Vageesh Express

July 2006 Edition

Reader Article

Significance of the Month of July in Hindu Calendar

The day of full moon - Purnima, in the month of July - Ashadh is traditionally celebrated as Guru Purnima/Ashada Purnima by Hindus

The day of full moon, Purnima, in the month of Ashadh is traditionally celebrated as Guru Purnima by Hindus and it falls on 21^st July (Thursday or Guruvar). Also known as Vyas Purnima, the day is celebrated in remembrance and veneration to sage Veda Vyasa. He is the Aadi (original) Guru of the Hindu Dharma. Sri Vyasa, one of the Chiranjeevis, who is also an incarnation of Lord Vishnu, wrote his unique Brahma Sutras or Vedanta Sutras, and Mahabharata. Hindus attach paramount importance to spiritual gurus. Gurus are often equated with God and always regarded as a link between the individual and the Immortal. Just as the moon shines by reflecting the light of the sun, and glorifies it, all disciples can dazzle like the moon by gaining from their Gurus. Hindus are indebted to this ancient saint who edited the four Vedas, wrote the eighteen Puranas, the Mahabharata and the Srimad Bhagavata. Vyasa even taught Dattatreya, who is regarded as the Guru of Gurus. On this day, the Guru is offered Puja (worship) by the disciples.

The Need of a Guru

Hindus glorify Guru by chanting this famous verse,

Gurur brahma Gurur vishnu Gurur devo Maheshwaraha |
Guruhu sakshaaat Param brahman tasmai Shri gurave namaha ||

The Sanskrit root “Gu” means darkness or ignorance. "Ru" denotes the remover of that darkness. Therefore one who removes darkness of our ignorance is a Guru. Only he who removes our ultimate darkness, known as Maya, and who inspires and guides us on to the path of God-realization is the true Guru. Students also refer to their teacher or professor as Guru. The connotation of the word ‘Guru’ is in this case is the one who imparts temporal knowledge (Apara Vidhya). On the other hand, a spiritual aspirant, no matter how brilliant, can never attain spiritual knowledge by his own endeavor. For this, he needs the guidance of a Guru or Satpurush, who guides the aspirant on the spiritual path. This is stipulated in the Shrimad Bhagvata in which Jadbharat reveals to king Rahugan:

"O Rahugan! One cannot attain knowledge of Atma and Paramatma by performing penance, sacrifices, renunciation, Vedic study or worshipping deities of water, fire or the sun. But when the dust from the feet of a satpurush (God-realized Guru) sprinkles on our heads, then we can surely attain this knowledge."

In essence, one can only attain salvation by serving the satpurush. Treading the path to God-realization by one's own efforts is likened by the Katha Upanishad as walking on a razor's edge.

Aadi Shankara echoes a similar viewpoint:

"If a person, despite possessing a handsome, disease-free body, fame, a mountain of wealth, and even if he has studied the Vedas and all other scriptures, and has himself composed many scriptures, but has not surrendered himself at the feet of a Guru, then he has achieved nothing, nothing, nothing, nothing."

The Significance of Guru Purnima

On this Guru Purnima day, all spiritual aspirants and devotees worship Vyasa, or their spiritual Guru in honor of their divine personage. It is said that - The aspirant should offer equal and intensely loving service to God and His sadhu. Then, despite being the lowest type of devotee who is destined to become a great-devotee after either two births or four births or ten births or even a hundred births, he can become a great devotee in this birth. Such is the fruit of serving God and His sadhu equally. The Guru plays a vital role in boosting the aspirant frequently, when he loses track, becomes despondent or simply runs out of steam. The aspirant is thus better able to obey the Guru if he understands the Guru's glory.

This day is of deep significance to the farmers, for it heralds the setting in of the much-needed rains, as the advent of cool showers usher in fresh life in the fields. It is a good time to begin your spiritual lessons. Traditionally, spiritual seekers commence to intensify their spiritual 'sadhana' from this day. The period 'Chaturmas' ("four months") begins from this day. In the past, wandering spiritual masters and their disciples used to settle down at a place to study and discourse on the Brahma Sutras composed by Vyasa, and engage themselves in Vedantic discussions.

The great Swami Vivekananda asks “Do you realize now the sacred significance and the supreme importance of the Guru's role in the evolution of man?”

It was not without reason that the India of the past carefully tended and kept alive the lamp of Guru-Tattva. It is therefore not without reason that India, year after year, age after age, commemorates anew this ancient concept of the Guru, adores it and pays homage to it again and again, and thereby re-affirms its belief and allegiance to it. For, the true Indian knows that the Guru is the only guarantee for the individual to transcend the bondage of sorrow and death, and experience the Consciousness of the Reality.

The Guru’s Message: What to observe on this day

The great Swami Sivananda advice: "Wake up at Brahmamuhurta (at 4 a.m.) on this most holy day. Meditate on the lotus feet of your Guru. Mentally pray to him for his Grace, through which alone you can attain Self-realization. Do vigorous Japa and meditate in the early morning hours. After bath, worship the lotus feet of your Guru, or his image or picture with flowers, fruits, incense and camphor. Fast or take only milk and fruits the whole day and practice rigorous Dhyana. Worship your Guru and feed the Mahatmas, Sadhus and the poor. In the afternoon, sit with other devotees of your Guru and discuss with them the glories and teachings of your Guru. Alternatively, you may observe the vow of silence and study the books or writings of your Guru, or mentally reflect upon his teachings. Take fresh resolves on this holy day, to tread the spiritual path in accordance with the precepts of your Guru. At night, assemble again with other devotees, and sing the Names of the Lord and the glories of your Guru. The best form of worship of the Guru is to follow his teachings, to shine as the very embodiment of his teachings, and to propagate his glory and his message."

You will be highly benefited on this day by Guru or Isvara Himself. Guru is your real father, mother, friend, guide and savior. The Grace of the Guru is indispensable for the spiritual progress of the aspirants. The Sruti says, “To that high-souled aspirant whose devotion to the Lord is great and whose devotion to his Guru is as great as that to the Lord, these secrets explained become illuminated.” Brahman or the Supreme Self alone is real. He is the Soul of all. He is All in all. He is the Essence of this universe. He is the Unity that never admits of a duality under all the varieties and diversities of nature. Thou art this Immortal, All-pervading, All-blissful Brahman. Thou art That. Realize this and be free - Tat Tvam Asi.

Therefore on the day of Guru Purnima, disciples introspect, and resolve to offer Puja and reverence to the Guru in mind, action and speech; implicitly obey his unvoiced wishes, commands, serving him as one would God and lauding his glory and redemptive attributes.

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