Friday, Apr 26 2024  

Guru Purnima - 14 Jul 2014

“Guru” is a commonly used word in the Hindu & Buddhist society. It has a lot of meanings. “Guru” is actually derived from 2 Sanskrit roots - “Gu” and “Ru”. “Gu” stands for darkness while “Ru” denotes the remover of that darkness. So in short, a Guru is someone who removes the darkness present in our lives. Guru is also used as a synonym for teacher. If we relate it to the ancient times, it is actually worshipping Guru Veda Vyasa who wrote the 4 Vedas. But today, it is about worshipping our teachers and showing gratitude towards them for their hard work. This day falls on a full moon and therefore, it is called Guru Purnima.

Guru Purnima also reflects the special bond that exists between a Guru and his Shishya or disciple. In our Indian mythologies, there are so many examples of Guru-Shishya - Krishna and Arjuna; Dronacharya and Ekalavya from the Mahabharata. For example, when the broken-hearted Arjuna rushed to Krishna for help after seeing bloodshed in the war, Krishna poured his wisdom onto Arjuna by telling him the power of non-attachment and the strength within oneself that enlightened him. If we relate this gesture to the literal meaning of the word “Guru”, Krishna is removing the darkness surrounding Arjuna and is making him more confident for the upcoming events. Thus, we can clearly see the true essence of this special relationship between the Guru and Shishya.

Guru Purnima celebrations in Puttaparthi are surely not to be missed. The Sai Kulwant Hall is grandly decked with flowers and streamers. Celebrations begin as early as 7am with Vedam Chanting, followed by Guru Vandana, a selection of songs on glory of the Guru. Guest speakers from the Sathya Sai Foundation share personal anecdotes in honour of their Gurus. After such speeches, artists from around the world come to perform their musical pieces leaving the audience amazed.

On this auspicious day, it is important to highlight that the first message Baba gave was, “Manasa Bhajore Guru Charanam, Dusthara Bhava Saagara Tharanam” which means, “Meditate in thy mind on the Feet of the Guru. This can take you across the difficult sea of existence in birth after birth”. This clearly shows what an important role a Guru plays in our lives.

Now that we know about the significance of Guru Purnima, we can all say, “Thank you very much” to our Gurus. It will make them feel special. On this note, I would like to conclude with a quote by Albert Einstein, “It is the supreme art of the teacher that awakens joy in creative expression and knowledge”.

JAI SAI RAM

Sis Sahana
Group 3