Guru Purnima is one of the most important festivals celebrated in INDIA; this festival dedicated to teachers and on this day people worship their Guru (or the Teacher) . Here’s more about the festival, its history and why its celebrated.
What is the significance of Guru Purnima?
In India, the month of Ashadh marks the beginning of monsoons. According to the legends, instead of roaming about, saints stayed in temporary camps where devotees gathered to listen to their wisdom. The very first day of learning was dedicated to honouring the teacher, thus leading to the celebration of Guru Purnima.
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Guru Poornima is also known as Vyasa Poornima, as it is believed that Ved Vyasa – the author of Mahabharata, was born on this day. It is celebrated in memory of the great sage Vyasa, the ancient saint who compiled the four Vedas, wrote 18 Puranas, the Mahabharata and the Srimad Bhagavata.
The full moon day in the month of Ashadh (July) of the Hindu Calendar is celebrated as Guru Purnima. As it is celebrated on a full moon, it is known as “Purnima”.
Importance of a Guru
The word Guru is derived from two Sanskrit words “Gu” and “Ru”. Here “Gu” means the darkness of ignorance in a person, while “Ru” means someone who removes that darkness from the person. Hence, Guru refers to a person who educates someone.
Guru is the one who dispels darkness of ignorance, and reveals the target to the disciple.
Many believe that a person is blind without a teacher to guide him. A mother is the first teacher of a child, but after that, the guru becomes his or her second mother. The shastras proclaim that a human being is born twice or dvija, first by the union of the father and mother, and second when he is accepted by a bonafide guru, whereby he acts as a father and delivers him with the help of mother Gayatri, which is a personification of Vedic knowledge.
The scriptures recommend having a spiritual master and to take guidance from them to know about the realities of this material world, transcend them and become eternally situated in happiness.
In Nepal, Guru Purnima is celebrated as Teacher’s Day.
It is believed that Lord Shiva spread the learning of Yoga to his disciples on this day.
Buddhist celebration After migrating from Bodhgaya with five of his disciples, Lord Buddha delivered his first sermon at Sarnath on the day of Guru Poornima.
How is Guru Purnima Celebrated?
Disciples wake up early in the morning, bathe and meditate. They then worship their Guru by offering flowers, fruits and light incense and camphor. They observe fast or silence for the whole day and study or listen to the teachings of their Guru. They offer food to sages and seek their blessings. In many schools, kids celebrate the day by touching the feet of their teachers and give them flowers as a token of respect.
Guru Purnima: In Honour of Srila Vyasadeva
Guru Purnima marks the appearance day of Srila Vyasadeva. It falls every year on the day of Ashadha Shukla Purnima. Srila Vyasadeva is considered to be the spiritual master of all the acharyas or teachers of Vedic wisdom since he made them available to the entire world. Originally, the Veda is one. But Srila Vyasadeva divided the original Veda into four, namely Sama, Yajur, Rig, Atharva, and then again they were explained in different branches like the Puranas and the Mahabharata.
Vedic language and the subject matter are very difficult for ordinary men to understand, therefore, Vyasadeva divided them and wrote appendices like Puranas and Upanishads to allow common men to understand them and follow them practically.
You will be surprised to know about his intellect of division.
- Original Veda
- Detailed them into four Vedas — Rig, Sama, Yajur and Atharva
- Explained them further in 18 Puranas
- Explained them further in 108 Upanishads
- Summarised them into highly condensed Vedanta Sutra
- Explained it thoroughly in Srimad Bhagwatam
- For others, he went on to produce Mahabharata, which is also termed as the fifth Veda.
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