Siddhamuni continued with the narrative and told that Guru Nath stayed at Vaijnath for a year, he alone attending upon him.
From Vaijnath, Sri Narasimha Saraswati, accompanied by Siddhamuni, visited Amba Bhavani Kshetra and lived there for a few days. At this place, a Brahmin yogi came to Sri Narasimha Saraswati and prayed to him for his guidance and help in his Sadhana. He said that his mind was very restless and he was unsuccessful in concentration. He said that he had gone to one Guru earlier, who initiated him to a Mantra, but it did not seem to help him at all. He said that he had left off that Guru as he had no respect not liking for him any longer, and that he was now seeking out another Guru and requested Sri Narasimha Saraswati to accept him as his disciple.
Sri Narasimha Saraswati told him that it is never proper to talk disrespectfully of the Guru, and that he had committed a very great mistake in forsaking his guru. He said that it is not for the student to judge the merits or demerits of the Guru. One should have implicit faith in the Guru. Guru is the treasure house and abode of all knowledge and wisdom. Guru is even superior to God; the student must ungrudgingly, selflessly, dedicatedly and lovingly serve the Guru, whatever be the hardships of service. There is nothing comparable to the service rendered to the Guru. Only if Guru is pleased, Gods will be pleased. If Guru is not pleased, all the Gods even cannot help him wee bit. GuruBhakti and Guru Sadhana are the foundations of spiritual Sadhana, and winning of Guru's grace alone is the fruition of all Sadhana. Sri Narasimha Saraswati narrated the stories of Dhaumya Rishi's disciples as example and illustration of this truth, which is an anecdote from the Mahabharata.
Dhaumya Rishi had three disciples, one was Aruni Panchal, the second was Baid and the third was Upamanyu, Aruni was asked by the Guru to water his field so that the cereal crop would grow well. The water had to brought into the field through a canal from a tank which was little far away. The tank was shallow. Aruni dug the canal, and water started flowing into the field. Then unfortunately, a breach developed in one of the bunds of the canal and the water started draining out and escaping away through the breach, thus stopping the flow of water into the field. Aruni tried his best to fill up the breach by piling up stones, putting sand etc., over there, but could not succeed. The water was going waste and he was worried as to how to get the filled with water. Then he got an idea; he laid down at the side of the breach, thus blocking it. The water thereby, started flowing into the field. He remained there in the same position so that the field would get water fully.
It was quite late in the night and as the boy did not return home, the Guru was worried as to what would have happened to him, and he came to the field searching for him. He was surprised and felt glad to find the field full of water, which was never the case any time before, but at the same time, he was worried as Aruni was nowhere in sight. He called out loudly, "Aruni! Aruni!". From the waters of the canal Aruni replied in a feeble voice, "Gurudeo! I am here." The Guru reached to him and pulled him out. Aruni fell prostrate at the Guru's feet and offered his obeisance to him. The Guru was touched by the boy's unselfish devotion to him and placing his hand on the boy's head, blessed him saying, "May you become proficient and gain mastery in all Vedas and the Sastra." No sooner than the Guru said this, Aruni became fully enlightened and all knowledge dawned on him in a flash. "Such will be the result of Guru Seva", thus said Sri Narasimha Saraswati to the brahmin.
Sri Narasimha Saraswati continued his narration. "Now listen to the Guru Seva of Baid". Baid was asked by the Guru to till the land, sow the seeds, raise the crop and take all care till harvesting was completed and the grains were safely brought home. Baid was working on the field, day in and day out, without wasting a single moment, and sparing no pains. Due to all the labor exerted and pains taken by him, the crop came out very well and yielded a very rich harvest. Baid loaded the grains on the cart and started to drive the cart to the Guru's house. The load was too heavy and the bullock was unable to draw the cart. Baid was also trying to pull the cart along with the bullock. Unfortunately, the bullock got stuck up in the mire an the way and the cart wheels also sank deep down in the mud. The bullock was not able to pull the cart. Baid was struggling with all his strength to push the cartwheels and make the cart move. In the process, he almost lost his breath and was about to collapse. Dhaumya Rishi was coming himself to see how Baid was faring with the collection of the harvest. On the way itself he saw the heavily loaded cart and Baid. But alas he found Baid tottering on his feet and collapsing almost on the verge of death. The Guru was very much moved with the selfless and steady fast devotion of Baid. He pulled Baid out of the mire and placed his right hand on his head, which immediately revived him. Not only that, Baid received total illumination and enlightment, and all knowledge dawned on him with the blessing touch of the Guru.
Sri Narasimha Saraswati then gave account of Upamanyu's Guru Seva & Bhakti. Upamanyu was also a very devoted disciple, but he had an habit of over eating. The Guru wanted to curb this habit of his of over indulgence with food. The Guru gave Upamanyu the task of looking after his herd of cattle. Upamanyu used to leave home very early in the morning along with the herd, after eating the little food the Guru gave, for the grazing grounds were far away, and only very late in the evening he used to return along with the herd. In the afternoons, he used to beg alms from the houses which were nearby and was thus having his afternoon food. The Guru finding the boy still fat, asked him what he was eating in the afternoons. The boy told the Guru, that he was begging Bhiksha from the houses near the grazing grounds and was eating whatever food abstained thus. The Guru said he should not eat Bhiksha food, but should bring it and give it to him and eat only whatever he (the Guru) gave him. Upamanyu started doing this as the Guru said, but as he was feeling very hungry in the afternoons, he started drinking the remnants of the mil that continued to drip from the cow's udders, after the calves had drunk their fill. The Guru prohibited that even. Upamanyu became very much emaciated for the lack of food. Unable to bear the hunger, one day, seeing some milk exude from some wild leaves, he drank that milk. That exudation was poisonous and it effected his eve nerves and made him blind. In the evening, trying to drive the cattle home and unable to find the way due to his lost eyesight, he fell into a well. As he did not reach home, the Guru came searching for him. Dhaumya muni saw his disciple fallen into the well. He pulled him out and moved much by the boy's truthful and implicit obedience to the word of Guru, he touched his eyes with his hand, chanting the invocation mantra to the Aswini Devatas. Upamanyu instantly regained his sight. Not only that, the Guru, through his blessings, endowed him with all the scriptural knowledge and wisdom. Upamanyu became a most renowned Rishi. It was his Shishya by name Udanka who presided over the Great Serpent Sacrifice of Janamejaya, which brought even Indra down from the Heaven, along with his throne towards the sacrificial Fire. It is also said that Udanka, soon after completing his discipleship, obtained from Adisesha in Patala, the latter's ear kundalas, and brought and offered them as the Guru Dakshina to his Guru Upamanyu.
Sri Narasimha Saraswati , by these examples taught the Brahmin the supreme importance and necessity of Guru Seva for acquiring spiritual knowledge and wisdom. The Brahmin now realised his great error in not discharging his duty to his Guru, and in speaking ill of him. He felt very sad and felt he should alone for it by ending his life. Sri Narasimha Saraswati was touched by the sincere repentance of the Brahmin and told him "your repentance has absolved you of all your sin". He then placed his hand on the Brahmin's head. Lo! the Brahmin got enlightened with all knowledge and wisdom. Sri Narasimha Saraswati told the Brahmin that he should go immediately to his Guru, fall at his feet and pray for his forgiveness. He said that then only the enlightenment he got now by his grace would become secure and lasting.
Sri Narasimha Saraswati then left the Amba Bhavani Kshetra and went to Bhillawadi where there is the ancient temple of Sri Bhuveneswari Devi. There on the western bank of Krishna river under the Banyan Tree, Sri Narasimha Saraswati made his abode, and stayed there for four months.
Thus ending the Sixteenth chapter of Guru Charitra scribing "Guru Bhakti Prabhav".
Glory to the All merciful, the Omnipresent and the ever responsive Guru Nath!
The three disciples in the above illustration represent the Three graded Gunas, Thamas, Rajas and Satwa. Devotion to Guru will unfailingly take us beyond the Gunas. Gunas transcended, Atma Jnana will shine forth in us. While the Guru's Grace helps us in finally transcending the Gunas, transcending of each one of the three Gunas will take it's own time. Each aspirant progresses at his own pace, which is largely dependent upon the characteristics of nature of his predominant Guna. Upamanyu symbolises Thmo-guna predominantly, and the latter takes longer duration of time to get transcended and sublimated. Baid symbolises Rajo-guna, which could be transcended in a lesser time. Aruni symbolises Satwa Guna and it could be transcended but in one day. With devotion, dedication and surrender to the Guru, one becomes Gunatheeta, i.e., one goes beyond the trammels of Maya which alone will enable him to experience his true inner Self.
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