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One of the many names of the Divine Mother, the sanskrit word `lalita' translates to `the playful one'. This newsletter of the same name is an attempt to understand and celebrate the grand puzzle that is life.

The word Guru is composed of the syllables Gu, denoting ignorance, and ru, denoting its removal. "Guru" is therefore someone who removes one's ignorance, and opens one up to experiencing oneself and living in joy. Over the ages, seers from diverse traditions have said and written in great depth about the sacred bond between Guru and disciple. A humble sampling of these is presented in this issue of Lalita.

On this auspicious occasion of Guru Pournami, we dedicate this inaugural issue of Lalita to the lotus feet of Gnanamba and Chaitanyananda of the Sri Rajarajeswari Peetam.

- M & G