Guru Gita (1:65)

Sri Swamigal on 'Guru Poornima'/ 'Vyasa Poornima'

"Vedas are the very foundation of our Sanatana Dharma. Without Sage Vyasa there would be no Vedas and without the Vedas there would be no Sanatana Dharma. The world is indebted to Sage Vyasa for compiling and giving us the Vedas. Veda Vyasa has also given us the 18 puranas and epics such as the Mahabharata. This poornima is hence celebrated as 'Vyasa poornima' or 'Guru poornima'. On this day Vyasa puja is performed by the followers of all the three schools of thought - Advaita (established by Adi Sankara), Dvaita (Sri Madwacharya) and Vishishta dvaita (Sri Ramanujacharya)."

The Greatness of the Sadguru

Thotakacharya, sang of his Guru Adi Sankara

Sant Ekanath, sang of his Guru Sri Janardhana Swami

Saint Kabirdas, said of his Guru Ramananda

Declared Sabari, the disciple of Madanga Maharshi

And, she left the body with Lord Rama as the witness!

Saint Arunagirinathar, called on Lord Muruga

Srimad Bhagavadam (Canto10:80:43)

Sri Swamigal enlightens us on the above sloka,

" A wealthy man whizzing past in his airconditioned car, mired in his own riches, looks enviably at the poor man lying on the platform and reflects, 'how happy and relaxed he is with absolutely no care in the world!' The poor man on the platform envies the wealthy man, whizzing past in his car and imagines, "How happy is he with so much wealth at his disposal!' Each believes the other is happy and comfortable, so envies him. But the fact is neither the rich nor the poor is happy or peaceful!"

" Kuchela visits his friend Lord Krishna, while the latter is on the throne of Dwaraka. Sri Krishna welcomes his friend with great warmth. The two joyfully reminisce their gurukula days. Sri Krishna - "Kuchela, my friend, how happy and contented both of us are! I am the ruler of Dwaraka and 'Lakshmipathy' (having Lakshmi, the Goddess of wealth as his consort) and possess all the wealth of the world. You, my friend, are the personification of poverty. Yet, both of us enjoy peace. Neither wealth with all its hassles has taken away my peace of mind nor poverty with all its cruelty has drowned you in sorrow. Blessed indeed are we who enjoy the grace of our Guru Sandeepani. One on whom 'Guru Kataksha' has fallen has not a care in the world, be he the wealthiest or the poorest."

Diary of Events

16th July 2000 Guru Poornima

6.30a.m. - 12.30 p.m

The day commenced with 'Prabhodhanam' to Sri Swamigal's puja murthy, Madhuri Sakhi - Premika Varadan. Sri Swamigal performed thirumanjanam to Madhuri Sakhi - Premika Varadan.

Simultaneously, Vyasa Puja was performed by Sri Mallikarjuna Sarma, Yajur Veda adhyapakar in Sri Sandeepani Gurukulam of the Mission. Sri Mrthyunjaya Sarma, the Sama Veda adhyapakar, along with Jagadeesh, Tatvamasi and Naveen Bhatt, students of the Gurukula, chanted the Vedas. A large number of devotees thronged the venue to witness the 'Guru Poornima' puja.

After the puja, Sri Swamigal was honoured by Sri Shirdi Sai Baba Samiti. Sri Swamigal then blessed each and every devotee present with 'thirtha prasada' and 'akshadai'.

4.00 p.m. - 4.30 p.m. - Paada Puja Paada Puja was performed to Sri Swamigal, by Sri Kalyana Krishnan, amidst bhakti-filled chanting of 'Narayana Naama' by all the devotees gathered on the occasion.

5.19 p.m. - 9.14 p.m.

Lunar Eclipse

This year the Lunar eclipse coincided with 'Guru Poornima' day and Sri Swamigal along with the devotees sat in meditation. The atmosphere was charged with 'silent vibration'. A few minutes before the eclipse ended the Mission's Sandeepani Gurukula Adyapaks, Sri Mallikarjuna Sarma and Sri Mruthyunjaya Sarma, chanted the 'Rudram'.

After the eclipse, Sri Swamigal performed thirumanjanam to Madhuri Sakhi - Premika Varadan and the 'Salagramams'. Sri Swamigal, then, blessed the devotees with the abhisheka milk.

'Guru Poornima' celebrations ended with 'Dolotsavam' to Madhuri Sakhi - Premika Varadan. During the 'dolotsavam', Sri Swamigal sang,

17th July - 19th July 2000

Each day began with 'prabodhanam' to Sri Swamigal's puja murthy, Madhuri Sakhi - Premika Varadan, followed by 'thirumanjanam'. Sri Swamigal, then, blessed the assembled devotees with 'thirtha prasada'. On all the three evenings hordes of devotees sat bound by the magic spell of Sri Swamigal's discourse on 'Guru Parampara'. On the 17th evening, Sri Swamigal cited the various incidents from Sri Shirdi Sai Baba's life, throwing light on the Guru's boundless love for His devotees.

On the 18th, Sri Swamigal discoursed on 'Maha periyaval'.

On the 19th, concluding day, Sri Swamigal narrated the 'Guru Bhakti' filled life of Ekanath.