Full moon day of Aashada month is celebrated as Guru Poornima in India. It is equivalent to the Teachers Day. Guru is someone who removes the darkness of ignorance and leads us to the light of knowledge. On the day of Guru Poornima, we pay respect to our Gurus. Two major reasons for celebrating Guru Poornima on this day
It was on this day the great Maharishi Veda Vyasa was born. He gave us the 4 Vedas and the epic Mahabharata along with various other Puranas. These scriptures pave way for a righteous life and hence Maharishi is considered as our First Guru
Gautam Buddha gave his first sermon to his first five disciples. Followers of Buddhism consider this day to remember and thank their Guru Lord Buddha
For most of us, our parents would be the first guru who would initiate us into a spiritual world by making us chant Nama & teaching us shlokas. We usually consider those who impart education as teachers and those who lead us in spiritual path as Gurus.
Do we really need a Guru? How can we search for a Guru? When I can learn shlokas and meaning from recordings, why do I need a Guru? How do I find the right Guru?
These are some of the questions which passes through most of our minds at some point of time. The current generation voices these questions loud and seek logical explanation.
Each of us have a different personality and our materialistic needs are very different. Even if it is taste of food or likeness of color it varies from person to person. It would never be same even for siblings / friends / family. Similarly the spiritual needs of each person is very different. The Guru and his teachings would clear our doubts when heard with full devotion and dedication. We need not go in search of Guru, They would come to us. Listening to the meaning of a shloka from Guru would touch each person in a different way. Thus a Guru can impart knowledge to meet each individuals special spiritual needs. This is an experience and would be felt by each one differently.
As per Bhagavatham, the world itself is a Guru and we should learn from everything around us. Ekadasha skandam talks about twenty-four Gurus from nature "many are my preceptors," Siddha told King Yadu, "selected by my keen sense, from whom acquiring wisdom freely, I wander in the world…. The earth, air/breeze, sky, fire, the sun, pigeon, python, sea, moth, elephant, ant, fish, Pingala the courtesan, arrow-maker, infant/playful boy, the moon, honeybee, deer, bird of prey, maiden, serpent, spider, caterpillar and water are my twenty four preceptors”.
“Guru Ashtakam”, Composed by Adi Shankaracharya, beautifully exemplifies the necessity of a Guru, imploring the spiritual seeker to bow down to the Lotus Feet of the Guru. Lyrics is available in our website under Deity Shlokas -> Guru-> Guru Ashtakam. Please listen to the audio rendered by the 10yr old Sarang. Click here
Lets bow to our Gurus - Each Day Every Day !!
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