Guru Kripa
The opening section of Chapter 27 in Shri Sai Satcharita describes how Compassion of Guru (Guru Kripa) manifests in a devotee. First and foremost, the devotee devours Guru’s leelas or stories with the same fondness with which the chatak bird drinks rain water and becomes happy. Secondly, while listening to Guru’s leelas, the devotee experiences the following eight sattvik emotions: Stambh (स्तम्भ): Body turns stiff like an pillar, Swed (स्वेद): Sweating Profusely, Romanch (रोमांच): Goosebumps out of ecstasy or extreme joy, Swar bhed (स्वर भेद): Voice quivers and changes, Vaipathu (वैपथु): Body shivers in extreme love, Vaivarna (वैवर्ण): Complexion turns pale as if drained of all blood, Ashru (अश्रु): Incessantly shedding tears, and Pralaya (प्रलय): Swooning and falling unconscious.
Anyone experiencing the above emotions is a sign of the grace of the Guru dawning upon him.
When the above emotions develop in a devotee, Guru is most pleased and leads the devotee towards the ultimate goal of “Self-Realization”. The best way, therefore, to get free from the shackles of Maya (illusion) is to surrender completely and whole-heartedly to Baba. The Vedas cannot take one across the ocean of Maya. It is only the Sadguru, who can do so and make the devotee see the Lord in all creatures. When a man takes a bath in the sea, he gets the merit of bathing in all Tirthas and sacred rivers, likewise, by taking refuge at the feet of the Sadguru, the devotee receives the merit of bowing to the Trinity – Lord Bramha, Vishnu and Shiva.
As quoted in volume 2 of Shri Guru Bhagavat:
Krupaara anya naama prema || Premaru hin krupaara janma
Biswa je prabhunkara ansha || Sabupraanee prabhunka bansha
Love is the other name of Compassion, as Compassion emanates from love. Since the Universe emanates from God, hence, every living being is a part of God’s divine family.
Krupaahin prabhunka swaroopa || Bishwa taankara krupaa roopa
Prabhu o krupaa eka roopee || Maayaare dishe bahuroopee
Compassion is the true self of God. The Universe is (nothing but) the manifested form of His Compassion. Guru and Compassion are (substantially) the same but appear to be different due to the illusions wrought by Maya.
