Shri Guru Charitra Parayana benefits

Shri Guru Charitra granth has 52 chapters with 7,491 shlokas. The parts are divided as Dnyankand, Karmakand and Bhaktikand. These three upasana have been very well described by Shripad Shrivallabh and Shri Narsimha Saraswati Swami Maharaj's Leelas in a very lucid manner. Paramahansa Parivrajakarchrya Vasudevananda Saraswati Tembye Swami Maharaj used to advise to read at least 5 sholokas to read daily if we cannot read the complete Shri Guru Charitra Parayana. The parayan can be completed in 3 days, 7 days or reading 5 sholokas daily.

On the first day wake up early morning take bath, take water on right hand palm and do sankalp of reading by doing pranayam, anushtan and seek Shri Guru's blessings for beginning of parayan of Shri Guru Charitra. Then do smaran of kuldaivat, parents, Guruji and seek their blessings for successful completion of the parayan. Apply Bhasma on ang and do 108 jap of Gayatri Mantra. Keep one paat (wooden seat) covered with clean white cloth for Shri Gurudev to sit (it is believed that Shri Gurudev himself visits during parayan).

Don't leave your place during the reading and not to talk with anyone. Follow complete brahmacharya during these 7 days and do not shave or remove nails. Don't consume onion, garlic, spices, salty foods and eat only one time meal, have a glass of milk or fruits at the other meal time. On the last day prepare naivedya for the pothi, at night sing Shri Dutta Guru arati and stotra. Don't cover the pothi after reading leave it open. In case there is a death or birth in the family, gomutra to be sprinkled on the premises and then follow soyar or sutak and read Avataranika and also do Shri Dutta Guru Jaap and namsmaran. The reading is to be completed by someone else who is not from the family where death or birth has occurred in the house. After completion of reading show prasad to pothi and do Shri Dutta Guru's arati and Nam Jap.

That is one of the best ways of invoking the grace of Shri Gurudev…Do it with devotion, with Sraddha…and you will see the results soon enough. I used to do a Saptahik Parayana of Shri Guru Charitra, Sri Sai Satcharitra, Sripada Vallabh Charitamrta and also read Sri Guru Gita etc…and can definitely say that the sadhana was not futile / in vain…I got the grace of Sri Guru and continue to be protected and guided by Him.

Sri Ekkirala Bharadwaja (Sai master) and many other prominent devotees have stressed the importance and benefits of a parayan of Sri Guru Charitra…just in case, you want testimony from a more well known source (I am not at all well known or famous ….and that is perfectly OK with me)….Why care about benefits of reading something as divine as Shri Guru Charitra? Read it solely out of bhakti for Shri Guru Narasimha Saraswati swami maharaj. Let tears of bhakti flow from your eyes as you read the various divine incidents wherein Shri Guru poured his grace upon the devotees. This itself is the highest benefit.

Shri Gurudev Datta. Yes, the ladies can definitely read Shri Guru Charitra daily or do a Saptah Parayan. Since it is one form of Sri Guru Dattatreya, the book may please be treated like any other Deity and kept in the Puja room / altar. Please think / imagine / visualise that Lord Datta Himself is sitting in front of you when you read the book. Thus, the same rules that you would apply to your puja room would apply to this holy book too. May Shri Guru Datta bless you and guide you on the right path. Shri Gurudev Dutta.