Significance of Guru Purnima

Sankaram Sankaracharyam Kesavam Badarayanam

Sutra-Bhashya-Kritau Vande Bhagavantau Punah Punah

 

I adore Lord Siva, Lord Vishnu, Bhagavan Vyasa and Sri Sankaracharya.

I again and again prostrate to Sri Vyasa who wrote the Vedanta Sutras, and to Sri

Sankaracharya who wrote the commentaries thereon

(Guru Vandanam).

 

The full-moon day in the month of Ashada [June-July] is the extremely auspicious and holy day of Guru-Purnima. On this Ashada Purnima

[full-moon] Day, sacred to the memory of the great sage Sri Vyasa

Bhagavan or Sri Krishna Dvaipayana, Sannyasins settle at some place to

study, do Vedantic Vichara, and discourse on the thrice-blessed Brahma

Sutras composed by Maharshi Vyasa.

 

Sri Veda-Vyasa has done unforgettable service to all humanity for all time by editing the four

Vedas, writing the eighteen Puranas, the Mahabharata and the Bhagavata.

We can attempt to repay this deep debt of gratitude we owe him only by

constant study of his works and practice of his teachings imparted for

the regeneration of humanity in the iron age or Kali Yuga.

 

In honour of this divine personage, all Sadhakas [seekers] and devotees

perform Vyasa Puja on this day; aspirants worship their Guru. Mahatmas

and Sadhus are honoured and entertained, and acts of charity done by all

Grihastis  [householders] with deep faith and sincerity.

 

Chaturmasa [four months of austerities ] for Sannyasins [renunciates] begins from

this day. Sannyasins stay in one place during the rainy season for four

months, study the Brahma Sutras, and practise meditation.

 

Significance Of The Guru-Purnima Day

 

 

Mark fully the deep significance of this great day. Ashada Purnima heralds the Chaturmasa, or the setting in of the eagerly awaited

rains. The water, drawn up and stored as clouds in the hot summer, now

manifests in plentiful showers that usher in the advent of fresh life

everywhere. Even so do you all begin seriously to put into actual

working all the theory and philosophy that you have stored up in you

through patient study. Commence practical spiritual Sadhana

[practice/path] right from this day. Generate fresh waves of

spirituality. Let all that you have read, heard, seen and learnt become,

through Sadhana, transformed into a continuous outpouring of universal

love, ceaseless loving service and continuous prayer and worship of the

Lord seated in all beings.

 

Live on milk and fruits on this day and practise rigorous Japa [repetition of a sacred word ] and Dhyana

[contemplation]. Study the Brahma Sutras and do some lakhs of Japa

(Anushthana or Purascharana) of your Guru Mantra or Ishta Mantra, during

the Chaturmasa. You will be highly benefited.

 

As the day of Guru-Puja or worship of one’s preceptor this is a day of pure joy to the

sincere aspirant. Thrilled by the expectation of offering his reverent

homage to the beloved Guru, aspirant awaits this occasion with eagerness

and devotion. It is the Guru alone that breaks the binding cords of

attachment and releases the aspirant from the trammels of earthly

existence. The Sruti says: “To that high-souled aspirant, whose devotion

to the Lord is great and whose devotion to his Guru is as great as that

to the Lord, these secrets explained, become illuminated.” Guru is

Brahman or Isvara Himself. He guides and inspires you from the innermost

core of your being. He is everywhere.

 

Behold The Entire Universe As Guru-Svarupa

 

Have a new angle of vision. Behold the entire universe as Guru-Svarupa. See

the guiding hand, the awakening voice, the illumining touch of the Guru

in every object in this Creation. The whole world will now stand

transformed before your changed vision. The Virat Guru will reveal all

the precious secrets of life and bestow wisdom. The Supreme Guru,

manifest in visible Nature, will teach you the most valuable lessons of

life. Worship daily this Guru of Gurus, the Guru who taught even Avadhuta

Dattatreya. The silent all-enduring earth with its lofty

forbearance, the shady fruit-bearing tree with its willing

self-sacrifice, the mighty fig tree (Pipal) reposing with patience in

the tiny seed, the dripping drops whose persistence wears away the

rocks, the planets and the seasons with their orderly punctuality and

regularity are divine Gurus to him who will look, listen and receive.

 

Purify And Progress

Become a personification of receptivity. Empty yourself of your petty ego-sense.

All the treasures locked up in the bosom of Nature will become yours!

You will have progress and perfection in an amazingly short time. Become

pure and unattached as the mountain breeze. As the river flows

continuously, steadily and constantly towards its goal, the ocean, by

moving every moment of your life towards the Supreme State of

Existence-Knowledge-Bliss, let all your thoughts, all your words, all

your actions be directed only towards the Goal.

The moon shines by reflecting the dazzling light of the sun. It is the full-moon of

Purnima-Day that reflects in full splendour the glorious light of the

sun. It glorifies the sun. Purify yourself through the fire of service

and Sadhana, and like the full moon, reflect the glorious Light of the

Atman. Become the full reflectors of Brahmic splendour, the Light of

lights. Make this your goal, to become a living witness to Divinity, the

brilliant Sun of suns!

 

Tat Tvam Asi

Brahman or the Supreme Self alone is real. He is the Soul of all. He is All in all. He is the Essence of this universe. He

is the Unity that never admits of a duality under all the varieties and

diversities of nature. Thou art this immortal, all-pervading,

all-blissful Brahman. Thou art That—Tat

Tvam Asi. Realise this and be free.

 

Remember the four important verses of the Brahma Sutras: (i) Atha-Ato Brahma-Jijnasa—Now, therefore, the enquiry into

Brahman. (ii) Janmadyasya Yatah—From

which proceed the origin, etc. (iii) Sastra-Yonitvat—The

scriptures being the means of right knowledge. (iv) Tat Tu Samanvayat—But that because It

is the main support.

 

Now sing:   Jaya Guru Siva Guru Hari Guru Ram,

Jagad-Guru Param Guru Sat-Guru Syam.

 

Remember and adore Sri Vyasa and the Brahma-Vidya Gurus. May their blessings be upon you all! May you

all cut asunder the knot of Avidya and shine as blessed Jivanmuktas,

shedding peace, joy and light everywhere!

 

Source: Significance of The Holy Guru-Purnima Day By Swami Sivananda

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Tags: austerity, contemplation, guru, perspective, purity, receptivity, renunciate,  sacred word,spiritual

path, Supreme Self

Sanskrit glossary

for meanings of Sanskrit words in the text

 

 

 

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