Guru Poornima is a day of profound spiritual significance dedicated to honouring our spiritual teacher, Guru. As guiding light, the Guru imparts wisdom, dispels ignorance, and leads the disciples on the path to enlightenment. The Soul's innate nature is to seek knowledge, as it is a tiny ansh (part) of the Supreme Being, called Sat-Chit-Anand (Existence, Consciousness, and Bliss). Being a part of Satchitanand Brahman, the Soul always seeks eternal knowledge, consciousness, and bliss but does not know how to attain it. In such a case, the Vedas suggest that a seeker of Sat-Chit-Anand Brahman should first find a Guru.
The importance of a Guru is emphasised throughout the scriptures. The Chandogya Upanishad declares,
आचार्यवान् पुरुषो वेदः।
āchāryavān puruṣho veda
Meaning: "Only through a Guru can you understand the Vedas."
Shreemad Bhagavatam says,
तस्माद् गुरुं प्रपद्येत जिज्ञासु: श्रेय उत्तमम् ।
शाब्दे परे च निष्णातं ब्रह्मण्युपशमाश्रयम् ॥
tasmād guruṁ prapadyeta jijñāsuḥ śreya uttamam
śābde pare ca niṣṇātaṁ brahmaṇy upaśamāśrayam
(Bhagavat 11-3-21)
Meaning: "Therefore, one who desires the ultimate good should surrender to a guru well-versed in the Vedic knowledge and the knowledge of the Supreme and who has taken shelter of the Absolute Truth."
In Bhagavad Gita, Shree Krishna tells Arjun,
तद्विद्धि प्रणिपातेन परिप्रश्नेन सेवया |
उपदेक्ष्यन्ति ते ज्ञानं ज्ञानिनस्तत्त्वदर्शिन: ||
tad viddhi praṇipātena paripraśhnena sevayā
upadekṣhyanti te jñānaṁ jñāninas tattva-darśhinaḥ
(Gita 4.34)
Meaning: "Learn the Truth by approaching a spiritual master. Inquire from him with reverence and render service unto him. Such an enlightened Saint can impart knowledge unto you because he has seen the Truth."
Thus, the Guru plays a pivotal role in a soul's journey. As the Bhagavatam states:.
नैषां मतिस्तावदुरुक्रमाघ्रिं स्पृशत्यनर्थापगमो यदर्थः।
महीयसां पादरजोऽभिषेकं निष्किश्चचनानां न वृणीत यावत् ।।
naiṣhāṁ matis tāvad urukramāṅghriṁ spṛiśhatyanarthāpagamo yadarthaḥ
mahīyasāṁ pāda rajo ’bhiṣhekaṁ niṣhkiñchanānāṁ na vṛiṇīta yāvat
(Bhagavat 7-5-32)
Meaning: We cannot touch the feet of the Supreme God, which removes all miseries until we bathe in the dust of the lotus feet of a Saint free from material desires.
Throughout the history, Saints have also emphasised the need for a Guru. Jagadguru Shankaracharya states,
यावत् गुरुर्न कर्तव्यो तावन्मुक्तिर्न लभ्यते।
yāvat gururna kartavyo tāvanmuktirna labhyate
Meaning: "Until you surrender to a Guru, you cannot be liberated."
Tulasidasji says,
बिनु गुर होइ कि ग्यान, ग्यान कि होइ बिराग बिनु।
गावहिं बेद पुरान, सुख कि लहिअ हरि भगति बिनु॥
bina guru hoi ki gyaan, gyaan ki hoi biraag bina
gāvahin ved purān, sukh ki lahe Hari bhakti bina
Meaning: "Without a Guru, there is no knowledge; without knowledge, there is no renunciation. Chanting the Vedas and Puranas, one cannot attain happiness without devotion to Shree Hari."
The Glory of Guru: Teachings from Kabir, Ramayan, and Shree Kripaluji Maharaj
From the Vedas and Upanishads to Ramayan, and saints and sages of all ages sing the glory and importance of Guru. Saint Kabir says,
गुरू गोविन्द दोऊ खड़े, काके लागूं पांय।
बलिहारी गुरू अपने गोविन्द दियो बताय।।
Guru Govind dou khade, kake lāgū̃ pā̃y।
balihārī Guru apne Govind diyo batāy।।
Meaning: "Guru and Govind both stand before me; whose feet should I touch first? I am grateful to my Guru, for he has shown me Govind."
Jagadguru Shree Kripaluji Maharaj writes,
हरि कृपा गुरु मिले, गोविंदा राधे।
गुरु कृपा हरि मिले, सबको बता दे।।
Hari kṛpā guru mile, Govindā Rādhe।
Guru kṛpā Hari mile, sabko batā de।।
Meaning: It is by the grace of God that one meets a genuine Guru, and it is by the grace of that Guru that one meets God. Explain this spiritual Truth to everyone.
In the Sundar Kand of the Ramcharitmanas, there is a profoundly beautiful line by Vibhishanji, who, though a rakshasa(demon) by birth, is a devotee of Shree Ram. Despite his devotion, Vibhishanji is initially uncertain whether he will receive Shree Ram's grace. However, when Hanumanji, the greatest devotee of Shree Ram and a very learned and wise figure, arrives in Lanka in search of Mata Sita and reaches Vibhishan's residence, Vibhishan becomes convinced that Shree Ram has sent Hanumanji to guide him. By Hanumanji's grace, Vibhishan meets Shree Ramji, and it becomes evident that Shree Ramji, in His divine grace, has made it possible for Vibhishanji to meet his Guru, Hanumanji. Vibhishanji then expresses his realisation with the following verse:
अब मोहि भा भरोस हनुमंता,
बिनु हरि कृपा मिलहि नहि संता।
ab mohi bhā bharosa Hanumantā,
binu Hari kṛpā milahi nahi santā.
Meaning: "But O Hanuman! Now I am convinced that Shree Ramji's grace is upon me because, without Hari's grace, one does not meet a saint."
The Soul's ultimate goal is the attainment of unlimited and everlasting bliss. This can be obtained only by attaining God's Divine Love and eternal service. God's Divine Love can be attained only by His grace. One can attract God's grace by surrendering oneself completely to God's lotus feet. Complete surrender happens upon complete purification of the heart (mind). Purification of the heart is only possible through devotional practice under the guidance of a Guru.
Shree Kripaluji Maharaj, beautifully explains the chronology in his 'Gyatavya, Gyan Tattva'. He says,
सकल दुख का मूल है इक हरि विमुखता प्यारे।
हरिहिं सन्मुखता है याकी एक औषधि प्यारे।
sakala dukha kā mūla hai ika Hari vimukhātā pyāre।
harihiṃ sanmukhatā hai yākī eka auṣadhi pyāre।
First, he explains that the root of the soul's suffering is the separation from Hari (God). Thus, facing Hari is the only remedy. Now, how can a soul face Hari? He says,
प्रथम श्रद्धा युक्त गुरु की शरण जाइय प्यारे।
गुरु ते समुझिय श्याम सों संबंध अपनो प्यारे।
गुरु ते समुझिय मिलन की साधना भी प्यारे।
pratham śraddhā yukta guru kī śaraṇa jāīya pyāre।
Guru te samujhīya Śyāma soṃ sambandha apno pyāre।
Guru te samujhīya milana kī sādhānā bhī pyāre।
Here, Kripaluji Maharaj emphasises the importance of taking refuge in a Guru. The Guru will help the devotee understand their relationship with Shyam(God) and teach them the practice required to attain spiritual union with Him.
Kripaluji Maharaj in his bhajan 'Hari Guru Hai Samaan' says,
जीव को तो दे प्रथम, गुरु ही तत्वज्ञान।
गुरु साधना करावे, करे दिव्य प्रेमदान।
Jīva ko to de prathama, guru hī tattvajñāna।
Guru sādhānā karāve, kare divya premadāna।
Meaning: First, the Guru imparts the essence of spiritual knowledge to the soul. Then, the Guru guides the soul in spiritual practice, and finally, he bestows the soul with the Divine Love of Radha Krishna.
Such is the importance of the Guru that neither one can count his graces nor thank him enough. Shree Kripaluji Maharaj has aptly expressed the sentiment of a devotee here,
गुरु ने जो दिया ज्ञान गोविंद राधे। कोटि प्राण दान भी ना उऋण करा दे॥
guru ne jo diyā gyān Govind Rādhe, koṭi prāṇ dān bhī nā uṛiṇ karā de
Meaning: The Guru has bestowed upon us divine wisdom, indebting us so profoundly that even by sacrificing countless lives at his lotus feet, we could never fully repay this debt.
Celebrating Guru Poornima: A Day of Gratitude and Devotion
Guru Poornima provides an occasion, a sacred chance to pour our heartfelt gratitude. It is a day when tears of joy and humility flow freely as we reflect on the Guru's immeasurable blessings and guidance illuminating our lives. We humbly acknowledge the Guru's unconditional love and selfless dedication to our spiritual upliftment through our seva and sadhana. Guru Poornima is a reminder of the Guru's presence in every aspect of our journey, guiding us towards our ultimate goal: the selfless service of Radha and Krishna.
This sacred day is traditionally observed with various spiritual activities, including Kirtan, to honour the Guru's contribution to our spiritual Guru. Engaging in Akhand Sankirtan on Guru Poornima is a fitting tribute, as it embodies the essence of devotion and the pursuit of divine wisdom imparted by the Guru.
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