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सर्वश्रुतिशिरोरत्नविराजितपदाम्बुजः ।
वेदान्ताम्बुजसूर्यो यः तस्मै श्रीगुरवे नमः ॥ ६॥
Sarvaśrutiśiroratnavirājitapadāmbuja
vedāntāmbujasuryo ya: tasmai śrigurave nama:
Salutations to my guru whose lotus feet are made illustrious by all the precious stone of the Shrutis (upanishads) and who is like sun to the Updanishad lotuses (I.e. Guru shines like Sun to make the upanishads reveal their glory in the minds of the students).
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Let us expound the above verse:
There are a few symbolisms or metaphors used here.
The first is ‘śiro ratna’ which translates to ‘Crown Jewel’. Here Guru’s feet is adorned with the śiro ratna of Vedanta (Sarvaśruti). What makes a jewel a “Crown Jewel”? Beyond its rarity and brilliance, a Crown Jewel is carefully chosen to symbolize supreme excellence and unparalleled worth. Think of the Kohinoor diamond—legendary, celebrated, and often hailed as the pride of royal treasuries. This concept isn’t exclusive to jewels. Consider the lion, often called the “king of the jungle.” Among countless animals, the lion’s strength, grace, and dominance set it apart, making it a natural leader. In the same vein, the Guru’s teachings are regarded as the “Crown Jewels” of the Vedic scriptures. They embody the finest distillation of knowledge, carefully curated to illuminate the seeker’s path. Just as Crown Jewels are the pride of royalty, the Guru’s wisdom is the pride of spiritual tradition. These jewels of the śruti make guru’s lotus like feet (padāmbuja) resplendent (virājita).
The guru who is like the sun (suryo ya:) nourishes the lotus of Vedanta (vedāntāmbuja). Guru interprets the Vedanta in the right way and guides the ignorant mind of the sishya towards their true nature. Guru illuminates and brings to life the highest teachings of the Vedas, much like the Sun nourishes and enables the lotus to bloom. To that guru, I offer my salutations (tasmai śrigurave nama:).
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