Need for a Guru - Sri Mani Dravid Shastrigal

Sri Sri Sri Bharathi Theertha Mahaswamiji is the 36th pontiff and the current Peethadhipathi of the Dakshinamnaya Sri Sharada Peetham, Sringeri. This talk was delivered in May 2021 as part of a series of talks in the celebration of His Holiness's 71st Vardhanti Mahotsavan by Mahamahopadhayaya Sri Mani Dravid Shastrigal. The speaker describes the need for a Guru by quoting extensively and eloquently from the Upanishads and touches on how a Sishya must always show reverence towards the Guru. Quoting from Shvetashvatara Upanishad: यस्य देवे परा भक्तिर्यथा देवे तथा गुरौ। तस्यैते कथिता ह्यर्थाः प्रकाशन्ते महात्मनः प्रकाशन्ते महात्मन इति॥ Consider the Guru as Ishwara himself , for the knowledge to manifest or blossom. Not just that is taught gets manifested, but even that which is not taught gets manifested for a person with deep gurubhakthi. Worshipping the Guru and being indebted to Him for our lifetime is the only way we can repay our Guru for helping us cross ‘avidya’ ते तमर्चयन्तस्त्वं हि नः पिता योऽस्माकमविध्यायाः परं पारं तारयसीति. The talk concludes with what the speaker sees in Sri Sri Mahasannidhanam : Sakshat Shankarar , Tapas shakthi, deep and insightful Pandithyam, and love and compassion for people associated and proficient in Shastras. Video Chapters: 00:00 - Who is a Guru 03:18 - The need and importance of Guru from brihadaranyaka, katopanishad and chandokya upanishad 14:15 - Three things which are rare to get from vivekachoodamani : मनुष्वत्वं, मुमुक्षु्त्वं,महापुरुष संश्रेयः 15:38 - How should we hold our Guru. Quotes from Shvetashvatara Upanishad. 18:15 - Dakshinamoorthy sloka - explains the refrain ‘तस्मै श्री गुरुमूर्तवे नमः इदम् श्री दक्षिणामूर्तवे - Ishwara gived upadesha to the sishya in the form of Guru 24:00 - Why we should never displease Guru 26:00 - No comparison to Guru… example of sparsha mani “श्रितचरणयुगे सद्गुरोस्स्वीयशिष्ये स्वीयं साम्यं विधत्ते भवति “ , and an explanation of the term ‘समदर्शिन:’ 37:00 - Importance of Guru as propounded by Shankara and Upanishads 50:00 -First experience with Sri Sri Mahasannidnam 57:00 What the speaker sees in Sri Sri Mahasannidanam