Guru Purnima and Yoga – Honoring your Teacher
Guru Purnima and Yoga
Have you ever honored your teacher, at the yoga class? Each one of us has learned something or the other, under a teacher or Guru. You might think, that the teacher was performing his duty, sometimes for monetary gains. However, you too, have a duty towards your teacher, don’t you? So, this Guru Purnima on the 13th of July, gather all your peers and honor your gurus. All Hindus, Buddhists, and yogis celebrate the day with aplomb.
History and Significance of Guru Purnima and Yoga
Mahatma Gandhi, who was better known as ‘Bapu’, started the celebrations in the memory of his guru, Shrimad Rajchandra. The day is also called Vyasa Purnima, as it is also the birthday of Vyasa Muni. He is the very same sage who wrote Mahabharata and also compiled the Vedas. Moreover, he is hailed as one of the most intelligent men on earth. Moreover, Rishi Veda Vyasa is considered to be one of the immortals to have walked on earth. Additionally, he is the one who segregated the four Vedas, thus the name ‘Ved Vyasa.’ This is in accordance with Hindu legends. Vyasa Purnima and Guru Purnima are the same.
You can go back in time, to the Vedic period, to unearth the significance of Guru Purnima and Yoga . According to yogic tradition, yogis celebrate the day to commemorate the knowledge which the first yogi, Lord Shiva delivered his knowledge to the seven sages on earth. The meaning of Guru in Sanskrit, is ‘one who removes the darkness of ignorance.’
This day is dedicated to all your academic and spiritual gurus. You can call it your Karma Yoga. The event takes place in the month of ‘Ashad,’ on a full moon day. According to Hindu tradition, gurus have a place, that is higher than that of gods. Anyone can give you information, but a Guru gives you knowledge. A Guru also does a lot of hard work and also sacrifices, for the betterment of his disciple.
Guru Purnima and Yoga Celebrations
Guru Purnima is the full moon day when the first yogi (Lord Shiva) became the Adi Guru.
Most people celebrate Guru Purnima, as a day when you pay your respects to the teachers in your life. In the yogic culture, the yogis see Lord Shiva as the first Adiyogi. You will be amazed to know, that yoga is not just a fitness regimen. However, it is a mechanism through which, we study the very essence or DNA of human beings. After you succeed in the ultimate journey of yoga, you can form or dismantle this structure in every aspect – be it emotional, conscious, conscious, or spiritual.
Lord Shiva brought the tools of awareness to the earth dwellers, through the Saptarishi. Today, the day has been regarded as a day, where you pay reverence to your guru. If you are a yogi, then you should pay respect to your immediate teacher and the Adiyogi. If you are a non-yogi, you should pay homage to the teachers who have provided you with knowledge, throughout your life.
Create a special place in your puja room, or create an altar. Moreover, you can choose to make offerings of chandan, deepak, dhoop, and flowers to your Guru. You can also chant the mantra, that has been handed over to you. Visualize your guru sitting in front of you. If you do not have anyone of that stature in your life or mind, you can also pray to your parents. Seek their blessings.
You can also choose to recite Guru Gita and Avadhuta Gita, which are filled with texts on the Guru Tatwa. This day has a lot of importance in the life of a spiritual seeker. So, get blessed with the power of your eternal guru. In the case of yogis, it is Adidev, Shiva.
A Guru not only helps you in your academic journey, in the modern world, but can also guide you on the right path. The Gurus are the ones who can help you choose the right career, in the modern world, too. A spiritual guru can also enhance your household life. So, celebrate this day, by paying respect to all the gurus in your life.
Quote by Sadhguru:
“Mata, Pita, Guru, Daivam”, it means that Guru comes even before god, but after parents.
