The Gurus I Failed to Recognise
Some created me. Some steadied me. Some dismantled me. I am grateful to every one of them.
My mother always says : ‘When you are truly ready, your Guru will come, desperately searching for you.’
‘Guru Brahma Guru Vishnu Guru Devo Maheshwara
Guru Sakshath Parabrahma, Tasmai Shree Guruve Namah’
The popular shlokas above appear in the Guru Gita, in the latter part of Skanda Purana. The text of the Guru Gita describes a conversation between Lord Shiva and his wife, the goddess Parvati in which she asks him how to achieve liberation. Shiva answers her by describing the Guru principle.
I’ve been blessed to have Gurus in all the three forms mentioned above, when I needed them. Just that, I had failed to recognise them then. I do now.
The Brahmas of my world. The Gurus who created the desire to learn and grow, sparked ambition, challenged me to think differently, see stuff for myself that no one else did or even gave a chance.
The Vishnus of my world. The Gurus who stabilised me in crisis, when all was lost, and I was in the depths of hopelessness. The Guru’s who gave me a process, put me back on a routine, ensured calm, and nudged me to listen to my conscience, follow it, and drive action instead of pointless contemplation.
And the Maheswaras of my world. The great dissolvers. The Gurus who were kind enough to hard kick my backside. The ones who took a hard call on me and dropped me ruthlessly. Perhaps knowing well enough that I could find resilience that I didn’t think existed. The ones who pushed me to resurrect, build all over again.
Today, I am mailing, picking up the phone and calling and expressing my deepest gratitude for each one of them.
In any culture, finding the right Guru is considered the greatest fortune.
Looking back, I think my mother was right. Great Gurus are in a greater search, as much as the shishya is.
On this Guru Poornima, my wish for each of you is to re-discover your Guru! And be fortunate to grow under them.
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Pics: Amma, with me and my brothers. And Nanna with my girls. The first set of Gurus.
