Deepaka
(The Exceptional Disciple)
Gurureva parambrahma गुरुरेव परंब्रह्म (Trilinga Swamy)
We often invoke Guru and Ganesa at the beginning of any puja, scriptural study, or Vedic (Upanishad) chanting, or Hindu religious enquiry. But why do we begin with Guru? Kabir seems to have gotten the essence of Guru with these lines: “If you ask me to pick one entity, Guru or Bhagavan, I would certainly pick Guru first. Because without Guru I cannot even approach Bhagavan; I cannot even name or identify Bhagavan. Only Guru can show or guide me on the path to Bhagavan.” Today on the auspicious Guru Punima day we try to learn a bit about Guru. Like light and shadow, Guru and student are inseparable; when we talk about Guru naturally we also explore the relationship between a Guru and his disciple. A Guru (any Guru for that matter) is known by his (her) student and vice versa.
Here I narrate the story of Deepaka. The full details are given in Guru-Charitra. Like the eternally inspiring Dhruva, Deepaka also illustrates many things through his devotion, obedience, and total surrender to his Guru. Once there was a famous Vedic scholar in India; he was known as “Veda-dharma” to all around him. He was living with his group of disciples (students) adjacent to the Godavari River, also known as Dakshina Ganga. Many years went by as usual with daily studies and day-to-day chores – like ablutions in the sacred river, prayers, and recitations of sacred texts, hymns, Sanskrit grammar, etc. One day the teacher called all his students to assemble for an important announcement: “Dear students, I have a request to make. I want to make a pilgrimage to Kasi (Varanasi) and spend the remaining years there. I would like to spend my days on the banks of sacred Ganges.
I still have some remnants of past karma. Either I have to suffer its effects (consequences) in this life or carry the burden over to next life. I don’t want to be born again and repeat the cycle of birth again and again. I can burn my past karma through penance (tapas, Jnana marg) – but that too will take a long time. Would any of you accompany me to Kasi? It will not be easy, let me warn you ahead. I will get a terrible disease (Hansen’s disease, leprosy). It will cripple me, disfigure my body, and I may become an invalid. So, I need someone who can bathe, feed, and dress my wounds daily.”
Upon hearing their master’s words the students looked at each other in dismay. They murmured small talk among themselves thus: “If it is a week or two we can assist the Guru. But how to stay away from our parents, friends, and families for years? That too in a far away city with unknown language and culture? And on top of that we have to nurse, bathe, and feed him.” Then one by one all the disciples replied negative. No one was willing to go with the Guru to Kasi, a city on the banks of Ganges – a veritable Kailas on the earth. Then hesitantly one boy (Deepaka) stood up and politely pleaded with the Guru with these words: “Sir, if you think I am worthy of your company then I am willing to go with you. Even if you get the dreaded disease I will stay with you and serve you. I will take you to the river and get bathed daily. Will attend to all your needs. I want to serve you with care and devotion. Please permit me to travel with you to Kasi.”
Veda-dharma did not agree at first. “Look Deepaka, it is very arduous to take care of another human being. It is not easy. I may get angry at times due to the sickly disease. I will lose sense of smell and touch. You may have to dress my bleeding cuts, wounds, and feed me. You know nothing about the devastating effects of leprosy.” Deepaka was firm in his decision. He again pleaded with his Guru. “Please sir, let me go with you to Kasi. I will listen to your commands and serve you with utmost devotion”. The Guru was touched by Deepaka’s words.
“Ok, remember I’ve forewarned you amply. Tomorrow we will start our journey.” In those days there were neither the high-speed trains nor airplanes; people went to Varanasi by foot, bullock cart, or horseback. It was not easy and the journey took months, if the pilgrim was lucky. People had to bear all the hardships on the way – lack of proper food, attacks by highway robbers (thugs), or tigers. In a tropical climate snakes were (are still) also plenty. At last our Guru and Deepaka reached Kasi. They set up a small tent (ashram) close to the sacred river. The routine for our student was full of chores from sunrise to sunset: Get up before sun rise and attend to the physical needs (kala-kritya) of Guru. Then he had to take his master to the Ganges for ablutions. This was possible only in the beginning before the dreaded onslaught of disease. As leprosy progressed it started devouring the Guru slowly. His nose got flattened, his ears lost sensation, and his toes became crooked. He could no longer walk on his own feet, not even with a walking stick. Deepaka used to carry him slowly to the riverbanks for daily baths. Later he would fetch buckets of river water for washing at the ashram.
Deepaka had to quickly finish his morning chores and rush into the city (Kasi) streets for begging. As there were not enough hours in a day the student could not do all the tasks: Washing Guru’s soiled clothes, drying clothes and bed sheets, washing all the utensils, drying everything in the sun for making them super anti-septic, and collecting enough river water for drinking and washing. And added to this list were Guru’s wound dressing and bodily care. When would he get time to do his own Sandhya-Vandanam and daily ablutions? Obviously he could not do any cooking at the ashram even if he wanted to. So, daily he used to go into the City of Varanasi (Annapurna’s House) and beg alms from the householders. Many would oblige and offer some cooked rice, vegetable curry, or dal. Some days were better than others but everyone was impressed with our student. Obviously there was some hidden charm and light radiating from Deepaka’s face. Soon the word spread all over the city, about this unique Guru and disciple. On the holy Ganges there were always many ashrams and Gurus. But the story of Deepaka got more prominence, more attention.
On one of such daily rounds Deepaka got into a bit heated discussion with a householder. The lady of the house advised him thus: “Dear bachelor (O Brahmachari) may I suggest one thing? Why don’t you leave your current ailing Guru and find another Guru? After all your current Guru abuses you with lots of work and even scolds constantly. I think you should leave him immediately. Go and find another healthy decent preceptor. You’ll be happy with less work and less begging.” Deepaka thought for a moment and replied thus, “Dear Mother, if I am known in these streets it is all because of my Guru. Suppose your husband mistreats you occasionally. Would you leave your husband?”
The lady retorted back vehemently. “How can you say that? We took our sacred vows during marriage ceremony. How can a wife just desert her husband on some flimsy grounds? Good or bad, a husband is a husband.”
“Madam, it is the same with me. I cannot leave my Guru. One cannot keep on changing Gurus. For me my Guru is everything. My duty is to serve him with utmost diligence.” Such testy encounters happened but Deepaka was not perturbed, not a bit. His routine continued without any interruption. Rain, shine, or storm the disciple went on with his daily trips to the Holy River, afternoon begging, and wound dressing, etc. He patiently bore all the scolding and abusive behavior – he simply treated it as Guru’s blessing. A lesser student would have quit after a week.
Then a true miracle happened one day. Suddenly Kasi Viswanatha wanted to meet this extraordinary student. The Lord appeared at the front door with Annapurna adorned with all accessories of Trisul, Damarah, etc. glistening with vibhuti all over. He affectionately called Deepaka thus: “Dear son, I want to give you some boons. So, ask me for any thing. I am at your service.”
Deepaka did not get surprised at all and he replied without batting an eye. “Sire, I do not know you. My guru looks after me and he takes care of everything. I do not need anything.” Just then the Guru called from inside.
Guru, “Deepaka, who’s at the door? And what are you haggling about? Why are you wasting time with the stranger?”
Deepaka: “Guruji, some stranger is at the door - referring himself as Siva. He wants to give me some boons.”
Guru: “What? Did you ask for anything?”
Deepaka: “No, I did not. Told Him I don’t need anything. Emphatically said my Guru provides everything. Really everything.”
Thus, a bit disappointed Siva left the premises. He put in a word for Deepaka in Lord Vishnu’s ears. Though Kasi is the perennial holy city of Viswanatha (in fact Varanasi is almost like a second consort of Lord Siva), Vishnu is the real Manager in the town. So naturally Siva shared the details about this exceptional disciple – Deepaka. Soon Lord Narayana appeared in front of the hut with four hands holding the Shell, Chakra, Mace, and Lotus.
Narayana, “Deepaka, I am here to meet you and bless you.”
Deepaka, “Who are you, Sir?”
Narayana: “I am the Lord who looks after the world. I sustain it and look after all its needs. Ask for any wish. I’ll readily grant it. Of course your guru will soon be cured of the terrible disease. ”
Deepaka: “Thank you Sir. I am totally content. I have everything and if I ever need any thing then I’ll ask my master, I mean my Guru.”
Again the Guru got irritated. “Sishya, why are you wasting time? Who is the visitor now?”
Deepaka: “Sir, some one with a shell is at the door. He calls himself as Vishnu. I’ll send him off quickly and be at your service, master.”
Thus Vishnu too got utterly disappointed. “What a wonderful student! He did not even ask for a simple boon. He’s totally content with serving his Guru. It’s rare to find such an ideal disciple.”
Perhaps the Guru might have lunged to the front door to greet Siva and Vishnu if it were not for his debilitating disease. Or, as someone totally immersed in Brahman he could have stayed put inside. When one knows Brahman, gets absorbed with Brahman, one may commit any act or remain in total inaction – just be a “witness” to the external world. Judging any act, commission or omission – such frivolous swimming in the ocean of “karmic world”, - it is all for the lesser mortals. The fully realized souls are exempt from every mandated act or injunction.
Then, that day suddenly the Guru bubbled over (overcame) with compassion. He called Deepaka to his side and proclaimed thus: “Look sishya, you’ve been a wonderful student. You looked after me and this corporeal body with utmost care. Today I shower you with lots of boons. You will become famous henceforth and because of you even Kasi’s reputation will get enhanced hundred fold. All the eight siddhis will serve you and you will live long for several centuries. You will inherit all the nine treasures too.” Saying such sweet words the Guru shed his (self imposed) dreadful disfiguring disease and put on a new shining body. Right in front of his disciple he verily blasted off to higher worlds.
It does not matter where a Sadhaka begins his tentative journey. Every sincere ardent student will meet her Guru like Deepaka and reach higher planes of realization. With unwavering trust and diligence, bhakti (service) produces wondrous results.
