Grow in Love…The Message of Guru Poornima
he festival of Guru Poornima is one of the most significant celebrations in the Sai calendar. Over the years, Bhagavan has used this occasion for the unfurling of many landmark events of His mission, be it the opening ceremony of the first college campus of Sri Sathya Sai University in 1971, or the inauguration of the Sri Sathya Sai Water Supply Project, Stage-I in 1995, or the announcement for the establishment of Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Medical Sciences, Whitefield, in 1999, or the revelation that He is in fact the Shiva-Shakthi Avatar on earth in 1963. And on every one of these momentous days He blessed the devotees with a profound discourse.
Guru Poornima is dedicated for offering gratitude to the guru.On this day, the Moon, which is the presiding deity of the mind, is full, clear, cool and bright! It has no blemish or dullness which diminishes its glow. The guru too is pictured and praised on this occasion as unblemished, bright and affectionate. He is full of devotion with a sense of surrender to God. He is tolerant and truly peaceful. He is the living example and embodiment of the virtues he desires his disciples to develop.
The guru that initiates one into chanting a particular mantra is a Dheeksha Guru, while the guru who transforms and elevates the personality of his pupils is a Siksha Guru. It is this latter guru that is reverentially praised in thousands of ways in the holy texts. He removes the faults in vision and destroys the darkness of ignorance. He reveals the Atma to the individual and makes him free.
Sage Vyasa was born with a great urge for spiritual upliftment and he entered into deep study and sadhana (spiritual practice)even as a child. He acquired such divine wisdom and glory that he is identified with Narayana (God) Himself.
He stands out as the Lokaguru (World Teacher) for he codified the Vedic hymns and prepared the great Vedantictext ‘Brahmasutras’, besides the epic commentaries of the Veda-vedanta (teachings based on Upanisadicphilosophies), Mahabharata and the Srimad Bhagavatham.
He is called ‘Veda Vyasa’ because of his service to the students of the Vedas which defied understanding since they were countless and fathomless. It is for this reason it is said Anantho vai Vedah – The Vedas are limitless.
Vyasa helped mankind to earn peace. Therefore, Vyasa refers to the person who has elaborated and expanded the knowledge of truth, that is to say, the universal eternal energy.
