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We are born helpless and vulnerable, and it’s wondrous how nature works through its maternal instinct to nurture us into functional beings, capable of shaping the world. Our parents are our first teachers, our first Gurus, guiding our baby steps with love and patience. It’s nothing short of a miracle how we learn to speak, read, and express ourselves. As we reflect on Guru Purnima, celebrated this year on Thursday, July 10, our deepest gratitude must first go to them.
As we take our first steps into the world, our school teachers become our next Gurus. The power of knowledge has been central to human progress, especially in the last millennium. Formal education shapes how we see and engage with the world, and it is to these educators in classrooms and lecture halls that we owe so much. On this sacred occasion, we honour their immense contribution.
But knowledge alone doesn’t steady us through life’s storms. For that, we often turn to spirituality—our inner compass. While scriptures offer timeless truths in poetic form, it is our spiritual Gurus who help interpret and apply them. From Adi Shankaracharya to Swami Vivekananda, towering figures have guided generations toward purpose and clarity.
In our tradition, Thursday, or Guru-vaar, is associated with Jupiter, or Guru in Sanskrit. This largest planet in our solar system is seen as the celestial teacher, personified as Brihaspati, Guru of the devas. That this year’s Guru Purnima fell on a Thursday only deepened its significance, a day aligned with planetary and spiritual wisdom.
Guru Purnima also marks the birth anniversary of Ved Vyasa, the sage behind the Mahabharata and the classification of the Vedas. His legacy continues to shape our understanding of dharma and human nature.
As this reflective moment passes, we step into the sacred month of Shravan, beginning July 11. If Guru Purnima helps us acknowledge those who guide us, Shravan invites us to turn inward through fasting, prayer, and surrender to Lord Shiva, the eternal Guru.
And finally, it takes grace not only to find a Guru, but even to become a seeker. For as the saying goes: When the student is ready, the Guru appears! Jai Gurudev!
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