Guru Purnima
What
is Guru Purnima?
The
full moon day in the Hindu month of Ashad (July-August) is observed as the
auspicious day of Guru Purnima, a day sacred to the memory of the great sage
Vyasa. All Hindus are indebted to this ancient saint who edited the four Vedas,
wrote the 18 Puranas, the Mahabharata and the Srimad Bhagavata. Vyasa even
taught Dattatreya, who is regarded as the Guru of Gurus.
Significance
of Guru Purnima
On
this day, all spiritual aspirants and devotees worship Vyasa in honor of his
divine personage and all disciples perform a 'puja' of their respective
spiritual preceptor or 'Gurudevs'.
This
day is of deep significance to the farmers, for it heralds the setting in of
the much-needed rains, as the advent of cool showers usher in fresh life in the
fields. It is a good time to begin your spiritual lessons. Traditionally,
spiritual seekers commence to intensify their spiritual 'sadhana' from this
day.
The period 'Chaturmas' ("four months") begins from this day. In the past, wandering spiritual masters and their disciples used to settle down at a place to study and discourse on the Brahma Sutras composed by Vyasa, and engage themselves in Vedantic discussions.
Devotional
worship of the Guru - the preceptor - is one of the most touching and elevating
features of the Hindu cultural tradition. The auspicious moment of Vyaasa
Poornima, chosen for observing this annual festival, is no less significant. It
was the great sage Vyasa, son of a fisherwoman, who classified the accumulated
spiritual knowledge of the Vedas under four heads - Rig, Yajur, Saama and
Atharva. To him goes the credit of composing the authentic treatise of
Brahma-sootras to explain the background of Vedas. He also wrote the eighteen
Puranas, the stories of our great heroes and saints, to carry the spiritual and
moral precepts contained therein to the common masses.
The
greatest of epics of all times and of all climes - Mahaabhaarata - embodying
the immortal song of God, the Bhagavad Geeta, also in it, is also the priceless
gift of Vyasa. The Bhaagavata, the thrilling and devotional story of Sri
Krishna, was also his contribution. It is in the fitness of things that Vyasa
should be looked upon as the supreme preceptor of mankind. Offering of worship
to him signifies the worship of all the preceptors of all times.
The
Guru in the Hindu tradition is looked upon as an embodiment of God himself.
For, it is through his grace and guidance that one reaches the highest state of
wisdom and bliss. "My salutations to the Guru who is Brahma, Vishnu and
Maheswara. The Guru is Parabrahma incarnate"
Gururbrahmaa
gururvishnuh gururdevo Maheswarah |
Guruh-saakshaat parabrahma tasmai shrigurave namah ||