Guru Purnima 2021

Jai Kailasa Parampara!
Jai Satguru Bodhinatha Veylanswami!

During the full moon, Kauai Aadheenam celebrated Guru Purnima. This annual festival usually takes place on the full moon in July and, as the name suggests, it is a time of showing devotion and appreciation for our teachers. For our monastics and members it is a time of honoring our Satguru. The event began in the early morning hours with a chariot parade down San Marga, leading to the Svayambhu Lingam square. Once there, Satguru entered deep meditation and a padapuja was performed for him, thus honoring the holy feet of the Kailasa Parampara's revered preceptor. Aum.

From the Kularnava Tantra: \"There is One Real. Call it Siva. This Parabrahman is formless, stainless, one without a second, changeless, beyond the highest...\"

This Mahesvara is all-knowing, all-doing, sovereign of all, self-luminous, without beginning or end. All embodied souls, jivas, all the born creatures, are portions of Me, like sparks of the fire.

But human birth is the most important, for it is then that one becomes awake, aware of his state of bondage and the necessity of release.

It is then that one is in a position to take steps for his liberation from bondage\

s hold.'

Humans have a self-will and are not totally subject to the impulses and drives of nature as are other creatures. It is only on this earth--and that too in a human body endowed with a soul--that one can choose one\

s path for spiritual progress.'

But not all are aware of the precious opportunity afforded by human birth, which is truly the ladder to Liberation. The Self is to be realized only here in this life.

If here you do not find it and work out the means for your Liberation, where else is it possible?

It is possible nowhere else. It has to be worked out by yourself from within yourself.

The world you reach after the physical body is shed is determined by the level of consciousness reached while in the body.

So, as long as the body lasts, exert yourself towards the goal of Liberation.

Remember, the physical body does not last forever. Age prowls like a leopard; diseases attack like an enemy. Death waits not to see what is done or not done. Before the limbs lose their vitality, before adversities crowd in upon you, take to the auspicious path.

Therefore, choose, then worship a Satguru.

Worship his feet.

Cherish the very sandals (paduka) which hold his feet.

All knowledge is founded on those paduka.

Remember and cherish those paduka, which yield infinitely more merit than any number of observances, gifts, sacrifices, pilgrimages, mantra-japa and rituals of worship.

It is these feet, when remembered, that protect in times of distress, danger or calamity.

Study, remembrance, knowledge, donations, sacrifices and worship are truly done by him who ever remembers the Satguru\

s feet.'

Look toward the direction in which the lotus feet of the Satguru lie and bow down to them every day with devotion.

There is no mantram higher than that of his feet, no merit higher than his worship.

At the root of meditation is the form of the Satguru.

At the root of puja are the feet of the Satguru.

At the root of mantra is the word of the Satguru.

At the root of Liberation is the grace of the Satguru.

In this world all holy actions are rooted in the Satguru.

Therefore, the Satguru is to be constantly served with devotion for fulfillment.

As darkness is destroyed at the very sight of the lamp,

so is ignorance destroyed at the sight of the holy Sivaguru. Aum.

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