Guru Purnima

Guru Purnima is a day to honor Veda Vyasa, who was born on this day. Veda Vyasa is a guru for Hindus for having compiled the Vedas, written Mahabharata, Bhagavad Gita and others. This day is considered the best to progress and evolve in the spiritual path with your guru. Of course, one must have a guru for that.

I was eagerly looking for a guru, teacher, guide last year. Then I just abandoned it even though I like the concept of having  a teacher.  It was getting quite complex to find someone in that role. Most of the texts that I read say that one will find a guru, when the student is ready. May be, I am still not ready. In Sanskrit, the word anatha is used to describe someone without a teacher. In common usage, anatha means orphan. Although KYM has been a guiding force, still it is an institute and not a human being. Books will continue to be my guru. The more I read, there is so much more to read and understand out there. Funny, how that works.

At any rate, I read this chant (poem?) to honor the guru by Adi Sankaracarya and got addicted to it. I learnt it myself, without a guru or teacher : ) It is an easy vedic chant in the book Mantra Mala from KYM.

Guruvastakam, composed by Adi Sankara, the great yogi and philosopher is a tribute to the teacher. According to this chant, whatever success we may have, whatever wisdom we may claim to possess, whatever discipline we may follow, it is worth nothing if we fail to acknowledge and honor our teacher. On the other hand, if a student is totally devoted to his or her teacher, then no force including god can harm the student in any way.

One’s vesture may be superb, one’s consort likewise, one’s reputation resplendent and renowned, and one’s riches like unto Mount Meru; but if one’s mind be not centered upon the lotus feet of the Guru, what then, what then, what then?

Here’s the complete meaning of the chant.

Here’s another beautiful chant, Sri Guru Paduka Strotram. It is not a vedic chant and is set to music.

Respond | Trackback |