The Glory of Sri Guru
The spiritual master is the mercy incarnate of Sri Krishna. Descending into this world of forgetfulness, he takes upon himself the task of awakening the sleeping soul and turning its gaze back towards its eternal beloved.
अज्ञानतिमिरान्धस्य ज्ञानाञ्जनशलाकया । चक्षुरुन्मीलितं येन तस्मै श्रीगुरवे नमः ॥
ajñāna-timirāndhasya jñānāñjana-śalākayā cakṣur unmīlitaṁ yena tasmai śrī-gurave namaḥ
I was born in the darkest ignorance, and my guru opened my eyes with the torch of knowledge. I offer my respectful obeisances unto him.
The Transparent Medium
As a clean pane of glass allows sunlight to pass undistorted, so the bona fide guru transmits the will and mercy of the Lord without the slightest tinge of personal motive. To serve him is to serve Krishna directly.
“One who has genuine faith in both Krishna and Guru — to such a great soul, all the imports of the scriptures are revealed.”
— Svetasvatara Upanishad
Therefore, with straw between our teeth, we pray only for a single drop of the ocean of mercy that flows eternally from the lotus feet of Sri Guru.