Guru Poornima: strengthening of the most sacred bond
Category :
City |
Posted Date :
15/07/2011
NAGPUR: There can be many manifestations of the guru and Ashadi Poornima is the day to recognize that form and express gratitude and respect towards it.
The Ashadi Poornima in the Hindu calendar is a significant day as it is also celebrated as Guru Poornima. And though the more popular Teacher's Day on 5th September is often considered to be a day for honouring the teacher, but Guru Poornima is important from both the spiritual and philosophical view.
Explaining the importance of the day, a Swamiji from the Ramkrishna Math who doesn't wish to be named, says, "The word Guru is a combination of darkness and light. Gu means darkness and Ru means light. The one who takes us from darkness to light is our Guru. Starting from infancy when mother is the teacher who prepares us for the social society, to the school and college where the guru takes the form of our teacher, giving us worldly education, to our acquiring a spiritual guru who helps us to cope with the pressures of life and shows us the right path, each one of us are what we are due to the presence of a guru."
The Ramkrishna Math in the city celebrates the day by having number of activities like reciting the Vedas and stotrapatha. Says Swamiji of the Math, "The sharanagat or the one who takes refuge in his guru or God is always taken care of. Thus, observing this day and honouring the guru is the best kind of worship that can be done."
This day we can worship the one we consider guru tulya or equivalent of the guru. At the RSS shakhas around the city, it is the flag which is worshipped on Guru Poornima. Explains Dr. Dilip Gupta, the Mahanagar Sanghchalak, "Way back around 1927, our founder Dr Hedgewar had set up shakhas for children. Though a qualified doctor, he did not practice medicine as he had dedicated his life to the cause of social service. But to serve the society money is required. Instead of asking for money from other sources he started the practice of having an utsav on Guru Poornima day. Then he asked children to give guru dakshina. It was decided that the saffron flag, which is a symbol of tyag and samarpan would be the manifestation of a guru and the dakshina was placed under the flag. This tradition continues till date."
Guru Poornima is also a day when students of dance and music initiate their learning process. Rishabh Agarkar, a music teacher in a city college says, "Many decades ago a guru would accept a disciple on this day by tying a ganda around his wrist and then onwards the disciple would remain dedicated to his guru. But this practice is not prevalent anymore. The teachers today prefer to worship their own guru as the relationship between the learners and the learned is an eternal one." Confirms Meera Chandrashekaran, who runs a dance school in the city, "For me, Guru Poornima is a day to worship Dakshina Murthy, which is another form of the Nataraj."
On a more personal note, Guru Poornima has a strong relevance for individuals too. City based industrialist Suresh Nair who is a follower of Mata Amritanandmayi says, "This is a day to feel grateful towards our guru as a feeling of gratitude lends grace to our life. When we look at the world through the eyes of our guru, it appears more beautiful and full of joy. The guru's presence is infinite and all inclusive and his presence in our life brings fulfillment in all our relationships."
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