the festival called Guru Poornima!

Guru Poornima, a unique festival which is celebrated in Bharat(also India) to mark the reverence to the Holy Master/Guru/Teacher in One's life who has guided a person in difficult times, & has always stood by him as a beaming light showing the right path in life.

Today, I came across the etymology of word GURU, in Sanskrit, which is as follows:

                               गु शब्दस्तु अंधकारः स्यात् रु शब्दस्तन्निरोधकः ।
                               अंधकारनिरोधत्वात् गुरु इति अभिधीयते ॥

 

This verse says, that the word GU refers to the Darkness, whereas the latter means the barrier to the darkness. Thus Guru is one which obstructs the path of Darkness, and paves the way of disciple towards light and glory.

 

Some people say, why does one need a Guru in first place, when the entire knowledge is available in textbooks, scriptures and elsewhere. This situation is analogous to a situation, where the fruits are hanging from the tree, but are far off, and look like Oranges. Guru is the one, who bridges the gap and brings far flung fruits closer, making the disciple understand the difference between an orange and an apple at the same time. Had the Guru been absent from the entire picture, one would have never known the ways to reach to the hanging apples on the tree.

 

There are many Gurus in one's life starting from Childhood, where the kid learns the environment around him from his mother, father teaches him the ways to interact with the world. The teacher in the school makes the child educated, & socially presentable. This journey from childhood to adulthood, makes the child understand the nuances of the society, and when this citizen of society feels the need to understand and grown on spiritual level, the Adhyatmik Guru guides him to the path of perfection, and connects with the Almighty. In my view, knowingly/Unknowingly one is always guided by the Gurus in life.

 

Human life is like a big water body in night, which shines when the light of the Gyan/knowledge of Guru grace falls on water. Life is a reflection, of what one gets to understand under the able aura of revered teacher. As the moon wanes, which is nothing but digression of oneself from the teachings of the Holy master, the reflection stops, the glow, radiance in life goes away. Thus, being in line with the revered master, it is Disciple who gets the full benefit, while Guru sees to it that the shishya gains the knowledge & learning imparted to him.

 

Today, while attending a function of Guru Poornima, one of the six festivals celebrated of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, the broad point highlighted was the fact that the Guru, readies the disciple for the higher goal in life, & prepares him for the increasingly challenging life that lies ahead in the journey of attaining the Superior Goal. Not Only Destination(Sadhya) is of importance, but the Sadhan(efforts and journey) to achieve that  goal is equally important. Superior Objective demands superior efforts.

 

Thus, we must pay our obeisance both in spirit and action at the feet of Holy Master  who shoulders the responsibility of taking His disciple to the perfection, through a well lit path under His able guidance.

 

HAIL THE MASTER!!!

Guru Gobind douu khade, kake laguun paaay...

Balihari Guru aapne, Gobind diyo milaay...