INDICA invites seekers across the world to nominate their Gurus for its annual flagship #Grateful2Gurus felicitation program. This is an opportunity for seekers to recognize the knowledge imparted and transformative journeys guided by their Gurus and honour them.
#Grateful2Gurus 2025 will be conducted in three formats:
- At the Guru’s residence
- In Chennai
- At Universities, Colleges, and Indian Knowledge System (IKS) Centres
Honouring our Gurus
In the Indian tradition, a Guru is an enlightened master who selflessly imparts knowledge and wisdom in a specific domain. This guidance is offered to a deserving Shishya for the eternal flow of knowledge and lokasangraha. The Guru makes the right choice of a Shishya assessing his adhikAra from among many candidates. The Dharmic literature is full of reverence for Gurus for they have always been the key conduits through which knowledge and tradition are transmitted over generations. Gurus serve as vital bridges—carrying the wisdom of the past, innovating in the present, and preparing the ground for the future.
This knowledge spans the full spectrum of Purusharthas—Dharma, Artha, Kama, and Moksha—making the Guru an unparalleled figure of esteem in the Indian worldview.
अज्ञानतिमिरान्धस्य ज्ञानाञ्जनशालाकया ।
चक्षुरुन्मीलितं येन तस्मै श्रीगुरवे नमः ॥Gurustotra.३॥
ajñānatimirāndhasya jñānāñjanaśālākayā |
cakṣurunmīlitaṃ yena tasmai śrīgurave namaḥ ||Gurustotra.3||
The 3rd Shloka of the revered Gurustotra describes a Guru as one who removes the darkness of ignorance from our blind (Inner) eyes by applying a special ‘anjana (collyrium)’ which is the light of knowledge. Gurus enable the transition of our journeys from mere Artha, Kama to complete Purushartha from within every discipline and domain. The Upanishads describe the Guru as the “dispeller of darkness,” whose grace is essential for success in both material and spiritual pursuits.
A Tradition Sustained by Gurus
Throughout our civilizational journey, countless Gurus have guided communities and individuals in their pursuit of Purushartha. In good times, Gurus elevate Shishyas with the right adhikAra to occupy high seats of the civilization for Dharma to thrive along with prosperity for the wellbeing of all beings. They shape a society where healthy life, happiness for all and harmony across all pursuits are chief ideals. In times of crisis, they strive to protect and restore Dharma.
- Acharya Chanakya restored Dharma by mentoring Chandragupta to be a Dharmic King and establishing Maurya empire when Magadha appeared to lose way after centuries of glory
- Adi Shankaracharya revived the Upanishadic tradition amidst competing worldviews.
- Ramanujacharya and Madhvacharya evolved distinct paths from the same source texts, giving rise to new syntheses of Jnana, Bhakti, and Karma.
- Swami Vidyaranya inspired the founding of the Vijayanagara Empire by Hakka and Bukka, supported by Yatis from various sampradayas, protecting and flourishing Sanatana Dharma.
- Swami Ramdas shaped Chhatrapati Shivaji’s approach to statecraft and Dharma during a critical time.
- Swami Vivekananda and Sri Aurobindo Ghosh led the emergence of a multi-dimensional decolonization and renaissance of Bharatavarsha leading to diverse flows of freedom movement against the British Empire.
Our times bring many more challenges to Dharma. Nevertheless, many such torchbearers continue to protect and nurture Dharma—often in quiet, unrecognized ways. Thanks to these unsung heroes that much of our tradition has endured through turbulent centuries.
About the #Grateful2Gurus Initiative
At INDICA honouring Gurus is the core of our organization culture. INDICA was established in 2015 with our support to Sivasundara Sadguru Shastra Sabha, along with blessings from Kanchi Kamakoti Shankaracharya Peetham, towards the eternal continuation of Tenali Pareeksha – an exemplar of our unique Guru-Shishya Parampara. In the very next year, 2016-17, INDICA launched our flagship program #Grateful2Gurus – a unique concept to honour our Gurus in the traditional way. GuruPurnima, the day on which the tradition honours one of our greatest Gurus – Maharshi Vyasa, was aptly chosen as the day for this honour and celebration. It began as an initiative of INDICA chapters to honour Gurus in their own communities on GuruPurnima. By 2018–20, the program expanded nationally, allowing Dharmikas across India to nominate Gurus for home felicitation, even where no local chapter existed. In 2023, the program was revived with new scope—including a central felicitation ceremony in Chennai. In 2024 we continued the tradition and honoured 37 Gurus both at Chennai and in their respective residences. We are blessed to have had the opportunity to honour 132 Gurus so far as part of our #Grateful2Gurus program.
We are blessed to have honoured luminaries such as Dr. Bibek Debroy, Shri. Prakash Belawadi, Dr. Sashikala Ramaratnam, Prof. R. Thiagarajan, Prof. Shrinivasa Varakhedi, Vidushi. Suguna Varadachari, Prof. Amba Kulkarni, Shri. Aryambath Janarthanan, Shri Rajiv Vasudevan, Prof. MS Sriram, Dr. Manohar Shindhe, Prof. Gauri Mahulikar, Swami Mukundananda, Mahamahopadhyayacharya Dr. Pushpa Dikshit, Smt. Indumati Tai Katdare, Dr. Gautam Sen, Shri. Lakshmeesha Tolpadi, Prof. Madhusudhana Penna and Dr. Priyadarshana Jain in the previous editions of our #Grateful2Gurus program.
At the core of the #Grateful2Gurus program is the celebration of Guru-Shishya Parampara. It is the celebration of the unique relationship, a special anubandha, between the Guru and the Shishya. Thus, we invite nominations from Shishyas who have received and benefited from the grace of their Gurus. The recommending Shishya gets the opportunity to honour the Guru at his/her house on Guru-Purnima with select Gurus being invited to Chennai to be honoured at an exclusive ceremony.
A complete list of honoured Gurus is available [here].
Nominate a Guru for 2025
Felicitation at the Guru’s Residence (on Guru Purnima – 10 July, 2025)
INDICA invites you to take part in a special opportunity to recognize and celebrate distinguished Gurus from across Bharat. If you know a Guru in your region who has dedicated themselves selflessly to the cause of Dharma—someone over 60 years of age, with at least 10 years of sustained work in preserving and promoting Dharmic traditions—you can nominate them for this year’s #Grateful2Gurus felicitation.
To make a nomination, share details about the Guru and their contributions through this nomination form. A selection committee will carefully review all nominations and identify those who will be honoured this year.
If your nomination is selected, you’ll have the honour of visiting the Guru’s home on Guru Purnima—10th July, 2025—to personally present them with a shawl and a token cheque of ₹11,000, sponsored by INDICA.
Let’s come together to express our gratitude to those who have walked the path of Dharma and illuminated it for others.
Last date for nominations: June 10, 2025
Felicitation in Chennai (on Guru Purnima -10 July, 2025)
In addition to home visits, INDICA will be hosting a special felicitation ceremony in Chennai on Guru Purnima, where selected Gurus will be honoured in a traditional and heartfelt celebration.
We warmly invite nominations for this event as well.
If you know of Gurus who have dedicated their lives to upholding and spreading Dharma, now is the time to bring their work into the light. Help us find and honour these torchbearers of tradition.
Please share this message widely—with friends, family, communities, and networks—and help us discover those truly deserving of this recognition.
Last date for nominations: 10 June, 2025
Felicitation at Universities/Colleges/IKS Centres
INDICA will also organise a felicitation ceremony on Gurupurnima in Universities, Colleges and Indian Knowledge System (IKS) Departments/Centres where students/teachers seek to honour Gurus from an IKS domain. We invite nominees for this ceremony too from Shishyas in such Institutions. IKS is emerging as a prominent pursuit in institutions of eminence and higher learning. Several Gurus have been serving the cause of IKS for decades even before the national IKS resurgence in recent years. INDICA seeks to honour such Gurus and seek nominations from their Shishyas.
We urge our readers to help us identify and honour such Gurus who have contributed to preserving and propagating Dharma. Please share this message with your friends, family and acquaintances and help us identify deserving Gurus.
Last date for nominations: June 10, 2025
Help us reach out and honour our Gurus
We look forward to Dharmikas helping us identify and honour those who have silently and steadfastly upheld our Dharma. We eagerly look forward to your nominations. Please do share this message with your friends, family, and wider community.
Let us come together to be truly #Grateful2Gurus.
