Dear & Blessed Self,
July 13 is Guru Poornima Day. We all are indeed extremely blessed to have a profound spiritual heritage, in terms of the immortal Vedanthic scriptures. Our prostrations to all the Mahatmas who have till this day contributed to this profound & redeeming world heritage. The knowledge of greatest joy starts with a loving & reverential relationship with the one who has this infinite treasure of imperishable & timeless joy.
With Lots of love & Om,
Swami Atmananda
Vyasa Deva the world
Guru was the child of sage Parashara and a fisherwoman Satyavati. He was
named Krishna because of his complexion. Because of his tapasya at Badrinath he
was called Badarayana. <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office"
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Vyasa was born on the full moon day (Poornima) of the month of Ashada (Hindu Calendar). The Hindus who always relate their worship of God with the various times & Incidents of Nature always have special significance for the full moon day. 'Poornima' signifies complete illumination and Vyasa Poornima signifies spiritual illumination. Vyasa is considered to be the Guru of all time. The day is therefore called Guru Poornima and not merely Vyasa Poornima.
He was born around the time the Vedic period came to an end i.e. about 1200 to 950 B.C He collected all the Vedic Hymns and gave them a standard form and accent. Because of his great work he came to be called Veda Vyasa (the person who divided and codified the Vedas).
Vyasa's
masterpiece was the Mahabharatha. Together with the Ramayana it represents the
collective Conscious of India. Rare is a person who has not heard about the
martial exploits of Arjuna or the Daanvver (benevolent) nature of Karan. It is
an essential part of our Culture and grandma's favorite bedtime story. The epics
have been a backdrop to a number of movies and plays in India and abroad. The TV
serial continues to be very popular.
The teaching of Mahabharatha can be summed up as " Yato dharmah tato jayah." i.e. wherever there is righteousness there will be victory. Truth, self-control, asceticism, generosity, constancy is virtue are the means of success, not caste and family. I wish that all politicians who use caste to divide the country were to read this. True joy entails suffering.
The Holy Bhagawad Gita is part of the Mahabharatha. Geeta reveals the complete science & art of Holistic Living. It reveals a way of life by which the so-called worldly actions themselves become means for the spiritual unfoldment within. One need not leave ones field of actions with all their intrinsic conflicts & pains (our own Mahabharatha) to start the divine trek to the subjective illumination. All journey's, including the journey of being one with God, have to begin from where we stand today. Real freedom says Gita is not from action, but in action.
Whenever one is confused, feeling low or very happy, reading the Gita shows the way, devoid of ego, wanting the fruits of action. It helps in getting the mind rid of agitations, control lust, anger, desire, hope, fear and anger. It is amazing that a book written over three thousand years ago is as relevant today as it was then.
Veda Vyasa's contribution to Indian culture and society is unsurpassable. No wonder he is considered to be the Guru of all time. The 18th of July is a day that is dedicated to him and thus called Guru Poornima day.