HOLY DAYS
THAT AMERICA’S HINDUS CELEBRATE
Guru Purnima
Honoring the Illumined Teachers
Hindu scriptures assert that more valuable than
gold, and far more
rare,
is a guru, a knower of spiritual truths, also called a satguru. A
guru
is the devotee’s best friend, a father and a mother, a trusted
confi
dant and a demanding mentor and guide on the path to God. The
guru
embodies all that the spiritual seeker aspires to be; in the guru, one
sees
his own infi nite potential. Hindus honor these rare leaders on Guru
Purnima,
the full moon day in June/July, the Hindu month of Ashada.
Traditional Offerings
When
visiting a guru, just as when going to a temple, devotees bring an
offering,
such as fl owers, fruits (a lime is traditional) and, for renunciate gurus,
a
piece of unstitched cloth. These items are presented in a basket or on a metal
tray.
A monetary gift, called dakshina, wrapped in a betel leaf, is often
included.
In ancient days, gurus were beration.
.
given
gold by the king and cows by the wealthy
to
sustain their schools and allow
them
to freely share wisdom.
What is Guru
Purnima?
Guru
Purnima is the annual festival which honors spiritual
teachers,
preceptors and mentors who dispel the darkness of ignorance
by
bringing forth wisdom and illumination. Pur
nima is the
Sanskrit
word for full moon.
What are the
customs
of Guru Purnima?
On
this special day all of one’s thoughts are focused on the holy
preceptor,
tuning into his mind, meditating on his teachings and
expressing
gratitude for his blessings and guidance. In ashrams,
monasteries,
halls and home shrines, Hindus gather to venerate the guru
of
their lineage. The day’s primary activity is a formal ritual, called puja,
in
which his holy feet or a pair of his sandals are honored. At the guru’s
major
centers, the puja is a grand event, preceded by a festive procession.
It
is especially auspicious to pilgrimage to the guru’s ashram or monastery on
this day
Why is the full
moon of Ashada
the day of the
guru?
In
India, this day marks the start of the fourmonth monsoon season. Traditionally,
mendicant
saints
do not wander during this inclement time, but settle in temporary camps where
devotees
gather to partake of their wisdom. The
fi rst day of learning was dedicated to honoring
the
preceptor, and it is believed this custom became established as Guru Purnima.
The
full
moon is also known as a propitious time for attaining fulfi llment,
completeness
and
spiritual advancement, and for beginning all new endeavors.
Why are the guru’s
feet the
focus of veneration?
According
to tradition, God’s presence can be most clearly and completely felt
in
the illumined satguru. To sit at his feet is to be close to God and our own
deepest
Self. All nerve currents terminate in the feet. Vital energy points
relating
to every organ of his physical and inner bodies—astral, mental and
soul—are
there. Touch the feet and we touch the spiritual master. Venerating
the
feet of the guru is also an
acknowledgement
of our deep respect and our knowledge that by following
his
footsteps we will attain spiritual perfection.
Are gurus
worshiped as God?
A
few Hindu denominations worship
their
gurus as the embodiment of God,
and
may even revere him as an avatar.
But
most Hindus see their guru as a
great
illumined soul in whom God’s
presence
is most powerfully apparent
Tidbits About the Guru
What is the guru’s
role?
It
is the guru’s task to lead aspirants to
God.
He sets souls on the spiritual path, corrects those who stray, softens
karmas,
inspires lifelong practice and, through initiations, awakens
the
seeker’s superconscious knowing. He helps us become aware of our
shortcomings
and strengths and gives us tools to overcome weaknesses
and
refi ne ourselves. The guru, knowledgeable in
Hinduism’s
scriptures, its sacred, practical and
philosophical
treatises, has the ability to help us
unlock
their esoteric meaning and gain insight as
we
study. He guides us in our meditations, helping
us
navigate the mind and ultimately transcend
it.
What is darshan?
Darshan,
literally “sight,”
is
the mystical meeting of guru and devotee.
Hindus
travel great distances to experience darshan
and
receive the blessings of a illumined soul
established
in his enlightenment. Hindus believe
that
the spiritual power, called shakti, coming
from
a great soul accelerates their spiritual evolution,
changes
patterns in their life by purifying
their
subconscious mind, renewing their spirit
and
commitment to religious life.
Are all gurus
renunciate monks?
Hindu
spiritual teachers may
be
either unmarried renunciates or householders. Many Hindu institutions
are
led by luminaries who follow the householder path. Most
gurus,
however, are celibate monks—swamis, sadhus or acharyas—who
have
renounced worldly life and received initiation into a monastic
order.
Are gurus centrally
organized?
Hinduism
is actually a multitude of faiths and lineages loosely bound
together
by common beliefs and practices. There is no
central
organization. Each guru within his or her own
sphere
of devotees is the authority on religious matters,
his
or her wisdom sought and words obeyed. Some are
heads
of institutions with large followings, while others
are
reclusive sadhus who rarely appear in public.
Om
Tat Sat
(Continued...)
(My humble salutations to Sadguru Sri Sivaya Subramuniyaswami ji, Hinduism
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