Guru Purnima

Ajnana timiranthascha, jnananjana shalakaya,

Chakshur unmeelitam yena,

Tasmai Sri Gurave namaha!

I bow to that guru who removes the blindness of ignorance,

With the collyrium of wisdom.

In the tradition of the Sanatana Dharma, the guru is one of the most important persons in our life. Our biological parents gave us physical life but it is the guru who takes us to the final purushartha or goal of life which is “moksha” or liberation from the wheel of birth and re-birth. The guru holds the key to the door leading to the divine which is within each one of us. With his wisdom he unlocks the existing fund of wisdom and divinity that is enshrined in everyone. He teaches us the meaning of self-realisation or god-realisation.

Etymologically, the word guru has been derived from two roots - gu which means darkness and ru, that which removes. Thus, the word guru implies someone who takes away the darkness of ignorance and leads us to the light of knowledge.

The Srutis say: The Guru is Brahman, the Absolute, or God Himself. He guides and inspires us from the innermost core of our being. He is everywhere. Behold the entire universe as the form of the guru. See the guiding hand, the awakening voice, the illuminating touch of the guru in every object in this creation. The whole world will now stand transformed before your changed vision. The world as guru will reveal all its precious secrets of life to you, and bestow wisdom upon you. The Supreme Guru, as manifested in visible nature, will teach you the most valuable lessons of life.

We wander aimlessly through the pleasures and pains of this world looking for our true path and goal. At last, if we are fortunate enough to find a guru, he points out to us that the path and the goal are both inside us! He does not give us anything from outside but only teaches us to see the truth which is ever shining within our own hearts. He is the alchemist who converts the dross of human existence into the gold of divine reality. Thus, we can understand the great importance that is given to the guru in the Sanatana Dharma. Even if we are learning arts like music, sculpture or painting we would need a teacher who has learnt and practiced it for himself. How much more would be the need for a captain who would help us to cross over the ocean of trans-migratory existence! It is only through the medium of the guru that we can raise ourselves to the state of cosmic consciousness. It is through this medium that the imperfect can become perfect, the finite can become infinite and the mortal can reach the heights of immortality. He is the link between human and divine. He stands on the threshold of immortality and frees the struggling shishya (disciple) from the morass of maya and mortality in which he is floundering.

Moksha or liberation, has always been considered to be the final goal of life in Hinduism therefore in India, we have always recognised the need for such a person to help us in our march to the Infinite source of our being. Through the centuries we have carefully tended and kept alive this tradition of worshipping the guru. Year after year, age after age, we worship the ancient concept of the guru, pay obeisance to it and re-affirm our belief and allegiance to it in the form of our own guru. For this we have kept aside one particular day for his worship. This day is known as “Guru Purnima.” It falls on the full moon day of the month of Ashada (June/July). It was only very recently that the west started a “Teacher’s Day”!

The full moon reflects the full splendour of the dazzling light of the sun. Thus, on this day we should also begin to reflect the glorious light of the Self. We should become full reflectors of that Brahmic splendour, the light of all lights because of which even the sun and moon are lit up. On this day we should realise that we are indeed that immortal, all-pervading, blissful Self.

This day of Guru Purnima also marks the beginning of the monsoons. This has a great significance in this country. After going through the blazing heat of summer, the whole earth quivers with delight when the first showers of the monsoons fall upon its parched breast. This is the sensation we get when we first listen to our guru. Our minds that have been languishing in the inertia of ignorance thrills to feel the shower of bliss that he pours on us!

On this day many important things happened in our country. First of all, the great sage called Vyasa, who is venerated by all of us as being the Adi Guru or the first guru was born on this day. Therefore, this day is also known as Vyasa Purnima. He has done an unforgettable service to all humanity by editing the Vedas and making them into four, writing the eighteen Puranas, the Mahabharata, Shrimad Bhagavatam and the Brahma Sutras. The only way we can repay the deep debt that we owe him is by studying his works and practicing his teachings. Thus, Hindus begin the day with a puja to Vyasa Guru.

Things to be done on Guru Purnima Day

If we are lucky enough to find an enlightened guru in this life, we should try to meet him and seek his blessing on this day. If we cannot do this, we can keep his photo in front of us and meditate on it. People offer many things as dakshina to the guru on this day like fruits, garlands, flowers and money but the greatest dakshina (offering) we can give our guru on this auspicious occasion is to resolve from the core of our hearts that we will follow his footsteps, drop our ego, practice what he has preached, see God in every living creature, love all, spread the message of peace and happiness and realise the Ultimate Goal.

As the river flows continuously, steadily and constantly towards its goal, the ocean, so also let your life flow ceaselessly towards the supreme state of absolute Existence-Knowledge-Bliss, by letting all your thoughts, all your words and all your actions be directed only towards the goal.

Jai Guru Deva!