Happy Gurupournima!

धन्य धन्य सद्गुरुसंगति । कोणा वर्णवे तियेची महती । आठवितां एकेक तयांच्या उक्ती । निजस्फूर्ति उचंबळे ।। प्रेमें करितां ईश्वरार्चन । गुरुसेवा गुरुपूजन । होईल गुरूगम्य संपादन । इतर साधन तें फोल ।। विक्षेप आणि आवरण । तेणे हा भवमार्ग संकीर्ण । गुरुवाक्य दीपकिरण । निर्विघ्न मार्गदर्शक ।। गुरु प्रत्यक्ष ईश्वर । ब्रह्मा विष्णू महेश्वर । गुरुचि वस्तुतः परमेश्वर । ब्रह्म परात्पर गुरुराय ।। गुरु जननी गुरु पिता । गुरु त्राता देव कोपतां । गुरु कोपतां कोणी न त्राता । सदा सर्वदा जाणावें ।। गुरु दर्शक प्रवृत्तीचा । तीर्थव्रत निवृत्तीचा । धर्माधर्म विरक्तीचा । वेदश्रुतीचा प्रवक्ता ।। उघडुनि बुद्धीचे डोळे । संत दाविती निजरूप-सोहळे । पुरविता भक्तीचे डोहळे । अति कोवळे कारुणिक ।। तेणें विषयवासना मावळे । निद्रेंतही ज्ञानचि चावळे । विवेक वैराग्य फळ जावळें । कृपाबळें हातीं ये ।। जाहलिया सत्समागम । संतसेवा संतप्रेम । स्वयें भक्तकामकल्पद्रुप । सर्व श्रम निवारी ।। सदा असावें सत्परायण । कराव्या संतकथा श्रवण । वंदावें संतांचे चरण । पापक्षालन होईल ।। 
                                   - साईसत्चरित - अध्याय १८

Wishing you all a very happy Gurupournima. 

*Per Indian culture Guru plays a very important role in individuals successful journey of life to safely cross the sea of samsara. Worldly life is full of confusion arising out of clashes because of differences among people. It creates confusion and destroys the peace of mind. It is only through company of Sadguru, who are full of compassion, that one can find direction to the life and ultimately reach the goal of achieving uninterrupted peace of mind. Sadguru's words are like beacon lights that help navigate successfully through the difficult journey of human life. Sadguru himself is a form of God. They say that Sadguru's grace can save his disciples even from the wrath of Gods, and on the contrary if Sadguru's grace is lacking then even Gods cannot help. Meditating of Sadguru's lotus feet, devotedly following his instructions, repeatedly reading his stories and ever remaining in his company is the guaranteed path to remove all sins and to achieve all purusharthas i.e. four main goals of the life namely - dharma (virtues), artha (wealth), kama (fulfillment of all desires) and moksha (attainment of bliss).

*This is not a translation of above extract from Saisatcharit but thoughts based on it.