“गुरु ब्रह्मा, गुरु विष्णु, गुरु देवो महेश्वरः,
गुरु साक्षात् परब्रह्म तस्मै श्री गुरवे नमः।”
- Salutations to the Guru, who is the creator, sustainer, and destroyer; who is the very embodiment of the divine.
There are some days that don’t ask for grand celebration but rather quiet remembrance. Guru Purnima is one such day. A full moon night soaked in reverence, gratitude, and stillness - dedicated not just to the ones who taught us from books, but to those who touched our lives with wisdom, presence, and patience.
In Indian tradition, the word “Guru” doesn’t simply mean “teacher”. It’s formed from Gu, meaning darkness, and Ru, meaning remover. A Guru is one who dispels darkness...not just of ignorance, but of confusion, fear, and self-doubt. On Guru Purnima, we honour this guiding force - be it in human form, in experiences, or even in silence.
From time immemorial, India has nurtured the Guru-Shishya Parampara - a tradition where knowledge wasn’t just passed down, but lived, experienced, and absorbed through devotion and discipline.
Think of Krishna and Arjuna on the battlefield of Kurukshetra...teacher and student amidst chaos, where spiritual wisdom was offered not in a temple but in the heart of duty and dilemma. Or Dronacharya, who trained the Pandavas and Kauravas in archery, yet found his most loyal disciple in Eklavya, a tribal boy who carved a statue of his Guru and practiced in solitude, with unmatched dedication.
We remember Valmiki, who was transformed from a bandit into a sage through the guidance of Narad. Swami Vivekananda, who found his life’s purpose at the feet of Sri Ramakrishna Paramhansa, becoming a spiritual torchbearer across continents. Chanakya, the political mastermind, who moulded Chandragupta Maurya into one of India’s greatest emperors. These stories are not just of knowledge...but of surrender, transformation, and deep human connection.
But Guru Purnima isn't only about myth or history. It lives in everyday moments.
It’s in that school teacher who stayed back after class to explain the same problem again and again until it made sense. It’s in that elder who taught you values not through sermons, but by example. It’s in the music teacher tapping her foot in rhythm until your fingers finally found the right note. It’s in every person who lit a candle in your darkness, sometimes without even knowing it.
And sometimes, the guru isn’t a person at all. Sometimes, it’s a difficult experience, a loss, a heartbreak, or a failure. Sometimes, the silence of a sleepless night teaches more than a thousand words. Sometimes, the seeker becomes their own teacher, and the journey becomes the lesson.
On this day, many offer flowers, sweets, or simple “thank yous” to their mentors. But the most meaningful tribute is living the wisdom they shared - walking a little more mindfully, helping someone else find their way, being a source of light where you once found none.
Let this Guru Purnima be more than a ritual. Let it be a reminder...
To be grateful.
To keep learning.
To honor not just the teacher, but the teaching.
And if you’re lucky enough to be a guru to someone...even if for a fleeting moment...may you carry that role with grace, humility, and kindness. Because sometimes, one encouraging word, one quiet presence, one act of belief… can shape someone’s path forever.
May the full moon of Guru Purnima illuminate the teacher within you and around you. May we bow in gratitude - to every lesson, every mistake, and every soul who ever lit the way. 🌕
PriyaArshiSarun | Minionite
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