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=== गुरुभक्तिः ॥ Behaviour towards the Guru ===

=== गुरुभक्तिः ॥ Behaviour towards the Guru ===

In Brahmacharyashrama, the stage of gaining knowledge, the importance of a [[Guru (गुरुः)|Guru]] is unparalled. A student therefore, should be ever engaged in doing seva (सेवा | selfless service) to his preceptor.<ref name=":6" /> In fact, the behaviour of students towards their Gurus is specifically elaborated in detail in order to educate the young minds about the value of a Guru in life.  

In Brahmacharyashrama, the stage of gaining knowledge, the importance of a [[Guru (गुरुः)|Guru]] is unparalled. A student therefore, should be ever engaged in doing seva (सेवा | selfless service) to his preceptor.<ref name=":6" /> In fact, the behaviour of students towards their Gurus is specifically elaborated in detail in order to educate the young minds about the value of a Guru in life.  

According to the Bhagavata Purana, a brahmachari should dwell in the house of his preceptor. He should be self-controlled and comply with what is agreeable to the preceptor. He should behave humbly like a servant, and entertain very strong affection to his teacher.<ref name=":3" /><blockquote>ब्रह्मचारी गुरुकुले वसन् दान्तो गुरोर्हितम् । आचरन् दासवन्नीचो गुरौ सुदृढसौहृदः ॥ १॥<ref name=":4" />

According to the Bhagavata Purana, a brahmachari should dwell in the house of his preceptor. He should be self-controlled and comply with what is agreeable to the preceptor. He should behave humbly like a servant, and entertain very strong affection to his teacher.<ref name=":3" /><blockquote>ब्रह्मचारी गुरुकुले वसन् दान्तो गुरोर्हितम् । आचरन् दासवन्नीचो गुरौ सुदृढसौहृदः ॥ १॥<ref name=":4" />

śayyāsane'dhyācarite śreyasā na samāviśet । śayyāsanasthaścaivainaṁ pratyutthāyābhivādayet । । 2.119 । ।

śayyāsane'dhyācarite śreyasā na samāviśet । śayyāsanasthaścaivainaṁ pratyutthāyābhivādayet । । 2.119 । ।

ūrdhvaṁ prāṇā hyutkrāmanti yūnaḥ sthavira āyati । pratyutthānābhivādābhyāṁ punastānpratipadyate । । 2.120 । ।</blockquote>Meaning: One must not sit down on a couch or seat which a superior occupies; and he who occupies a couch or seat shall rise to meet a (superior), and (afterwards) salute him. For the vital airs of a young man mount upwards to leave his body when an elder approaches; but by rising to meet him and saluting he recovers them. (2.119 and 120)

ūrdhvaṁ prāṇā hyutkrāmanti yūnaḥ sthavira āyati । pratyutthānābhivādābhyāṁ punastānpratipadyate । । 2.120 । ।</blockquote>Meaning:  

 

One must never sit on a cot or seat that is occupied by an elderly. If one is seated on a cot or seat when someone respectable arrives, one must rise and offer salutations to the person.  

He further adds that he who habitually salutes and constantly pays reverence to the aged obtains an increase of four (things), (viz.) length of life, knowledge, fame, (and) strength. (2.121)<ref name=":0">The Laws of Manu, Translated by G.Buhler, [http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/manu/manu02.htm Chapter 2]</ref><blockquote>अभिवादनशीलस्य नित्यं वृद्धोपसेविनः । चत्वारि तस्य वर्धन्ते आयुर्धर्मो यशो बलम् । । २.१२१ । ।<ref name=":1" />

Because the vital airs of a young man rises upwards at the sight of a guru or an elderly. By rising up to offer salutations, these are stabilised.

abhivādanaśīlasya nityaṁ vr̥ddhopasevinaḥ । catvāri tasya vardhante āyurdharmo yaśo balam । । 2.121 । ।</blockquote>Elaborating further on the guidelines it says, <blockquote>शरीरं चैव वाचं च बुद्धीन्द्रियमनांसि च । नियम्य प्राञ्जलिस्तिष्ठेद्वीक्षमाणो गुरोर्मुखम् । । २.१९२ । ।

Manu further adds that the one who serves and offers salutations to the elders, his Ayu (life expectency), knowledge, fame and strength increases.<ref name=":12" /><blockquote>अभिवादनशीलस्य नित्यं वृद्धोपसेविनः । चत्वारि तस्य वर्धन्ते आयुर्धर्मो यशो बलम् । । २.१२१ । ।<ref name=":1" /> abhivādanaśīlasya nityaṁ vr̥ddhopasevinaḥ । catvāri tasya vardhante āyurdharmo yaśo balam । । 2.121 । ।</blockquote>Elaborating further on the guidelines it says, <blockquote>शरीरं चैव वाचं च बुद्धीन्द्रियमनांसि च । नियम्य प्राञ्जलिस्तिष्ठेद्वीक्षमाणो गुरोर्मुखम् । । २.१९२ । ।

नित्यं उद्धृतपाणिः स्यात्साध्वाचारः सुसंवृतः । आस्यतां इति चोक्तः सन्नासीताभिमुखं गुरोः । । २.१९३ । ।

नित्यं उद्धृतपाणिः स्यात्साध्वाचारः सुसंवृतः । आस्यतां इति चोक्तः सन्नासीताभिमुखं गुरोः । । २.१९३ । ।

* Let him not pronounce the mere name of his teacher (without adding an honorific title) behind his back even, and let him not mimic his gait, speech, and deportment. (2.199)

* Let him not pronounce the mere name of his teacher (without adding an honorific title) behind his back even, and let him not mimic his gait, speech, and deportment. (2.199)

* The Brahmachari is also ordained to fetch a pot full of water, flowers, cowdung, earth and Kusa grass, as much as may be required (by his teacher), and daily go to beg food. (2.182)

* The Brahmachari is also ordained to fetch a pot full of water, flowers, cowdung, earth and Kusa grass, as much as may be required (by his teacher), and daily go to beg food. (2.182)

This is ordained as his constant behaviour also towards other instructors in science, towards his relatives to whom honour is due, towards all who may restrain him from papa (पापम्), or may give him salutary advice. Infact, the son of the teacher who imparts instruction (in his father’s stead), whether younger or of equal age, or a student of (the science of) sacrifices (or of other Angas), deserves the same honour as the teacher.(2.206 and 208)<ref name=":0" /> Because,<blockquote>यथा खनन्खनित्रेण नरो वार्यधिगच्छति । तथा गुरुगतां विद्यां शुश्रूषुरधिगच्छति । । २.२१८ । ।<ref name=":1" />

This is ordained as his constant behaviour also towards other instructors in science, towards his relatives to whom honour is due, towards all who may restrain him from papa (पापम्), or may give him salutary advice. Infact, the son of the teacher who imparts instruction (in his father’s stead), whether younger or of equal age, or a student of (the science of) sacrifices (or of other Angas), deserves the same honour as the teacher.(2.206 and 208)<ref name=":0">The Laws of Manu, Translated by G.Buhler, [http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/manu/manu02.htm Chapter 2]</ref> Because,<blockquote>यथा खनन्खनित्रेण नरो वार्यधिगच्छति । तथा गुरुगतां विद्यां शुश्रूषुरधिगच्छति । । २.२१८ । ।<ref name=":1" />

yathā khanankhanitreṇa naro vāryadhigacchati । tathā gurugatāṁ vidyāṁ śuśrūṣuradhigacchati । । 2.218 । ।</blockquote>Meaning: As the man who digs with a spade (into the ground) obtains water, even so an obedient (pupil) obtains the knowledge which lies (hidden) in his teacher. (2.218)<ref name=":0" />

yathā khanankhanitreṇa naro vāryadhigacchati । tathā gurugatāṁ vidyāṁ śuśrūṣuradhigacchati । । 2.218 । ।</blockquote>Meaning: As the man who digs with a spade (into the ground) obtains water, even so an obedient (pupil) obtains the knowledge which lies (hidden) in his teacher. (2.218)<ref name=":0" />