VYASA PURNIMA--ITS SIGNIFICANCE

VYASA PURNIMA-- ITS SIGNIFICANCE

The full moon day in the month of Ashada in the Indian calendar is  called Vyasa PURNIMA-- or GURU PURNIMA-- dedicated to the greatest of all the gurus that lived on earth! The word Vyasa means ‘ compiler’.  He codified the four Vedas, composed eighteen Puranas, wrote the great Mahabharata, Srimad Bhagavata and the Brahma Sutras to establish Santana Dharma. But for him we would have lost these great writings including the Bhagavad-Gita which forms a part of the Mahabharatha.These compositions are the bedrock of Indian culture and civilization.The Upanishads, Brahmasutra and the Bhagavad-Gita are called the “ prasthana thraya” which form the standard for criticism! No argument can be accepted unless it is accepted  by any one of these great works! This day is considered very important because Vyasa started writing the Brahma Sutras from the Ekadasi of the month and completed with tremendous speed on the full moon day!

Sage Vyasa was the son of Maharshi Parasara and the father of Suka Brahmam. He is also called ‘Badarayana’ and ‘Krishna Dwaipayana’. Sage Vyasa is considered as the avatar of Lord Vishnu.” Vyasaya Vishnu rupaya Vyasa rupaya Vishnave”. “ He is Brahma without four heads, Vishnu with two hands, and Shiva without his third eye” according to a sloka in Sanskrit! Hence sage Vyasa is the most revered GURU for all humanity! On this sacred day let us remember the significance of the term guru and what it stands for. The letter  'gu’ stands for darkness and ‘ ru’ for that which arrests it. So Guru is one who dispels darkness, the darkness of ajnana or ignorance from the mind of his disciple. A form of Lord Shiva -Dakshina Murthy is considered as the greatest among the Divine gurus. Seated underneath the banyan tree, and facing south he taught the greatest of the sages, Sanaka, Sanandana, sanatkumara and Sanatsujatha the very quintessence of Brahmavidya through silence! With his chin mudra he revealed the nature of Parabrahma to these oldest sages! “ Chitram vata tharormule vruddhas shishya gururyuva gurosthumouna vyakhyanam sishyas thu chinna samsaya”.

Today there are too many gurus and there is confusion regarding which guru one should follow! Ancient gurus were compendiums of knowledge and lived a simple unostentatious life educating their disciples. Gurus are also called “ acharyas”. Guru should practise the tenets that he preaches to his students.’ acharati iti acharyaha’ He should set an example to others lest he fails to impact society around him. He should be a realized soul, one who has the real knowledge of the Brahman for how can he impart that knowledge to his students? He must be kind and compassionate to his students because they may be found wanting in many things. The most important quality of the guru should be his aversion for earning money! India has the distinction of having a lineage of illustrious gurus like Yagnavalkya, Viswamitra, and Parasurama who were all realised souls! The  teachings of the Guru not only changed the life of the student but had its effect on society! Some of the great sages were not  only gurus but advisors to great kings and emperors. Sage Vasishta was a mentor for King Dasaratha of the Ramayana! King Janaka,had for his guru the renowned sage Yagnavalkya. Guru is said to be the incarnation of the trinity Brahma,Vishnu,and Maheswara. That is because he creates and inspires his disciple first, helps him to maintain that inspiration and finally destroy his ignorance or ajnana!

The contribution of the three great acharyas Sankara, Ramanuja and Madhwa in the South can never be underestimated.They were the pillars on which our Sanatana Dharma stood and spread.They resuscitated the sinking dharma from the attack of Buddhism and Jainism and established faith in the Sastras and God! Sankara established the six types of worship for different sections of society and composed several hymns in praise of different Gods. He established the Advaita school of philosophy. Ramanuja publicly taught the Narayana mantra to all people for their salvation and started the Visishtadvaita school of philosophy. Madhwa brought in his own Dwaita school of thought! Each had its own distinctive features. In other words, the teachings of these gurus and a few more, had far reaching influence on the society of the day and the religious practices in vogue. The North too had its famous gurus like Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and Sri Ramakrishna and others. They exercised a profound influence on the society at that time and continue to do the same even now.

We find the influence of Sadgurus like  Shirdi Baba and Sri Satya Sai Baba in the present day society. The latter is considered as the reincarnation of Shirdi Baba and has brought a silent revolution in society. His life has been his message. He radiated pure love all over the world and it's people and they to responded equally. He built schools, colleges, universities, fostered the Vedas and Sanatana Dharma and changed the lives of thousands  for the better! The service organization he started has encompassed the entire world irrespective of caste, creed, community and religion. His Super Speciality Hospital provides free medical aid and role model to all. His university is a pioneer in providing free education! His spiritual discourses have dispelled the of ignorance  of many a man! What more can be granted by a compassionate Sadguru? Let us remember them and lead a contented and peaceful life!