ஜகத் குரு

Jagat Guru: Periyava's humility

Year 1933, when Maha Periyava was in Varanasi.

Periyava was received in the palace of the Maharaja of Kashi. Many important personalities and learned men (Pundits) were also present.

In The Pundits mind, there was an element of jealousy. How can he, Periyava, have the title of

Jagat Guru (जगत् गुरु) ஜகத் குரு

One of the Pundits was arrogant and asked,

"Who is this Jagat Guru" ?

Periyava politely replied “I am”.

The Pundit then remarked sarcastically, “So you are the Jagat Guru”.

Periyava replied.

जगतां गुरुः न ஜகதாம் குரு: ந

When I say I am Jagat Guru, I don't mean to say, I am the Guru of this Jagat.

जगति पद्यमनाः सर्वे मम गुरवः ஜகதி பத்யமநா: ஸர்வே மம குரவ:

All living beings in this world are my Gurus..

The Pundits were completely taken aback by this simple yet great explanation. Periyava did not stop with that.

In that hall where this debate was going on, there were some nests built by sparrows. Periyava pointed to one of them and asked the Pundits,

किं इदं? கிம் இதம்? What is this?

The Pundit replied:

नीडः நீட:

Nest

Periyava asked:

केन निर्मितं ? கேந நிர்மிதம் ?

By whom was this built?

The Pundit Replied:

चटकैः சடகை:

By the sparrow

Periyava continued:

This nest is built by birds which do not have hands or legs. We have hands and legs. Yet we are unable to build a nest like the sparrow.

The sparrow has Kriya Shakti (क्रिया शक्ति) க்ரியா சக்தி

But I do not have that Shakti.

Hence this sparrow is my GURU!!!

Source: Maha Periyava Darshana Anubhavangal T.S. Kothandarama Sarma