Page 1 - Tapovan Prasad_October_2024

Äcärya Devo Bhava

SWAMI AVYAYANANDA

cärya devo bhava is a very famous phrase from the Upanishad.
1
ÄIt is one of a series of statements – mätådevo bhava, pitådevo bhava,
and atithidevo bhava. But what does äcärya devo bhava mean, and
how does it apply to us?
This statement is traditionally addressed to graduating
students as part of the graduation speech from their teacher in the
gurukula. It is often misunderstood to mean, ‘Consider your teacher
as God’, but in fact, bhava means, ‘You be!’

What am I to be?
You be that student for whom the teacher is God!
Be Lifelong Students

How is this statement relevant to teachers? Even while playing
the role of educators, we must remember that we are constantly
learning and evolving. We are, in a sense, eternal students.
Even while being a teacher, we continue to learn about ourselves

1 Taittiriya Upanishad, 1.11.2

Transcribed and edited from a talk by Swami Avyayananda to the teaching staff at
Chinmaya Vidyalaya New Delhi on June 28, 2024.

Talk to the youth and inspire
them to grow from within so
SHRI ATUL KARANJKAR that they can explode in the
Belagavi world outside, spreading joy and
peace in the community.
Swami Chinmayananda

Tapovan Prasad 26 October 2024