GURU POOJA (WORSHIP OF TEACHERS)

J.K. SIVAN

FULL MOON DAY IS A VERY IMPORTANT DAY IN HINDUISM. VEDHA VYASA WAS BORN ON A FULL MOON DAY IN ASHADA MONTH. HE IS THE ADHI GURU WORSHIPPED ON THE DAY OFFERING POOJA WITH DUE RESPECTS. IT IS KNOWN AS VYASA POOJA.

‘Guru’ and ‘Poornima’ have a deep meaning. Poornima means the effulgent full moon. Guru is destroyer of darkness or remover of ignorance. The veda says- "Chandro manaso Jathaka", meaning Moon is mind, so the full moon signifies the wholeness and brightness. Just as the moon shines by reflecting the light of the Sun, a true devotee can dazzle by gaining it from his Guru.

This puja is called ‘Vyasa Puja’ because Vedavyasa is the foremost preceptor.

शङ्करं शङ्कराचार्यं केशवं बादरायणम् ।

सूत्रभाष्यकृतौ वन्दे भगवन्तौ पुन: पुन: ॥

Maha Guru Veda Vyasa is not the only one worshipped on Vyasa Pooja day. Some of the Panchakas (five preceptors in each group) are also worshipped. - Krishna Panchaka (including Sri Krishna); Vyasa Panchaka (Sri Vyasa and others); Bhagavatpada Panchaka ( Sri Adisankara and others); Sanaka Panchaka; Dravida Panchaka; and Guru Panchaka, consisting of various gurus. Worship is also offered to virtually every other god and goddess. Finally, Saaligramah pooja and an omnibus worship (samashti pooja) are performed.

IT IS ABSOLUTE SURRENDER TO THE GURU. ''I am offering everything that I possess, everything that belongs to me at your lotus feet''.

Chaitanya Mahaprabhu said:

''ei ami deha samarpilama tomare

krsnapadapadmera amrtarasa pana

amare karao tumi ñ ei cahi dana'' Sri Caitanya-bhagavata (Adi-khanda 17.54ñ55)

''O Gurudeva, I have surrendered My body and everything that is Mine at your lotus feet. I shall follow your every instruction. My only wish is to receive your merciful benediction by which you kindly make Me drink the transcendental nectar of Sri Krishna's lotus feet.''

What is meant by performing this pooja is to surrender in this way selflessly at the lotus feet of Sri Guru. It is from one's pure heart.

Sri Krsna Himself is the origin of bhakti, Sri Guru is His incarnation, or manifestation. Yet He worshipped his guru Sandeepani Maharishi.Guru is not different from Bhagavan.

''yasya deve para bhaktir yatha deve tatha gurau

tasyaite kathita hy arthah prakasante mahatmanah'' - Svetasvatara Upanisad (6.23)

The true import of the scriptures (srutis) is revealed in the hearts of those great souls who have equally the same unflinching bhakti for their guru and the Supreme Lord.

We are greatly indebted to Vedha Vyasa. He presented us the Vedas, compiled Vedanta-sutra, created Puranas and gifted us the Mahabharata, besides writing Sri Bhagavat Purana(Srimad-Bhagavatam). He described the life and pastimes of Vishnu in his avathara as Sri Krishna. He narrated all of these to his son Sukadeva. Suka worshipped his father and guru Vedha Vyasa. It is the first Guru pooja. When Suka was worshipped by Suta it was the second Vyasa-puja.

If one feels proud that he has become a Guru, he is not a Guru. Guru never makes disciples, he only transforms others into guru. A real guru does not even try to become a guru. i still worship my Gurus I am blessed with right from my first day in school.

bharata-bhumite haila manusya-janma yara

janma sarthaka karií kara para-upakara Sri Caitanya-caritamrta (Adi-lila 9.41)

'' One who has taken his birth as a human being in the holy land of India (Bharata-varsa) should make his life successful and work for the benefit of all other people. In other words, he should himself perform the sadhana of suddha-bhakti by accepting the shelter of the lotus feet of Sri Guru and inspire others to do the same. This alone is the highest form of benevolence.''

Vyasa-puja is an annual offering of special honor—puja—to the spiritual teacher, who represents Krishna Himself as well as Krishna's incarnation Vyasadeva, the editor of the Vedas. Krishna recommends everyone seeking God to first seek out God's representative and respectfully accept his guidance.

Dear children your first Guru is your parent, then the Guru to be worshipped with due respects is your teacher in school and tuition classes also.

You learn from them for your welfare. You must be obedient, sincere and honest in adhereing to their instructions and be always respectful to them is the message on Guru pooja, Vyasa pooja day.

Gurur-Brahma Gurur-Vishnu Gurur-devo Mahesvarah

Guruh-saksat Param-Brahma tasmai Sri Guruve namah

i CONSIDER MYSELF QUITE FORTUNATE AND BLESSED BY MY GURUS TO BE HONOURED WITH AN INVITATION TO BE A GURU ON 19.7.2017 TO TAKE PART IN GURUPUJA, IN G.K. SHETTY HINDU VIDYALAHA MHSS PRIMARY BLOCK

THIS CURRICULAM IS DEVOTED TO TEACHING SPIRITUAL KNOWLEDGE AND DISCIPLINE TO CHILDREN IN ADDITION TO THEIR STUDIES AS PER REGULAR SCHOOL SYLLABUS PRESCRIBED,