The Hindu : Miscellaneous / Religion : Preceptor for all times

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Friday, May 13, 2005

Miscellaneous

Miscellaneous - Religion

Preceptor for all times

CHENNAI: At the beginning of Kali Yuga people were guided by theories that gave utmost importance to the performance of rites and rituals such as Yaga that could yield tangible benefit. Since these were based on the authority of the Vedas, popular conviction attached less importance to discussions on God or the Creator. The celestials were frustrated with people's imperfect understanding of Vedic tenets that was tantamount to ignorance, since the presence of a Supreme Being was not acknowledged. Hence they approached Lord Shiva for a remedy, and the result was the advent of Adi Sankara, a manifestation of the Lord Himself. His mission was to clarify to the people that the notion that performance of Karma was the be all and end all of life was wrong and initiate people into God realisation, which is after all the ultimate goal of life.

Scriptures state that parents and teacher are equal to God. Parents are the cause of our existence and guide us in the initial stage of our life, caring for the overall wellbeing of their children. Then it is the teacher who imparts knowledge relevant to the material and spiritual world.

But it is the role of the Guru that is highly acclaimed in the scriptures. The Archarya not only teaches the scriptures, but also follows and makes sure his disciples follow the tenets laid out in them, said Sri Rama Subramania Sarma in his lecture. It is the Acahrya's duty to instruct Dharma as a way of life in his disciples. Adi Sankara is a role model of an Acharya whose greatest contribution is the Atma Vidya. He accomplished the monumental task of establishing Advaita as a Siddantha through a comprehensive inclusion of the paths of meditation, work and knowledge. He wrote the commentary for the Brahma Sutra in Kasi, after he took regular Sannyasa from Govinda Bagavadpada.

He taught the path of Dharma in accordance to the Sastras, so that we realise the means of gaining knowledge. Though he lived for only 32 years, he had travelled through the length and breadth of the country to establish his teachings. Constant meditation on the Supreme is stressed, in the hymn Baja Govindam. He established that Karma alone is insufficient to reach the highest goal. The fruit of karma has to be realised in Gnana, Knowledge.

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