GURU PURNIMA - JULY 24, 2021

A teacher or guru plays a significant role in shaping the lives of people.

The Sanskrit word Guru itself means one who removes ignorance (Gu meaning ignorance and Ru means remover), an embodiment of the divine Cosmic on the physical.

Hence, in India, the Guru-Shishya bond is seen as a pure connection that helps the student achieve greater heights. The Sanskrit verse – Mata Pitah Guru Daivam – clearly positions the role of a teacher before that of God.  A common belief says that the Guru is like the moon and his disciples are like clouds of the Ashadha month. The Guru is always surrounded by his disciples and spreads the wisdom of knowledge just like the moon spreads light even through darkest clouds of this season.

“Guru Brahma, Guru Vishnu, Guru Devo Maheshwarah, Guru Sakshat ParBrahm, Tasmai Shri, Guruve Namah” the mere chanting of this Guru Mantra, where the Guru or Teacher is placed besides the three Lords of the cosmos reveals the importance of Guru in one’s life.

Guru Purnima is a day to pay ode to the selfless contributions of a Guru.

To pay respect to them, Guru Purnima is celebrated every year primarily by the Hindu, Buddhist and Jain communities around the world. 

It falls on the full moon day of the Shakha Samavat as per the Hindu Calendar. The day is celebrated by expressing gratitude and worshipping the spiritual gurus and teachers. This year, Guru Purnima falls on July 24.

Krishna Dwaipayana Vyasa or Ved Vyasa, who wrote the epic Mahabharata was born on Guru Purnima, therefore it is also his birth anniversary.  Also, it is said that on this day, Lord Shiva became the Adi Guru - the first Guru and imparted knowledge to the Saptarishis. Moreover, the importance of a Guru has also been clearly established in our great Indian epics Ramayana and Mahabharata.

The bond shared by Sage Vishwamitra and Lord Rama or Arjuna and Dronacharya is classic specimens of the Guru Shishiya Parampara.

The day is celebrated with utmost fervour by Buddhists as it is believed that Gautam Buddha, after denouncing worldly attachments and being enlightened, served his first sermon at Sarnath on this day.

 A Dharma wheel represents the eight spokes, and eightfold path of the Buddha’s first teaching in the Deer Park, Sarnath. The deer symbolizes the personification of gentle wisdom. In Tibetan Buddhism, a monastery may have this symbol of a Dharma wheel flanked by two deer on the rooftop.

Guru Purnima is of great significance for the Jains too. On this day, the 24th Tirthankara – Mahavira – made Gautam Swami (earlier known as Indrabhuti Gautam) his first disciple.

He thus became a Guru and hence the day is observed as Guru Purnima.

Let us ponder over the salient and sacred words about Guru:

•      You are a light for me in the dark. Support me always and I will succeed in all ways.

•      It is an incomparable journey where the Guru leads you from the visible to the invisible, from the material to the divine, from the ephemeral to the eternal. Thank you for being my Guru.

* A Guru takes a hand, opens a mind, and touches a heart.

Here's wishing everyone a very happy Guru Purnima!