“Gururbrahma gururvishnuh gururdevo maheshwarah

 

Gurursakshath parabrahma tasmai sreeguravenamah”

 

 

“I pay obeisance to the Guru who is Brahma, who is Vishnu, who is Shiva, who is the Supreme Brahman itself.”

 

 

The full moon day of the Ashadha month in the Hindu calendar is dedicated to the Guru and is celebrated as ‘Guru Poornima’. This year it falls on July 25th. This day is also known as ‘Vyasa Poornima’ as it is the birthday of Guru Vedavyasa, who divided the scriptures into the 4 Vedas – Rik, Sama, Yajur and Atharva. He also wrote the 18 Puranas, the Mahabharata and the Srimad Bhagavata. Vedavyasa is considered as the Adi Guru.

 

 

Since times immemorial the ‘Guru’ or teacher has occupied a prominent place in India. The Guru is considered greater than God Himself as he is the person who makes it possible for one to realise God. That is why he is worshipped with great fervour.

 

 

In ancient India, the ‘Gurukul’ system of schooling was prevalent. The Guru’s house was the school and the students had to stay there till they completed their education. Even a prince who was under a guru’s tutelage had to stay with him leading a simple life.

 

 

The concept of ‘Guru-bhakti’ or ‘devotion to the guru’ comes across strongly in the Mahabharata in the episode involving Guru Dronacharya and Ekalavya, the Bhil prince. Dronacharya was the Guru of the Pandavas and the Kauravas. Arjuna, the Pandava, was his favourite student. Ekalavya had a great desire to learn archery from Dronacharya. When he went to Drona with his request, he was turned down as he belonged to a low caste.

 

 

Ekalavya did not lose heart. He had an idol of Drona made and he considered it as his guru. He trained hard in its presence and soon excelled in archery. When Arjuna indicated this development to Drona, he was perturbed. He had promised Arjuna that he would make him the best archer.

 

 

Drona however found a way out. He demanded the thumb of Ekalavya’s right hand as ‘Guru dakshina’ or the repayment due to a teacher. He knew fully well that Ekalavya could not be an ace archer without this important digit. Such was Ekalavya’s reverence for his Guru, the Guru who had not even been willing to accept him as a pupil, that he gladly cut off his right thumb then and there and offered it to Drona.

 

 

This incident underscores the prominence of a Guru in those days. Today, we would consider it foolhardiness on the part of Ekalavya to offer his finger to a Guru who clearly did not have his interests in mind.

 

 

Coming back to Guru Poornima, this day is celebrated with special poojas to the Guru, singing of devotional songs or bhajans in praise of the Guru, offerings made to the Guru, ‘pravachans’ or discourses by the Guru or the reading of the Guru’s works if he is no longer in his earthly abode. It is like a day of thanksgiving to the guru, the teacher, the preceptor.

 

 

“Ajnana Timirandhasya Jnananjana shalakaya

 

Chakshurun Meelitamyena Tasmai sreeguravenamah”

 

 

“I salute the Guru who applies the kajal of knowledge and opens the eyes of the person blinded by the darkness of ignorance.”

 

 

 

Author: Pratibha Shenoy (Basavanagudi, Bengaluru)

 

 

 

 

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