The Upanishads proclaim, "Aachaaryavaan Purusho Veda" (one who has a teacher, knows the Supreme). Time and again the statement proved itself correct. Legions of saints and sages extolled the sacred relationship and tradition of the Guru-Sishya Sampradaya which is the unique speciality of Hindus. Pujya Gurudev’s reverence and surrender to Himavadvibhuti Swami Tapovanam are known to all.

There is another truth which is not stated anywhere or even whispered in low tones. When a disciple becomes very famous and well-known, such a famous Mahatma’s Guru becomes equally famous and widely known. No Mahatma ever thinks that his Guru became famous because of his own greatness. The teacher can never be rendered more glorious since he is already on the pinnacle of perfection. But the world comes to know of the perfect Master only because of the ardent devotion and surrender of the famous disciple.

But for Adi Sankaracharya, his Guru Govindapadacharya who never cared to come into the open, would not have been heard of by the world. But for Swami Vivekananda who burst upon the society like an atom bomb, the world would not have known the perfection that was Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa. So, too, but for our Gurudev who also dedicates every small action of his to Swami Tapovan Maharaj, none in the world would have come to understand the Himavad vibhuti. However, there are a few fundamental differences between the earlier two Gurus and our Parama Guru.

It is said that Govindapada-charya once asked Sankaracharya what he would like to do in future. Sankaracharya replied that he would like to sit in a cave and get lost in meditation. Govindapadacharya told him that there was a great task ahead of him which he was born to perform. He advised Sankaracharya to go to Kashi where Lord Siva would instruct him what to do.

© "Tapovan Prasad" (December, 2001) published by Chinmaya Mission, # 2, 13th Avenue, Harrington Road, Chetput, Chennai 600 031. Reprinted with permission.

Click here to view the full contents of the article.

<< Back