Guru Purnima 2024

Guru Purnima is celebrated on the first full moon following the summer solstice. It is a day that celebrates the "guru."

The Sanskrit word guru has been adopted into modern English as a word for an expert or teacher, but holds a far deeper meaning.

The syllable "gu" represents darkness and ignorance. The syllable "ru" represents the Light of knowledge of and understanding. The guru is one who dispels the darkness within our being, bringing the Light of understanding. 

Guru is usually the word reserved for spiritual masters. Those beings who have advanced their spiritual consciousness and serve humanity by guiding people to discover their own inner spiritual consciousness. 

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Om shri gurubhyo namah. Om guru.

I take this opportunity to honor my own Guru - Sri Vasudeva of Trinidad and Tobago, and all the masters of the Mahayoga lineage. 

May their Light continue to shine throughout the ages.

You can find out more about Sri Vasudeva and his work on his website and non-profit centre. 

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This year some of my students arranged and hosted a small satsang for Guru Purnima at my studio. It was quite impromptu, but I still wanted to share some of it with you. 

Here are some (very low quality) videos of the chanting from that session. Perhaps you can connect with the vibrations. Enjoy, namaskar. 

Hymn to the Guru

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Guru Mantra

Guru brahma
Guru vishnu
Guru devo maheshwara
Guru saakshaat parabrahman
tasmai shri guruve namah

The guru is the creator, sustainer, and destroyer. Guru is the witness of all, the absolute. To that guru we bow. 

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They asked me to sing this one as it is one of my favorites. 

Bolo bolo sabmela bolo om namah shivaya
om namah shivaya (x2)

Juta jata me gangadhari
Trishula dhari damaru bajave

Dama dama dama damaru baje
Gunj uta om namah shivaya

Om namah shivaya (X4)

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We often sing this Kali mantra to the primordial shakti, as an honoring to the power of Kundalini that drives our spiritual transformation. 

Kali Mantra

Om hreem shreem kleem
adya kalika paremeshwari svaha

jai ma, kalika, svaha

Jai mata kali maha kali
jai ma jai ma