Dancing with Śiva

There is no one greater in the three worlds than the guru. It is he who grants divine knowledge and should be worshiped with supreme devotion. §

Atharva Veda, Yoga-Śikha Upanishad 5.53. YT, 26§

Abiding in the midst of ignorance, but thinking themselves wise and learned, fools aimlessly go hither and thither, like blind led by the blind.§

Atharva Veda, Muṇḍaka Upanishad 1.2.8. UPM, 77§

Truth is the Supreme, the Supreme is Truth. Through Truth men never fall from the heavenly world, because Truth belongs to the saints. Therefore, they rejoice in Truth.§

Kṛishṇa Yajur Veda, Mahāṇārāyaṇa Upanishad 505. VE, 439§

The supreme mystery in the Veda’s end, which has been declared in former times, should not be given to one not tranquil, nor again to one who is not a son or a pupil. To one who has the highest devotion for God, and for his spiritual teacher even as for God, to him these matters which have been declared become manifest if he be a great soul—yea, become manifest if he be a great soul!§

Kṛishṇa Yajur Veda, Śvetāśvatara Upanishad 6.22-23. UPH, 411§

Disciples get, by devotion to the guru, the knowledge which the guru possesses. In the three worlds this fact is clearly enunciated by divine sages, the ancestors and learned men. §

Guru Gītā 43. GG, 14§

I adore the lotus feet of the teachers who have shown to us the source of the eternal ocean of bliss, born of the Self within, who have given us the remedy for the hālā-hala poison of saṁsāra. §

Guru Gītā 115. GG, 47§

What is needful? Righteousness and sacred learning and teaching. Truth and sacred learning and teaching. Meditation and sacred learning and teaching. Self-control and sacred learning and teaching. Peace and sacred learning and teaching. Ritual and sacred learning and teaching. Humanity and sacred learning and teaching. §

Kṛishṇa Yajur Veda, Taittirīya Upanishad 1.9. UPM, 109§

Though himself unattached, the guru, after testing him for some time, on command of the Lord, shall deliver the Truth to his disciple in order to vest him with authority. Of him who is so invested with authority, there is verily union with the Supreme Śiva. At the termination of the bodily life, his is the eternal liberation—this is declared by the Lord. Therefore, one should seek with all effort to have a guru of the unbroken tradition, born of Supreme Śiva himself. It is laid down by the Lord that there can be no moksha, liberation, without dīkshā, initiation; and initiation cannot be there without a teacher. Hence, it comes down the line of teachers, paramparā. Without a teacher, all philosophy, traditional knowledge and mantras are fruitless. Him alone the Gods laud who is the guru, keeping active what is handed down by tradition.§

Kulārṇava Tantra 10.1. KT, 101§

Nandinatha accepted the offering of my body, wealth and life. He then touched me, and his glance dispelled my distressful karma. He placed his feet on my head and imparted higher consciousness. Thus, he severed my burdensome cycle of birth. §

Tirumantiram 1778. TM§

Night and day in Nallur’s precincts, Chellappan danced in bliss. Even holy yogīs merged in silence do not know him. He keeps repeating, “All is truth,” with radiant countenance. Night and day in Nallur’s precincts, Chellappan danced in bliss. To end my endless turning on the wheel of wretched birth, he took me ’neath his rule and I was drowned in bliss. “There is nothing in the objective. All is truth”—His grace made māyā’s shrouding darkness to depart. In that state, my body and soul were his possessions. O wonder! Who in the world is able to know this? Night and day in Nallur’s precincts, Chellappan danced in bliss.§

Natchintanai, “Chellappan Danced.” NT, 88§

The silent sage proclaimed that day that all that is is truth. Do Sivathondu with the thought that defect there is none. Birth will cease to be. All sins will be destroyed. Arise and be awake! All victory is yours! The silent sage proclaimed that day that all that is is truth. Be not faint in heart! That “Jīva is Śiva” is clear, if the guru’s word of truth you come to understand. The silent sage proclaimed that day that all that is is truth. §

Natchintanai, “The Silent Sage…” NT, 77§