Guru Shishya Mantra

The title of this blog has a very interesting shloka from Sanskrit. It goes,

Om Sahana Vavatu Sahanau Bhunaktu
Sahaveeryam Karavavahai
Tejas Vinavati Tamastuma vidhwishavahai
Om Shanti Shanti Shantihi

Here is a very nice explanation to the sholka, that I borrowed from somewhere

Sanskrit to English Word Meaning
Saha- both; nau-us; avatu- may he protect; bhunaktu-may he nourish; viryam karavavahai-may we acquire the capacity; tejasvi-be brilliant; nau-for us; adhitam- what is studied;astu-let it be; ma vidvisavahai-may we not argue with each other.

Translation
May He protect both of us. May He nourish both of us. May we both acquire the capacity (to study and understand the scriptures). May our study be brilliant. May we not argue with each other. Om peace, peace, peace.

Brief explanation
At the beginning of a class, the teacher and students generally recite this peace invocation together. Both seek the Lord’s blessings for study that is free of obstacles, such as poor memory, or the inability to concentrate or poor health. They also seek blessings for a conducive relationship, without which communication of any subject matter is difficult. Therefore, this prayer is important for both the teacher and the student.

I remember rendering this shloka in chorus with my professor Shri.Narasinga Rao, in my sanskrit class at the beginning of every lecture.

Dvaita : A way of life

Hinduism has its roots dating back to the time, even before the birth of Jesus Christ. It is a way of life and, the madhva way of hinduism derives its roots from the dvaita philosophy propounded by Acharya Madhva also referred to by the names, Purnapragnacharya, Anandatirtha. The dvaita school of thought proposes five differences between Hari, the god and man. The whole Dvaita philosophy is based on the concept of hierarchy. There is hierarchy among gods as well, with Lord Narayana sitting at the top of the ladder, followed by Lakshmi, Brahma, Vayu, and Rudra. It is based on the pretext that Lord Narayana is the ultimate(Sarvottama) among all the beings, and that the world is a way for human beings to reach god by getting complete knowledge about the Sarvottama. Vayu, also referred to as MukhyaPrana is the ultimate among the living beings. Acharya Madhva, the propounder of Dvaita way, is believed to be one of the three important incarnations of Vayu, Hanuma and Bheema being the other two.
This must give enough background information about Madhva Sidhdhantha to any new comers and shall thus become another milestone in my life towards completing the ultimate objective of being a Madhva, reach the ultimate.