The Avadhuta and His Upa-Gurus

The avadhuta is a mystic/saint who is completely indifferent to the world or worldly matters. The Guru is only one, but Upa-gurus (secondary gurus) may be many.

One day as the Avadhuta was walking across a meadow, he saw a bridal procession coming toward him with a loud beating of drums and great pomp. Nearby he saw a hunter deeply absorbed in aiming at his game and perfectly inattentive to the noise and pomp of the procession, casting not even a passing look at it.

The Avadhuta saluting the hunter, said, “Sir you are my Guru. When I sit in meditation, let my mind be concentrated upon the object of meditation, as yours has been on your game.”


An angler was in a pond. The Avadhuta approached him and asked, “Brother, which way leads to the place I desire?” The float of the rod at that time was indicating that the fish was nibbling at the bait, so the man did not give any reply. but was all attention to the fishing rod.
Having first hooked the fish, he turned round and said, “What is it you have been saying, sir?”

The Avadhuta saluted him and said, “Sir you are my Guru. When I sit in contemplation of the Deity of my choice, let me follow your example. Before finishing my devotion, let me not attend to anything else.”


A kite with a fish in its beak was followed by a host of crows and other kites which were pecking at it and trying to snatch the fish away. In whatever direction it went, its’ tormentors followed it, cawing, till at last they made it let go the fish in ‘Vexation. Another kite instantly caught the fish and was then followed by the whole lot. The first kite was left unmolested and sat calmly on the branch of a tree.

Seeing this quiet and tranquil state of the bird, the Avadhuta saluting him said, “You are my Guru, for you have taught me that peace of mind is possible in this world only when one has given up one’s attachments. Otherwise there is danger at every step.”


A heron was slowly walking on a marsh to catch a fish. Behind, there was a hunter aiming an arrow at the heron, but the bird was totally unmindful of this fact.

The Avadhuta, saluting the heron, said, “When I sit in meditation, let me follow your example and never turn back to see who is behind me.”


The Avadhuta found another Guru in a bee. The bee had been storing up honey for long hours and with great labor. A man approached, broke the hive, and drank up the honey. The bee was not destined to enjoy the fruit of its long labor.

0n seeing this, the Avadhuta saluted the bee saying, “You are my Guru. From you I learn what is the sure fate of accumulated riches.”

1 thought on “The Avadhuta and His Upa-Gurus”

  1. Hmm… Lovely tale, but it makes me wonder why the Advadhuta chose to incarnate in the first place and whether the heron and bee, especially, would survive long if they followed his teachings!

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