Divya's Cooking Journey: Guru Purnima

Thursday, July 14, 2011

Guru Purnima

Hindus attach paramount importance to spiritual gurus. Gurus are often equated with God and always regarded as a link between the individual and the Immortal. Just as the moon shines by reflecting the light of the sun, and glorifies it, all disciples can dazzle like the moon by gaining from their Gurus.Guru Purnima festival celebration is a Homage to the teacher or guru.

The Guru Purnima day is also known as “Vyas Purnima”.This festival comes on the full moon day in Ashadh month. This GuruPurnima day is dedicated to teachers and that’s why it is called Guru Purnima.

The guru or a teacher guides us in all conditions and gives us inspiration to walk on the right path in our life. so this is the importance of a guru or a teacher in our life.

What is Guru Purnima?

The full moon day in the Hindu month of Ashad (July-August) is observed as the auspicious day of Guru Purnima, a day sacred to the memory of the great sage Vyasa. All Hindus are indebted to this ancient saint who edited the four Vedas, wrote the 18 Puranas, the Mahabharata and the Srimad Bhagavata. Vyasa even taught Dattatreya, who is regarded as the Guru of Gurus.

Significance of Guru Purnima

On this day, all spiritual aspirants and devotees worship Vyasa in honor of his divine personage and all disciples perform a 'puja' of their respective spiritual preceptor or 'Gurudevs'.

This day is of deep significance to the farmers, for it heralds the setting in of the much-needed rains, as the advent of cool showers usher in fresh life in the fields. It is a good time to begin your spiritual lessons. Traditionally, spiritual seekers commence to intensify their spiritual 'sadhana' from this day.

The period 'Chaturmas' ("four months") begins from this day. In the past, wandering spiritual masters and their disciples used to settle down at a place to study and discourse on the Brahma Sutras composed by Vyasa, and engage themselves in Vedantic discussions.

The Role of the Guru

Swami Sivananda asks: "Do you realize now the sacred significance and the supreme importance of the Guru's role in the evolution of man? It was not without reason that the India of the past carefully tended and kept alive the lamp of Guru-Tattva. It is therefore not without reason that India, year after year, age after age, commemorates anew this ancient concept of the Guru, adores it and pays homage to it again and again, and thereby re-affirms its belief and allegiance to it. For, the true Indian knows that the Guru is the only guarantee for the individual to transcend the bondage of sorrow and death, and experience the Consciousness of the Reality".

Guru Purnima Celebration in India:

In this whole world each and every human being is thought by someone that’s we call-“Teacher”. Mother is known as first teacher of a child from his/her birth. She teach child about the social things like how to eat, how to talk and how to respect others etc. but after a comfortable age child need behavioral and cultural knowledge to grow-up in this world . For that kind of knowledge he /she need a teacher – person who shows the path of success. It is said in hindu culture that:

“Gurur Bramaah – Gurur Vishnuh – Gurur Devo Maheshwarah |

Gurur Saakshaat – Param Brahma -tasmai Shri Gurave Namah ||”

This line could be listening at any kind of holy prayer of Hindus in respect of “Guru”. In Hindu culture Guru Purnima is the festival which celebrated across the country in the memories of great santh “Maharshi Ved Vyasa “, who compiled four Holy Vedas ,wrote 18 Puranas, the mahabharat and Srimad Bhagavata.

A guru can teach anything like dance, songs, singing, lessons of study, any thing which can be learned … A guru can teach.

So guru Purnima is also famous as “Vyasa– Purnima”. Day of full moon of month Ashad (July – August) is celebrated as guru purnima.

Guru is worshipped and respected same as God. All the initiation of god over earth cant leads to historical signature on the people without Guru- Gyan . Would it be Krishna or Ram they make his lifestyle to be remembered and adopted by followers due to only the knowledge that they get from their Guru’s. Many people in real world get success by following the advice and path of their teacher or gurus.

This day is very special for sants and sadhus. It is celebrated at various Ashrams and at Shivananda on grand level in Rishikesh. Special kind of puja and worship of “Vyasa” is organized by the Devotees and Sadhak.

At traditional rural areas a get together is arranged with small dinner and cultural program (Bhajan Gayan) by local person like farmer and workers. A professional person also goes to their guru or teacher with some kind of gift. It brings more light and success in their life they think.

On this day “chaturmas”–farming season of rain is started for farmers. So they celebrate with the worship for good rain.

On this day Shiridi Sai Baba is also prayed with utmost divine everywhere.I remember well this festival celebrations are held very much at my homeplace Vijayawada by " Sai Prema Mandali" by conducting Bhajans ,Abhishekams to the Lord and Offering food to every one on this day.The whole day is full of chanting the Lord and dedicated to him.

I want to share some snaps of "Guru Purnima" Festival celebrations done at Vijayawada in the Year 2009.