Knowledge has the ability to transform both lives and the land. A Strong relationship of the Guru and Shishya is essential for Knowledge transfer to occur in a flawless manner. To make Bharatvarsha the Vishwa Guru, we must first focus on making her the land of Gurus like she was in ancient times.
By Dhavan Jahagirdar, Learner at Rashtram
India is the only land in the world where Guru is referred to as God. India is the land where a Guru has always been regarded as the one who can elevate the student in his life. The mantra that is chanted as Shanti Mantra highlights how teachers and students must work towards keeping their relationship sacred.
Om Sahana Vavatu is invoking the Supreme God to protect both the Student and the Teacher from any negative energies creeping between them.
ॐ सह नाववतु। Om , May God protect both teacher and the student
सह नौ भुनक्तु। May he nourishes together
सह वीर्यं करवावहै। May we work together with great energy
तेजस्वि नावधीतमस्तु May our studies be enlightening
मा विद्विषावहै। May there be no hate among us
ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः ॥
Mainstream education today has made the relationship of the Teacher and the Student transactional, leading to a depletion in the sanctity of the relationship which this land has always held in high regards. the advent of technology, and the prospect that it offers in the form of finding solutions to any problem in the world, has made students forget what value that a Guru or a Teacher can add to his/her life. This is leading to a schism resulting in a great loss for the society, since the relationship between a teacher and student is much more than just the transfer of knowledge that is there in the books. The challenging situation of Covid which has impacted learning immensely, is a cause for concern as online learning can never replicate the experience of learning from a Guru.
Teachers Day, celebrated in India in memory of former President Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, a renowned Educationist, is a commemoration of all the efforts that Teachers have put into making children ready for the challenges of the future. There are several instances where Teachers have sacrificed their dreams to make sure they brighten the lives of their students. Teachers Day is that occasion when Teachers are celebrated. The lockdown imposed due to Covid brought into light many such teachers who went out of their way to make sure that the process of learning continues. I have seen many teachers who had no idea how to use a Smartphone, making an effort to adapt well to the environment of online teaching. The commitment towards their profession is commendable.
We have several examples from our Indic past which show the sacredness of the Student-Teacher relationship. The Story from Katha Upanishad where Nachiketa waits for three days without Food and Water to meet and learn the mystery of life after Death from the Lord Dharmraja, speaks volumes about the devotion that the Student must have towards his Guru. The devotion of Ekalavya made it possible for him to sacrifice his very fingers, thus giving up his dream of becoming a supreme archer upon the mere request of his Guru Dronacharya. This highlights how elevated the relationship of a Guru- Shishya was in our ancient times.
As we revive and re-imagine the various philosophies and lessons that the treasures of Santana Dharma contain, we must also strive to revive the sacred relationship of the Guru and the Shishya. A strong Guru-Shishya relationship is a prerequisite for learning of the highest outcome to take place. The relationship between a Guru and Shishya, like any other, is built on trust. In today’s time, the foundation of trust is a rarity. There is work to be done from both the Students and the Teachers in rebuilding it. Knowledge has the ability to transform both lives and the land. A Strong relationship of the Guru and Shishya is essential for Knowledge transfer to occur in a flawless manner. To make Bharatvarsha the Vishwa Guru, we must first focus on making her the land of Gurus like she was in ancient times.
References
- www.jagranjosh.com/general-knowledge/september-5-teachers-day-in-india
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nachiketa
