The True Meaning of Vyasa Puja

Today is the appearance day of my most worship able Srila Gurudeva. On this day, Sri Guru will worship Srila Vyasadeva and the entire guru-parampara. A bona fide guru never takes worship from his disciples. Instead He offers it to Krsna, Srimati Radhika and the entire guru-parampara.

Below is an excerpt of the meaning of Vyasa-puja given by my Srila Gurudeva in Hawaii.

"It is the custom in our Brahma-Madhva-Gaudiya Sampradaya that any acarya who is widely spreading Krsna consciousness in the line of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Srila Rupa Gosvami under the guidance of Sri Krsna Dvaipayana Vyasadeva will worship Srila Vyasadeva and the guru-parampara on his birthday.

This worship is called Guru-puja and also Vyasa-puja. We have seen how our Gurudeva and his god-brothers used to very humbly celebrate their Vyasa-puja.

This occasion is not meant for taking puja, worship, from disciples. On his birthday the acarya worships his guru and guru-parampara – Srila Vyasadeva, Sri Krsna, Sriman Mahaprabhu, Srimati Radhika and others – in a mood of great respect. This is Guru-puja or Vyasa-puja.Why do we offer devotion to Sri Krsna? What is the reason we pay so much respect to Sri Gurudeva? If we are gaining spiritual advancement from someone, we respect him. No gain, no respect.

Sri Gurudeva always feels indebted to his Gurudeva and guru-parampara. Without Guru, guru-parampara, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Sri Krsna, what is there? Nothing. In other words there can be no spiritual advancement. "

Also, a bona fide guru does not only makes disciples, he makes gurus. Take the history of Aruni and Upamanyu. They very sincerely served the lotus feet of their guru that all knowledge manifested in their hearts. There weren't learned or anything. Everything comes by the mercy of Sri Guru.

Therefore, this most insignificant ashalata devi dasi is praying at the lotus feet of my Srila Gurudeva that one day I may realise all these truths and eternally serve His Lotus Feet.

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