Nitaisundar - The Universal Guru
Verse 1
chintâmanir-jayati somagirir-gururme shikshâgurush–
cha-bhagavâna shikhi-pinccha-moulih,
yat-pada-kalpataru-pallava-shekhareshu
lilâ-swayamvara-rasam labhate jayashrih. 1.
Translation
All glory to my Spiritual Master, Sri Somagiri, who is like a chintâmani (wish-fulfilling jewel). All glory to Vrajendranandan Sri Krishna Whose crown is adorned with peacock feathers, where Jayashri Râdhâ sports divinely at the tip of His toenail and attains the joy of finding Her life-partner, and Who is my Shikshâ-Guru! 1.
Srila Krishnadâs Kavirâj Goswâmipâd says in his Sâranga-Rangadâ purport that, Sri Lilâshuk was a supreme lover of God and thus all qualified. He had a strong desire to behold Vrindâvan. He was crazy with love and hence started from his home towards Sri Vrindâvan. On the way, he recited a ‘Mangalâcharan’1 in which he glorified his Spiritual Master and his Worshipped Deity, Sri Krishna.
Many authors glorify their Sri Gurudev and Ishtadev at the beginning of their texts. It is a prayer to reach their goal successfully and to get rid of all obstacles along the way. However, Lilâshuk’s ‘Mangalâcharan’ is not like that at all. Unlike other poets, Lilâshuk has not composed these verses with conscious effort. Filled with ecstatic love, he has uttered these verses involuntarily, and his associates (Vaishnav companions) have penned them down. When one is speaking in a love-crazed state, one cannot possibly make a conscious effort to compose verses. Hence, although the above verse appears to be like a ‘Mangalâcharan’, it is definitely not like the Holy Invocations of any other text.
In Lilâshuk’s days, the South Indians could speak fluently in Sanskrit. Sripâd Lilâshuk, being an excellent poet, has expressed his ecstatic thoughts in the form of very stylish Sanskrit poetry. Now, the question may arise, how is it possible that he glorified his Sri Guru and Ishtadev in the very beginning itself, without being conscious of it? Well, it is natural for a pure devotee to glorify his Sri Guru and Ishtadev every moment of the day, be it while sleeping, eating, and going out or at any other activity. Hence, one need not be surprised that Sri Lilâshuk said – “All glory to my Spiritual Master, Sri Somagiri! He is the embodiment of a touchstone who fulfils all desires.” A devotee has only one wish – to get rid of all his anarthas2 and to obtain Bhagavat-prem3. This wish is fulfilled only by the mercy of Sri Gurudev. Srila Narottamdâs Thâkur Mahâshay has sung-
“May I serve the lotus-feet of my Spiritual Master most carefully, since it is the store-house of bhakti4. It is due to his mercy alone that I can manage to cross this material ocean and obtain Sri Krishna.”
– (Prem-Bhakti-Chandrikâ).
Sri Jiva has stated –
“We cannot get rid of any of our anarthas, no matter how much we may try. It is possible to get rid of out anarthas and please Sri Hari only by the mercy of Sri Gurudev.”
Srila Chaitanya dâs says – “Just as the chintâmani5 fulfils our wish, all the desires of a sâdhak are fulfilled as soon as he remembers Sri Gurudev”.
Sri Lilâshuk glorifies his Sri Gurudev
In ‘Kâvyaprakash6‘, the word ‘jay’ also means ‘obeisance’. Hence, ‘Jayati’ also means
– “I pay obeisance to Sri Gurudev.”
“It is confirmed that passion for the lotus-feet of Sri Guru is the highest goal of man, since it is by Sri Gurudev’s mercy alone that we can fulfil our spiritual desires.”
– (P.B.C.)
(to be continued)
1 Holy Invocation
2 bad quality
3 Divine love
4 devotion unto Sri Krishna
5 a gem that fulfils our wish as soon as we think of it.
6 a Sanskrit dictionary