Guru Purnima 2024 – Reflecting on Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji.  

By  Prakasarao V Velagapudi, PhD

Vyasa Guru Purnima is an important, auspicious, sacred, and spiritual day to celebrate the significance of a Sadguru who is unique to the Hindu way of life. It is a festival that allows us to express our deep-hearted respect, reverence, and gratitude towards our Guru!  This is an occasion for all the disciples to clean their minds and purify their hearts. It is celebrated on a full moon day in the month of Ashada Masa (July-August). Guru Purnima is also known as Vyasa Purnima. It is to celebrate the contribution of Veda Vyasa and express our gratitude to him as a Guru who codified the knowledge. Veda Vyasa was born on this full moon day in the month of Ashada Masa. Vyasa is the one who completed the codification of the Vedas into four distinct parts – Rig Veda, Yajur Veda, Atharvana Veda, and Sama Veda. He wrote Puranas, which reveal the essence and spiritual meaning of Vedas in a story that is told to common people. He is also credited with the writing of Bhahmasutras, the quintessence of Vedas, which allows learned people to grapple with higher-level knowledge. He not only wrote the classic Mahabharata, but he played a crucial role.

How do we identify a Guru?

As explained by Osho, “Guru is like a full moon, and disciple is like Ashadh (the month of clouds and rains). The moon of Sharad Purnima is beautiful because it is in the empty sky. There is no disciple then; the Guru is alone. If the same beauty happens in Ashadh, then it is something where the Guru is surrounded by clouds like disciples.

The disciples have come with the darkness of many lives. They are like dark clouds; they are the weather of Ashadha. If the Guru can shine like a full moon in that atmosphere of darkness, and if he can produce light in that atmosphere of darkness, only then will he be the Guru. That’s why Ashadh Purnima is Guru Purnima. It has an indication towards the guru and an indication towards the disciple. And naturally, where these two meet, there is meaningfulness.” Many devotees and non-devotees alike are beset with numerous dark clouds and various levels of problems.

To remove these dark clouds, reduce stress, live in peace of mind, receive the proper guidance, awaken the consciousness, throttle the ego, and grow spiritually, Sri Swamiji’s guidance, love, and compassion are essential. Since Sri Swamiji is an embodiment of divine qualities such as detachment, contentment, forgiveness, scriptural knowledge, wisdom, and equanimity, Sri Swamiji is in a better position to assess and profess the appropriate decision to mend the minds of his devotees and render a fitting decision even about non-spiritual matters. Without a guru, there is no self-realization or self-examination.

For some, a mere darshan of Swamiji clears their doubts, and they come out smiling. It is an individual experience; nobody can describe it. Not even the experiencer can document his own experience. It is beyond one’s ability to express, and the words fail to describe it. Paul Brunton expressed that feeling after meeting Ramana Maharshi: In the presence of the Maharshi, one felt security and inward peace. The spiritual radiations that emanated from him were all-penetrating. I learnt to recognise in his person the sublime truths which he taught, while I was no less hushed into reverence by his incredibly sainted atmosphere. He possessed a deific personality which defies description. I might have taken shorthand notes of the discourse of the Sage, I might even print the record of his speech; but the most important part of his utterances, the subtle and silent flavour of spirituality which emanated from him, can never be reported.

Today, let us remember his divine personality, time-tested wisdom, boundless compassion, and ever-watchful eye over his devotees. We are most fortunate to have our

Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji, as a Sadguru, manifested as a Brahma, Vishnu, and

Maheshwara in a physical form so that we can perform Guru Pada Puja to His Divine

Personality. It is indeed a rare occasion for many disciples who can be with Guru on this Guru Purnima Day. Devotees who are not fortunate enough to be with Sri Swamiji, in his utmost compassion, made all the arrangements for all of us to watch Him conduct Guru Purnima celebrations from Chicago. Sri Swamiji, who is the Avatara of Lord Dattatreya himself, is present in our hearts to emulate, cherish, and learn the essence of the meaning of life. He is a Sadguru only to remove the darkness, light the wick of ignorance, guide us to the right path, impart the meaning of light, bring happiness to our lives, pour the amrita (ambrosia) into the hearts of all his disciples, kindle spirituality and impart knowledge to follow the path of self-knowledge.

Guru Purnima is a noteworthy day as we remember our Guru. We remember His precious qualities and draw inspiration from them to take small baby steps on the path he has walked and cherish these qualities.

Why do we need a Guru?

All the scriptures and Gurus have emphasized the need for a Guru to help spiritual aspirants travel on the spiritual path. It is only the Guru who will find out your defects, tap your agony, discern your anguish, and grasp your dilemmas. Our ignorance and ego usually come in the way of finding our own defects. Guru can help you find the real you and unmask the clouded character. Constant association with the Guru will help remove the thorns that are preventing you from treading the spiritual path.

All great ones had their teachers. All the sages, saints, prophets, world teachers, incarnations, and great men have had their own Gurus, however great they might have been. Govindacharya learned from Gaudapadacharya; Sankaracharya from Govindacharya, Suresvaracharya from Sankaracharya; Gorakhnath from Matsyendranath; Nivrittinath from Gorakhnath; Jnanadev from Nivrittinath; Sri Ramakrishna from Totapuri; and Swami Vivekananda from Sri Ramakrishna.

Svetaketu learned the nature of Truth from Uddalaka, Maitreyi from Yajnavalkya, Bhrigu from Varuna, Narada from Sanatkumara, Nachiketa from Yama, and Indra from Prajapati. Several others humbly went to the wise ones, observed strict Brahmacharya rules, practiced rigorous discipline, and learned Brahma-Vidya from them. Lord Krishna sat at the feet of His Guru Sandipani. Lord Rama had Guru Vasishta, who gave Him Upadesa. Even Devas have Brihaspati as their Guru.

Even the greatest of divine beings sat at the feet of Guru Dakshinamurti, a silent teacher.

A beginner must first have a personal Guru. To begin with, he cannot have God as a Guru. He must have a pure mind, ethical perfection, intense virtuousness, and above-body consciousness. Then alone can he have God as Guru.

Kabirdas, the fifteenth-century mystic, clearly records the status of Guru as follows: “In the midst of the highest heaven there is a shining light; he who has no Guru cannot reach the place; he only reaches, who is under the guidance of a true Guru.”

Sadguru is the One who has seen what He has to see, learned what He has to learn, heard what He has to hear, acquired what He has to acquire, and realized what He has to realize. He is here in this physical world in front of all of us at His will only to help, guide, console, comfort, and remove the darkness among all of us. His love for His devotees is unconditional, His concerns unequal, His compassion unparalleled, His attention undivided, and His interest unsurpassed.

Guru is absolute, supreme, and an embodiment of God. His existence is beyond the limits of time, form, and gunas (attributes). Tulasidas observes in Ramayana: “Sadguru infuses the power in the disciple to distinguish between the eternal and the perishable. He makes such arrangements that the disciple is able to feel the insignificance of the sensual experiences. As when properly instigated, a piece of coal turns radiant and hot, the human soul in the disciple can also unite with the absolute when the Sadguru destroys the indomitable self.”

It is exceedingly difficult to come close to a Sadguru. It is the only Punya karmas (virtuous deeds) of so many previous lives that can bring one to be with a Sadguru. He is a Purna (Full) Being who possesses everything that envelopes the universe. Sadguru gives a new life to his disciples who are ready to open their hearts to receive the secrets of life. He has the capacity to know the dormant forces that lie within a disciple, and he will awaken these forces at an appropriate time. He is comforting, soothing, assuring, reassuring, and illuminating like a full moon showering countless blessings on his disciples.

            Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji says that a devotee should carefully select a Guru. Devotees must make every effort to learn the qualities of a Guru, his knowledge of scriptures, and his passion to transform the devotees toward a spiritual path. He says, “Guru is the beacon of light of the suffering humanity. He occupies a venerable post, but he does not have ego. He voluntarily comes down to the level of the disciple and guides him. A true Guru loves his disciple and guides him. A true Guru loves his disciple as parents love their children.”

            Gurus are worshipped as embodiments of Gods. Guru is the one who enlightens you and guides you to cross the ocean of samsara. Human birth is riddled with troubles, ailments, and uncertainties. We become directionless, despondent, and desperate for proper advice at certain times in our lives. Hence, the Guru is imminent in one’s life to lift us from the material world to the spiritual path. Hinduism Today states in the April/May/June 2020 issue that “it is the guru’s task to lead aspirants to God. He sets souls on the spiritual path, corrects those strays, softens karma, inspires lifelong practice, and, through initiations, awakens the seeker's superconscious knowing. He helps us become aware of our shortcomings and strengthens and gives us tools to overcome weaknesses and refine ourselves.” (P:27)  

On this Guru Purnima Day, let us resolve ourselves to know the importance of a Guru in one’s life, how to glorify the greatness of a Guru, how to reminisce the rindless blessings of a guru, and how to pay our gratitude for his limitless love to his devotees. Thus, Bhagawan Krishna said that we need to sit at the holy feet of a Sadguru and admonished us to learn in Bhagavad Gita: “Learn the Truth by approaching a spiritual master. Inquire from him with reverence and render service unto him. Such an enlightened Saint can impart knowledge unto you because he has seen the Truth. (4:34)  

Guru Pada Puja

It is customary to perform Pada Puja to the Lotus Feet of a living Sadguru on Guru Purnima. It is indeed a rare opportunity for a disciple to participate in that kind of Pada Puja. Why is it so important to perform Pada Puja? The Guru’s Feet are worshiped because Guru’s Shakti dwells in the Feet. The vibrations of the inner self constantly flow out through the Feet. The nerves that come from the Sahasrara reach right down to the Feet. Feet supports the whole body. This is the reason the Feet are given so much importance. More Shakti flows from the Feet than any other part of the body. Kularnava Tantra says: “Remember the Guru’s Sandals …They provide protection against great diseases, great disturbances, great evils, great fears, great calamities and great sins.”

According to all the scriptures, the Foot of the Guru is not an ordinary Foot.Gurupaddangre paadodakam Ganga. All holy waters, including Mother Ganga, live in the Guru’s Feet. This is what you should think in your heart when worshiping the Guru. All holy waters, all Devatas, or angels, and all sacred hills abide in the Guru’s Feet. One should have firm Sankalpa (intention, determination) to behold all gods in Guru’s Feet. The Trimurthis – Brahma, Vishnu, Siva – live in Guru’s Feet. These three Divine Forms symbolize removing the three qualities of nature that keep the soul in bondage. The three qualities are tamas (sense of ego), rajas (passion, desire), and sattva (goodness and purity). When these three qualities are removed, then the soul becomes free, pure, and Chinmaya (full of light). So, after Guru Pada Puja, it is especially important to surrender the three qualities to the Divine Trinity, along with all the unhealthy habits and selfish ego. This is the significance of self-surrender to the Guru’s Feet. Especially on Guru Purnima Day, Pada Puja assumes even greater significance since it bestows countless blessings, peace of mind, and mental satisfaction.

            Guru’s shakti (energy) dwells in the feet. The holy feet serve as an anchor for the whole body. The energy constantly flows from the Sahasrara chakra to the holy feet. Bhakta Tukaram says, “If you have faith in the Guru’s Holy feet, if you have deep feeling for the Guru’s Holy feet, if you imbibe the state of the Guru, then you don’t have to look for God, God will come looking for you.”

Adi Shankaracharya composed a song on the importance of Padukas during his first meeting with his Guru, Sri Govind Bhagavadpada. We will list three of the eight verses to know how prostrations at the lotus feet of a Sadguru would fetch benefits to his devotees.

Those who prostrate to the blessed sandals of their Guru become possessors of great wealth and overcome the curse of their poverty very quickly. To such sandals my infinite prostrations.

Attracting us to the Lotus-like feet of our Guru, removing all kinds of desires borne out of ignorance, fulfilling all the desires of the disciple who bows humbly To such sandals, I humbly offer my obeisance.

They are like an eagle for all the serpents of desires,

Blessing us with the valuable treasure of discrimination and renunciation, Granting us the knowledge to get instant liberation from the shackles of life,

My prostrations to those holy sandals of my Guru.

Worship on Guru Purnima Day

            On this day, it is the responsibility of a devotee to connect with his Guru, whether you are in his presence or away from him physically. Remember Vyasa Bhagawan, Lord Dattatreya and the long line of Gurus, and Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji along with Jaya Lakshmi Mata. If you are in the physical presence of Sri Swamiji, have his darshan in line, touch his padukas, and offer Dakshina.

If you are not physically present at your house, you can have his picture and Padukas on the altar, offer prayers, and perform puja to Sri Swamiji’s picture and the Guru Paramapara. The best way to follow him is to listen to his discourses, read his books, listen to his music, sing his bhajans, practice meditation taught by his guru, visit the nearby Temples, and work toward preserving Hindu dharma. Swami Sivananda says, "The best form of worship of the guru is to follow his teachings, to shine as the very embodiment of his teachings, and to propagate his glory and his message." Further, he says that a devotee “may observe the vow of silence and study the books or writings of your guru, or mentally reflect upon his teachings. Take fresh resolve on this holy day, to tread the spiritual path.

Also remember the sloka in Guru Gita:

Dhyaana moolam guror murtih;

Pooja moolam guror padam;

Mantra moolam guror vakyam;

Moksha moolam guror kripa

“The Guru’s form should be meditated upon; the feet of the Guru should be worshipped; his words are to be treated as a sacred Mantra; his Grace ensures final liberation”.