B" this time a the e e(hants, horses and so diers o! the 0in& had reached the ( ace% Shri Guru said, 8Disten to me, ride a horse 8% The 0in& !irst seated a the disci( es o! Shri Guru on the horses and then he rode a horse and the (rocession started ceremonious "% Shri Guru then said to the kin&, 8I! we come with "ou, we cannot observe our ritua s (unctua "% There!ore I wi &o ahead% 1ou come to Pa(avinashi to see me8% Sa"in& this, Shri Guru disa((eared instant " with a his disci( es and reached Bidar% Na&nath the son o! Sa"amdev met Shri Guru there% 6e worshi(ed Shri Guru and did a samaradhana% Then Shri Guru went to the Pa(avinashi Tirth% The Mus im kin& was ver" sorr" to see the disa((earance o! Shri Guru !rom the (rocession sudden "% But he remembered that he was asked b" Shri Guru to see him at Pa(avinashi% 6e rode a swi!t horse and started !or Pa(avinashi% 6e covered the distance o! FF mi es in a da"% 6e saw Shri Guru and a&ain re?uested him to &race his cit" b" ho " (resence% The kind decorated his cit" with ! a&s, buntin&s and arches% 6e seated Shri Guru in a Pa khi% Nine kinds o! &ems were waved on him% The citi7ens waved /arti at various ( aces% The Mus ims censured the kin& !or servin& !or the Brahmins+ but the 6indu citi7ens and Brahmins (raised him !or ibera , earned and (ious% The (rocession was &oin& with musica instruments% Coins and c othes were bein& distributed to the (oor% >hen the (rocession reached the main &ate o! (a ace, Shri Guru wa ked on the cost " car(et s(read on the (ath% Shri Guru was seated on the decorated throne and a the ?ueens and

chi dren o! the kin& bowed to 6im res(ect!u "% Shri Guru b essed the kin& and his !ami " members and asked, 8/re a "our desires !u !i ed b" nowB8 The kin& said, 8I have !u " en5o"ed the ro"a & or" I now wish to serve at "our !eet8% Shri Guru asked him to come to Shri Shai "a and went to Gouthami at Nasik% 6e bathed there and returned to Gana&a(ur% / the citi7ens were ( eased to see that Shri Guru had come back sa!e% Shri Guru ca ed a the disci( es and said+ 8Now I wish ive secret "% There!ore I intend to &o to Shri Shai "a% Sti I sha be sta"in& at Gana&a(ur% I! I ive !ear o(en ", the Mus ims wi come here dai " and troub e me !or !u !i ment o! their desires as the 0in& himse ! had been here%8 Shri Guru Charitra Cha(ter DI Shri Guru's @ourne" unto B issG Disci( es Get E ower:Gi!t 0nowin& that Shri Guru has decided to &o to Shri Shai "a, a the disci( es and citi7ens !e t ver" ha(("% The" said, 81ou are our treasure% >h" do "ou &o eavin& usB8 Shri Guru smi ed and said, 81ou need not worr"% I sha sta" here secret "% I sha have bath at the /mar5a San&am in the mornin&% In the midda" I sha come to Gan&a(ur math and acce(t Nir&un Pu5a and &ive Darshan to the devotees% Erom the view(oint o! the (ub ic, I am &oin& to Shri Shai "a 1atra% 6ave no doubt% I sha a wa"s sta" at Gan&a(ur% The /shwattha here are ike 0a (ataru%8 Sa"in& this Shri Guru started !or Shri Shai "a% Peo( e accom(anied him !or some distance and when the" returned to the math the" saw Shri Guru there% /!ter some time he disa((eared% / wondered at this mirac e% Shri Guru went to Pata Gan&a, ! owin& at the base o! Shri Shai "a, 6e asked his disci( es to (re(are a ! ower:seat and said, 8I have to &o to Ma ikar5una on Shri Shai "a on the other side o! the river%8 The disci( es (re(ared a nice seat o! ! owers o! Shevanti, otus, ma ati, kanher etc% on the ea! o! karda i and ( aced it on the riverside% Shri Guru said, 8Now "ou shou d return to "our res(ective ( aces8% / were &reat " a&&rieved% Shri Guru sat on the ! ower seat on Ma&h Vad 2st, on Erida" when Guru #@u(iter$ was in 0an"a #ver&s$ ,asa at evenin& time and be!ore &oin& awa" said, 8 I am &oin& to the ( ace o! se !:b iss% I sha send ! owers as &i!t, which "ou shou d distribute amon&st "ourse ves and worshi( them, dai "% I ike sin&in&% I sha be near those, who sin& (ra"ers% The" wi &et a the ( easures8% Sa"in& this Shri Guru disa((eared in the river% /!ter some time some boatmen came !rom the other side o! the river% The" to d, 8>e saw Shri Guru on the other side% 6e was ookin& ike a san"asi and was ho din& a dand #stick$ in his hand% 6e had &o den sanda s% 6e to d his name as 'Narasimha Saraswati% 6e has &iven a messa&e !or "ou, 'I am &oin& to the 0arda i:Van% Sti I sha be at Gan&a(ur% Do not worr"% I am sendin& ! owers as &i!t, which ma" be distributed amon&st "ourse ves%8 / were waitin& !or the ! owers% /!ter a itt e time, !our ! owers came ! owin&% The" were taken one each b" Sa"amdev, Nandi, Narahari and m"se !% 6ere is the ! ower &iven to me% Sa"in& this, Shri Siddha showed the ! ower to Namdharak% Such is the &reatness o! Shri Guru% I have narrated on " a (art o! Shri Guru's i!e, which is ver" e.haustive% Those who read, hear and write this i!e wi attain a the ( easures% These nectar: ike ta es wi &ive !our Purusharthas and a so Paramartha%8 Shri Guru Charitra Cha(ter DII Conc usionG >eek:,eadin& /watarnika #Contents$ /!ter hearin& the 42 Cha(ters o! Shri Guru:Charitra, Namdharak ost senses and &ot Samadhi% 6is bod" (ers(ired, his throat &ot choked and tears ! owed !rom his e"es% 6e cou d not s(eak out a word% Shri Siddha Muni was ( eased to see this state o! Namdharak% Thou&h the disci( e &ot Samadhi, he shou d be awakened !or the bene!it o! the (eo( e% Thinkin& thus he moved his hand over his !ace and bod" with a!!ection and ca ed him and said, 8Dear bo", come on senses% 1ou have &ot 'dn"an' and "ou wi &et sa vation% But i! "ou remain in meditation, how wi the (eo( e be

bene!ited and en i&htenedB 1ou asked me and I narrated to "ou these nectar: ike ta es o! Shri Guru's i!e% 1ou a so heard them conscientious "% 1ou shou d there!ore e aborate them and (ro(a&ate amon&st the (eo( e%8 Namdharak o(ened his e"es and ( aced his head on the !eet o! Shri Siddha and said, 81ou are Shri Guru "ourse !% Shri Guru's i!e, that "ou have narrated, is even more sweeter than the nectar% I am not contended "et% P ease te me the who e i!e a&ain in short8% 6earin& this 5ust as a (h"sician (re(ares the San5eevini (i s mi.in& man" medicines and kee(s the (i s with him, simi ar " I am te in& "ou the summar" o! this i!e o! Shri Guru% Eurther Shri Siddha said, 8Thou&h Shri Guru has disa((eared sti he &ives Darshan to his sincere devotees as be!ore8% Namdharak: 80ind " te me the (rocedure o! week:readin& and other ru es to be !o owed durin& the week8% Shri Siddha:8Shri Guru:Charitra can be read an" time with (ure mind% The credit o! readin& it in a week is sti &reat% Eor this, one ( ace and seat shou d be se ected% 0ee( contro on the senses durin& the week% Be!ore startin& the readin& bow to God, Brahmin and e ders% >orshi( the vo ume o! 8Shri Guru:Charitra8% 'ne shou d com( ete < cha(ters on the !irst da", read u(to 2Fth cha(ter on the second da", u(to 9Fth on the third da", u(to =3th on the !ourth da", u(to =<th on the !i!th da", u(to 3=rd on the si.th da" and u(to 49nd cha(ters on the seventh da"% /!ter readin&, worshi( the vo ume and take i&ht dinner% Some observe !ast !or the week+ but i! this is not (ossib e have !ood o! on " one t"(e o! corn% 'n the ei&hth da", !or com( etion o! the week readin&, take mea s with a Brahmin cou( e and o!!er mone" as Dakshina% I! the readin& is done with devotion and (ure heart, Shri Guru &ives Darshan in dream and !u !i s one's desires% The troub e o! s(irits and &hosts vanishes and one &ets (eace o! mind% Namdharak a&ain e.(ressed to Shri Siddha Muni his &ratitude !or narratin& the i!e o! Shri Guru, which has made his i!e !ortunate and enab ed him to attain the b iss% Dedicated to Shri Dattatre"a% 'M T/T S/T AAAAAQ