Guru and Namakirtan: God-realisation is possible only by immersing oneself again and again in the dust of the holy feet of saintly persons.

Nama Article 19th October 2013

Source: Srimad Bhagavatham : Its Message for the Modern Man by Swami Shantananda Puri Maharaj

Srimad Bhagavatham 5:12:12

रहूगणैतत् तपसा न याति न चेज्यया निर्वपणाद् गृहाद् वा

न च्छन्दसा नैव जलाग्नि-सूर्यैर् विना महत्-पाद-रजो-ऽभिषेकम्

In the fifth Skandha, Jada Bharata in his exhortation to King Rahugana says - "No one can achieve God-realisation by any amount of penance, meditation, Vedic rituals, worship of the Sun-god, the fire-god or other gods, sacrifices or by renouncing the house-holder's life. God-realisation is possible only by immersing oneself again and again in the dust of the holy feet of saintly persons.''

Please check these: Excerpts from a discourse by our Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamiji

'What does reaching the feet of the guru actually mean?'

Satsanga, the company of and service to holy persons is the direct gateway to liberation.

To remain in the Holy Feet of the Guru as a 'nobody' (zero); to remain like a doll in his hand. This is the only effort that can be taken by us

"To remain how God wills" – being in this state is Bhagavatha Dharmam.

Likewise, God takes hold of his devotee and removes all the hurdles in his/her way.

Guru's boundless grace is immeasurable, limitless and infinite.

I am not asking you to do giant tasks, but all I ask of you is, let the task be small, but do this with love and sincerity.

We would feel that there is none as rich as we are because we have got such a Guru Ratnam

Only a liberated person can awaken and liberate the person who is ignorant.

The common question that arises in everyone is 'What is essential to attain God – Grace or effort?'

God takes the form of a Guru and appears to the devotee; teaches him the Truth; purifies the mind by his teachings and contact