गुकारस्त्वन्धकारस्तु रुकार स्तेज उच्यते ।
अन्धकार निरोधत्वात् गुरुरित्यभिधीयते ॥
In Hindu culture, a ‘Guru’ is the person who is considered as the destroyer of darkness which engulfs every human being in the form of ‘avidya’. Avidya doesn’t mean complete lack of knowledge rather it means – a lack of right knowledge. And Guru is that one person who removes ignorance and steers us towards the path of right knowledge and wisdom. The word Guru is a combination of two words, ‘Gu’ means “darkness” and ‘Ru’ means “remover or destroyer”. Guru Purnima falls on the full moon day in the month of Asadha. And this day is dedicated to expressing gratitude and celebrating the presence of the Guru in our lives.
Guru Purnima is also known as ‘Vyas Purnima’ since it marks the birth anniversary of Maharishi Ved Vyas, who gave us the repository of knowledge by compiling the Vedas. He also authored the Puranas, Brahma Sutras and the great epic, Mahabharata. And it is through the teachings in these scriptures he showed the path which leads to enlightenment, a path if followed can help one break the never-ending cycle of birth and death and attain ‘moksha’ or salvation.
It is also believed that it was on this day when Lord Shiva also known as ‘Adiyogi’ transformed into the first guru or ‘Adiguru’ around 15000 years ago. It was for the first time that he imparted knowledge to the ‘Saptarishis’ or the seven disciples.
In Hindu culture, Guru has been given the highest place in the shastras. There are many couplets and shlokas which describe Guru in different ways.
15th -century poet Kabir in his couplet described the place of Guru next to Govind (God himself).
गुरु गोविन्द दोऊ खड़े, काके लागू पाय ।
बलिहारी गुरु आपने, गोविन्द दियो बताय ॥
There is another shloka from the Skanda Purana, which beautifully describes the grace of Guru in a dialogue between Lord Shiva and Uma (Shakti).
ध्यानमूलं गुरुर्मूर्तिः पूजामूलं गुरुर्पदम् ।
मन्त्रमूलं गुरुर्वाक्यं मोक्षमूलं गुरूर्कृपा ॥
‘The Root of Meditation is the form of the Guru. The Root of Worship is the feet of the Guru. The Root of Mantra is the word of the Guru. The Root of Liberation is the Grace of the Guru.’
गुरूर्ब्रह्मा गुरूर्विष्णुःगुरूर्देवो महेश्वरः ।
गुरूर्साक्षात परब्रह्म तस्मै श्री गुरवे नमः ॥
‘Guru is the Creator (Brahma), Guru is the Preserver (Vishnu), Guru Deva is the Destroyer (Maheshwara). Guru is the absolute (Singular) Lord himself, Salutations to that Shri Guru.’
Guru Purnima is a day to worship the Guru, celebrate the presence of the Guru in our lives and express gratitude. On this day, disciples pay homage to their Guru by offering them fruits, flowers, and other gifts. ‘Satsangs’ are organised at various places. ‘Shishyas’ (disciples) seek blessings from their Gurus as it is believed that a guru’s blessing is rare.
The festival of Guru Purnima is also celebrated in different parts of India by the Buddhist and Jain communities. Buddhist dedicate this day to Lord Buddha as it is believed that on this day, Buddha delivered his first sermon at Sarnath after attaining enlightenment. In Jainism, it is believed that Lord Mahavira found his first disciple on this day.
It won’t be wrong in saying that the journey of human life is incomplete without the presence of a Guru who helps in changing one’s perspective, showing the right path, teaching what is right and wrong and taking the person from darkness to light, from sorrow to ultimate joy.
Pranam to every Guru – without whom our lives would be directionless.
