Thursday 7 July 2022 | Ashadh Sud 8, Samvat 2078
Thu 7 Jul 2022
On Sunday, 16th July 2000 devotees from all over the world gathered at Shree Swaminarayan Temple, London to celebrate Gurupoornima in the divine presence of His Holiness Acharya Swamishree.
Ashad sud poonam is the auspicious Gurupoonam, one of the three main annual festivals of the Swaminarayan sampradaya. On this day, devotees gather and pay homage to Gurudev SwaminarayanBapa Swamibapa.
Jeevanpran Swamibapa explains the precise meaning of the Sanskrit word guru.
Gu means andhkaar (darkness).
Ru means prakash (light).
Thus, he who enlightens the ignorant, i.e. shines light to those in darkness, is called a Guru.
It is only Lord SwaminarayanBapa Swamibapa that can enlighten us ignorant souls to the supreme bliss of eternal happiness, the endless peace of the supreme Lord. Thus our supreme Guru can only be Lord SwaminarayanBapa Swamibapa. Jeevanpran Swamibapa says, "Guru veenaa gnaan nahi." Without a Guru, knowledge cannot be attained. Lord Swaminarayan showed the importance of a Guru in ones life by taking Shree Ramanand Swami as His Guru.
On Sunday, 16th July 2000 devotees from all over the world gathered at Shree Swaminarayan Temple, London to celebrate Gurupoornima in the divine presence of His Holiness Acharya Swamishree.
Acharya Shree Jitendriyapriyadasji Swamiji Maharaj is the current spiritual leader of Maninagar Shree Swaminarayan Gadi Sansthan. He is the heir to Acharya Shree Purushottampriyadasji Swamishree Maharaj, and sixth in the lineage of ascetic Acharyas, which descends directly from Lord Shree Swaminarayan.