Page 1 - May 2023

Hara Hara Gange!

itting in deep contemplation, watching the incessant flow of
SMother Ganga, the young sannyäsé was fired with compassion
and inspiration. Like the river flowing down from the Himalayas,
providing succour to millions in its wake, he would take the knowledge
of the scriptures to the masses. Thus started Pujya Gurudev’s mission
to transform the individual – to transform the world!

Emanating from the lotus feet of Shri Vishnu, held in the
matted locks of Lord Siva, the Ganga represents the eternal flow of
knowledge, the flow of the guru-çiñya paramparä that has the power to
purify the mind and take the seeker to the Supreme. Just as Lord Siva
regulated the engulfing torrent of Mother Ganga and channelized it
for the benefit of humankind, Pujya Gurudev transmitted the highest
Vedantic knowledge – in small doses laced with pertinent stories,
incredible wit and humour.
In his lyrical and lofty Ganga Stotram, Adi Sankaracharya declares
“O Mother! Those who partake of your pure waters definitely
attain the highest state – tava jalamamalaà yena nipétaà paramapadaà
khalu tena gåhétam. Here, the keyword is pétam; mere listening is not
1
enough; one must drink, meaning assimilate the knowledge. As
Pujya Gurudev points out, “If you have taken one idea of the Bhagavad
Gita … a drop of Ganga water … even if a little of sanätana dharma has
gone into you, your relationship with the world changes, and your
entire attitude and estimate of things change.”
2
Indeed, for us, Pujya Gurudev became a mighty flow of
knowledge, devotion and service. May we imbibe this precious
gaìgäjala and become fit recipients of his blessings, grace
and love.
Editorial
1 Verse 4
2 ‘Gangaji and Her Descent on Earth’. https://www.youtube.com/
watch?v=JQmYJuPXLCU

Tapovan Prasad 7 May 2023