S2 Ep5: Guru Purnima - Worship of Guru

"Guru Brahma, Guru Vishnu, Guru Devoo Maheshwara, Guru Sakshat Parambrahma, Tasmaye Shree Guruve Namah!!!"

On the occasion of Guru Purnima, Mysticadii team wishes you all a very prosperous Guru Purnima. May this day help you with the awakening and realization of your true self.

Guru in India refers to a guide or a teacher who guides a person through the darkness and provides us with knowledge and wisdom.

A Guru-disciple relation is one of the most important relations we serve in our lives. Blessed is the man who has his Guru by his side. The day of Guru Purnima is a special day dedicated to honoring the work of our spiritual and academic Gurus. The day has been celebrated in India for thousands of years now. The day is celebrated on the first full moon day in the month of June-July, marking the onset of the rainy season as well. Now there are few stories behind this auspicious day. Let us hear a few of them.

As per Hindu tradition, Guru Purnima is also known Vyasa Purnima. It marks the birthday of the famous Hindu sage Ved Vyasa. Rishi Ved Vyasa is one the most important and celebrated contributors of Hindu scriptures and literature He is the author of several scripts like Mahabharata, Puranas, Brahma Sutras, etc. He is considered to be an incarnation of Lord Vishnu himself. He is also known as the divider of Vedas as he was the one to split Vedas into 4 different books (Sama, Yajur, Rig, Atharva). He was the one the greatest spiritual Gurus of India and thus day of Guru Purnima is also dedicated to him.

This day is also dedicated to Lord Shiva. In Hindu tradition, Shiva is considered to be the Supreme God. In Yogic culture, Shiva is also known as Adi Yogi - The first Yogi to walk on Earth. The day of Guru Purnima marks the transition of Adi Yogi into Adi Guru - the first-ever Guru of mankind. Long long ago, some 15000 years back, there came a Yogi who sprang from nowhere. No one knew his background and hence were curious to meet him. When they saw him, everyone was amazed. Adi yogi sat quietly at one place not aware that others were observing him. He kept eyes closed and tears of ecstasy kept rolling down his cheeks. Everybody was terrified to encounter this as they had never seen anything like this before. Fearing him they all left, except the 7 sages who waited for him to open his eyes.

After the long wait when Adi yogi finally opened his eyes, he saw the 7 sages looking at him. The sages requested Adi Yogi to guide them into this divine experience of feeling ecstatic just by closing one's eyes. Adi Yogi gave them some preparatory steps and asked them to follow the same. He then went back into his trance state again. The sages practiced these prescribed steps for 84 long years. When Shiva opened his eyes again, he saw the 7 sages meditating by his side. After all these years the sages had become extraordinary beings who could now be initiated into this Divine process. On the very next full moon day, Shiva decided to become their guide and Guru and hence became Adi Guru. This day is celebrated as Guru Purnima. The 7 sages came to be known as Saptarishis, who after being enlightened by Lord Shiva became the torchbearers for the rest of mankind.

This day also holds a special significance among Buddhists as it is believed that on this day the chief 5 disciples of Gautama Buddha were initiated into enlightenment by their teacher Buddha himself.

The day of Guru Purnima also marks the onset of the rainy season. It has been an age-old practice for the saints of this country to travel barefooted across the country and spread their wisdom across. However, during the season of rains, it becomes very difficult to walk barefooted especially trekking on the hills. Hence during these months , the monks reside in secluded locations and dedicate these month