Hinduism - How the true, real qualities of a Guru explained in this sloka and what is the meaning to ?

Question

Ekam,

Nithyam,

Vimalam,

Achalam ? pl explain.

SLOKA

Brahmaanandham Parama Sukhadam

Kevalam Jnaana Murthim

Dhvandhvaa Theetham Gagana Sadhrisham

Tathvam Asyaadi Lakshyam

Ekam Nithyam Vimalam Achalam

Sarvadhee Saakshi Bhutham

Bhavaatheetham Thriguna Rahitham

Sadhgurum Tham Namaami.

Answer 1

"Brahmaanandham Parama Sukhadam

Kevalam Jnaana Murthim

Dhvandhvaa Theetham Gagana Sadhrisham

Tathvam Asyaadi Lakshyam

Ekam Nithyam Vimalam Achalam

Sarvadhee Saakshi Bhutham

Bhavaatheetham Thriguna Rahitham

Sadhgurum Tham Namaami"



Meaning: This sloka tries to describe the qualities of a true Guru. A real Guru has the following qualities. He experiences the supreme Bliss of Brahmaananda (transcedental divine bliss). He enjoys and confers changeless supreme happiness. He is beyond space and time (there is nothing higher than him). He is the embodiment of wisdom which is the basis for all types of knowledge. He transcends the pair of opposites (such as happiness and sorrow, gain and loss). He is more Omnipresent than space itself. He is the very embodiment of the Divine principle, which is the inner meaning of the four great pronouncements Prajnaanam Brahma, Aham Brahmasmi, Thath Thvam Asi and Ayam Aathma Brahma.



He is One without a second (ekam). He never changes under any circumstances (nithyam). He is without any type of impurity (vimalam). He is steady and motionless(achalam). He is the witness of everything. He transcends mental comprehension and verbal explanation. He is beyond the three gunas (sathva, rajas and thamas). I offer my humble salutations to such a Guru who possesses all these qualities.



Brahamanandam means eternal bliss. Such a word cannot be understood by comparison with the joy derived from materialistic pleasures (lokaananda). Brahma is derived from the root word brihat, meaning vastness.



Brahamanandam is that which is immutable. It is the true and infinite bliss. It can also be termed as Advaitananda, meaning the bliss that results from the experience of oneness. It can also be described as Nirgunaananda and Niraakaarananda (bliss that transcends form and attributes).



Paramasukhadam means supreme happiness. It has nothing to do with the worldly happiness and sensual pleasures. It is identical with the experience of the eternal bliss.



Kevalam means that which transcends the limitations of time, space, and circumstances.



Jnanamurthim means one of wisdom. Here, jnana refers to experience of oneness. It transcends body, mind, and intellect.



Advaita darshanam jnanam (experience of non-duality is true wisdom). How can man comprehend this incomparable wis dom? The Vedas contain many such words suffused with sacred inner meaning. Only Divinity, which is attributeless, ancient, eternal, ever new, pure, and unsullied, can explain the inner meanings of the Vedic principles.



Dvandvaatheetham refers to that which transcends all dualities such as happiness and sorrow, good and bad, merit and sin, etc.



Trigunarahitham refers to that which transcends the three attributes: sathwa (serenity, purity), rajas (passion), and thamas (dullness, lethargy). Attributes are associated with form. So, the formless One has no attributes. The Vedas contain four Mahavaakyaas: Prajnanam Brahma (knowledge is Brahman), Ayamatma Brahma (This Atma is Brahman), Tath Thwam Asi (That Thou Art) and Aham Brahmasmi (I am Brahman). The attributeless principle transcends even these four declarations.



Ekam nithyam refers to that which is eternal and without a second. The Vedas proclaim Ekam eva adviteeyam Brah (Divinity is one without a second). Om ithyekaaksharam Brahma (the single syllable Om is Brahman).



Vimalam achalam refers to that which is pure and steady. In this universe, the celestial bodies such as the sun, the moon, and the planets are constantly on the move. A wavering mind cannot comprehend Divinity, which is steady, changeless, and attributeless, is the embodiment of supreme bliss and happiness. That is the reason the ancient sages and seers used to pray, “Salutations to the One who is the embodiment of supreme happiness.” The happiness related to the body and mind is no happiness at all. Inward (nivritti) happiness is true happiness.



Sarvadhi Saksibhutam is, in addition to all the names mentioned so far, God is called the Eternal Witness. He is a witness to everything and all the time.

Answer 2

Friend, Many answers are already there , some very long (copy -paste) some original and short. There is no point in again telling , what has been said. ''GU '' Means avidya or Andhakara or Maaya. '' RU'' Means The One that removes that Maaya or Illusion. In Narayana Suktam You recite that the Jypyi that resides inside all in atomic stage is '' SA BRAHMA SA SHIVA SA HARI SO INDRA SO AKSHARA PRAMA SAWRAAT.'' What does it mean? THE Brahma or Vishnu,, or shiva or all are in that , which we call Parama Awaraat or Brahman. Then who is Guru? A GURU ins the Person that removes the illusuion in you , and train you in such a way that you will tread in the path shown by him, and finally with Guru Krupa REALIZE THE ULTIMATE TRUTH. What is the Ultimate truth? Realizing that You are That Brahman alone. So Even when Vishnu takes Avatars like Raama or Krishna etc , HE always has a GURU. Sankaraacharya who is called '' Sankara is none other than SAKSHAATH SHANKARA'' has his guru on Earth. So , Parents can give one a Physical body alone. Brahma can create one on earth. Vishnu sees that the one that has taken birth leads a life according to Duritam and as guided by ones wisdom. Finally Shiva (Here Rudra) removes the Mortal frame as the time comes. These three , Brahma, Vishnu and Rudra act according to cosmic laws and are part and parcel of that Parama Swaraat.,Brahman. GURU gives a disciple that BRAHMAVIDYA. Brahma vid Brahmaiva Bhavati...once you know Brahmavuidya , You are Brahman Himself...THE SCRIPTURES SAY SO. So the GURU CAN TAKE YOU TO THE LEVEL OF BRAHMAN. GURU WHO HAS MASTERED AND RELIZED ALONE CAN MAKE HIS DISCIPLE REALIZE THE ULTIMATE TRUTH BY GUIDING. SO WHO IS GURU? A BRAHMA GNAANI...That is a Parama Swaraat Roopa...That is HE IS BRAHMA ,HE IS VISHNU AND HE IS SHIVA AND HE IS ALL. SO GURU GETS THE FIRST PLACE . WE SALUTE GURU FIRST EVEN IF THERE IS GOD AND PARENTS BEFORE US AT ANYTIME.GURU GETS THE FIRST PLACE, ANY ONE EVEN GOD IS NEXT TO HIM ONLY THAT IS WHY THAT PRAYER. I UNDERSTAND THAT MUCH PLEASE.

Answer 3

He is One without a second (ekam).

He never changes under any circumstances (nithyam).

He is without any type of impurity (vimalam).

He is steady and motionless(achalam).



The complete shloka is offering our obescience



I bow to the omnipresent Guru (Satguru) (who is) bliss of brahman, giver of absolute happiness,

the ultimate form of wisdom, like the sky, indicated by the scriptures as "Thou art that"

Unique, eternal, free from impurities, immovable

witness to all, beyond any mental disposition

free from the three attributes(sattva,rajas,tamas)





This sloka tries to describe the qualities of a true Guru. A real Guru has the following qualities. He experiences the supreme Bliss of Brahmaananda (transcedental divine bliss). He enjoys and confers changeless supreme happiness. He is beyond space and time (there is nothing higher than him). He is the embodiment of wisdom which is the basis for all types of knowledge. He transcends the pair of opposites (such as happiness and sorrow, gain and loss). He is more Omnipresent than space itself. He is the very embodiment of the Divine principle, which is the inner meaning of the four great pronouncements Prajnaanam Brahma, Aham Brahmasmi, Thath Thvam Asi and Ayam Aathma Brahma. He is One without a second (ekam). He never changes under any circumstances (nithyam). He is without any type of impurity (vimalam). He is steady and motionless(achalam). He is the witness of everything. He transcends mental comprehension and verbal explanation. He is beyond the three gunas (sathva, rajas and thamas). I offer my humble salutations to such a Guru who possesses all these qualities.

Answer 4

When the 'Laghu' i.e. sisyha attains that stage of 'Brahma gnanam', I feel the sloka are the feelings of realisation of 'that tvam asi', that supreme knowledge is you and swims in the ambrosia of 'brahmanandam'. If you read the slokam from the bottom line upwards the meaning is crystal clear.

Thanks for the 'satsang'

Answer 5

The meanings already given by scholars are vivid.



The verse appears in the Guru Stotram of Vishwasaara thanthram. The ideal Guru's qualties are described as identical to the Param Athma Himself except for the reference to "thathwamasyaadi lakshyam.." etc where the pursuit of "self realization" is ment ioned, while the Param Athma is not the seeker but the sought after Truth within oneself.



While the ideal Gurus of this standard were indeed available aplenty in physical forms in not so distant past - like St Ramana, Sri Ramakrishna, Sri Aurobindo, Sri Sai Baba, etc, we have very few of their standard around these days. May be we see them but do not 'realize' their worth (For instance, St Seshadri Swamigal of Tiruvannamalai was really considered as a disorganised - lunatic - personality in the early days, till his divine qualities expressed concretely over time) or they may have retired to far away desolate places, guiding the few true seekers who seek them out for guidance - like Sri Mahavatara Babaji of Self Realization Fellowship devotees said to be living in Himalayas and giving darshan to select sincere seekers !



Interestingly, the Guruparampara (lineage of the Gurus) is said to start from the foremost Saguna Forms like Narayana (cf: the sloka chanted by Vaishnavites: Lakshminaatha samaarambaam, Yamunamuna madhyamaam, asmadh Acharya paryantham, vande Guru paramparaam).



Meaning: I bow to the great Guru parampara starting from the Lord of Lakshi Devi, through the saints like Yamunacharya - also called St Alavandar - till present Acharyas!



Similarly, the Saivites sing, Gowreenaatha samaarambam, Shankarachaarya madhyamaam, asmad Acharya paryantham, vande Guru paramparaam (please correct if the words vary from this somewhere, but meaning is same).



Meaning: I bow to the Guru parampara starting from the Lord of Gowri, through Shankaracharyas, till the present Acharyas!



So naturally the ideal Gurus share the sublime qualities of their divine ancestry (not by blood, but sainthood lineage, from Teacher to Student down the eons).



Sri Sathya Sai Baba once said "it is difficult to get Bodha Gurus (ones who teach right) these days and one may end up with Baadha Gurus (ones who torment - with evil motives like extraction of money etc). So it is best to mentally invoke the Antharaathma (the Divine in our spiritual hearts) to guide..,"



The all pervasive Lord it is believed, would send the right Guide at the right time to lead us. So we may not seek or wait for a spiritual Guide, but carry on our efforts of 'self enquiry' (koham - who am I) and the answer (Soham - I am He) would be revealed over time, with or without the intercession of a formal Guru. St Ramana did not have a formal Guru while St Ram surath Kumar or Swami Vivekananda had elite Gurus to guide them.



Gurubyo namaha.

Answer 6

dear harithajee

you always put up very thought provoking and difficult questions ,

we learn a lot through/because of your questions , in the sense , to give a better answer we try to read a lot

understand the details thereby increase our spiritual knowledge.,



Faith is very essential to express Divinity. Where there is Faith, there is Love. Where there is Love there is Peace. Where there is Peace there is Truth. Where there is Truth there is Divinity. In the final verse of the Guru Gita Lord Shiva says to Parvati that he will tell her a Secret Mantra. Parvati becomes very alert and wonders which Mantra she will learn. With this Mantra one can cross the ocean the world, and get liberated. This Mantra quickly gives success in life.



What is this Mantra?



It is GURU - This word is a Mantra. This beautiful Mantra is given in the concluding



verse of GURU GITA. It emphasizes that Guru is God



Brahmanandam parama sukhadam kevalam jnanamurtim

dvandvaateetam gagana sadrusam tatvamasyadi lakshya



ekam nityam vimala machalam sarvadheesaakshibuutam

bhaavaateetam triguna rahitam sadgurum tam namaami.



Word by word meaning:



01. Brahmanandam = (He who is the source of) the eternal bliss (Brahma is derived from the



02. Parama sukhadam= (the source of) supreme happiness



03. kevalam jnana murtim = total personification of wisdom (Advaita darshanam jnanam means experience of non-duality is true wisdom.



04. dvandvaateetam =(who is ) beyond the dualities of this material world such as happiness & sorrow, good & bad merit & demerit etc.,)



05. gagana sadrusham = (who is) as infinite as sky (formless)



06. tatvamasyadi lakshyam. = Whose attention is always on the divine (who is the sole aspiration and goal of life)



07. ekam = Guru is one (who is unique)



08. nityam = eternal



09. vimalam = pure



10. achalam = stead



11. sarva dhee saakshi bhuutam = witness (saakshi) in consciousness (dhee) in all beings

(sarva bhuutam) (Who sees with the eyes of wisdom)



12. bhaavaateetam = who is beyond emotions& thoughts



13. triguna rahitam =beyond the three gunas (binding aspects of our nature) satva, rajas and tamo guna.



14. sadgurum tam namaami = I salute (namaami) to that(tam) Sadguru (Great Master)



"I salute to that Sadguru who is the source of eternal bliss,

supreme happiness, who has true wisdom,

who is beyond the dualities, who is infinite,

whose attention is always on the divine, who is unique,

eternal, pure, steady, and who sees with the eyes of wisdom

who is beyond thoughts and beyond three gunas ".





here i would like to add what i had read of sai baba



One day, saibaba summoned Kelkar and told him, "Today is Gurupoornima. Perform Guru Puja to Me." Non one there knew the meaning of Guru puja. Kelkar asked Baba what Guru puja meant. Baba asked, "Whom do you think as a Guru? It is not pontiffs of ‘maths’ who are Gurus. Nor are sanyasins (renunciants) are Gurus; God alone is the Guru (Preceptor)."

"Brahmanandam, Parama sukhadam, Kevalam Jnaana Murthim, Dwandhwaatheetham, Trigunarahitham, Thathwamasyadilakshyam"

(He is the supreme bliss, the giver of Divine happiness, the embodiment of the highest advatic knowledge and one who transcends all qualities; He is the supreme Divine Preceptor.)

He is the Supreme Absolute. Salutations to that Supreme Guru. The true Guru is one who combines the three forms of the trinity, the Gods who preside over creation, protection and dissolution. Thus God alone is the real Guru." Declared Baba.

On hearing this Kelkar asked, "Should I worship Brahma, Vishnu, and Rudra?. Baba declared in a voice of assumed anger, "Eh Saitan! Here I am! Offer worship to Me!" Thereby Baba made known that He was Brahma, Vishnu and Rudra. All those present felt that Baba was the Divine incarnate.



divine love and bliss transcend the bounds of space and time, and that they are beyond season and reason as well. Indeed; Ananda is Ananda at all times and under all circumstances. Since Brahman and Atma are synonymous, Brahmananda can also be referred to as Atmananda. In fact, Ananda is just another name for Brahman or God. Worldly happiness that man is so crazy about is insignificant compared to the vastness that is Brahmananda or Atmananda.

like air is present everywhere and that it has no specific form. Yet, when this formless air that is present everywhere fills a balloon, it acquires a form – that of the [inflated] balloon. If you go on inflating the balloon, a stage would come when the balloon would burst. The air inside the balloon then merges with the air outside to become formless and vast once again. What a great difference there is between the trapped limited air and the vast free air! Similar is the comparison between the tiny spec called mananvaanada and to the infinity that is Brahmananda.

man must break out of human bondage, soaring to the level of Brahmananda.

The next in the list is

Parama sukhadam,

meaning real ecstasy. What is this sukham [happiness or ecstasy]? Is it connected with the body? Is it physical, sensual, or intellectual? It is beyond all these. Our ancients said, “Tasmai Namaha.” It means, “I offer my salutations to the Embodiment of Happiness”. Our ancients did not try to describe this supreme ecstasy but knew that God is its very Embodiment. So, they hailed God as Parama Sukhadam. God is the personification of Happiness that is beyond the constraints of space and time, and also human reasoning. If one is to describe this Parama Sukhadam or Transcendental Bliss, all one can say is that it is neither physical nor has it a form that can be comprehended. Nectar has an appearance, and its taste could possibly be described; but Parama Sukhadam is beyond both form and words. God is Eternal Bliss – what else can one say? He is totally unaffected by all pairs of opposites like praise and blame, [worldly] joys and sorrows, etc. He is ever supremely happy.

Kevalam Jnanamurtim,

Kevalam means that which transcend space, time, and circumstances. Jnana means wisdom. Thus, jnana moorthim means Embodiment of wisdom. Jnana is not of this type. It is supreme, transcendental wisdom, which is beyond this world, beyond space, time, and beyond circumstances as well. This jnana is also known as Brahmajnana (Knowledge of the Brahman) or Atmajnana (Knowledge of the Atma). It is eternal. Whereas worldly knowledge can be acquired from books and one can compare scholars saying he is better and so and so is less learned etc., Brahmajnana is total, and beyond textual and academic knowledge.

God alone is the Embodiment of jnana – in fact, He is Jnana itself. Brahmajnana is Eternal, Total, and Omnipresent. It is the knowledge of the Self. Since the Self is in you, this knowledge also is in you. The moment you realise your True Self, you acquire this knowledge. Acquisition of this knowledge confers supreme wisdom. Since this knowledge also confers supreme bliss, acquisition of Brahmajnana, automatically elevates you to the state of Brahmananda and Parama Sukhadam.

Dvandvatitam

The state represented by Brahmananda has another name : dvandvateetham. It is a state that transcends all dualities like pain and pleasure, good and bad, praise and blame, merit and sin. It is a unique state of Total Oneness. The Vedas say:

Ekam sat viprah bahudha vadanti.

Truth is only One though scholars describe it in various ways. Truth is One, not two – that is what dvandvateetham implies. It means that Brahman or God is infinitely beyond duality in which man is imprisoned. 0 Next,

Gaganasadrisam

This means that like space, Supreme Bliss is both ethereal and all-pervasive. Who is it that is called by the name Gagana Sadrisam? God of course! In fact, all the words Swami has mentioned so far – Brahmanandam, Parama sukhadam, Kevalam jnana moorthim, Dvandvateetham, and now Gagana Sadrisam – all these are Names of Almighty God.

Tatvamasyadilaksyam

The four Vedas proclaim four mahavakyas or fundamental truths. These basic statements are: (1) Prajnanam Brahma or God is Pure Consciousness. (2) Ayam Atma Brahma, meaning that Atma (the Self) and Brahman (God) are one. (3) Aham Brahmasmi, meaning I am God. (4) Tat Twam Asi, meaning That thou art! All these four statements imply the same, namely, there is only God and that, therefore, man also is divine. They underscore the Unity of Divinity. Thus God is also described as Tatwamasyadhi Lakshyam or the Ultimate Goal [which represents Total Unity].

After this,

Ekam, Nityam, Vimalam, Acalam.

These four words also are Names of God. Ekam means One. Everything in this vast Universe is just God [though, may be, in ‘disguise’].

Next we have Nityam, which means Eternal. God is not only Eternal but also Changeless. He remains so in all the three periods of time – past, present, and future – in all the three worlds, and in the presence of the three gunas (satva, rajo and tamo gunas) too. This divine constancy is described in the scriptures by saying that He is beyond trikalam (three periods of time), trilokam (three worlds), and trigunam (three gunas). Thus, God is Nityam, Nityam, Nityam!

After this, we have Vimalam – Pure. Today, contamination and pollution are everywhere. Air and water are polluted. Food too is contaminated and polluted. What is even more serious, man’s mind is polluted. God, on the other hand, is the personification of Total Purity. He is absolutely unsullied, crystal clear, and pristine pure.

Achalam. This means steady and not wavering. All objects and entities made up of the five elements are subject to changes with time; in fact, change is an inherent part of their nature. The Sun changes with time, and so does the Moon. The stars also change with time. The Earth is always in motion.So it is in Creation