SIGNIFICANCE OF GURU PURNIMA

SIGNIFICANCE OF 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. Now these tradition apples to present Gurus

who are honored with gifts and donation by considering their teachings and

resects.

All Hindus are indebted to

this ancient saint who edited the four Vedas,18 Puranas, the Mahabharata and

the Srimad Bhagavatam. Vyasa even I

narrate the life sketch of Ved Vyas who was the main Guru under Hindu

scriptures

Life

Sketch of Rushi Ved Vyas

, Ved Vyas was the first and

greatest acharya of Sanatan Dharma. He is responsible for classifying the four

Vedas, wrote the 18 Puranas and recited the great Mahabharata. In fact, the

Mahabharata is often called as the fifth Veda. The most important and the most

glorified section is the Bhagwad Gita, . The biography of Ved Vyas is very

vivid

Around some 5000 years

ago, Sri Ved Vyas was born on an island on the holy river" Yamuna. "His father was Parashar Rishi, a

sage and his mother was Satyavati. He taught the Vedas to his pupils with

ardent devotion and dedication. It is said that Mahabharata is the 18th Puran

that was written by Ved Vyas. He fathered four famous sons, Pandu,

Dhritarashtra, Vidur and Sukhdev. Ved Vyas received knowledge from great sages

like Vasudeva and Sanakadik. He described that the most important goal in one's

life is to attain Narayana or the Divine Supreme.

Apart from the Mahabharata, he also wrote the Brahmasootra, one of his shortest

theologies on Hindu philosophy. It is said that Ved Vyas is immortal and he

never died. Seeing the widespread violence in today's times, he is said to have

retreated into some remote village in Northern India. The life of Ved Vyas is

an example to all, in the modern times on how to be selfless and devote oneself

entirely to Lord in order to attain Nirvana or God's Realization..

The word ' Guru `' must be understood in its core sense. In

order to get to this sense consider the following extract from the Mahabharata.

The narrator is eulogizing his god , whom he describes as, " The primeval

Person, Sovereign - the true - Brahman, the manifest and unman fest, the

Eternal , being and becoming, All

pervasive, yet beyond being and becoming, the maker of high and low, the

ancient -- pure --- Huskies, Hari, the Guru of that which moves and moves not.

" (Reference in Hindus Their

Religious Beliefs and practices by

Julius Lipner page190)

The process of initiation of the devotees is very important.

Without the help of the teacher (Guru) it is difficult to study about spiritual

knowledge and insight as to how to see God and achieve salivation from life.

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

'Gurudevas'. 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.

In

Hindu faith, great importance is given to the teacher (Guru) who is considered

as a representative of God and that is Hindu believe in what the guru says.

There are special relationship between Guru ( Teacher) and Disciple .There are principles under which

the disciple has to select his own Guru.' A very important feature of Hinduism

is the emphasis upon spiritual experience. The word ' Guru '-is often explained by splitting it

into two parts. GU ' means darkness and RU means ' Light ' A Guru is one who

dispels spiritual darkness and gives light to the disciple (called a Chela or

Shisya , for which the Punjabi equivalent in ' Sikh ') Guru can also be linked

with a word meaning heavy. he is a person who removes the burden of doubt and

ignorance which the disciple brings as the consequence of Karma (Action)'

`To be effective, a guru must traditionally possess four

essential qualities. He must be Shratiya, well versed in the scriptures. he

must be Brahmanishtam, established in Brahman. This means, he must have realized

the spiritual goal himself. He must be Akamakita, unsmitten by desire. he must

be stainless, and free from guilt Only

such a person is enable the seeker to

achieve liberation.(Reference in Sikhism by W Owen Cole Page 20-21)

Contributed by Shankerprasad S Bhatt M.Com

Author of " Prayers of all Religions of the World "

My Web site "worldprayers.googlepages.com

My email ssbhatt79

July 7th 2009 Guru Purnima Day