Baba
Guru puja ruined
Namaskar,
I can never forget the time when, by Baba's grace, I attended DMC at Kullu on 1 November 1979. Actually, in my life, I was blessed with the opportunity to attend many DMCs, and all were special in their own way, due to His divine presence. In particular at Kullu, I remember the strong spiritual vibration. All were enchanted by His sweet charm. From my diary of that DMC, I am reminded how Baba delivered the discourse: Moks'a Kya' Hae, or What is Moks'a.
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Baba corrects Guru puja pronunciation at Kullu DMC
Also on that occasion, I noted in my diary how Baba graciously stopped the sadhakas from chanting Guru puja and corrected the pronunciation. Because as we all know, for Guru puja to be effective, one must maintain purity of mind, have proper ideation (bhava), and recite the chant three times with the correct pronunciation. Without those qualities, Guru puja will not work. Baba has graciously shown us the proper pronunciation so we may do our puja in the right manner.
The audio file of that DMC program has been uploaded to the audio archive, please find the link below.
What follows below is my diary entry from that magnificent occasion of Kullu DMC where Baba lovingly showered His grace on all, irrespective of one's social stature or birth. Because at DMC, Baba calls His bhaktas - all kinds of people, from all kinds of backgrounds, from all corners of the earth - and He equally showers His love on everyone, without any differentiation. That is the special quality of DMC.
(Note: It will be too long if I include my entire entry, so here I am appending the later part of the DMC experience which includes Baba's blessing, Guru puja, and Jai Slogan etc. In addition, in parentheses (Sound File 00:00) I have added the timings which relate to the sound file on the blog.)
Baba graces all with His mudra blessing
...Baba is beautifully concluding His discourse-- 'What is Salvation'-- in Hindi. (00:57, timing on the sound file (TSF))
Sadguru Baba is seated on the dais, His eyes closed and His palms together, as He recites, Samgacchadhvam...
(At this point, they have removed the microphones from in front of Baba so all will be able to witness and experience the upcoming varabhaya mudra. For this reason it is difficult to hear Baba recite Samgaddhadhvam. But if one listens carefully the chant can be heard.)
The anticipation and spiritual energy mounts as Baba recites, 'Omn Shanti, omn shanti, omn shanti'. (TSF = 01:28)
All eyes and minds are pin-pointed towards Baba - everything is still - and in His loving manner Baba slowly begins to separate His hands, bringing His right hand slightly up, palm facing the margiis, while His left hand is placed by His left thigh, palm facing upward.
Baba is graciously giving varabhaya mudra - His divine blessing!! (TSF = 01:34)
There is a strong upsurge of devotional feeling and spiritual flow. Sadhakas are crying out, 'Baba!, Baba!, Baba!...bhaktas are crying in bliss...His divine love is radiating everywhere - in all directions... (TSF = 01:34 - 01:52)
(At His various DMC's, Baba gives His varabhaya mudra blessing for around 10 seconds, per His wish. The longer the varabhaya mudra is held, more and more sadhakas will become unconscious, inundated in divine bliss, and go into samadhi.)
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Reminders about pronunciation in Guru puja
(It is always arranged that the bhukti pradhan (BP) or local in-charge should be close by PA Dada so that as soon as Baba concludes His mudra, then the BP can ask PA for permission to ask Baba to do Guru puja. So first the BP goes to PA Ramanandaji, and then the BP respectfully approaches Baba for permission. That is the system. And it all happens in a matter of seconds.)
The bhukti pradhan now asks PA Ramananda Dada, and PA Dadaji gives the BP access to Baba. The BP requests Baba about Guru puja and Baba graciously grants permission. (TSF = 1:52)
Before the start of Guru puja, we can hear reminders how the terms "Gurave" and "Parama'" should be pronounced properly. (TSF = 2:00)
Firstly, Gurave should not be spoken as Guruve, as that (Gurave) is the proper Sanskrit grammar. Those who do not read the text properly pronounce it in the wrong manner, as Guruve.
Secondly Parama should be pronounced with a natural "a" at the end. Once again, those not aware about Sanskrit merely say Param. But that is not correct. In essence there are three ways that parama is pronounced:
(a) Param: This is when the -ma is given half-pronunciation. That means the "m" sound ends abrutly similar to how the "t" sound is very short in the word "but." In this case, the half-pronunciation is not the proper way.
(b) Parama: This is when the -ma is given full-pronunciation wherein the -a sounds like the "a" in the word mica. Here we are concerned with phonetics, not spelling. If it is not clear then pay attention to this sound file on how the word mica is pronounced (link appended below). This is the proper pronunciation of the last "a" in Parama.
(c) Parama': This is when the -ma is given an overly long pronunciation with the mouth open wide such as the "a" sound in the word father. This also is not the proper way.
Finally, the best way to learn how to pronounce the word parama is by listening to the audio file on the blog, link appended below.
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Guru puja is halted due to poor pronunciation
One Dadaji begins leading Guru puja. (TSF = 2:11)
When Dada recites the last line of the first stanza, "Tasmae Shrii Gurave namah", the Dada mispronounces Gurave as Guruve, and one can hear Baba making corrections in pronunciation to PA Dada. (TSF = 2:43 - 2:52)
But Guru puja continues.
When Dada recites the last line of the second stanza of Guru puja, again he commits the same mistake by saying guruve, in place of gurave. Then in in His loving way, Baba again clarifies to PA Dada that 'Gurave' is the proper pronunciation, not Guruve. Baba repeats the corrections again and again, emphatically. (TSF = 3:18 - 3:23)
Then, you can hear PA Dada shout, 'Stop it!'.
At this point Guru puja is halted. The whole DMC Pandal is totally silent.
Then the Dada re-starts Guru puja from the very beginning. (TSF = 3:30)
From then on, the three rounds of Guru puja proceeds without incident, as the Dada correctly says "Gurave" and "Parama". And it all goes smoothly.
After three blissful rounds of Guru puja, we collectively chant, "Tava dravyam..." (TSF = 9:53)
Then everyone does sastaunga pranam.
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Namaskar,
In Him,
Gurusharan
~ In-depth study ~
When Guru puja (Akhanda mandala...) and the pranama mantra (Tava dravyam...) have concluded, then Baba showers another blessing upon us all. (10:29)
Sarve'tra sukhinah bhavantu sarve santu nira'maya'h;
Sarve bhadra'n'i pashyantu na kashcid duhkhama'pnuya't.
Let everybody be happy (TSF = 11:10)
Let everybody be free from all ailments
Let everybody see the bright side of everything
Let nobody be forced to undergo any suffering or exploitation
Parama Pita Baba Ki - Jai!! Parama Pita Baba Ki-- Jai!! Parama Pita Baba Ki - Jai!! (TSF = 11:30)
Pronunciation is key for all chants
We should be vigilant in the pronunciation of all our chants: Samgacchadhvam, nityam shuddham, and of course Guru puja - as well as any other chants used in our Ananda Marga way of life. Then one can derive the full benefit from those chants. That will be very meaningful.
The entire teaching of this entire story is that pronunciation is very meaningful. Baba wants us to be strict on this point. So we should all be conscious and vigilant when doing our Ananda Marga chants, and in particular the two aforementioned points related with Guru puja.
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Society requires enforced discipline
Ananda Marga philosophy states, "To impose discipline is not bad. It has been said in the scriptures: Hitarthe shásanam ityarthe anushásanam. “That discipline which leads to the welfare of all human beings is called anushásanam.” Society requires enforced discipline. In the scriptures it is also said: Nigrahánugrahe shakto gururityabhidhiyate: “One who is capable of punishing or rewarding one's followers is called a Guru, a true teacher”. Only one who can discipline as well as love a person, can be called a Guru." (1)
Ananda Marga ideology states, "The first class guru is one who gives the teachings, certainly, and keeps track of his disciples as well, but who also lets them know that he will punish them to set them right. This is the first class guru. How is it? Nigrahánugrahe shakto gururityabhidhiiyate. One who loves very much, who loves with all their heart, but who meets out strict punishment when he sees impropriety or mindless action, is the true guru. Here the shloka is talking about this best class of guru, not the middling or lowest class of guru." (2)
That divine vibration is present today
So this was the beautiful scene that we all experienced that day at Kullu DMC. And still that divine vibration of Baba is alive in everyone's mind and heart. All we need to do is search Him within and He is there showering His blessing.
Ananda Marga ideology says, "Now by dint of sadhana,' one is to arouse and exalt that sleeping divinity. That Svayambhu'liunga becomes one with Shambhu'liunga. But for this one requires divine help. And I know one is sure to get divine help. And I know further that one is getting divine help. And I know still further that in future, for infinite time and infinite space, one will be getting this divine favour. And you are all sa'dhakas. You will certainly attain that supreme stance and enjoy that divine blessedness. You are sure to enjoy it, my sons and my daughters." (3)
Varabhaya mudra & janusparsha mudra
Generally at DMC, Baba would graciously shower His varabhaya mudra upon all. On some select occasions, Baba would lovingly present His janusparsha mudra, wherein both hands are on His knees, palms facing upwards. Although less common, this is another one of Baba's divine blessings.
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About samadhi
When a sadhaka becomes inundated in His spiritual bliss, then that sadhaka may undergo all kinds of blissful sensations.
Ananda Marga philosophy says, "When the mental flow of a spiritual aspirant moves along the introversial phase of Macrocosmic meditation, one’s animative force, having the potentiality of divinity itself, rises above all tendencies – all sam'ska'ras – and proceeds towards Eternal bliss. In this state the mind is vibrated with Cosmic feeling. The unexpressed divine qualities of the higher glands find expression and the resonance of the mind vibrates the nervous system. This gives rise to pious expressions in the physical body. In the case of those people whose occult feelings are not physically expressed due to causes associated with the nerves, the mental vibrations cause certain radical changes, in the various glands within the body. These occult feelings are basically of eight types: stambha (astounding), kampa (trembling), sveda (sweating), svarabheda (hoarseness of voice), ashru (tears), roma'inca (horripilation), vaevarn'a (change of colour) and pralaya (fainting fit). There are other feelings associated with these major feelings. For examples, nrtya (dancing), giita (singing), vilun't'hana (rolling), kroshana (weeping), hum'ka'ra (roaring), la'la'sra'va (salivating), jrmbhan'a (yawning), loka'peks'a' tya'ga (indifference), at'a'ha'sya (bursting into laughter), ghu'rn'ana (whirling), hikka' (hiccoughing), tanumot'ana (relaxation of the physical body) and diirghashva'sa (deep breathing)." (4)
Brief overview: right way pronounce Guru puja
In the following comparisons, the wrong pronunciation has been written in red font. And the green highlighted term has two acceptable forms of pronunciation.
Guruve = wrong
Gurave = correct
Param = wrong
Parama = correct
Cakśurunmiilitaḿ = correct
Cakkhurunmiilitaḿ =also correct
WRONG
Akhańd́amańd́alákáraḿ vyáptaḿ yena carácaram;
Tatpadaḿ darshitaḿ yena tasmae Shrii Guruve namah.
Ajiṋána timirándhasya jiṋánáiṋjana shalákayá;
Cakśurunmiilitaḿ yena tasmae Shrii Guruve namah.
Gurur Brahmá Gurur Viśńu Gurur Devo Maheshvarah;
Gurureva Param Brahma tasmae Shrii Guruve namah
CORRECT
Akhańd́amańd́alákáraḿ vyáptaḿ yena carácaram;
Tatpadaḿ darshitaḿ yena tasmae Shrii Gurave namah.
Ajiṋána timirándhasya jiṋánáiṋjana shalákayá;
Cakśurunmiilitaḿ / Cakkhurunmiilitaḿ yena tasmae Shrii Gurave namah.
Gurur Brahmá Gurur Viśńu Gurur Devo Maheshvarah;
Gurureva Parama Brahma tasmae Shrii Gurave namah
Tava Dravyam’ Jagad Guro Tubhyameva Sama’rpaye.
Links to sound files
Link to the sound file from the 1979 Kullu DMC where Baba is correcting Guru Puja:
Link to the sound of the word "mica" for the proper pronunciation of the last "a" in Parama:
References
1. A Few Problems Solved - 5, Shrávańii Púrńimá
2. Ananda Vacanamrtam - 9, The Primary Causes of Success
3. Ananda Vacanamrtam - 23, Stages of Samádhi
4. A Guide to Human Conduct, Iishvara Prańidhána
* * *
The below sections are entirely different topics, unrelated to the above material.
They stand on their own as points of interest.
The below sections are entirely different topics, unrelated to the above material.
They stand on their own as points of interest.
* * *
== Section: Important Teaching ==
Just our temporary abode
Ananda Marga philosophy says, "Human beings come onto this earth for a very short period, and within this short period they are required to complete everything. So there is a great deal of work to be done, but the time is very short. Thus intelligent people make the best use of every moment of their time - wasting one's time is the height of foolishness. Why? Because no human being will remain on this earth for long, and the very goal of human life is to attain Parama Purusa, the Supreme Stance. Human beings, while moving forward towards that Goal which is fixed before their minds, will have to perform many worldly duties. That is why it is said, 'Keep one hand on the feet of Parama Purus'a, and with the other hand do your mundane duties'." (1)
Reference
1. A Few Problems Solved - 4, Let Chattisgarh Have a Brilliant Future
== Section 2: Links ==
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