Today is being celebrated as Guru Purnima. The Full Moon day in the month of Aashadha is celebrated as Guru Purnima.
Guru in Sanskrit and many other Indian languages means a teacher. The Sanskrit word Gu (darkness or ignorance) + RU (remover of ignorance or darkness). A Guru is one who removes our ignorance or darkness.
A Teacher teaches us right from reading and writing to any other skill or helps us in improving our knowledge which not only helps in our day to day activities or earn a lively hood but also helps us in the path of spirituality. In fact traditionally Indian Gurus emphasized more on teaching of morals, ethics and spiritual knowledge for the betterment of society, nation and environment or rather the whole universe along with individual development and enlightenment.
In Indian culture a teacher or Guru has got an important place and is worshiped or respected and revered. Mother and father are our first gurus at home. Then our teachers in educational institutions and then the Guru who guides us on our spiritual path. That is why we pray to our gurus each day by reciting:
"Gurur Brahma, Gurur Vishnu, Gurur Devo Maheshwara,
Guru Sakshat Parambrahmah Tasmai Shree Guru Veh Namah"
Guru Purnima is celebrated as Vyasa Purnima-the birth day of Veda Vyasa or Krishna Dwaipayana Vyasa. He was born to Parashara and Satyavati. Vyasa is the author of the great epic-Mahabharata. He also gathered all the vedic hymns and organised and edited them into four parts : Rig, Yajur, Sama and Atharvana Vedas. Because of this he earned the title of Vyasa (meaning editing or dividing).
The sanyasis, or monks, or disciples, celebrate this day by remembering and praying to Veda Vyasa, Adi Sankaracharya, or other Gurus like Shirdi Sai Baba, Dattatreya, Yogis like Lahari Mahasaya, Ramana Maharishi, Rama Krishna Paramhamsa or the ones who helped them on their spiritual path with their teachings etc. They also do Paada Puja by washing the feet of their Gurus and offering them flowers, fruits, shawls, or other gifts and seek their blessings.
So on the occasion of Guru Purnima, here is the Guru Paduka Stotram written by Sri Adi Sankaraacharya:
अनंत संसार समुद्र तार नौकायिताभ्यां गुरुभक्तिदाभ्यां।
वैराग्य साम्राज्यद पूजनाभ्यां नमो नमः श्री गुरु पादुकाभ्यां॥१॥
कवित्व वाराशि निशाकराभ्यां दौर्भाग्यदावांबुदमालिक्याभ्यां।
दूरीकृतानम्र विपत्तिताभ्यां नमो नमः श्री गुरु पादुकाभ्यां॥२॥
नता ययोः श्रीपतितां समीयुः कदाचिदप्याशु दरिद्रवर्याः।
मूकाश्च वाचसपतितां हि ताभ्यां नमो नमः श्री गुरु पादुकाभ्यां॥३॥
नाली कनी काशपदाहृताभ्यां नानाविमोहादिनिवारिकाभ्यां।
नमज्जनाभीष्टततिब्रदाभ्यां नमो नमः श्री गुरु पादुकाभ्यां॥४॥
नृपालिमौलि ब्रज रत्न कांति सरिद्विराज्झषकन्यकाभ्यां।
नृपत्वदाभ्यां नतलोकपंक्ते: नमो नमः श्री गुरु पादुकाभ्यां॥५॥
पापांधकारार्क परंपराभ्यां पापत्रयाहीन्द्र खगेश्वराभ्यां।
जाड्याब्धि संशोषण वाड्वाभ्यां नमो नमः श्री गुरु पादुकाभ्यां॥६॥
शमादिषट्क प्रदवैभवाभ्यां समाधि दान व्रत दीक्षिताभ्यां।
रमाधवांघ्रि स्थिरभक्तिदाभ्यां नमो नमः श्री गुरु पादुकाभ्यां॥७॥
स्वार्चा पराणामखिलेष्टदाभ्यां स्वाहासहायाक्ष धुरंधराभ्यां।
स्वान्ताच्छ भावप्रदपूजनाभ्यां नमो नमः श्री गुरु पादुकाभ्यां॥८॥
कामादिसर्प व्रजगारुडाभ्यां विवेक वैराग्य निधि प्रदाभ्यां।
बोध प्रदाभ्यां दृत मोक्ष दाभ्यां नमो नमः श्री गुरु पादुकाभ्यां॥९॥
In English:
Anantha samsaara samudra taara, naukayithabhyam guru bhakthithabhyam,
Vairagya samrajyadha poojanabhyam, namo namaha sri guru paadukhabyam. ॥1॥
Kavithva varasi nisagarabhyam, dourbhagya davam budhamalikabhyam,
Dhoorikrutha namra vipathithabhyam, namo namaha sri guru paadukhabyam.॥2॥
Natha yayo sripatitam samiyu kadachidabhyasu daridra varya,
Mookascha vachas pathitham hi thabhyam, namo namaha sri guru paadukhabyam.॥3॥
Naleeka neekasa pada hrithabhyam, nana vimohadhi nivarikabyam,
Nama janabheesh tathi pradhabhyam namo namaha sri guru paadukhabyam.॥4॥
Nrupaali moulee braja rathna kanthi sariddha raja jjashakanyakabhyam,
Nrupad vadabhyam nathaloka pankhthe, namo namaha sri guru paadukhabyam.॥5॥
Papaandha karaarka paramparabhyam, thapat hryaheendra khageswarabhyam,
Jad yadhi samso shanavad vabhyam namo namaha sri guru paadukhabyam.॥6॥
Shamadhi shatka pradha vaibhava bhyam, Samadhi dhana vratha deeksithabhyam,
Ramadhavadeegris sthirha bhakthidabhyam, namo namaha sri guru paadukhabyam. ॥7॥
Swarchaparana makhilesh tathabhyam, swaha sahayaksha durndarabhyam,
Swanthachad bhava pradha poojanabhyam, namo namaha sri guru paadukhabyam.॥8॥
Kaamadhi sarpa vraja garudabhyam, viveka vairagya nidhi pradhabhyam,
Bhodha pradhabhyam drutha mokshathabhyam, namo namaha sri guru paadukhabyam॥9॥
Meaning:
Salutations to the Paadukas* of my Guru,
Which is a boat, which helps me, to cross the endless ocean of life,
Which endows me, with the sense of devotion to my Guru,
And by worship of which, I attain the dominion of renunciation
Salutations to the Paadukas* of my Guru,
Which is the ocean of knowledge, resembling the full moon,
Which is the water, which puts out the fire of misfortunes,
And which removes distresses of those who prostrate before it.
Salutations to the Paadukas* of my Guru,
Which make those who prostrate before it,
Possessors of great wealth, even if they are very poor,,
And which makes even dumb people in to great orators.
Salutations to the Paadukas* of my Guru,
Which attracts us, to lotus like feet of our Guru,
Which cures us, of the unwanted desires,
And which helps fulfill the desires of those who salute.
Salutations to the Paadukas* of my Guru,
Which shine like gems on the crown of a king,
Which shine like a maid in the crocodile infested stream,
And which make the devotees attain the status of a king.
Salutations to the Padukas* of my Guru,
Which is like a series of Suns, driving away the dark sins,
Which is like the king of eagles, driving away the cobra of miseries,
And which is like a terrific fire drying away the ocean of ignorance.
Salutations to the Paadukas* of my Guru,
Which endows us, with the glorious six qualities like sham,
Which gives the students ,the ability to go in to eternal trance,
And which helps to get perennial devotion to the feet of Vishnu.
Salutations to the Paadukas* of my Guru,
Which bestows all desires of the serving disciples,
Who are ever involved in carrying the burden of service
And which helps the aspirants to the state of realization.
Salutations to the Paadukas* of my Guru,
Which is the Garuda,which drives away the serpent of passion,
Which provides one, with the treasure of wisdom and renunciation,
Which blesses one,with enlightened knowledge,
And blesses the aspirant with speedy salvation.
*Paadukas means the traditional or ancient footwear worn by the sanyasi, mendicants or saints. They are made of wood or metals etc. Read more about them here:
For more detailed word to word explanation and meaning of the stotram you can visit this link:
So let us remember all our teachers, including our mother and father, respect them and try to follow their teachings to become a more better human being.
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