Journalism of Courage
On Guru Poornima,which falls on July 15,events around the city will send out messages of reverential gratitude to teachers
It is a day to express respect and gratitude. Celebrated in the memory of sage Vyasa,who is said to have compiled the four vedas,the 18 puranas ,the Mahabharata,and the Bhagvat Gita,Guri Poornima is also known as ‘Vyasa Purnima’. Derived from the Sanskrit word ‘gu’ meaning ‘darkness’ and ‘ru’ meaning ‘remover’, ‘guru’ means the remover of darkness,ignorance and evil. According to the Shvetashvatara Upanishad,one must consider no difference between God and one’s guru.
The disciples of taalyogi pandit Suresh Talwalkar will felicitate their guru with a musical tribute to mark the day. Disciples from the ages of 18 to 45 years will display their insprations on July 16 and 17,at Bhave Prathamik School auditorium,Sadashiv Peth. I wanted to learn to play the tabla in 1985,I had just graduated in mechanical engineering then and was working for a German company. I approached my guru,pt. Suresh Talwarkar,and he told me he would only teach me if I put my heart and soul into music. I quit my job and lived at his home,which was a gurukul for some 10-12 students like me. He treated us like his own sons. He gave me the confidence to face any adversity in life and I thank him for all that I have accomplished in my life,” says Ramdas Palfule,senior tabla artist and faculty at Lalit Kala Kendra. My students from the university come to my home and thank me. They touch my feet,perform a puja and take my blessings, he adds.
The disciples of Ashutosh Maharaj from Divjyoti Jagrati Sansthan will get together to participate in a Guru Pooja Mahotsava,comprising of bhajan,kirtan,satsang and pravachan,all day long on July 15,at Swayambar Mangal Karyalay,Chakan,and on July 17 at Ananda Garden Mangal Karyalaya,Vishrantwadi. As there are festivals to celebrate relationships like karva chaut for husband and wife,raksha bandhan for brother and sister,Guru Purnima celebrates the bond between teacher and student and strenghtens the bond between them, explains Swami Chidhinand,co-ordinator of Divjyoti Jagrati Sansthan. Life is a process of continious learning. Your mother is your first guru and then come your other teachers. It is very important to respect them,because it is they who have moulded you into the person you are, he says.
