Hold on to this Abhanga Only!

Once, while discussing the grace of the Guru (Guru krupa), in a gathering of spiritual seekers (satsang), Saint Madhav Swami said, “Saint Baba Maharaj Arvikar has said, and even Shri Krishna has said that to those who are on the path/company of karma, do not tell them about the philosophy of the grace of the Guru (Guru krupa). This is why, after Shri Krishna delivered the Gita, at the end of the 18th chapter, said the following verse (shlok) to Arjuna:

Idum te naatpaskaya nabhaktaya kadachan | Na chashushrushave vacchyum na cha maan yogbyasuyati ||

Only tell the one who is the devotee (bhakta) of a Guru. One must have served the Guru, must be a devotee of the Guru (Guru bhakta). Because it is going to be received from the Guru. One must also have some spiritual discipline, and some virtuous deeds, this is all true, but with that there must also be an earnest plea for grace (krupa). This is why there are virahinis (abhanga capturing longing/yearning) written by saints. From within the heart, one must call out for god. Then, god comes! Grace (krupa) is the most important. 

When Baba and I first met, he asked me whether I knew any abhangas and asked me to perform one. I then performed this abhanga:

Guru krupanjana payo more bhai,

Rama bina kachhu janata nahi.

Antarahi Ram, Baharahi Ram,

Jit dekhu ut Ramahi Ram.

Jagata hi Ram, Soatahi Ram,

Sapne mein dekhe Ramahi Ram.

Eka janardani bhava hi nika,

Jo dekho voh Ram sareeka.

Baba liked that I sang this. He was very happy. Baba told me to always perform this abhanga. 'No other. Just hold onto this abhanga,’ is what he said to me. Of course, he knew that abhanga. He asked me to perform it 5, 10 times.”

At the end of recounting this story, Saint Madhav Swami said, “This knowledge is not found in schools or colleges.”

In Divyamritdhara, Saint Baba Maharaj Arvikar says that because of the grace of the Guru (Guru krupa), in the natural awareness of the love of the Guru (Guru prem), the Guru-putra (Guru's child) manages all of their states and working of their senses through the love of the Guru. The immediate and natural effect of this, is that in the shape of the Guru-putra, the Guru dwells and engage from within. 

Saint Tukaram Maharaj’s state, completely immersed in the bhajans of Vitthal, is proof of this thought. “Dev pahaya gelo, tithe devachi haunyat helo.”