“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 … [Read more...]