Guru’s Purnima
Long ago in a far away village somewhere near Southern India there lived a good teacher whom everyone called, “Guruji”. He had a “gurukul”-school. [Just readers try to imagine the first person who clicks in your mind when you hear the word “Guruji”.] He had a student who was an orphan & so stayed with him. Her name was “Purnmia-Purna Chandra (full moon)”. She was christened by the guru himself who had found her one day left abandoned in front of his gurukul. He thought that since it was a “Kalank-bad name” to the people who abandoned her instead of the child’s “Shyama-dark complexion attributed by curly hairs & beautiful questioning eyes. He named her Purnima whom he called Purna with love remembering the full-moon which too has dark spots “Kalank” on it instead of its incomparable beauty. Purna’s name indeed depicted her unblemished and soothing beauty. Indeed a very clever and obedient student she was who helped & served her guru with utmost modesty & care.
Purna was now seven years old girl. She was as free as bird who had unknown dreams to chase. Her questions even left her guru spell bound sometimes. One fine morning when she was with her guru pertaining her early morning vedic classes there arrived a handsome gentleman riding a white horse with soldiers behind him. He was dressed in silk clothes with ornaments laded over his full body. Prunima thought the gentleman didn’t belong to this world because his presence in the glowing sun produced such brightness that she could hardly open her eyes. She was afraid & ran behind her guru. Her guru got down from his podium & went near the gentleman to welcome him by saying, “Namaskar Maharaj”.
Guru said, “Purnima please don’t be afraid, this is my Lord-honorable King of this kingdom where we stay. He has come all the way from his palace to our ashram to meet us”.
Purnima seemed convinced now with her guru’s words but still her small mind was confused. She was thinking within her mind, “Whom should I greet first my guru or the king?” She at once seemed to remember something & suddenly touched the feet’s of her guru at first followed by touching the feet’s of the king. This act of Purnima dissatisfied the king and he grew angry. His face turned red which made him unable to speak anything.
The guru at once understood the fact & looked surprisingly towards Purnima & asked, “Purna why did you do so? It appears the king is highly dissatisfied.”
Purnima’s large eyes were almost filled with water as if a little more fierceness from the king & she shall run to somewhere where no one can find her.
The King addressed the guru, “Guruji I think she doesn’t know manners. Her act has insulted me a lot”.
Guru replied, “No my Lord I haven’t thought her that. I think she has a prominent reason for the act. She is indeed a very humble & obedient child”.
Saying so he turned towards Purnima who was still hiding behind him & said, “Please Purna speak my dear child .What has made you act in this way which proves to be an insult for the king?”
Purnima was sobbing by now in silence. She however controlled her fear & spoke wiping out her unstoppable tears, “Sorry my king I didn’t mean to insult you. It was just that I remembered one of my lessons taught by my guru.”
Hearing so the king almost started yelling at the guru, “Ohh now I understand these are your teachings. This is what you teach your students here, insulting their king”.
This furious act of the king however didn’t help the Guru to lose his calmness. He calmly said, “Wait my lord, let her speak. I & my student by no means want to dis-respect you. But if you don’t let her speak how can she prove her point.”
He lovingly placed his hand over Purnima & said, “Speak Purna speak, you are my sweet child. I assure you no one is going to harm you”.
At this moment Purnima was breathing hard & tears were rolling from her both eyes which didn’t seem to stop. But the assurance of her guru helped her gather spirit & she spoke, “Guruji, I swear on God I ought not to dis- honor anyone. But only that I remembered the doha of Kabirdasji where he says,
“Guru Govind Dou Khare,
Kake lagun paye;
Balihari Guru Apno,
Govind diyo bataye.
Arthat[meaning]-Both my Guru & my Lord are standing infront of me, Whom should I show respect first; Thank-you my dear guru for helping me recognize my lord;For without you I won’t have been able to recognize my lord”. As she started speaking she started growing confident too. She spoke again, “So maharaj I respected my guruji at first & then you because without him I would not have understood who you are”.
The king seemed quite impressed from Purnima’s answer, was happy with her wittiness & presence of mind. But indeed he wanted to test her knowledge so he said, “I liked what you said but still I have a question for you little fellow”.
Purna answered, “Yes, sir I am ready to answer all your questions”. Poor fellow she thought denial to his proposal shall allow more problems to come in for her.
The king asked, “Huhh how can you say that your guru knows everything?”
She thought for some moments ran inside her cottage & brought the Bhagavad Gita with her & started turning the pages.
The king said, “Hey what are you looking for in this book?”
She said terrifying, “The answer is here within itself. But since I don’t remember all so I brought the book. Sorry Lord for keeping you waiting”.
After some search she said, “See here it’s written clearly (B.g-4.19) _
Yasya sarve samarambhah
Kama –sankalpa-varjitah
Jnanagni-dagdha-karmanam
Tam ahuh panditam budhah.
"Arthat" (meaning)-one is understood to be in full knowledge whose every act is devoid of desire for some gratification. He is said by sages to be a worker whose fruititive action is burned by the fire of perfect knowledge.”
Purna continued, “Beg your pardon Maharaji, I ain’t saying my Guruji to be the best amongst all, but I haven’t seen the world whatever I have known is only from him. If he would have thought not to make me learn anything I would have been in total darkness. So Yes, for me my guruji is the best who have pervades all knowledge of him to me everday”
The king snapped back, “Come on that doesn’t describe your guru to be a good teacher .I is yet to get satisfied with your answer”.
Purna said, “See my Lord Gita also says a true Guru should have a character which- “Vidya-vanauya sampanne” (B.g-4.2.3) - A humble sage with virtue of true knowledge. My Lord my guruji is as you can see a humble person because even your anger against me didn’t make him angry in the previous situation above. And his virtue of knowledge is what I think brings you here”. She sensed a smile in the corner of her lips which she missed.
The king was stunned & rather getting satisfied with her answers but still he wanted to have of the girl’s knowledge. He said, “This answer is somewhat a bit convincing. But again another question has just born in my mind. What should be the character of the student then? Are you Purnima by far a good student of your guruji?”
In the mean time when the conversation was going on between the king & Purnima ,Purnima’s overwhelming & answers filled with all her simplicity had so touched her guru that he stood amazed aside. Without his knowledge tears started rolling from him eyes. But the moment the king started asking about the student’s character the guru got hold of his senses & replied almost quickly, “My Dear Lord let me have the opportunity to answer your this question whose answer is also in Bhagavad Gita (B.g-4.34) where the character of a humble disciple has been demonstrated-
Tad viddhi pranipatena
Pari prasnena sevayaa
Upadeksyantite jnanam
Jnaninastattva-darsinah.
Arthat- A true disciple should just try to learn by approaching the Guru. Inquire from him submissively and render service unto him. And I guess by no means my Purna is capable of proving that she is a good disciple. I am proud of you Purna-My child”.
The last words of her guru almost made her weep because she knew her guru loved her a lot but this was the first incident when he had expressed it. She couldn’t stop smiling but was even crying at the same time. Without her knowledge she just hugged her guruji just as a girl hugs her father. This action of her was welcomed by Guruji who sat down on his knees & even hugged Purna & placed a fatherly kiss on her forehead with tears even rolling down from his eyes. Such a beautiful & soothing scene was it to the eyes but the king interrupted in this and spoke again.
The king said, “I am convinced with your answers Guruji but still have a question for Purna”. This time the name of Purna pronounced from by him was with more affection than arrogance. The king continued, “Purna can you say my child what your guruji means to you”.
Purna by now was so much filled within the cuddle of her guru that she was lost in an unknown world of motherly affection which she was devoured of. But the question brought her back to her senses. Still sobbing & constantly wiping out her tears she replied, “This is for you Guruji-
Tvameva matta ca pita tvameva
Tvameva bandhusca sakha tvameva
Tvamema vidya dravinam tvameva
Tvameva sarvam mama devadeva”.
On saying those lines she started crying just like a small baby who was just as helpless was Purna at that moment. Her these lines were just like a tribute to her guru whom she thought everything, a mother whose cuddles she have missed, a father whose affection she had been devoured always ,a friend which she never had but yes she did have a guru whom even if she dedicated her entire life his dept she cannot fulfill.
Hearing this answer the king found that unknowingly he also had tears in his eyes & was unable to speak anything. He wanted to say something in return but found that his lips were quivering & his voice which didn’t seemed to come out was trembling. That small child Purnima’s answer had touched him so much that he was unable to speak a word out. He stood in silence for a while & the only sounds he could hear were the cripping of birds, the rustling of the leaves which swayed because of the light wind that was blowing & the constant sobbing of Purna who was trying hard to conceal herself so much into her Guruji’s cuddle.
The king however gathering all his emotions back said, “Purna I am truly impressed by your love & dedication towards your Guruji. I must say your name reflects your gratitude towards your guru. Just like the moon shines because of the sun’s “Abha”-brightness, you too reflect the knowledgeable “Abha” of your guruji. If the earth cannot imagine a day without the sun in the same way without the gurus the “Prithvi”-earth shall be devoid of knowledgeable light & lead the everlasting “Amabashya”. I am gratified .Truly Purnima you are, “Guru’s Purnima”. Guruji yes, I am convinced Purnima is your greatest achievement in your life. On this day of Guru Purnima for which I had came to your ashram to offer my prayers I witnessed this, the bonding of a guru & sishya which comes after the bonding between a mother & a child. I am finding no words to explain this beautiful bond. I am gratified, truly gratified”. Saying so he fell down on the feet’s of Guruji who was standing by now. The king got up placed his right hand lovingly over Purnima’s head & blessed her saying, “Yashashwi bhavaa-may you be blessed with all honor in life” & left the ashram at once controlling his tears which he couldn’t.
Guruji picked Purna up on her lap, kissed her again on her forehead & said, “Purna, my Purna, Guruji’s Purnima, let’s get started with a new lesson again”. And walking back towards their cottage, the Guruji thought at the same time, “Truly Purnima gave a new meaning to my existence & explained beautifully the unexpressed relation between her & me. She indeed is fulfillment of my “Apurna Angsha”- The unbolted part of life .The burnished fruit of my “Tapha”-meditation which The Almighty Lord has placed on my lap, my Purna”. Thinking so he clutched Purnima hard in his bosom & tears of wisdom rolled down with pride of a father flashed on his face.
[My dear readers let in everyone of us there be a Purnima who makes our Gurus proud. We can never repay back their debt, their dedication but at least on this day of Guru Purnima we can thank them for their help they provided us for what we all are today ]