Guru Purnima: It’s origins and a concise background
The honing of a person’s skill, be it in any field is always led to fruition by the skills taught to be an individual, by a teacher. Among Hindus, the word “Guru” embodies this persona of a wise and learned teacher to the fullest extent. The word “Guru” is derived from the amalgamation of the Sanskrit words “Gu” and “Ru”. “Gu” meaning darkness or ignorance and “Ru” meaning the extinguisher of darkness or ignorance.
The sacred texts of many religions emphasize on the importance of being one with the supreme God or creator. The prime purpose of our lives, envisioned as, choosing the path to break free from the cycle of life and death. To detach oneself from “maya” or the illusion of the world. This life that we have is considered temporary, or at least our physical form which will turn to dust eventually. Hence the holy books, scriptures and Vedas usually emphasize on the essential need of liberating the spirit, from this cycle.
Many chapters in these books are dedicated in fulfilling the idea of “moksha”, primarily meaning, the liberation of the soul. It further solidifies the idea of not being born again, consequentially, not having to die again too.
This is not as easy as it may sound and one of the most important aspects of the journey to a person’s enlightenment is considered the “Guru”. The person who leads us away from the darkness and shows us the light. It has been mentioned in the Holy Scriptures and books that to come to a full circle in life, from darkness to light, a “Guru” is indispensable.
Among the Hindus, the disciple offers “Arpana” to his or her “Guru”. This “Arpana” is the offering of a student for the selfless love and wisdom a disciple receives from the “Guru”. This act of offering “Arpana” to the “Guru” is the paying of homage to a great teacher without asking for anything in return, with a single pure intention.
In the Hindu texts such as the Bhagvad Gita specific chapters and lines are mentioned, so as to let us comprehend and follow the procedures in offering “Arpana”, to the “Guru”. This “Arpana” with the purest of intentions are believed to bring us closer to the Supreme Being in our quest for breaking the rigmarole of life and death.
Today, we still chant these “slokas” or verses in Guru Purnima and pay our respects to the great teachers or “gurus” who have helped us conquer our darkness and see the light. Hindus, chant the “Guru Gayatri Mantra” a specific “mantra” or incantation for the “Guru”.
During this day people also offer garlands and flowers to their “Guru”- living or dead and offer “Naivedyam”, which is basically yellow coloured food, such as saffron rice or any other preparation with yellow dal, pumpkins, oranges or yellow sweets.
Among the Hindus, the place of the “Guru” in our physical form is said to be in between the forehead. This area, where we also apply the “tika” or “tilak” is called “Ajnachakra”. During Guru Purnima this area or “Ajnachakra”is believed to be more powerful, hence some people also concentrate and meditate on this. They contemplate the form of their “Guru” or “Guru Tattva” on this area twice a day for about fifteen minutes each. “Guru Tattva here means the ability of a person to differentiate between right and wrong, or to understand the importance of the light disambiguating the darkness.
A person contemplates their “Guru” or “Guru Tattva” especially on Guru Purnima as a reverence and oddity to the great teachers who have left an undeniable mark on humanity, and shown the path and light to many souls who are lost, wandering in the dark.
Guru Purnima also known as “Vyasa Purnima”
Guru Purnima or in the yogic circles, known as “Vyasa Purnima” is celebrated around the month of June and July, on a full moon night, which is also known as “Purnima”. This period in a year is also known as “Ashadha” in the Hindu calendar of India. This timeline or the auspicious occasion of Guru Purnima also celebrates the birthday of “Ved Vyasa”, hence the term “Vyasa Purnima”.
Celebrated by the Hindus, Jains and the Buddhists alike, Guru Purnima celebrates the wise men and women, the teachers who help to make this world a better place to live in.
Vyasa Purnima or Guru Purnima in the context of the sage Vyasa is not just a celebration of his birthday, but, it is also said to be the day he started his works on “Brahma Sutras” on, “Ashada Sudha Padiami”, which ends on Guru Purnima. “Ashada Sudha Padiami” is thus recited on this day, celebrating the great sage on his timeless works and teachings.
Humanity or Mankind, would be nothing more than mere savages scavenging for their next meal, had it not been for these wise teachers or “gurus” contemplating life and its mysteries and imparting this knowledge to the rest of the world, without asking for anything in return. Guru Purnima or Vyasa Purnima, therefore, celebrates these men and women who have given so much to humanity and made the world a better place. Due credit could also be given to Mahatma Gandhi for reviving this tradition, in honor of his “Guru” Shrimad Raj Chandra.
Spiritualism and its place in Guru Purnima
This auspicious day of Guru Purnima is believed to be the day when the spiritual principle of the “Gurus” is more potent. Since time immemorial, a human being’s stepping stone to being an enlightened individual is considered their “Guru”. Hence, we could imagine the weight of this festival among the scholars, academics and anyone looking to thanks their mentors and people who have influenced or taught them, in more ways than one.
Celebration by the Buddhists
The teachings of Lord Buddha, the “Enlightened One”, his advocacy of the middle path, inculcated by his followers and disciples have led them to celebrate and honor him on this special day.
The Eight Precepts of the Buddhists
The Buddhists have eight precepts which generally include:
- Refrain from taking lives
- Refrain from stealing
- Avoiding speech which might directly or indirectly hurt another being or beings
- Abstinence from alcohol and drugs
- Abstinence from sexual pleasure
- Avoidance at eating at the wrong time or overeating
- Keeping oneself away from entertainment in any form; and
- Staying simple and low key, thereby keeping oneself away from wearing luxurious and fancy adornments or belongings
These eight precepts are religiously adhered to by the monks and disciples on Guru Purnima as a tribute to their Guru, Lord Buddha. This adherence to the eight precepts is called “Uposatha”. Since this occasion is also said to mark the beginning of the rainy season, the Buddhist monks usually stay in the same place or a monastery, meditating and offering reverences to their Guru Lord Buddha. Many Buddhist followers also refrain from luxuries and habits such as smoking, drinking, gambling or eating meat during this festival and follow a pious routine. It is also on this day that Lord Buddha is said to have given his first sermon in Sarnath in Uttar Pradesh.
However, the Hindus, follow the yogic path or tradition. According to them this day primarily marks the celebration of the first Guru or “Adi Guru” Lord Shiva. But, no matter what the connotation of this day, among the Hindus and Buddhists, the core ideology remains the same. Guru Purnima is the celebration of the “Guru-Shishya” tradition prevalent in the human society, since times way before we could imagine.
Lord Shiva or “Adi Guru”
Guru Purnima as mentioned before marks the day Lord Shiva became the first Guru or “Adi Guru”. On closer inspection it is mentioned that Lord Shiva appeared on the upper regions of the Himalayas, some fifteen thousand years ago. There, a large number of people gathered to see this extraordinary presence. Lord Shiva, is not said to have exhibited any signs of life in his incarnation here, but only tears of ecstasy streaming down his eyes, intermittently.
The people stood in awe, but gradually the crowd started getting thinner, eventually leaving only seven men behind. These seven men, awestruck and enchanted, wanted to know, what joy this immense being felt? And what caused him this state of calm and enlightenment? It is said, that on being asked for his guidance in attaining enlightenment, Lord Shiva gradually opened his eyes and gave them the preparatory lessons and closed his eyes.
These seven individuals eager to attain the knowledge and wisdom of this mystical being practised the initial words of wisdom and stayed there, waiting to learn more from the Lord. They stayed there for years and decades until after eighty four years of “Sadhana” or deep meditation and perseverance, Lord Shiva, finally gave into their persuasion and offered his teachings. The seven yogis, as they came to be known later, inculcated Shiva’s teachings and hence they proved that, with “Guru” a human being could evolve mentally, physically and spiritually.
It was on this full moon day, that the first Guru or Lord Shiva decided to turn mere mortals into the “Saptarishi” and it is also on a full moon night when we celebrate Guru Purnima, in reverence of the “Adi Guru” or the first teacher- Lord Shiva. To put this lore into perspective, these “Saptarishis” became the seven foundation stones of yoga which is still prevalent and widely practised today.
Although the yogic practice of celebrating Guru Purnima is quite the tale of a bygone era , saints, monks and ascetics offer their prayers, gratitude and respect to their Guru or teacher, still to this day. This celebration is also ingrained in the ancient “Guru-Shishya parampara” or the teacher and student traditions of the old world.
Guru Purnima among the “Sadhus”
The “sadhus” or the monks who have given up on all worldly comforts, usually celebrate this auspicious occasion for more than a month, sometimes extending up to four months. During this time, they usually stay in an isolated place, sometimes, even involving in diffusing wisdom and enlightenment to the people who are interested and gather around them.
Jainism and Guru Purnima
The Jains following this tradition of Guru Purnima mark this time as the day Mahavira made Indrabhuti Gautam his first disciple. Mahavira is said to be the twenty fourth “tirthankara”, a Sanskrit word meaning the Saviour or the spiritual teacher of the righteous path. The Jains consider a “tirthankara” to be, someone, who is beyond the control of life and death. Mahavira the twenty fourth “tirthankara” was also said to have attained “Kaivalya”. “Kaivalya” meaning the detachment from this World and its illusions.
In other words, breaking free from the Life and Death of a mortal being and attaining “moksha” or nirvana. It is after attaining, “kaivalya”, Mahavira made Indrabhuti Gautam his chief disciple, also known as “Ganadhara”. Once he was the Guru of Indrabhuti Gautam, later known as Gutam Swami, Mahavira became a “Treenok Guha” . Guru Purnima is therefore referred to as “Guha Purnima” among the Jains which they celebrate in reverence to their “Treenok Guha” or Mahavira.
Vyasa Purnima as celebrated in Nepal
Guru Purnima is widely celebrated in India, Bhutan and Nepal, especially among the Jains, Hindus and Buddhists. In Nepal, this day is celebrated as teacher’s day. It is usually observed along the lines of a normal teacher’s day celebration. The students garland their teachers, showering them with much fanfare and gifts. Among the citizens of Nepal, Guru Purnima marks an important day where they take the opportunity to thank their teachers and express their gratitude and reverence, in the form of accolades, gifts and verbal appreciation.
Indian students and the importance of this festival
Among the Indian academics, regardless of their fields of expertise or their religion, this day is observed by organizing programmes aimed at expressing gratitude for their teachers, past and present. Students organize musical programmes, recitation of poems and offer their teachers, gifts, as a token of appreciation for their teachers or “gurus”. Guru Purnima, thus is a day for the students to make their teachers feel special and loved. Not just the teachers, children usually give gifts to their parents or spend quality time with them. Hence we can say that this day is observed as an occasion of respect and appreciation not just for our teachers and “gurus”, but also for our parents, from whom a child imbibes, numerous essential characteristics in life.
Guru Purnima according to the Yogic Tradition
Unlike many of the festivals and occasions, where a devotee or disciple prays and offers his services expecting some monetary or health gains, Guru Purnima is celebrated only as a token of reverence and gratitude, to ones teachers or “gurus” without expecting anything in return.
According to the yogic tradition in Hinduism, there are three types of Yoga, namely;
- Janana Yoga
- Bhakti Yoga; and
- Karma Yoga
These three paths are considered the corner stone for the spiritual liberation of a being, in other words the freedom of the human spirit from the cycle of life and death. “Janana Yoga” basically implies the path of knowledge for an individual, whereas, “Bhakti Yoga” refers to the devotion or love of an individual towards their Gods or Goddesses. Lastly “Karma Yoga” is the commitment of doing good deeds without expecting anything in return and it is this yoga or virtue that Guru Purnima is solely based upon. The act of showing gratitude to ones “Guru” without asking or praying for anything in return.
“Guru Brahma, Guru Vishnu, Guru Devo Maheshwara, Guru Sakshat Para Brahma, Tasmai Shree Guru Dev Namaha” . A “mantra” most commonly chanted on this occasion aptly sums up this day. In this, the first line “Guru Brahma” implying that Guru is the sole creator. As in Hindu mythology, Lord Brahma, the oldest of the three siblings, is considered the creator of the world.
“Guru Vishnu” means that Guru or the teacher is the preserver and protector, like Lord Vishnu. “Guru Devo Maheshwara” referring to Guru as “Maheshwara” commonly known as Lord Shiva and like him, Guru is also seen as the destroyer.
Finally Guru is seen as “Para Brahma”. “Para Brahma” according to the Hindus is considered to be the supreme being and Guru in this context, is said to be the Supreme Being, Himself.
“Tasmai Shree Guru Dev Namaha” eventually paying our respects and tribute to the Supreme Being, Guru, who is also considered above and beyond everyone.
Long before the modern society or the civilizations before us, the “Guru-Shishya” tradition was an intrinsic part of the Hindu society. A “shishya” or the student, not just met the Guru for a few hours to get education, but, practically lived with his or her Guru for extensive periods of time, until the Guru deemed it fit for the student and erudite man or woman, ready to face the world. After all the knowledge and wisdom was imparted to the “shishya” the Guru received, “Guru Dakshina” from the student as a thanksgiving.
“Guru Dakshina” in other words, was anything that a Guru would ask his “shishya” as a token of reverence and acceptance of the fact that the education of the student was complete. There are tales, myths and folklores of students going to any extent while fulfilling this tradition of “Guru Dakshina”. It also highlights the importance of “Guru-Shishya” relationship and rightfully so. All the great men and women of our times and long before us have always credited their Guru, or people who have influenced them directly or indirectly. Hence, Guru Purnima as a tradition and celebration helps us, humbly place our respects and gratitude to these figures of knowledge and wisdom. Thereby, keeping the culture of “Guru-Shishya” alive, as well as still maintaining the bond between the “Guru” and “Shishya”.
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