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What is the significance of Rath Yatra
? 
Answer: First
let us consider the meaning and origin of Rath Yatra. Rath
means chariot. Yatra is either a procession or pilgrimage.
Every year on Ashadh sud 2 (around June), Hindus celebrate
the utsav of Rath Yatra. There are several interesting episodes
about the origin of Rath Yatra.
(1) In the Bhagwatam (10/39), it is said that devotees
celebrated the day when Shri Krishna and Balram left Gokul
for Mathura in a chariot. This was known as Rath Yatra.
(2) After Shri Krishna destroyed the evil Kansa,
he gave darshan to devotees in a rath with Balram, in Mathura.
(3) When Shri Krishna was in Dwarka, on the west
coast of Saurashtra, he once took his sister, Subhadra for
a ride in a chariot to show her the city’s beauty.
Devotees celebrated this day as Rath Yatra.
(4) After he passed away, his bones floated to the
shore of Jagannath Puri, on the east coast of Bharat. Here
Bhagwan gave darshan to the local king, Indradyumna and
instructed him to collect the bones, place them in the back
of a wooden murti and build a mandir. Since then, during
Rath Yatra, the murtis of Shri Krishna, Balram and Subhadra
are placed on separate chariots and pulled by devotees.
This is the greatest Rath Yatra utsav in the world.
The second biggest is celebrated in Amdavad, Gujarat. Here
the murtis from the Jagannath mandir are taken in chariots
through the city. About 15 elephants of the mandir, as well
as many beautiful floats lead this unique Yatra.
Significance of Rath Yatra
Our life is regarded as a yatra – pilgrimage towards
Parmatma. Our body symbolises the rath – chariot,
with which we make the journey. Though we live in this ‘rath’,
the shastras and rishis advise us to surrender all its control
to Parmatma and the Satpurush. In simple terms, this means
we should obey all their commands. We then earn their blessings
and so our Rath Yatra to Akshardham is successful.
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What is the importance of Guru Punam (Purnima)?
Answer: The day of full moon is known as Punam. The
Punam of the Ashadh month is known as Guru Purnima. It is
also known as Vyas Purnima, in remembrance of Bhagwan Ved
Vyas.
In the Sanatan Dharma, he is regarded as the Adi (original)
Guru. He is also the greatest rishi in Sanatan Dharma. He
classified the Vedas into four – Rg, Yajur, Saam and
Atharva. He also wrote the Mahabharat, 18 Purans –
of which the Shrimad Bhagwat is considered the most sacred.
And the Bhagvad Gita is part of the Mahabharat. The Upanishads
and Bhagwat sing the glory of the Guru; one who teaches
para vidya – knowledge about pleasing Bhagwan.
On this day Hindus offer pujan of their spiritual Guru.
This Guru guides devotees on the spiritual path, leading
them to Bhagwan. By our own efforts we cannot reach Bhagwan.
Only the true Guru, also known as a Satpurush who has constant
rapport with Bhagwan, can guide us.
In Sanskrit, the word “Guru” is made of: “Gu”
– which means darkness, ignorance. “Ru”
means “remover of.” He guides us by giving us
small and important agnas (commands) to remove the maya
(ignorance) in our hearts. He then enlightens us. This is
the true meaning of “Guru”.
Guru Pujan in Daily Life
Every year, Pramukh Swami Maharaj celebrates Guru Purnima
in Bochasan. This year, he will be in Orlando, Florida.
Practically however, Swami Bapa has often said, “Strictly
obeying the agna of our Guru is true Guru Pujan.”
Doing chandlo and offering garlands and extra dandvats to
Swami Bapa is important. But more important is that we should
introspect and ask ourselves everyday, throughout the whole
year, “Am I obeying Swami Bapa’s every command
sincerely? Do I do puja, arti, thal, Ekadashi, ghar sabha
regularly with true bhakti? Or mechanically? Do I watch
T.V., internet, cinema? Do I read books which Swami Bapa
would not like? Do I keep bad company – with those
who do not believe in Bhagwan? Do I study well in school,
do homework regularly? Do I make fun of my school teacher
or crack jokes about him?” Our school teachers are
regarded as vidya gurus – they give us knowledge of
this world (apara vidya). Therefore we should never make
fun of them, if we wish to gain knowledge and get high grades.
Besides, this does not please Swami Bapa at all. In fact
he would be pleased if we did pranams (namaskar) to our
schoolteachers every morning.
We should also ask ourselves: Do I read Satsang books daily?
Do I offer panchang pranams to my parents and other elders
in the home, such as, grandparents, after nitya puja? Do
I argue with and disobey my parents frequently? Do I use
foul lauguage and swear when I get angry? This is one form
of hinsa (sin). Do I backbite and look at faults of other
balaks? Do I eat foods, chocolates, any other commercial
products, even medications that have gelatin, eggs or things
which we should not eat?
So dear balaks, let us resolve to do “Guru Pujan”
everyday, by taking niyams to improve our daily life by
removing bad habits and swabhavs.
Only then will Swami Bapa shower
his innermost blessings on us to remove our darkness. Only
then will Bhagwan Swaminarayan enlighten our hearts.
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