Fwd: GURUPURNIMA

[Guest guest]

Sri:

 

Dear SrI Mahesh Bhattathiry:

 

Thanks very much for your posting on

the significance of VyAsa PoorNimA.

I am sharing it with other members of

the group.

 

V.Sadagopan

 

At 06:30 AM 7/13/03 -0700, you wrote:

Vyasa Deava the world Guru was the child of sage Parasara and a

fisherwomen Satyavati. He was named Krishna because of his complexion.

Because of his tapasya at Badrinath he was called Badarayana.

 

Vyas was born on the full moon day (Purnima) of the month of

Asadh (Hindu Calendar). The Hindus who always relate their worship of God

with the various times & Incidents of Nature always have special

significance for the full moon day. 'Purnima' signifies complete

illumination and Vyasa Purnima signifies spiritual illumination. Vyasa is

considered to be the Guru of all time. The day is therefore called Guru

Purnima and not merely Vyas Purnima.

 

He was born around the time the Vedic period came to an end ie

about 1200 to 950 b.c. He collected all the Vedic Hyms and gave them a

standard form and accent. Because of his great work he came to be called

Veda Vyasa ( the person who divided and codified the Vedas ).

 

Vyasa's masterpiece was the Mahabharata. Together with the

Ramayana it represents the collective Conscious of India. Rare is a person

who has not heard about the martial exploits of Arjuna or the Daanvver (

benevolent ) nature of Karan. It is an essential part of our Culture and

grandma's favorite bed time story. The epics have been a backdrop to a

number of movies and plays in India and abroad. The TV serial continues to

be very popular.

 

The teaching of Mahabharata can be summed up as " Yato dharmah

tato jayah." ie Where ever there is righteousness there will be victory.

Truth, self-control, asceticism, generosity, constancy is virtue are the

means of success, not caste and family. I wish that all politicians who use

caste to divide the country were to read this. True joy entails suffering.

 

The Holy Bhagwad Geeta is part of the Mahabharata. Geeta reveals

the complete science & art of Holistic Living. It reveals a way of life by

which the so called worldly actions themselves become means for the

spiritual unfoldment within. One need not leave ones field of actions with

all their intrinsic conflicts & pains (our own Mahabharatas) to start the

divine trek to the subjective illumination. All journey's, including the

journey of being one with God, have to begin from where we stand today. Real

freedom says Gita is not from action, but in action.

 

When ever I am confused, feeling low or very happy, reading the

Geeta shows me the way, devoid of ego, wanting the fruits of action. It

helps in getting the mind rid of agitation's, control lust, anger, desire,

hope, fear and anger. It is amazing that a book written over three thousand

years ago is as relevant today as it was then.

 

Veda Vyasa's contribution to Indian culture and society is

unsurpassable. No wonder he is considered to be the Guru of all time.

[Guest guest]

SRI:

Dear Bhagavatas:

 

Do Sri Vaishnavas' celebrate Guru Purnima? Also one of my friend was asking

for the meaning of Perumal. Would someone kindly elaborate on the meaning of

the name "Perumal".

 

Thanks.

Adiyen,

Lakshmi

[Guest guest]

At 08:59 AM 7/14/03 +1000, you wrote:

>SRI:

>Dear Bhagavatas:

>

> Do Sri Vaishnavas' celebrate Guru Purnima? Also one of my friend was

asking for the meaning of Perumal. Would someone kindly elaborate on the

meaning of the name "Perumal".

>

>Thanks.

>Adiyen,

>Lakshmi

 

SrI:

 

Dear Srimathi Lakshmi Raviganesh:

 

To the best of my knowledge ,

VaishNavAs do not celebrate separately

VyAsa PoorNimA. They join in the ChAthurmAsyam

celebrations of their AchAryans , if they are

SanyAsis. For instance, SrImath Azhagiya Singar

observed ChAthurmAsyam , when SanyAsis have to

stay put for extended period at one place.

SishyAs flock to His sacred feet to recieve

His blessings on this day. Every day is

VyAsa PournimA day, when it comes to

the celebration of our AchAryAs, whether

they are GrahasthAs or SanyAsis. We recite

their Taniyans at every available opportunity.

 

Regarding your question on the word , PerumAl,

here is my speculative input.

 

PerumAL is a respectful term for PerumAn .

Volumes have been written by AzhwArs and AchAryAs

to celebrate His Vaibhavam and undisputed Supermacy.

 

Just like saying avargaL instead of avan ,

PerumAL (instead of PerumAn) is used to refer

to our Lord with awe and reverence.

 

PerumAn , PirAn ( the Supreme Being) denote

His Parathvam. He has no equal or superior.

Briefly , His Jagath Kaaranathvam , Jagath AadhAram

and all His limitless KalyANa guNams and

freedom from blemish of any kind are

hinted/ denoted by the epithet , "PirAn ,

PerumAn , PerumAL".

 

NamO NaarAyaNAya,

V.Sadagopan