The word guru in the dharmic traditions—namely Sanatana, Buddha and Jaina—refers to someone who dispels the darkness of ignorance. Because ignorance is the primary barrier to enlightenment or moksha, the guru is supremely important.
Today is Guru Purnima. Hindus believe that on this day Bhagwan Shiva became the first guru (adi guru) when he transmitted the knowledge of yoga to the world. Also that sage Vyasa, the author of the Mahabharata, was born on this day.
For Buddhists, Guru Purnima commemorates the day when Gautama Buddha delivered his first sermon at the Deer Park in Sarnath, setting in motion the Wheel of Dharma. For Jains, it is the day when Mahavira, the 24th tirthankara accepted his first disciple. These two events are dated to around 2,500 years ago.
As today is Guru Purnima it is appropriate to express one’s gratitude and reverence to one’s spiritual and academic gurus by reciting the guru vandana. It’s one of the first Sanskrit mantra I learned.
ॐ Guru Brahma, Guru Vishnu
Guru Devo Maheshwara
Guru Shakshat Parabramha
Tasmai Shri Guruvey Namaha ॐ
Rough translation: The guru is Bramha (one who creates); the guru is Vishnu (one who preserves creation); and the guru is the god Maheshwara (aka Shiva, one who completes the cycle creation by annihilation). The guru is the personification of the Ultimate Bramha. I salute the guru.
I have had many gurus who have guided me along my intellectual path. Many of my spiritual gurus have been from the dharmic traditions (therefore mostly, but not exclusively, Indian) and my academic gurus have been mostly (but not exclusively) dead white men. One day I should make a list of my gurus.
Sakshat pranam to all my gurus.
Guru vandana is included in the chorus of George Harrison’s song “My Sweet Lord”. Listen:
On the topic of Sanskrit mantra, here’s one that I learned rather late in life. The Gayatri mantra, a sacred and revered Rig Vedic mantra. It is addressed to Savitr, a solar deity. The Gayatri Mantra is considered the “mother of all mantras.” It is also associated with the concept of the Divine Mother, who protects her children and leads them toward self-realization.
“ॐ भूर्भुवः स्वः तत्सवितुर्वरेण्यं भर्गो देवस्य धीमहि धियो यो नः प्रचोदयात् “
“Om Bhur Bhuvah Svah, Tat Savitur Varenyam Bhargo Devasya Dheemahi Dhiyo Yo Nah Prachodayat“
The meaning of the mantra: “Om” represents the sound of the universe. “Bhur” refers to the physical world, “Bhuvaḥ” to the mental world, and “Svaḥ” to the celestial world. “Tat” means “That,” referring to something beyond. “Savitur” is another name for Savitri or Gayatri, and “Vareṇyaṃ” means the most excellent. “Bhargo” is radiance, “Devasya” is the divine, “Dhīmahi” means we meditate upon, “Dhiyo” refers to the intellect, “Yo” means which, “Naha” means our, and “Pracodayāt” means may enlighten.
Therefore —
“Om, the Lord is earth, the space in between, and the heavens. That Lord is the one who is the most worshipful. We meditate on that effulgent, all-knowledge Lord. May he set our intellects in the right”.
Another Sanskrit mantra I know is the shloka from the Isa Upanishad.
“Purna madah, purna midam Purnat purna mudachyate …”
That is the infinite; this is the infinite. When this infinite is taken from that infinite, that infinite alone remains.
Swami Sarvapriyanand explains it here.
I like Pandit Jasraj’s rendition of that shloka in a classical raga. Here’s an excerpt:
I will post the longer bit from which I took that bit from later.
The next Sanskrit mantra I know is the Om Asatoma mantra, which is derived from the Brhadaranyaka Upanishad. It is a request: lead me from the untrue to the true; from darkness to light; from death to immortality.
ॐ असतो मा सद्गमय ।
तमसो मा ज्योतिर्गमय ।
मृत्योर्मा अमृतं गमय ।
ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः ॥
Credit: Ravi Shankar/George Harrison.
Om Asato Maa Sad-Gamaya
Tamaso Maa Jyotir-Gamaya
Mrtyor-Maa Amrtam Gamaya
Om Shaantih Shaantih Shaantih
Alright, time to listen to a couple of songs that have some connection to Hindu dharma. From the movie Matrix: Revolution. When I listen to this song — Navras — my neighbors hear it too 🙂
And I cannot end this Guru Purnima without listening to George Harrison’s My Sweet Lord (an excerpt from which I posted above.)
George considered Ravi Shankar to be one of his gurus. Sadly, George was gone too soon. His ashes were scattered in the Ganga since he was a Hindu.
That’s all for now. Be well, do good work and keep in touch.
(This is a totally recycled post from July 10, 2025 — last year’s Guru Purnima. Thanks to my friend Veer for reminding me that today is Guru Purnima.)
NOTE about the Ganesh image at the top of this post. The image is my dashboard Ganesh. I always have him in the car because I have a deal with him. Never had an auto accident in my nearly 50 years of driving 🙂
While most people know Ganesh primarily as the remover of obstacles (Vighnaharta), he is also a guru. Ganesh is a teacher of wisdom. In the Mahabharata, Ganesha is the scribe who writes down the epic while sage Vyasa dictated. Therefore Ganesha is considered a supreme master of sacred knowledge, intellect, and focus.
In certain traditions where Ganesha is worshiped as the supreme reality, he is seen as the Guru Tattva—the universal principle of enlightenment that dispels darkness (Gu meaning darkness, Ru meaning remover).
Ganesh’s large head symbolizes vast intellectual capacity, his trunk represents adaptable discernment (Viveka), and his large ears emphasize listening—the fundamental quality of a true student under a guru.
He is identified with the primordial sound, Om (ॐ), the foundational vibration of the universe, which is considered the source of all Vedic knowledge and spiritual teaching.
For many spiritual seekers, Ganesha is invoked before beginning any study, meditation, or spiritual lineage practice precisely because he serves as the archetype of the ideal inner teacher.
Atanu Dey : Life is a Random Draw 