The Eightfold Verse about the Guru

Sankara, the Apostle of Oneness, had prescribed the Fourfold Yoga for Cosmic
Union. He advocated the traditional Method of studying under a Guru
for Self Actualisation. Mortals consider Self Actualisation to be a " so
elusive and so distant a Goal", but the effort is worth it as the Divine
Crown is indeed priceless !

He composed poems, the Eightfold Verse about the Master ( Dakshina Moorthy
Ashatakam ), exotolling the Lord who had come to him in the form of the
Master. Indian tradition holds that the Master is the representative of the
Lord, or rather the Lord Himself !

Unto Him, who is indeed all this
Who has manifested as the Triad
Universe, Ego, Supreme Relative
As the Teacher Supreme to teach
Verities divine ineffable
The Lord of Wisdom great
The Lustrous Form facing South
Unto Him, be this millionfold saluation !

Similar to the mirror image of a town
So is this Universe seen in Self !
What exists outside is inside
The living lordly regal Self !
Ultimately this is actualised
In the state of Enlightenment
That I am That Non-dual Self
To Thee whose Grace bestoweth Enlightenment
To the Lord in the form of my Master, I bow !

The Universe existed as seed
Prior to Thy Manifestation !
Universe exists in the Universal Mind
Conditioned by Space, Time, Causality
Thy Manifestation is manifold
Like the Yogi who manifests at will,
Thou manifested this Universe
To Thee whose Grace bestoweth Enlightenment
To the Lord in the form of my Master, I bow !

Thee who exists as the Effulgence Supreme
Who alone shines in this World of Appearance
Thou manifests as Teacher Supreme
Who instructs students " That Art Thou "
Whose instruction can redeem
One from this ocean of worldliness
And the cycles of birth and death
To Thee whose Grace bestoweth Enlightenment
To the Lord in the form of my Master, I bow !

Some philosopers think the body is Truth
Others intellect and the Soul
Others Empitness and Void
Are they not similar to the ignorant ?
The blind, women and children ?
Ignorance is only destroyed by Thee
Cosmic Illuison is destroyed by Thee
To Thee whose Grace bestoweth Enlightenment
To the Lord in the form of my Master, I bow !

Similar to Sol and Luna after being eclipsed
Know that they are existing still !
Simlar to the dreamer whose dream
Created problems galore for him
Realises that all was but a dream !
Feels blissfuls after waking up
So too the aspirant spiritual
Ultimatelty realises " I am He "
To Thee whose Grace bestoweth Enlightenment
To the Lord in the form of my Master, I bow !

To Thee, who shines and exhibits
By the sacred Chinmudra of the hand
That He exists as the Self in all
As the supreme, lordly Self
Everlasting and Unchanging
Witnessing youth, childhood, old age,
Even during the triune states relative
Dreaming, waking, dreamless sleep !
To Thee whose Grace bestoweth Enlightenment
To the Lord in the form of my Master, I bow !

During the states of waking and dream
Diversity holds absolute sway !
World is Cause and Effect
We are different from the Lord
Teacher and taught are different
Father and son are different
Confounded by Illusion
All see great diversity
Unable to see Unity divine !
Thou destroyest Diversity
And confers experience of Unity !
To Thee whose Grace bestoweth Enlightenment
To the Lord in the form of my Master, I bow !

To the sake of the Absolute Self
Universe shines as Self
Which is mutable and Immutable?
Which is mobile and Immobile ?
Of water, earth, air,.fire, ether
Soul, Sol and Luna
Also to those in search of Truth
The mystery of the Universe and find
That the Absolute is everywhere !
That it is Being Knowledge Bliss
The eternal triad which the Universe is
And which we are in actuality
To Thee whose Grace bestoweth Enlightenment
To the Lord in the form of my Master, I bow !