BE THANKFUL FOR YOUR GURUS

uru Purnima will be celebrated across India on July 20, 2016. It takes place on the full moon day in the lunar month of Ashadha. In ancient times students or disciples would offer puja and pay respect to their gurus, who were also their spiritual mentors. Guru Purnima is also known as Vyasa Purnima and this day is commemorated as the birth anniversary of Veda Vyasa, the ancient saint who wrote the four Vedas, and 18 Puranas.

This day is also celebrated by Buddhists in the honour of Gautama Buddha. It is believed that on this day Lord Buddha gave his first sermon at Sarnath.

To understand the true significance of Guru Purnima, it is important to examine the word “guru” etymologically. The word guru has its roots in Sanskrit in which Gu means darkness and Ru means the one who removes the darkness. Hence “guru” is the dispeller of darkness.

So, who is a guru? A guru is not only someone who has imparted temporal wisdom, such as school teachers or professors, but it could also be anyone who has proved to be a guide or mentor in our life. It can be a friend who cautioned us from taking the wrong path, or a boss who helped us develop skills to get a dream job, it could also be a parent, who made us see the difference between right and wrong.

The Guru Mantra states: akhandamandalaakaara. n vyaapta. n yena charaacharam; tatpada. n darshita. n yena tasmai shriigurave namah

It means, salutation to the noble guru, who has made it possible to realise the state which pervades the entire cosmos, everything animate and inanimate.

My dear readers, on Guru Purnima I wish that you honour your gurus. Pay respect and homage to every person in your life, who has taught you a lesson, for it is these life lessons that have made you the person that you are! Let us express our gratitude to our gurus and receive their blessings on this auspicious day.