Everyone in the world acquires wisdom and knowledge only with the help of our Gurus, teachers, and mentors. Like a chisel, they carve and shape us up as beautiful sculptures. Their dedicated work toward society is remarkable. From Purana days to modern days, gurus hold ideal values. As we are bound to honor and celebrate their dedication, we celebrate Guru Purnima. On this auspicious day, all celebrate and worship their spiritual gurus, mentors, and teachers.
Guru Purnima falls on Ashadha full moon day (June-July). It is also known as Vyasa Purnima day or Vyasa Puja day.
Who is a Guru?
Guru is the bridge between man and the divine. One can attain the blessings of the Almighty through the Guru. So, all worship the Guru as the living God. Guru is the person who removes our ignorance and leads us on a victorious path.
In modern days, teachers, mentors, and spiritual leaders are celebrated as Gurus. As per legends, every religion, like Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism, has its spiritual gurus.
Religious Gurus
Guru Purnima was the day when Shiva became Adi Guru. The story dates back 15,000 years. A yogi appeared in the Himalayas. Nobody knew his origin. He revealed no signs of life, but his elated tears would roll down his face. People started to move from him, but seven men stayed there. They eagerly watched Yogi. Eventually, Yogi gave them a preparatory step and closed his eyes again. After 84 years of Sadhana, on Dakshinayana, the Yogi opened his eyes and looked at the seven people.
They had turned shining receptacles. Yogi was unable to ignore them. On a full moon day, the Yogi became Guru to the seven men. That Yogi was considered Shiva, who became the Adi Guru, and the seven disciples were called Saptarishis. They started spreading his Guru’s knowledge across the world.
Guru Purnima is a holy day in the yogic tradition because the Adi yogi opened up his eyes to the evolution of human beings. The seven different aspects of yoga became the base for the seven basic forms of yoga.
Guru Purnima is observed as the birth anniversary of Sage Veda Vyasa, the author and a character in the Hindu epic Mahabharata.
Sage Veda Vyasa wrote the Brahma Sutras on Ashadha Sud Padyami, which ended on Guru Purnima. The recitations are dedicated to him on this day. It is also known as Vyasa Purnima. The festival is an expression of gratitude toward the teacher by their disciple.
Maharishi Kapila is an incarnation of the Supreme deity Vishnu who restored the spiritual balance in the world through his teachings. He founded the Samkhaya School of philosophy, one of the Vedic philosophy’s six orthodox (astika) schools. He also enlightened the world with Bhakti Yog, an art of liberation through devotion and love for the Divine. The deity Ganga descended onto the earth only because of this sage. He turned the sixty thousand sons of Maharaj Sagar to ashes.
On Guru Purnima, all these religious gurus and the present gurus, spiritual leaders, and teachers are worshipped wholeheartedly to receive their eternal blessings.
