- Guru Vandana
Guru Vandana means “Reverence for the Teacher ” – it is the thanksgiving from a student to a teacher, expressing his or her gratitude. The Guru Vandana program provides a platform for students to honor their teachers for imparting knowledge and wisdom to them.
GURU
The concept of
Guru is as old as humanity itself. Primarily, the word Guru means a 'teacher' and as such it is a universal concept based on the idea of transmitting knowledge from a person, who knows something, to an ignorant student or disciple. In an extended view, a Guru can also be a priest, a rabbi, a master, a school teacher, even a father or a mother.Guru does not mean a teacher imparting formal training but a person who contributes to the overall development and learning of an individualGuru transforms his disciple through his presence and spiritual knowledge.According to
RamaKrishna Prarahamsa Spirtual knowledge can not be attained completely by reading books.But for obtaining complete spiritual enlightment Guru’s presence is a must.Only when there is a strong bond between Guru andShishya spiritual enlightenment might takes place.Orgins of
Guru Shishya ParamparaThus our great
SANATHANA DARMA tradition has been enriched by the GURU-SISHYA relationship.Lord Rama 's greatness lay in His relationship with His most loyal discipleHANUMAN who taught the essence ofRAMANAMAMRITIM . LordKrishna gave us theBhagavad Gita , thanks to his devoted and most trusted discipleArjuna . SaintRamakrishna Paramahamsa gave to the worldSwami Vivekananda who in turn gave to the world theRamakrishna Mission , embodying the soul of India. Saint Thyagaraja, an avatar ofSage Valmiki , composed hundreds of soulful Krithis in praise of God. Two Krithis, in particular, refer to the GURU'S role in guiding the seeker on the right path. Guru leka in 'Gowrimanohari' raga is a Krithi in which the Saint ofThiruvaiyar sings how one who is trapped in the jungle of desire, can come out of it with help of the rightGURU . Saint Thyagaraja says however learned and good a person might be, life would be meaningless without the guidance of aSatguru . In another Krithi, Sri Naradamuni Gururaya ganti inBhairavi raga, Thyagaraja explains howSatguru Smaranam helps one in getting rid of ignorance.In modern times
American
Hindu Education Foundation (HEF) had conducted the program inHouston in which over 30 teachers and a principal were honored by students. Children from Houston Balagokulams area picked up their favorite teachers.Acharya Premchand Sridhar of Arya Samaj Houston presided over the program. The program started with Sridhar lighting the lamp and it was followed by cultural programs and with the explanation of Hindu Concept of Gurus.After the felicitation of teachers Veda Vrinda group chanted the section of the Taittariya Upanishad known as the Vedic Commencement Address. Columbus chapter of HEF is planning to conduct similar program in October 2008.Guruvandana is also performed by disciples to spiritual masters.During GuruVandana program
GuruGita is recited by disciple to honor his guru.GuruGita forms section ofSkanda Purana . InBangalore Guruvandana was offered toSankaracharya of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam, Sri Jayendra Saraswathi.Despite rains lots of people gathered in Malleshwaram to felicitate their Spritual Guru. InISKON temples Guruvandana is performed for spirtual Guru SrilaPrabhupada throughout the year.In other religions
Apart from Hinduism Guru-Shishya concept is followed in other religions like Jain, Sikh, Buddhism. In fact the word Sikh has orgins from sanskrit 'shishya'. Jains celebrate Guru Vandana as part of their rituals.
References
* [http://www.hindu.com/2008/07/15/stories/2008071554270400.htm Kanchi seer felicitation]
* [http://www.hindueducation.org/newsflash/hef-hosts-guru-vandana-in-houston.html Guruvandana in Houson]
* [http://www.hssus.org/content/view/207/1/ Guruvandana in Houston]
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