The biggest example of Guru Dakshina: One of the most discussed incidents in the Guru-disciple tradition of Hindu religion is the story of Dronacharya and Ekalavya. During the Mahabharata period, when there was a competition to achieve superiority in archery, Eklavya accepted Guru Dronacharya as his guru in his mind, despite being away from him.

Eklavya was a forest dweller and did not get the opportunity of formal education. Still he did not give up. He made a clay statue in the forest and bowed to Dronacharya and continued practicing in front of the same statue every day. His devotion and dedication were so deep that gradually he became a wonderful archer. It is said that his art started surpassing that of Arjun and his fame spread far and wide.

When Dronacharya came to know about this, he himself went and saw Ekalavya. He found that this forest-dwelling boy had reached such heights only through practice and devotion. But this very thing could raise questions on Arjuna's superiority, because Dronacharya had promised Arjuna as his best disciple.

Then Dronacharya, taking the test of discipleship, asked for Guru Dakshina from Ekalavya. But this Dakshina was not ordinary. He demanded that Ekalavya cut off his right thumb and offer it to him. Because the place of thumb is very important in archery and without it archery becomes incomplete.

Without thinking even for a moment, Eklavya bowed down, cut his thumb and offered it at the feet of his Guru. This sacrifice is considered an example of the greatest faith and devotion of any disciple.

Even today, this story is an example of the fact that for a true disciple, the Guru's orders are paramount, no matter how big its cost. Even though Eklavya lost his thumb, his story became immortal. He is still remembered on the pages of history as that disciple who sacrificed everything for Guru Dakshina.