Significance of Guru Purnima or Vyasa Purnima

The full moon day in the month of Ashada (June-July) is observed as the auspicious day of Guru Purnima or Vyasa Purnima, a day sacred to the memory of the great sage Vyasa. All Hindus are indebted to this ancient saint who edited the four Vedas, wrote the 18 Puranas, the Mahabharata and the Srimad Bhagavata. Vyasa even taught Dattatreya, who is regarded as the Guru of Gurus. Vyasa was not only believed to have been born on this day, but also to have started writing the Brahma Sutras on ashadha sudha padyami which ends on this day, hence their recitations as a dedication to him, are organized on this day, which is also known as Vyasa Purnima. On this day, all spiritual aspirants and devotees worship Vyasa in honor of his divine personage and all disciples perform a 'puja' of their respective spiritual preceptor or 'Gurudevs'.

The word guru is derived from two words, 'Gu' and 'Ru' . The Sanskrit root "Gu" means darkness or ignorance. "Ru" denotes the remover of that darkness. Therefore one who removes darkness of our ignorance is a Guru. Gurus are believed by many to be the most necessary part of lives. On this day, disciples offer puja (worship) or pay respect to their Guru (Spiritual Guide).

The festival is common to all spiritual traditions in Hinduism, where it is dedicated to the expression of gratitude towards the teacher by his/her disciple. Hindu ascetics and wandering monks (sanyasis), observe this day by offering puja to the Guru, during the Chaturmas, a four month period during the rainy season, when they choose seclusion, and halt at one selected place; some also give discourses to the local public. Students of the Indian classical music, which also follows the Guru shishya parampara, celebrate this festival, around the world.

This day is of deep significance to the farmers, for it heralds the setting in of the much-needed rains, as the advent of cool showers usher in fresh life in the fields. It is a good time to begin your spiritual lessons. Traditionally, spiritual seekers commence to intensify their spiritual 'sadhana' from this day.

Guru Brahma, Guru Vishnu
Guru Devo Maheshwara.
Guru Saakshaat ParaBrahmaa
Tasmayii Shri Guruve Namah

The above shloka is known as the Guru Mantra – an invocation chanted in honor of the Supreme Guru who consists of a combination of the trinity of Brahmaa (creator), Vishnu (preserver) and Maheshwara (Shiva, destroyer). The shloka further says that Guru is saakshaat, in human form, a representation of ParaBrahmaa – the supreme, omniscient One. So, let us pay homage, with a deep bow, tasmayii to the Guru as we say – Shri Guruve Namah.