Volume 7 : July 2007

We celebrate Guru Poornima every year during the month of July to acknowledge the important role played by our Guru (teacher) in shaping our  lives.

Guru Poornima is the full moon day in the month of 'Ashada', which is the fourth month in the Indian lunar calendar.

Another name of this auspicious festival is ‘Vyasa Poornima’, as this full moon day reflects the birth of Rishi Veda Vyasa. He wrote and categorized the Vedic information into the four Vedas (Rig, Yajur, Sama and Atharva), whereas, before it was only known in the form of sound. Also, on this day he completed the eighteen Puranas (stories of the ancient Hindu legends). 

It is believed on Guru Poornima day, the seeker who suffers from identification with the false objective world is initiated into the reality of the unseen motivator (God) within himself. God is referred as the ultimate “Guru” the one who dispels the darkness of ignorance and promotes wisdom to all. 

The meaning of "Gu" signifies a person who can transcend all Gunas or attributes and "Ru" signifies one who is beyond forms or Rupas.  One who has no guru above them is the true Guru, such as Brahma (creator), Vishnu (maintainer), and Maheswara (commander/destroyer).  As per the Bhagavad-Gita, a true guru is the one who knows God is ultimate supreme and does not claim himself as God but feels he has been chosen by God to direct people in the right path. Gurus are to practice and teach peace, self-control, tolerance, and strong faith in God, in order to be free of greed and anger, to self and others.

In conclusion, Guru Poornima is an occasion for removing negative energy and to fill minds with delight, purifying our hearts, in order to let divinity dwell. On this day, one expresses their gratitude and love to the teachers and Gurus for their precious gift of wisdom.

It is through our guru we learn self-realization, true self-knowledge, happiness, liberation of our karmas and develop true love for God by his teachings.