Mantra- what's real what isn't?

[Znanna]

And, what about merging with Shakti?



ZN
/just asking

[atanu]

And, what about merging with Shakti?



ZN
/just asking

Namaste ZN,

At Chidambaram Lord dances to the Lady. At Tiruvannamalai the Lady merges with the Lord. Actually, the gender idea is just that, an idea. And is it possible to really merge with Tsunami? It is, however, possible to merge with the placid one (just joking).


Om Namoh Durge

[atanu]

All gurus (here in this site and elsewhere) more or less agree that mantra is to be had from a guru only.

But what about Avaduta who had no living guru?

SIVÁPARÁDHA-KSHAMÁPANA - STOTRAM


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I am not able to perform the duty (consisting or rituals) prescribed in the Smøtis since it is beset at every step with abstruse expiatory rites (for defective as well as non-performance). Much less is my ability to perform the duty prescribed for the twice-born (especially Brahmans) by the Srutis (Vedic injunctions) leading to the essential path of the realisation of Brahman. There is no desire (in me) for (knowing and performing) dharma. Nor have I any idea about listening to the import to the Vedas from the Guru and reflection on it. What (object) remains there for me to meditate upon leading to Self-realisation? (5)


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Contemplating Siva in mind, immense wealth was not given (as dáman) to the twice-born (Bráhmans); oblations in lakhs along with the utterance of the mystical syllables of mantras meant for you were not offered in the mouth of Agni (the oblation-bearer); austerities consisting of vows, japa (repetition of sacred mantras) and restraints along with the chanting of the Rudra-mantras and of the Vedas-were not done (sitting) on the bank of the Ganges. (8)


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I do not think about Sañkara. He is in the heart (charming), to be realised through Vedánta, self-luminous in the lotus of the heart, the truly existent, the embodiment of peace, to be realised in the mind-lotuses of all Sages, transcending the states of waking dream and deep sleep and beyond the three gunas. (11)

Concentrating the mind with unflinching devotion on God (Hara), is the only effective means to Salvation.
Of what use are other activities? For salvation, direct (all) your steady (pure) thoughts on Hara (Siva) whose head is illumined by the Moon who is the destroyer of Cupid, the bearer of the Ganges and the (auspicious) bestower of happiness, whose neck and (pair of) ears are decked with serpents, from whose eyes shot forth the Fire (for burning Káma) who wears the beautiful dress consisting of the elephant's hide and who is the essence (strength) of the three worlds. (12)

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[sarabhanga]

But what about Avaduta who had no living guru? Siváparádha-Kshamápana Stotram ...

The Shivaparadakshamapana was composed by Shri Shankaracarya, who certainly had his own living Guru! There is no Avadhuta (except Dattatreya himself) who attained that state without the grace of a living Guru! And even the Guru of Gurus, Shri Dattatreya, at first sought guidance and learned from personal experience of 24 (natural) teachers before realizing His own true nature as perfectly Avadhuta!

[atanu]

The Shivaparadakshamapana was composed by Shri Shankaracarya, who certainly had his own living Guru! There is no Avadhuta (except Dattatreya himself) who attained that state without the grace of a living Guru! And even the Guru of Gurus, Shri Dattatreya, at first sought guidance and learned from personal experience of 24 (natural) teachers before realizing His own true nature as perfectly Avadhuta!

True. The very next paragraph in Shivaparadakshamapana says the following:

What is the use of all this wealth (vehicle) elephants and horses, of a kingdom acquired, of children, wives, friends, and cattle, of a (beautiful) body or a house? Realising all this to be perishable in a moment the mind is to be turned away from them. For realising your own-Self, following the Guru's advice, repeatedly worship the Lord of Párvatè (Siva). (13)



But the Guru is not a body. And Dattatreya is there in all of us as the essence of Treya. And the silent Self, in the form of Dakshninamurti is the Guru of Gurus. Isn't it.

However, I am not saying that Guru is not required. What I have some observation on is that: Who has been born and who has died? Any such thing is ASAT and obviously cannot be a guru (may be such a person can be a teacher).


Om Namah Shivayya

[sarabhanga]

Namaste Atanu,

Rudravatara Dakshinamurti is the Svamin Guru Brahmacarishu.

Rudravatara (Uttaramurti or Vamanamurti) Dattatreya is the Naga Guru Avadhuteshu.

[atanu]

Namaste Atanu,

Rudravatara Dakshinamurti is the Svamin Guru Brahmacarishu.

Rudravatara (Uttaramurti or Vamanamurti) Dattatreya is the Naga Guru Avadhuteshu.

यो देवानां प्रथमं पुरस्ताद्विश्वाधिको रुद्रो महर्षिः। हिरण्यगर्भं पश्यत जायमान स नो देवः शुभयास्मृत्या संयुनक्तु॥


Thank You Sarabhanga Ji.