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Guru Ashtakam
Guru Ashtakam is a devotional hymn dedicated to the Guru. Adi Shankara, the great 8th-century saint, and philosopher is said to have composed this hymn to highlight the significant role Guru plays in a person’s life. This hymn finds a pride of place in the enormous volume of works produced by Adi Shankara during his short life span, which include mantras and slokas in praise of almost all the Gods and Goddesses of the Hindu pantheon, sacred texts, philosophical treatises, and other devotional works.
Guru
A Guru can be called the teacher or preceptor. But the term carries a much deeper and wider import and generally stands for a saint, spiritual master, and guide. He can be the one both for this world and the next. A Guru not only leads people in the path of Dharma, the righteous way of life in this world but can also guide them towards enlightenment and thus help them achieve the ultimate purpose of existence, salvation, or liberation. So, he is often equated with God and is revered as the very embodiment of the divine.
Adi Shankara himself, being a celebrated Guru, seems to have composed this hymn so that people can recite this with faith, receive the Guru’s grace, and redeem themselves.
Ashtakam
Ashtakam is a poetic work composed in Sanskrit consisting of 8 verses. Guru Ashtakam can thus be called ‘the eight verses meant for the Guru.’ These 8 verses are made up of 4 meaningful and rhyming lines, each.
Guru Ashtakam With Meaning
Sareeram suroopam thadha va kalathram,
Yasacharu chithram dhanam meru thulyam,
Gurorangri padme manaschenna lagnam,
Thatha kim Thatha Kim, Thatha kim Thatha kim. || 1 ||
One could have a beautiful body, attractive spouse, great fame, and enormous wealth, but these cannot at all be of any use if the mind is not fixed in Guru’s lotus feet.
Kalathram Dhanam puthrapothradhi sarvam,
Gruham Bandhavam Sarvamethadhi jatham,
Gurorangri padme manaschenna lagnam,
Thatha kim Thatha Kim, Thatha kim Thatha kim. || 2 ||
A person can have many things like a wife, children, grandchildren, relations, wealth, and properties, but one cannot escape from fate, and so, life can serve no purpose if the mind doesn’t remain devoted to Guru’s feet. So, be sure that none of your possessions can be of any use.
Shadangadhi vedo Mukhe sasra vidhya ,
Kavithwadhi gadhyam, supadhyam karothi,
Gurorangri padme manaschenna lagnam,
Thatha kim Thatha Kim, Thatha kim Thatha kim. || 3 ||
One may master and recite Vedas, know all sciences, and able even to write prose and compose poems. But nothing is going to matter at all in the end, as it is only through Guru’s grace a soul can be liberated. Hence, it is futile if the mind is not devoted to the Guru’s feet.
Videseshu manya, swadeseshu danya,
Sadachara vrutheshu matho na cha anya,
Gurorangri padme manaschenna lagnam,
Thatha kim Thatha Kim, Thatha kim Thatha kim. || 4 ||
One can command great respect and honor everywhere and may be of noble traits and good behavior, but it is only from the Guru that divine wisdom for immortality can flow. So, what is the use if people are not humble and the mind is not devoted to Guru’s feet?
Kshma mandale bhoopa bhoopala vrundai,
Sada sevitham yasya padaravindam,
Gurorangri padme manaschenna lagnam,
Thatha kim Thatha Kim, Thatha kim Thatha kim. || 5 ||
One can possess immense scholarship and greatness and maybe worshiped even by emperors. But it is only by Guru’s loving grace and ‘touch’ that one can get redeemed and attain peace. So, there is no use if the mind doesn’t get graced by the steadfast devotion to Guru.
Yaso me gatham bikshu dana prathapa,
Jagadwathu sarvam kare yah prasdath,
Gurorangri padme manaschenna lagnam,
Thatha kim Thatha Kim, Thatha kim Thatha kim. || 6 ||
A person may have immense merits, fame that is widespread, and all things under reach and control. But a devoted seeker can realize truth only through Guru’s blessings, and so, the virtue that may count ultimately is only steadfast devotion to the Guru.
Na Bhoge, na yoge, Na vaa vajirajou,
Na kantha sukhe naiva vitheshu chitham,
Gurorangri padme manaschenna lagnam,
Thatha kim Thatha Kim, Thatha kim Thatha kim. || 7 ||
One might have moved one’s mind away from wealth, worldly possessions, and beloved’s attractions, but it can be of no use if the mind has no faith or devotion to Guru’s feet. If not, nothing can really benefit anyone.
Aranye na vaa swasya gehe na karye,
Na dehe mano varthathemath vanarghye,
Gurorangri padme manaschenna lagnam,
Thatha kim Thatha Kim, Thatha kim Thatha kim. || 8 ||
The mind might have lost interest in living in the house or forest, on the welfare of the body, in treasures and possessions, and to achieve things. But where there is not devotion towards the Guru, what is the use? Nothing and absolutely nothing!
Benefits of Guru Ashtakam
Guror ashtakam ya padeth punya dehi,
Yathir bhoopathir , brahmacharee cha gehi,
Labeth vanchithartham padam brahma samgnam,
Guruor uktha vakye,mano yasya lagnam
Whoever a person is – rich or poor, ascetic or commoner, single, or householder, learned or illiterate – if he can study or recite the efficacious Guru Ashtakam and remain devoted to the Guru, he can reach Brahman, the supreme reality and immortality.
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