🙏 || ॐ श्री गुरुभ्यो नमः || 🙏
Guru Purnima festival is a reminder for all of us to know the importance of Guru (Teacher), Guru means literally dispeller of darkness. Guru shows right path to reach out to our destination. It celebrates the relationship of 'guru and disciples'.
On this day, disciples pay gratitude to their teachers for being their guiding light and nurturing them into great human beings.
01 When is Guru Purnima Celebrated
This festival is celebrated on the full moon day (Purnima) in the month of Ashadha. This year it is celebrated on 24th July 2021 .
One of the important days dedicated to our teachers or mentors, Guru Purnima is observed with a lot of enthusiasm across the country.
The Sanskrit word Guru has been derived from two different words Gu and Ru.
Gu means ignorance or darkness and Ru means elimination or removal.
Thus, the term Guru means someone who removes all the darkness by enlightening and providing knowledge to the students.
02 What is Guru Purnima
Guru or teacher has always been considered akin to a God. Guru Purnima or Vyasa Purnima is the day to celebrate and pay our gratitude to our Gurus. This Sanskrit word literally translates to ‘the one who frees us of ignorance’. It also commemorates the birthday of Ved Vyasa, who is credited to have authored some of the most important Hindu texts of all times such as the Puranas, Mahabharata and Vedas.
03 Importance of Guru Purnima
Guru Purnima is celebrated to honour our teachers, who remove the darkness from our minds. They have a special place in the lives of their followers since ancient times. All the holy books of Hinduism dictate the importance of Gurus and the extraordinary bond between a Guru and his Shishya (disciple).
An age-old Sanskrit phrase 'Mata Pitah Guru Deivam', says that the first place is reserved for the mother, second for the father, third for Guru and forth for God. Thus, teachers have been given a higher place than Gods in Hindu tradition.
04 History of Guru Purnima
👉 Guru Purnima honours Ved Vyasa, known as one of the most honoured Gurus of ancient India. Veda Vyasa, structured the four Vedas, composed the epic of the Mahabharata, created the foundation for the many Puranas and the vast encyclopedias of Hindu sacred lore.
👉 Guru Purnima represents the date on which Lord Shiva as the Adi Guru or original guru taught the seven rishis who were the seers of the Vedas. In the Yoga Sutras, Ishvara as Pranava or Om is said to be the Adi Guru of Yoga.
👉 Lord Buddha was said to have delivered his first sermon on this day at Sarnath, reflecting the power of this sacred time.
05 Guru Stotras
By reciting the following Guru Stotras on this auspicious day, let us get blessings from our beloved Guru.
06 Purpose of Celebrating Guru Purnima
"Guru Gobind dou khade, Kake Lagoon Paye,
Balihari Guru apne Govinda Diyo Bataye".
As per the above Doha, Guru holds a significant position in everyone's life, which is above God, as Guru is the only one who enlightens us about God.
As per Ramakrishna Paramhansa, "Guru alone is the genuine teacher who is illumined by the light of true knowledge”. So, the purpose to celebrate this day is to honour all our Gurus who pulled us from darkness and enlightened us with knowledge and awareness.
