It is a unique feature of India to honor the highest of all relationship – ‘Guru Disciple relation’. No wonder that our Guru Sri Sri Paramhansa Yogananda could not have found any other way to begin the ‘Autobiography of a Yogi’ than by expressing his obeisance to His Guru!

While the west celebrates Mother’s day, father’s day, Friendship day etc.as a mark of importance towards that particular relationship, in India Guru Purnima is celebrated to pay one’s highest tribute to the Guru.

This Guru Purnima brought special blessing by an incessant drizzle since early morning. Those of us who reached the Dakshnineswar Ashram by our cars were very sure of a thin turnout of devotees who were to brave their way through the weather not so friendly to the travelers by public transport.  We usherers mused that we would be quite ‘jobless’ as there may not be much crowd to manage. But to our surprise, as the time for Satsanga approached near, a steady stream of devotees started to pour in!  The seating areas were full to capacity!!

Swami Amaranandaji conducted the ceremony with  chantings. His soul stirring talk and his melodious voice invoked deep reverence for the Guru.  It was evedent from the spellbound attention of the devotees. The entire Ashram was enwraped in an aura of Gurudeva’s blessing laden presence !

Those working people, the housewives, the ones staying very far from the Ashram, the physically unwell devotees, through their silent presence spoke volumes about their devotion towards the Guru. Though their circumstances did not permit them to visit the Ashram regularly, the Guru held uppermost position in their hearts, in their lives!

Satsanga was followed by Prasad distribution to all present which was a sumptuous lunch thoroughly enjoyed by all devotees.

The love that radiated through all faces truly brought to pass our Gurudeva’s last message, ‘Only love can take my place!!’

Jai Guru!

The full moon day in the Hindu month of Ashad (July-August) is observed as the auspicious day of Guru Purnima, a day sacred to the memory of the great sage Vyasa. All Hindus are indebted to this ancient saint who edited the four Vedas, wrote the 18 Puranas, the Mahabharata and the Srimad Bhagavata. Vyasa even taught Dattatreya, who is regarded as the Guru of Gurus.

The spiritual Gurus are revered on this day by remembering their life and teachings.
Seekers try to get as much opportunity to do Satseva of the Guru as possible during this period. As the Guru principle is 1000 times more active during this period, when compared to any other day during this year, the satseva done on Guru Poornima fetches substantial grace of the Guru for their spiritual progress. (Ref : Sanatan Prabhat)

The relationship between the Guru and the Disciple is considered very sacred. This relationship is purely spiritual in nature and is independent of age of the two. It is based on maturity of Gyan (Spiritual Knowledge) and Sadhna (Spiritual Practice). The only awareness that a Disciple should foster is, ‘I should be uplifted spiritually’. The Guru too harbours only one thought, ‘May this Disciple be uplifted’. Relationships other than Guru-Disciple are bound by worldly restrictions wherein the ego constantly manifests itself while Gyan and other Sadhna have no value. Since these worldly relationships presuppose ego for their sustenance, such relationships are albeit false on the spiritual level. (Ref : Sanatan Prabhat)

Saint Kabir said, “Sari dharti kagad karoon, lakhen sab banari.
Saat samand ko masi karoon, par guru gun likha na jai.”

( If I were to use all the land of this earth as paper, all the waters of the ocean as ink,

all the woods of forest as pen, I will still be at a loss to write the glory of my Guru. )

Surely, he was referring to our Param Guru, Mahavtar Babaji!
And also what a befitting tribute to our Guru, Sri Sri Paramahansa Yogananda !!

Guruji said, “I seek no power, I seek nothing – for I have given all desires to Divine Mother.” Our beloved Sri Daya Mataji emulates these principles in her life. She too has sought no power to glorify herself. Although one with Divine Mother, she is carrying out Guruji’s Sri Sri Paramahansa Yogananda ji’s work so humbly. No where- at no time she has extolled herself or claimed self glory in the organization. Following her example, our all other sanyasis and sanyasinis too carry out Guruji’s work without a taint of ego. How they have kept the river of Yogoda Satsanga Society of India \ Self Realization Fellowship teachings so pure amid the times of so much pollution of ego! We proudly drink of this water and get taste of the sweet nectar coming straight from heaven. There is not one germ of contamination of manipulating divine Gurudeva Sri Sri Paramhansa Yogananda ji’s teachings.

How on this earth will we devotees find enough material to express our united gratitude? We will need yet another earth with all its land, water and forests but will still find them short!!

We are guilty of remaining indifferent of our desire for God through many incarnations, but no more – for now we are Guruji’s family – our beloved Ma’s family. On this sacred occasion of Guru Purnima, we renew our determination to contribute to the best of our ability to keep the Yogoda Satsanga Society of India \ Self Realization Fellowship river pure.