Significance
According to the Purana, once when everyone was worshipping Lord Shiva, the Ultimate Being and the protector of all, Goddess Parvati saw Lord Shiva bowing down and praying to somebody. Confused, she asked him, “When you are the Lord of all, and there is nothing beyond you, who are you prostrating to?” And the profound answer of the Lord reveals the great importance of a Guru. He said, “I am bowing down to the Guru Principle. He is the Absolute”, thereby establishing the stature of a Guru. Lord Shiva then became the Guru and revealed a series of verses on the glory of the Guru to Mother Parvati, who became his disciple. These verses have been passed on to us as Guru Gita.
The literal meaning of the terms Shri Guru Gita is as follows: Shri stands for the primal energy, Shakti, Guru for the spiritual master who bestows grace, and Gita refers to a song that is revealed in verses. A continuous stream of holy verses or mantras that evokes the energies within us and connects us to the grace of the Guru is the Guru Gita.
Why is Guru Gita so important?
The Guru Gita benefits one as it glorifies and reveals the importance of a Divine Master who is a blossomed soul and showers his grace on the disciple. The verses in the Guru Gita are verily mantras that can help us access higher power and attain peace. These verses empower all who recite them regularly, eventually dispelling all darkness and leading us towards enlightenment. Reciting the Guru Gita makes us overwhelmed with the glory of the Satguru, inculcating great love and reverence for the Guru. With devotion to the Guru and meditation, one is led on the path of spiritual awakening.
Benefits of reading Guru Gita
The Shri Guru Gita mantra unlocks the door to purity, gratitude, and liberation. This precious text reveals how fortunate we are to be in this world and how we can live our lives with love and grace through the true Guru. The Guru teaches that you are limitless and when you bow down, trust and praise that Guru, you trust and praise his teaching.
According to the Purana, once when everyone was worshipping Lord Shiva, the Ultimate Being and the protector of all, Goddess Parvati saw Lord Shiva bowing down and praying to somebody. Confused, she asked him, “When you are the Lord of all, and there is nothing beyond you, who are you prostrating to?” And the profound answer of the Lord reveals the great importance of a Guru. He said, “I am bowing down to the Guru Principle. He is the Absolute”, thereby establishing the stature of a Guru. Lord Shiva then became the Guru and revealed a series of verses on the glory of the Guru to Mother Parvati, who became his disciple. These verses have been passed on to us as Guru Gita. The literal meaning of the terms Shri Guru Gita is as follows: Shri stands for the primal energy, Shakti, Guru for the spiritual master who bestows grace, and Gita refers to a song that is revealed in verses. A continuous stream of holy verses or mantras that evokes the energies within us and connects us to the grace of the Guru is the Guru Gita.
Dhyanamulam Gurumuri, Pujamulam Gururpaadam, Mantra Moolam Gurur Vakyam, Mokshamulam Gurur Krupa which translates to
“The root of meditation is the form of the Guru; the root of worship is the feet of the Guru; the source of prayer is the words of the Guru; the root of salvation is the grace of the Guru.”