Today, the 10th day of Jul, 2025, is an auspicious day honouring the Teacher-Student relationship by expressing gratitude towards Guru-Maa and Guru. The divine soul is responsible for illuminating the path of Knowledge, wisdom, and self-realization. It's not a mere observance on one particular day, but a solemn promise to continue life on the learnings that shaped our civilization, and above all, preserved the righteous way of living.
It’s a day to rejuvenate by taking the oath -
"Guru Brahma, Guru Vishnu, Guru Devo Maheshwara, Guru Sakshat Parabrahma, Tasmai Shri Gurave Namah."
(So, it says - Our Guru is the creator, preserver, and destroyer of ignorance. To that supreme Guru, I bow.)
In today's fast-paced (really, how come most of the time people are late for most of the tasks they undertake, anyways), information-driven AI world, the essence of Guru Purnima (Guru-Maa embedded in it too) is more relevant than ever. It reminds us that critical to learning is not just acquiring data BUT, but it is about the transformation of the knowledge under a wise mentor.
If we have to trace back the Parampara, where the Guru is considered the bridge between ignorance and enlightenment, then we have to do a transtemporal travelling some thousands and thousands of years back! Maharishi Ved Vyasa, the great sage who wrote the Mahabharata, is considered to be the Adi Guru, that is, the first of the Gurus.
Who is a Guru?
Is he or she just the person who completes the syllabus? Or our parents always telling us what to do and what not to do? Or my Chess teacher? Or…. Well, we can go on with options such as these.
A Guru is a person who, without any qualms, teaches us ethics, discipline, self-reliance, and also our syllabus 😊. The knowledge is passed on with authenticity and depth. Not just imposing the doctrines but also awakening the latent wisdom. Emphasizing character building and self-discovery, which in itself is a journey.
And
In the world of AI, information is like a huge dumpster filling our minds. The hard part is to find the Wisdom, which is scarce. It is that scarce piece that Guru helps us discern truth from noise. As we move on, it seems stress is just like a mundane activity seeped into the daily life of the young minds when they say, “life is stressful”. It is the Guru who shows the way of Mindfulness and provides inner stability.
So dear students, express your gratitude to your Gurus. Any ways, that suits you. Pick up the phone and say, “Thank you for everything.” Or drop a message, or meet in person. Please know it is not a ritual; it is a reminder of the sacred bond between you and your Mentor.
The Guru lights the way, and the Shishya’s humility keeps the flame alive. And with time passing by, the Shishya now becomes the guide to show the way as the Guru!
Lastly, grab a book "To the Youth of India" by Swami Vivekananda or from your own choice, and pick the pearls from those enlightened words and string a necklace to wear for life…
Be a nation builder, stay healthy, and keep smiling.
All the Best to you.