10/07/2025
Happy Guru Purnima to all of us on the evolution path. Our obeisances and gratefullness to our Gurus in this life 🙏
GURU PURNIMA
“Yoga Is my Guru. Yoga alone taught me Yoga.
Guru is one who is full of knowledge, full of light. Purnima is a full moon day. The Sun throws the light and the Moon receives it. Guru too who is full of knowledge , pours that knowledge for his disciples to receive it. Therefore, this day is called Guru Purnima. It is a very significant full moon day on which to celebrate the Guru-Sisya relationship.
My parampara is traced back to God. This Yoga is presented to us by Patanjali, who is also my Guru. Patanjali says that God is the first, foremost and absolute Guru, unconditioned by time and ever present, who guides us from within. He is also my Guru. This Guru is nearest and dearest to me. He dwells in my heart and speaks to my heart, and I salute him who is within me.
When I look back myself, I feel surprised how the Lord residing within guided me! I never thought that the tree of Yoga would grow like the Banyon tree. I never thought that the hidden knowledge will sprout in such a gigantic manner. I am grateful to my Guru, who sowed the seed of interest in me. The seed survived and grew into a tree giving me a magnanimous fruit.
It was my fate that I had to go to my teacher at Mysore for domestic help. But through fate I was fortunate enough to receive this knowledge. I got converted to Yoga; and the faith in it uplifted me to this level.
In those days I was like a person possessed. I was possessed by Yoga. There was nothing but a single thought ‘Yoga’ in my wakeful, or sleepy or dreamy, or aware or unaware states. I was haunted by Yoga consciously, unconsciously, subconsciously and perhaps even supraconsciously.
Another meaning of Guru is weight or heaviness. It is a weight of knowledge that the Guru puts on you. Guru Purnima Is the day of dedication where the pupil surrenders himself to the Guru. He follows the words and works of the Guru. He works selflessly and gains self-respect.
While practicing or teaching, I am not Iyengar. Something inside kindles me to forget myself and makes me an impersonal entity.
Yoga is the practice and Yoga is the soul. When sadhaka, Sadhna and Sadhya (aim) become one, it is union , it is Yoga. You are Yoga and Yoga is you. Kindle the light of Yoga, so that Yoga enlightens you to become a wise man.
BKS IYENGAR
ASTADALA YOGAMALA VOL: 3
photo credit : RIMYI
