Guru Poornima 2009
Guru Poornima: A day when The Guru comes in search of the seeker
“For 364 days of the year, a seeker must go in search of the Guru” says Parama Pujya Shri Shri Nimishananda, “but there is one day when the Guru Shakti comes in search of mankind, and that day is the day of Guru Poornima!”
This one statement demonstrates the utter, unconditional love and compassion shown by the Guru towards mankind. This is the Guru Shakti that powers the entire universe, and the force behind evolution of the all the 8,40,000 species of life forms. Only the most fortunate among us have the benefit of physically being with a Guru, recognizing and benefitting from this Guru Shakti on a physical plane.
And this wonderful and most sacred day of Guru Poornima dawned on 7th July this year- a day eagerly awaited by the devotees and disciples of Parama Pujya Shri Shri Nimishananda. This is the day the Guru allows the devotees full freedom to demonstrate their love and gratitude towards Him, and every second of this magnificent day was spent in doing just that.
On this day the Ashram was bedecked with a profusion of fragrant and colourful flowers- it looked as if the garden from Siddhaloka itself had been transported to earth to welcome Pujya Guruji. The Guru Peetha, decorated with delicate lotus flowers, fragrant white jasmine and bright red roses, awaited its Lord. The celebrations started with the chanting of the Guru Gita- the bouquet of verses that sing the glory of the Guru, followed by bhajans. As more and more devotees gathered at the ashram, the anticipation of receiving Pujya Guruji heightened every moment- and when Pujya Guruji walked in to the chant of veda mantras and graced the Guru Peetha- there was no doubt left in anybody’s mind that they were beholding the personification of Devi Herself.
Resplendent in white, with a striking mala of red roses enhancing His appearance, Pujya Guruji glowed with the light of divinity. The main highlight of the morning’s programme was the Guru Paada Pooja- worshipping the Lotus Feet of the Guru. This was done ceremoniously to the accompaniment of chants. Each and every devotee present on the occasion had the rare good fortune of bathing Pujya Guruji’s sacred Feet with milk. After the pooja, Pujya Guruji spoke to the gathering about the importance of this gesture of worshipping the Guru Paada.
“The Guru offers his entire being, except His Feet, to the Creator of the Universe- the Divine Mother Herself” said Pujya Guruji, “only the Feet remain for the devotees and disciples to adore. The Lotus Feet of the Guru which we can see symbolize our own Soul which is not visible to most of us. Worshipping the Lotus Feet of the Guru has the power to mitigate all the karma we have collected over several lifetimes and lead us to liberation. Drinking even one sip of the teertha or holy water in which the Guru’s Lotus Feet have been washed can bring out the radiance of the Soul and lead us to Self Realisation. Therefore adoring the Guru Paada should be the only goal of a disciple, not just on this day but every moment of every day.”
The morning’s programme concluded with Pujya Guruji blessing each and everyone, followed by a delicious lunch prasada. Devotees thronged the ashram to offer flowers, fruits and love to their beloved Guru. Pujya Guruji patiently and lovingly let His grace flow to the gathering with utter compassion. A bhajan adapted from a verse of the Guru Gita was sung as a finale:
Dhyana Moolam Guror Moortihi; Pooja Moolam Guru Padam
Mantra Moolam Guror vaakyam; Moksha Moolam Guru Kripa
Gurureva Jagatsarvam; Sarvam shri Gurucharanarpanam;
Sarvam Shri Guru Nimishanandam Charanaaravindam Samarpanam
-Verse 76, Guru Gita
(The Divine Form of the Guru is the Source of Meditation.
The Lotus Feet of the Guru are the Source of all worships.
The sacred Word of the Guru is the Source of all Chants (mantras) and
The compassionate Grace of the Guru is the Source of Complete Salvation)
That evening, more Guru Bhajans were sung. Pujya Guruji spoke to the large gathering about the importance of living every moment with inspiration. “Most of us live in the mind which is fickle and oscillating and constantly subject to mood swings whereas we should be living in the divine core within us called the Soul. The Divine Mother has given us this fount of infinite bliss but we require the grace and guidance of a Guru to connect ourselves to the Soul.” Pujya Guruji’s deep voice reverberated in the hearts of every devotee present there filling them with bliss.
Later in the evening, disciples made the traditional offering of vastra (garments) and Nava Dhanya (nine types of cereals) to Pujya Guruji with love. Pujya Guruji accepted this gracefully with a blessing and said that whatever was offered to the Guru with love would always be returned a thousand fold to the devotees. The celebrations concluded with Aarati to the Lotus Feet of Pujya Guruji. With hearts overflowing with the divine love of Pujya Guruji, we left with the melodious bhajans and Pujya Guruji’s words reverberating in our ears.
Na Guroradhikam, na Guroradhikam
Na Guroradhikam, na Guroradhikam
Shiva Shasanataha, Shivashasanataha
Shiva Shasanataha, Shivashasanataha
-Verse 96, Guru Gita
(There is nothing greater than the Guru;
this is the command of Lord Shiva)
