Bhushundi Refuses to Rise before His Guru, and Shiva Speaks from the Temple Sky
Uttara Kanda, Doha 107
Doha 107 · Movement 2 of 2
Keep this contemplation
Preserve, print, or share
Bhushundi sits inside Shiva's temple repeating the Lord's Name. When the Guru enters, pride holds the disciple to the floor. He neither rises nor bows, using the very place of worship as the stage for dishonoring the one who gave him the mantra.
The compassionate teacher says nothing. Not even a trace of anger moves within his heart. His silence reveals a humility greater than the disciple can yet recognize.
Mahesha cannot bear the offense. The issue is not wounded vanity in the Guru, who has none. It is the corruption of dharma when sacred knowledge receives contempt from the beneficiary it raised. The stone walls of the temple become still, and a voice prepares to descend from the unseen height. Bhushundi has chanted Shiva's Name while refusing the living teaching of Shiva embodied in the Guru's patience.
The Guru remains silent, but the temple sky itself gathers a voice to defend the humility Bhushundi has despised.
Read the passage from the Manas
एक बार हर मंदिर जपत रहेउँ सिव नाम। गुर आयउ अभिमान तें उठि नहिं कीन्ह प्रनाम।।106(क)।। सो दयाल नहिं कहेउ कछु उर न रोष लवलेस। अति अघ गुर अपमानता सहि नहिं सके महेस।।106(ख)।।
Once, while chanting Shiva's name in His temple, my guru arrived. In my pride, I did not rise to offer reverence. That compassionate one said nothing; not a trace of anger stirred in his heart. Yet Mahesha could not bear the terrible sin of dishonoring the guru.