gururbrahma gururvishnuh gururdevo maheshvarah
guruh sakshat param brahma tasmai shri gurave
namah
The Guru performs the roles of Brahma, Vishnu and
Mahesh. Playing the role of Brahma, he gives us the jnana or knowledge. As
Vishnu he protects that knowledge; and as Shankar or Mahesh he destroys or
dispels ignorance.
This is the reason why the Guru is called Brahma,
Vishnu and Sadashiva-all three in one. But no scholar has interpreted the above
epithet in this way. All of them simply say that the Guru is Brahma, Vishnu and
Mahesh and leave at that. They do not say how he is Brahma, how he is Vishnu
and how he is Mahesh or in other words what exactly he does as such.
In fact, as Brahma he gives you knowledge. You
know that Brahma is the creator of the universe. So he creates in us the
knowledge of hitherto unknown things.
Vishnu is the protector and preserver of what has
been created. So as Vishnu the Guru protects that
knowledge otherwise it will
disappear forever. Again as Vishnu the Guru through his repeated teachings
instills knowledge into us again and again so that it is retained in our mind.
And when that knowledge is well-protected, the
Guru will then assume the role of Shankar and destroy ignorance. When that
happens we will have achieved our cherished goal!
Jagadguru Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj...
