Bhagvan Mahavira Trilok Guru

Here's a comprehensive summary of the provided Jain text, "Bhagvan Mahavira Trilok Guru" by Nandighoshvijay, focusing on the concept of the Guru in Jainism and its connection to Lord Mahavira:

The text, "Bhagvan Mahavira Trilok Guru," written by Nandighoshvijay, explores the profound significance of the Guru in the Indian spiritual tradition, particularly within Jainism, using Lord Mahavira as the ultimate example.

The Supreme Importance of the Guru:

The book begins by emphasizing the paramount importance of the Guru in Indian spiritual culture, stating that this reverence is unparalleled in Western traditions. The Guru is presented as one of the three core elements of Indian spirituality, alongside God (Dev) and Dharma. While God and the Guru are depicted as living beings, Dharma is described as a qualitative and emotional aspect.

The key difference highlighted between God and the Guru is that God initially appears in a Gurus form and later attains the state of the supreme soul (Paramatma). This Paramatma state is the ultimate goal. It is the Guru who facilitates the understanding of this supreme state and the Dharma. The text quotes Kabir: "Both Guru and Govind are present, to whom should I bow? I sacrifice myself to the Guru, who has brought Govind to me."

A Guru is someone who, even if not having fully attained the Paramatma state, is firmly on the path to it. Their guidance and experiential knowledge are crucial for seekers to navigate the path to self-realization and ultimate liberation. The absence of such guidance makes achieving the highest state impossible, underscoring the essential need for a Guru. The text further states: "Guru is the lamp, Guru is the deity, without Guru, it is dense darkness. Those who strayed from the Guru wandered in the world."

The Scientific and Spiritual Intertwining of the Guru's Influence:

The text delves into a scientific perspective to explain the Guru's impact. It posits that every living being, whether gross or subtle, possesses a form of energy known as "Atma-Shakti" (soul power) in spiritual terms, and "bio-electromagnetic power" in modern scientific terminology. The intensity of this electromagnetic power is directly proportional to the spiritual development of the soul. Greater spiritual development leads to greater power.

Drawing parallels with scientific phenomena, the text explains magnetism. Just as a magnet creates an invisible magnetic field with magnetic lines of force, and this field can attract or repel other magnetic materials, the Guru's electromagnetic field influences those around them. Similarly, just as electricity and magnetism combine to create electromagnetic power, the subtle and powerful electromagnetic energy of living beings is analogous.

The text explains that just as one magnet's field affects another magnet, a living being's thoughts influence other people, animals, or even objects in their proximity. The aura or "Abhamandal" surrounding each object is its electromagnetic field, which can even be captured through Kirlian photography. This supports the ancient concept of the Guru's mere presence (sanidhya) leading to the spiritual development of disciples, even through silence, as exemplified by the verse: "The disciples are old, the Guru is young, under the banyan tree. More astonishing is the Guru's silence, which is the discourse and removes the disciples' doubts."

The Process of "Shaktipat" (Transmission of Spiritual Energy):

The text describes the process of "Shaktipat" or blessing as a form of energy transmission. Typically, a disciple seeking a blessing bows at the Guru's feet. The Guru places their hand on the disciple's head, transmitting energy. This energy flows from the Guru's hand to the disciple's brain and then back to the Guru through the disciple's touch of the feet, completing a circuit of energy transfer. Other traditions are mentioned where the Guru might smell the disciple's head, implying a similar energetic exchange.

Lord Mahavira and Gautam Swami: The Ultimate Guru-Disciple Relationship:

The book then focuses on the exemplary Guru-disciple relationship between Lord Mahavira, the 24th Tirthankara, and his first disciple, Gautam Swami. Although Gautam Swami's original name was Indrabhuti, he is known in Jain tradition by his clan name. The text highlights their meeting when Mahavira was 42 and Gautam Swami was 50.

Before meeting Mahavira, Gautam Swami was a renowned scholar and priest, well-versed in 14 branches of knowledge, with 500 Brahmin disciples. He harbored a desire to defeat Mahavira in debate and spread his victory. However, upon approaching the Samavasarana (the divine assembly) where Mahavira was present, his ambitions dissolved, and he became absorbed in Mahavira's divine presence, fulfilling the principle "Dhyanmoolam Guroh Murti" (the form of the Guru is the root of meditation).

The Electromagnetic Influence of Tirthankaras:

The text explains that Tirthankaras' sermons are heard from miles away, indicating that their electromagnetic field extends far. Lord Mahavira's spiritual power is further illustrated by his Kevali (omniscient) state. His bio-electromagnetic field was so potent that during his travels (Vihar), people's illnesses were cured, and for up to six months afterward, diseases were absent. Disagreements and animosity also subsided, and even natural phenomena like excessive or insufficient rainfall were influenced.

The text clarifies that these "atisaya" or extraordinary occurrences were not miracles or magic but the manifestation of "Atma-Shakti" or electromagnetic power, released due to the removal of karmas from their souls. The author suggests that future scientists may prove this.

Gautam Swami's Enlightenment and the Guru's Grace:

Upon receiving answers to his abstract doubts about the soul's existence from Lord Mahavira, Indrabhuti Gautam accepted him as his Guru, dedicating his life to him and embodying "Pujamoolam Guroh Padau" (the feet of the Guru are the root of worship).

When Lord Mahavira initiated Gautam Swami and ten other Brahmin scholars, he blessed them by sprinkling rice powder on their foreheads from a golden plate held by Indra. This blessing transmitted a portion of his Kevala-Gyan (omniscience) to his disciples. This transmission, based on Mahavira's teachings of the three universal principles (existence, cessation, and permanence), allowed them to compose the immense Jain scriptures like the Dwadashangi and the Fourteen Purvas. This exemplifies "Mantramoolam Guroh Vakyam" (the word of the Guru is the root of the mantra).

For about 30 years after initiation, Gautam Swami served and attended to Lord Mahavira, gaining specific powers and attainments, earning him the epithet "Anantlabhdinidhan" (repository of infinite attainments). However, he did not attain Kevala-Gyan himself due to his intense attachment (raag) to Lord Mahavira.

On the night of Mahavira's Nirvana, he sent Gautam Swami to enlighten a Brahmin named Devasharma in a nearby village. Upon returning from this mission and learning of Mahavira's Nirvana, Gautam Swami was overcome with grief and detachment, which broke his bonds of attachment. It was through this intense guru-devotion and subsequent detachment that he attained Kevala-Gyan, fulfilling the principle "Mokshamoolam Guroh Kripa" (the grace of the Guru is the root of liberation).

The text concludes by affirming that Lord Mahavira was indeed the "Trilokguru" and "Trijagaguru" (Guru of the three worlds, Guru of all three realms). The concluding quote from the Kathopanishad further reinforces the concept of attaining liberation through understanding an imperishable, formless, and eternal truth, which is ultimately facilitated by the Guru's guidance.