Significance of Guru-Purnima

Saints are like cloud, who grasp the wisdom from the ocean of Vedanta and holy scriptures; and shower the same wisdom upon the seekers with love and affection by giving examples from day to day life. Such Saints are the clouds that shower the Truth, the love and the bliss in the heart of the seekers. Such Saints pull us out of the darkness (of me and mine, worldly desires, ignorance and the agonies) and introduce us to the ever glowing light of pure wisdom, supreme peace and blissfulness within. The word Guru is derived from two words, 'Gu' and 'Ru' . The Sanskrit root "Gu" means darkness or ignorance. "Ru" denotes the remover of that darkness. Therefore one who removes darkness of our ignorance is a Guru.

In ancient times, the true seekers realized that we have so many festivals throughout the year. However, we still don’t have a day that is devoted to the true Saints and Gurus. Such true seekers, whose life got filled with the wisdom of the Self, divine peace and inner joy after coming in touch with the God loving and Self realized Saints, decided to pay homage to their beloved masters. The seekers decided with unanimity that the most appropriate day to pay homage to their beloved masters cannot be the day better than the birthday of Rishi Ved Vyasa. The 1^st full moon day that falls in the month of Ashadh (June–July) is celebrated as Gurupurnima by the Guru loving seekers around the world.

What do the bees gain by humming around the flowers; only bees know the best. What do moths gain by being around the fire; only a moth can answer. Similarly, what does disciple gain by being around the master, only a disciple knows the best. On the day of Gurupoonam, the seekers travels from far distances to meet their spiritual master and offer their sincere gratitude by offering pooja with love and affection.  When all the Guru loving disciples gather around the spiritual master, a festival like environment is created on its own.

For a true seeker, Saints are the physical representation of the omnipresent God (Par-Brahm-Parmatma) who help them rise above the worldly miseries to realize the eternal, conscious, blissful Self (Sat-Chita-Anand). For a true seeker, Guru is a life savers and a parent who gives them second life by introducing him or her to the wisdom of the Self. Filled with love and gratitude for such Gurus and Saints, the warm heart of a disciple sings:

Gurur Brahmaa Gurur Vishnuh, Gurur devo Maheshvarah;

Gurur saakshaat parabrahma, tasmai shree Gurave namah ||

Translation

Know the Guru to be Brahma (the creator of wisdom within). He is Vishnu (the maintainer of peace and blissfulness within). He is Shiva (the annihilator of ignorance). Know Him to be the Supreme Brahman (Supreme Consciousness), and offer thy reverences unto such a Guru.

In modern life, whatever humanity, generosity, kindness, courtesy and love is seen in the society, is only because of the true Saints and their teachings. We are all so grateful to our Rishis and Munis, who started this tradition of celebrating Gurupurnima thousands of years ago. The cultures and traditions, where such Saints are revered like a God, flourish and always keep alive the true spiritual wisdom of the Self in the day to day life. By the blessings of such Gurus only, our Vedic culture is flourishing for the past thousands of years and will continue to provide light of true wisdom for generations to come.