Morning I woke up and read a whatsapp message that made me realise that today is Guru Pournima, the day of ‘Gurus’ in the tradition. Nothing doing and being self server, I wished myself first. Then thought of other plans and wished everyone else.
Over the years the concept of this day is totally changed. It is now the only day when a teacher is given a bigger smile and respected with all the gratitude. This takes me to a very important question, it being ‘Who actually is a Guru..??’
Guru Pournima, according to the Nepali and Indian tradition is dedicated to spiritual and academic teachers, who are evolved or enlighten humans, ready to share their wisdom and make his student a better personality. Each and every Guru even today is embroiled in this thread, right from Guru Dronacharya to coaching class tutors today. The only difference observed is the money factor.
Guru is anyone who gives all his knowledge to the disciple, without any expectation or any returns. The best Guru is the one who observes his disciple developing and prays for his success, which indirectly becomes his ‘Guru-dakshina’. There are some pairs of such ‘Guru-Shishya’, most celebrated are Dronacharya and Arjuna, Samarth Ramdas and Shivaji Maharaj, Swami Haridas and Tansen, Chanakya and Chandragupta Maurya, etc. The category of students also actually makes a huge difference in defining a Guru, but that’s something which will need a more article.
Apart from our Gurus and spiritual Gurus there are many more persons and aspects that deserve a Guru Pournima wish. First of all you yourself. No one understand you better that you do. Your heart is the only person, whom you listen to and guru is never wrong. Then your parents, friends and relatives, who directly or indirectly teach you loads of life wanting you to develop to the highest possible extent, of course without any returns.
Lastly, it is every moment you live in, breath, act, pray. It is every experience you get which tend to teach you more than anyone can. And such teachings are unforgettable. Greet every moment and experience .
‘Happy Guru Pournima’