Chapter 49 — The Greatness of the Guru (Gurumaahaatmya) – Shri Guru Gita
Guru devotion is the supreme path to liberation. In the Skanda Purana, there is a sacred dialogue between Lord Shiva and Parvati, which is popularly known as Guru Gita. Parvati asks Shiva several questions, and in response, Shiva explains the greatness of the Guru and how one should practice devotion to the Guru.
On the beautiful peak of Mount Kailasa, Parvati bowed to Lord Shiva with deep devotion and asked: *“What is the greatness of the Guru? How should one worship the Guru?”* Here, Parvati represents the disciple, and Lord Shiva is the Supreme Guru.
Lord Shiva replied: “I will tell you about the Guru Principle, which is extremely rare and precious in all the three worlds. The Guru Himself is the eternal Brahman. There is no Brahman apart from the Guru — this is the truth, repeated three times.
Even if a person reads all Vedas, scriptures, and Puranas, performs penance, rituals, and pilgrimages — they still cannot attain liberation without understanding the essence of the Guru.
Those who perform rituals, vows, austerities, gifts, and pilgrimages but do not realize the Guru Principle continue to wander like fools. The Guru and the Self (Atman) are one. If a disciple has pure faith and reverence for the Guru, then nothing else remains to be done.
By remembering the lotus feet of the Guru and placing the holy water of His feet on one’s head, the seeker gains the merit of bathing in all sacred rivers. Through this, one becomes free from many bindings. The Guru’s foot-water is the source of all sacred pilgrimages. It removes sins, increases spiritual radiance, destroys ignorance, and helps one cross the ocean of worldly life. It purifies past karma and strengthens knowledge and detachment.
After taking the Guru’s holy foot-water, one should follow the Guru’s command as sacred food, meditate upon the Guru, and chant the Guru-mantra. The Guru’s residence itself is Kashi, the Guru’s foot-water is the holy Ganga, and the Guru Himself is Lord Vishweshwara.
Knowledge that flows from the Guru’s mouth can never be attained without Guru devotion. One must surrender everything to the Guru. The Guru’s grace is the true means to realize God. One should worship the Guru with body, speech, and mind, surrender fully, and bow with deep reverence.
The Guru is not merely a person— He is the all-powerful Universal Energy, the manifest form of the unmanifest Divine. His feet remove all dualities of pleasure and pain. If Shiva becomes angry, the Guru can save you; but if the Guru becomes displeased, no one in the entire universe can protect you.
The Guru’s feet are the combined form of Shiva and Shakti. The Guru is the Divine Power expressed in human form.
One should bow daily in the direction where the Guru’s feet are. Once Guru devotion is established, all other forms of spiritual practice naturally follow.
The Guru Gita itself is a scripture dedicated to Guru-devotion. When the Guru’s grace dawns, ignorance disappears. The Guru grants devotion, liberation, worldly happiness, and spiritual freedom. With the power of true knowledge, the Guru burns away countless lifetimes of accumulated karma. Nothing is greater than the Guru. Guru service and Guru devotion are the highest forms of spiritual practice. The Guru is sovereign of the entire universe, omnipresent, self-manifest. The Guru alone is the Supreme Deity. Therefore, one must bow to the Guru always. Constant remembrance of the Guru is the real Guru-service.
Chanting the Guru Gita blesses the seeker with long life, health, prosperity, children, and happiness. Guru Gita is like the wish-fulfilling cow, the celestial Kalpavriksha, and the divine Chintamani. By worshipping Guru Gita alone, one gains the merit of worshipping all gods and goddesses. Through its recitation, the seeker attains oneness with Shiva and receives the full grace of Goddess Saraswati. Lord Sadashiva says: *“Whatever I have spoken is true — true — true.”*
One must surrender to the Guru. When the Guru is pleased, the Trinity (Brahma, Vishnu, Mahesh) are automatically pleased. This is supported by the Vedas and scriptures. If one has not attained a Guru in life, then nothing has truly been achieved. Such a life is incomplete and wasted.
Therefore, the following Prakrit Guru Gita should be recited daily:
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Guru Gita’s greatness has been narrated by Lord Dattatreya as the Guru in the 49th chapter of *Gurucharitra*. The original Guru Gita was spoken by Lord Shiva to Parvati. This background must be understood and remembered. When we realize that these teachings are directly from Lord Shiva, and that Lord Dattatreya (as the Guru) endorses this in Gurucharitra, only then can one truly grasp the glory of Guru Gita.
To make human birth meaningful, the presence of a Guru is absolutely essential. Before life ends, one must not fail to worship the Guru, serve the Guru, and bow at the Guru’s feet. This is what Lord Shiva tells Parvati — and this same teaching is emphasized by Lord Dattatreya in the 49th chapter of Gurucharitra.