Thus Spake the Divine - Gurukulavasa

Thus Spake the Divine

Gurukulavasa

A State or Government is meant to ensure the well being of its citizens. It is expected to protect the innocent and weak from attacks of wicked and strong. The King or Ruler is also expected to provide the necessities of living to his citizens. Even now, we have a Government. In lieu of services rendered by the Government, we pay taxes and help in development.

The world in which we live is not a permanent one. While living here, we have to reserve our place in another world, where our stay will be permanent and eternal. There are six ‘inherent evil persons’ existing within ourselves viz. lust, anger, greed, lewd passion, egotism and envy (Kama, Krodha, Lobha, Moha, Mada, Matsarya). These prevent us from reaching that eternal world. Once we safeguard ourselves evil persons’ by walking the paths of Bhakti, Dhyana and Jnyana, we will reach that world.

The irony is that, that eternal, imperishable world is nowhere else; it is within our own selves! Reaching this ‘within’ requires a mammoth effort. In our case, Acharya acts as a King or State and steers our efforts towards reaching that world. Like a governing body is needed to regulate the requirements of citizens, an Acharya is required to help us reach the ‘other eternal world (the internal world of Atma)’. It is not enough if we live comfortably and happily in this world. Rather, it will be better if we do not have a happy and comfortable life while in this world. What is important is reaching the ‘other world’ without coming back to ‘this perishable world’. Thus, within our lifetime, we must endeavor to find ways and means to reach the ‘other eternal world’. For the purpose, right when we commence our life in ‘this world’, we should start equipping ourselves with regard to our journey to ‘the eternal world’.

That is why, even during the student-stage, which is called as Brahmacharya Ashrama, Gurukulavasa, i.e. schooling at the residence of Guru, became customary and mandatory. It should not be misconstrued that during this stage itself students are taught the following: “This world is an illusion (Maya); absolute truth is only the Brahmam; therefore renounce the worldly life”. No.

That is not the purpose of Gurukulavasa. Instead, students are taught the principles and concepts of Atma Vidya (Awareness of Self). They are also educated in other streams during the Gurukulavasa, including poetry, arts and crafts, epics and dramas. This world itself is a big stage of drama, where the entire process of forming a fruit takes place, i.e. the bud turns to flower, flower becomes the unripe fruit, and from these ‘inherent then it mellows into a fully ripened fruit. The human mind is also nurtured likewise. There hardly may be a noble soul that travels the path of self-realization with utmost determination. Gurus are also aware of this. That is why they make their disciples climb the steps of self-realization one by one. This step-by-step process should be such that it only lifts disciples upwards and does not push them downwards. That is why after Brahmacharya Ashrama (student celibate life), there is the Gruhastha Ashrama (householder). Marriage, conjugal relationship, reproduction etc., are part and parcel of this life.

Going through this process leads to development of a certain amount of resoluteness and determination in mind. This is how one gets equipped to renounce his family during Vanaprastha Ashrama, of course, without disowning his own karma. Ultimately, like how a fruit develops from a flower, Sanyasa Ashrama also follows. It is not possible to relinquish worldly life right at the initial stage of life. But at the same time, one must not lose track of the ‘other eternal world’ too.

That is why Acharya prescribed the Codes of Dharma that one should follow, so that he does not waver while on the path of self-realization, irrespective of whichever stage of life he may be going through. Irrespective of the stage of life a disciple is going through, it is the Acharya who streamlines his learning with respect to self inquiry and inculcates in him various virtues, such as compassion, helping others etc. This helps the disciple reach the ultimate goal of life called the “Parama Tattva”. Even though the disciple does not dedicate himself absolutely to Parama Tattva right at the beginning, he still conducts his life with discipline and control without deviating from the Codes of Dharma while going through the process of his worldly life. This ultimately helps him elevate himself towards reaching the state of Parama Tattva.

To enable a disciple accomplish that, knowledge of Upanishads is imparted during the student stage itself. This knowledge is like a deposit in a bank account. Till the disciple matures in his mental stature through self-inquiry, some amount of interest keeps accruing on the deposit made. On maturity, the entire principal and interest can be withdrawn.

To ensure sufficient accrual of interest, the deposit has to be made at the earliest stage of life. Otherwise, the person may go astray, driven by temptations of youth, emotional imbalances of middle-age and physical vulnerability of the old age. Like vocational courses in today’s educational curriculum that enable a student to take up a job for his livelihood, in ancient times too there were courses offering occupational expertise to a disciple. Along with occupational expertise, teachers also taught him the nuances of Shastras.

Thus, the curriculum during ancient times took adequate care to build virtuous citizens as against today’s educational system, which focuses only on material livelihood of students. Students of those days were taught to adhere to Rules of Dharma and ethics. Such a foundation helped them earn their livelihood while meeting their ultimate goal of reaching the ‘other eternal world’. From this, it is quite evident that the student was neither forcefully driven towards self-determination and self-inquiry nor was he left absolutely free to go astray.

The curriculum was so designed that there was adequate compassion and sympathy for the well being of the student, without subjecting him to an uncontrolled stream of learning. This is quite evident from the words of Kalidasa in his Raghuvamsha (Chapter 1.8). He says, “shaishave abhyastha Vidyanam”. This means that one must start acquiring knowledge and all the required skills from childhood itself. He should learn Veda and Upanishad right from his early life, when the mind is fresh and easily absorbs all learning.

This does not mean a student cannot plunge into the stream of self-inquiry and meditation. Not really. Kalidasa also says, “yauvane vishayashinam”. This means that when one is in his youth and enters the next stage of Gruhasthashrama (householder’s stage), he experiences the pleasures of marital and family life (and sorrows too; though one will not really accept at that point of life that family life brings sorrows too). The disciplined life led by the student, as also the wisdom and knowledge of Veda and Upanishad acquired during his gurukulavasa, keeps the person under control and from indulging only in carnal pleasures.

This is also the stage in which he acquires money and wealth for his future. Here, again, the education acquired by him during the gurukulavasa helps him control himself from being too greedy in acquiring money and wealth. His adherence to karmas and performing yaga and Yajnya etc. streamline and discipline him, thereby preventing his mind from getting contaminated by extreme worldly life. (The above norms are defined for the Brahmin community. For other castes, irrespective of the caste, if they all engage in the profession assigned to them, dedicating everything to God without greed or jealousy, their minds too will automatically be purified). Krishna says in Gita, “dharmaviruddho bhutesu kamosmi”. This means that even Shastras endorse that there are certain natural urges during the early stages of one’s life (youth), which have to be satisfied within the norms and without violating the rules of Dharma.

This article is a snippet from the Book Thus Spake the Divine, is available online at www.giri.in and across Giri Trading Agency Private Limited, A chain of Speciality Stores dealing in all kinds of products needed in Indian Culture and Tradition.