Gurupoornima July-5-2009

Gurupoornima celebrations on July-5-2009 at Prabhu's home
We, around 20 people gathered in Prabhu's home on July-5-2009 to celebrate Gurupoornima. Prabhu after Guru pooja gave a talk on the following topics,
1) Importance of Guru and explained Gurugita
2) Gurupaduka meaning
3) Why SriVedaVyasa is prayed to on Gurupoornima
4) Guruparampara

1) Importance of Guru : Guru is greater than God. All the Gods bow before Sadguru's wisdom. Sadguru is one.
2) Gurupaduka : Viveka (discrimination) and vairagya(detachment) are the two padukas(footwear) of Sadguru. The path taken by Guru is what we have to follow using these two tools. Jesus was able to walk on the water of samsara. The Jiva cannot walk on water (samsara sagara), it can only make numerous attempts to stay afloat and gasps for breath.
3) SriVedavyasa : Sri Vedavyasa has compiled the four Vedas, Puranas, Ramayana, MahaBharata, Bhagavadgita, Bhagavata for the benefit of future generations of people. While the stories of Purana may not be true, there is truth in those stories. The stories are not stories, they are capsules of knowledge containing deep spiritual messages. Bharata(Meaning Land of people interested in wisdom) or India is a land where since ancient times people are spiritually oriented. It has weathered many brutal assaults on its spiritual heritage, culture, dharma. Many wars has been conducted against India by hostile forces destroying libraries, temples etc. The reason Sanatana dharma and its principles are alive today is not because of Vedas but the knowledge and wisdom of vedas hidden in the stories of Ramayana, MahaBharata, Puranas, Bhagavata etc. And the credit for this goes to SriVedavyasa to have protected the paravidya(spiritual science) and aparavidya(material science) of Vedas. Please do not mistake that Vedas are related to religion. Meaning of veda is knowledge. All knowledge whether it is spiritual or material science has origin in Veda. Modern science is dependent on mathematics. without Maths there is no science. And the basis of Maths is the concept of '0' zero. This concept of zero is coming from Veda. SriVedavyasa is not mentioned anywhere as the origin of all knowledge and todays generation has almost forgotten the saviour of mankind. Because of SriVedavyasa, the knowledge is encapsuled in the stories and passed on from generation to generation and the wisdom survived, and it has been passed on to the entire world. Bharata is the cradle of wisdom. It supplies the knowledge and wisdom to the world. So, the Gurupoornima is dedicated to SriVedavyasa.
4) Guruparampara : Narayana or Sadashiva is the AdiGuru or Sadguru. There is Guru and Sadguru. Guru is a signpost who can show the path. Sadguru ends the spiritual sadhana and removes the ego. The people assembled there are Gurus, who should do jnana yagna to light the atmajyoti of other seekers after truth. Spread the jnana. Guruparampara is like a river. It never stops, we are all part of that parampara.

An announcement is made about the website http://www.atma-jyoti.org , bhajans were sung and people disbursed.