Question

When did the custom of Guru purnima start?

Answer 1

UNDERSTAND THE SIGNIFICANCE OF GURU PURNIMA:: Guru means the preacher, who removes the ignorance so that we can see the truth clearly and differentiate the right from wrong. The ignorance is like darkness in which you cannot find the existence of an item and also you cannot differentiate the different items. Gayatri mantra says that the Guru is like the Sun, who removes the ignorance–darkness by knowledge-light that initiates the intelligence. The word Guru Purnima also indicates that Guru removes the darkness-ignorance like the full Moon in the night. Thus, Guru is compared to Sun and Moon, who remove the darkness-ignorance. There is difference between Guru and Satguru. Both preach the correct knowledge only. But, the knowledge preached by Satguru is complete and the knowledge preached by Guru is incomplete. Guru is a human being, well-versed in scriptures. Satguru is the God in human form. The word ‘Guru’ denotes the human form. The word ‘Sat’ denotes the God. The meaning of the very word ‘Guru’ means the preacher, who removes the darkness-ignorance by giving the knowledge-light.

If the knowledge is correct and complete, it generates tremendous force, which is called as devotion. Devotion (Bhakti) is the necessary force that transforms the knowledge (Jnana) into practice (Karma). Thus, devotion is generated by knowledge. If the knowledge is correct but incomplete, it generates insufficient force and hence, the knowledge is not transformed into practice. If the knowledge is correct and complete, it generates sufficient force that transforms the knowledge into practice. Complete knowledge means the elaborate form of knowledge that contains the answers to all the possible doubts. When you hear such knowledge, no doubt will rise in your mind because the knowledge already contained the answer for every doubt. When the right knowledge is complete, the realization is also complete and in such case, no force can stop the transformation of knowledge into practice. Therefore, the knowledge of Satguru is always elaborate and such elaboration is the meaning of the word Vyasa. The knowledge of sage Vyasa is always elaborate. This Guru Purnima is also called as Vyasa Purnima, the birthday of the sage Vyasa. Vyasa is considered to be the incarnation of Lord Vishnu, the God. This day falls in the rainy season, in which the dark clouds cover the Sun or Moon in the sky. This indicates the strong doubts of the people, who receive the knowledge.

We perform the Guru Purnima on this particular day. This is not the correct concept. Any day can be Guru Purnima on which you receive the correct and complete knowledge from Satguru. The sunrise happens to be 5.30 AM in summer and 6.30 AM in winter. Thus, there is no fixed time of sunrise. Whenever sun rises, that is the sun rise. Similarly, whenever the Satguru gives the knowledge, that time is Guru Purnima. We always give importance to a specific place and specific time and ignore the event. We should give importance to the event. Wherever the event takes place, such place is sacred. Whenever the event happens, such time is auspicious. People perform the ceremonies of their departed parents on specific days. They do not give value to the person (Bhokta) available on that day. Whenever the valuable person is available, the ceremony should be performed. The fruit lies on the availability of the valuable person and not on the date and

The main program of the human incarnation is only to deliver the right and complete knowledge to the human beings so that they will practice it and attain the salvation. The fruit will not come without the practice. The practice will not come without the devotion. The devotion will not come without the correct and complete knowledge. The devotion and practice are automatic consequences of the correct and complete knowledge. Therefore, Shankara told that if you receive the correct and complete knowledge, the salvation is automatic (Jnaanadevatu kaivalyam…). The Gita also starts with Jnana yoga only. Therefore, if you can catch Satguru, the salvation is automatic consequence. If you catch Satguru, you are bound to receive the correct and complete knowledge from Him. Therefore, Guru Purnima is the top most of all the festivals in the year.