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Sunday, May 4 2025
GURU PURNIMA
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Date of Guru Purnima in 2025: July 7 |
Purpose:
Guru is the entity who dispels the darkness of ignorance
and illumines our lives with pure knowledge and hence
this day signifies the worship of the Guru and offering
of obeisance his feet. The full moon symbolizes the mind
filled with delight and signifies the elimination of darkness
and evil from the mind. Guru Poornima is an occasion for
cleansing the mind to make it absolutely pure.
A qualified spiritual master is essential to learn
self-realization. Bhagavad-Gita (Ch.4.34) asks one to
learn the truth through a Guru or spiritual master,
inquire from him submissively and render service unto
him. The self-realized soul imparts knowledge as he
has seen the truth. A real Guru imparts gynana (true
knowledge) and teaches how to raise one's consciousness
beyond material physical boundaries. He teaches meditation
to attain real peace of mind, true self-knowledge, eternal
happiness, liberation from karmas, develop true love
for God.
Achieving spiritual perfection by oneself through yoga
(meditation) is impractical. One must learn spiritual
practices under the guidance of a genuine spiritual
master. We repose our faith in a Guru whose feet are
roots of worship and the root of liberation. He opens
our eyes blinded by ignorance and darkness and guides
us to our goals.
How is a guru identified from the array of Gurus and
spiritual teachers? Bhagavad-Gita gives guidelines and
qualities of a genuine Guru. A true Guru has credentials
to impart true knowledge free from speculation and never
claims he is god. He knows god is supreme and we are
subordinate to him. He knows the truth and lives it,
is free from lust, anger, and greed. He exemplifies
wisdom, peacefulness, self-control, austerity, piety,
tolerance and strong faith in God.
At the time of deeksha (initiation), the Guru absorbs
the past sins and karmas of his disciplines and reveals
true spiritual knowledge. The disciple develops strong
love for the Guru who delivers him from the bondage
of birth and death. Bhagavad-Gita shows that when Arjuna
was confused about his duties, put his faith in Krishna,
regarded him as his Guru and Krishna showed him the
right path. The Guru is a man of profound intellectual
and spiritual sensitivity and compassion. The scriptures
state that initiation must be taken from a Guru
Story
relating to the festival:
While an arathi was being given to Shirdi Baba,
Baba's face became very tight as if a thousand lamps
were lighted with different colours. The surprised devotees
wanted to touch Baba's feet and prostrate before Him.
Noticing the thoughts of the devotees, He slowly walked
towards the big stone that He created in front of Dwarakamai,
while the devotees spread flowers all the way and made
Him walk on the flowers.
As soon as He reached the stone He sat on it putting
his left hand on the toe of his right leg and putting
the right hand on the thigh of his right leg. Then He
looked deeply into the eyes of each devotee, by which
the joy experienced by them was beyond description.
When they touched His feet, they felt an unknown Divine
power entering their bodies and reach their hearts.
These things have to be personally experienced and cannot
be explained. All those who experienced this, started
to celebrate Guru Poornima on every Ashada Suddha Poornima
day with pomp and gaiety. Even today Guru Poornima is
celebrated in Shirdi. This festival is very important
to Sai devotees as they worship their Guru and get the
blessings from Him. Those who worship their Guru with
devotion and sincerity on this day, will always have
the Guru with them.
Swami's message on Guru
Purnima:
Swami explains that 'Guru' has 2 parts. 'Gu' signifies
'Gunathitha', one who has transcended the three Gunas
or qualities, i.e Thamasic, Rajasic and Satwic. 'Ru'
signifies one who is 'Roopavarjitha', i.e one who has
grasped the formless aspect of God-head
How is the Festival celebrated:
The full-moon day in July is the auspicious (Poornima)
day when Guru Poornima is celebrated by worshipping
our Guru, the spiritual master, who taught us divine
love, by performing poojas performed in prostration
to him.
Jai Sai Ram
Bro Praveen
SSEHV Group 4
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