What is Guru Purnima?

A religious Hindu festival called Guru Purnima honours all gurus, both academic and spiritual. Hindus, Jains, and Buddhists all commemorate it as a festival in India, Nepal, and Bhutan.

The purpose of this celebration is traditionally to honour one’s personal spiritual masters or teachers. According to the Hindu Calendar, it is celebrated on the day of the full moon (Purnima) during the Ashadha month (June–July).

Mahatma Gandhi resurrected the celebration as a memorial to Shrimad Rajchandra, his spiritual mentor. Due to Veda Vyasa, the sage who compiled the Vedas and composed the Mahabharata, celebrating his birthday on this day, it is also known as “Vyasa Purnima.”

Meaning of Guru

The Sanskrit roots gu and ru are used to create the word, Guru. GU means ‘darkness’ or ‘ignorance’, and Ru means ‘dispeller’. A guru is therefore a person who dispels ignorance or darkness.

Observances

The occasion of Guru Purnima is celebrated with religious rituals, such as Guru Puja, which are performed with reverence of the guru or instructor. Gurus are viewed by many as being the most important component of existence. On this day, disciples worship their guru or give them homage.

This event is significant not only from a religious standpoint, but also for Indian academics and scholars. On this day, academics in India appreciate their instructors and remember their predecessors as instructors and scholars.

Buddhists traditionally observe the event in memory of the Buddha, who delivered his first sermon on this day in Sarnath, Uttar Pradesh, India. This day commemorates the beginning of Shiva’s yoga instruction to the Saptarishis and his official emergence as the first teacher, according to yogic tradition.

The day is widely observed by Hindus as a day to honour the sage Vyasa, who is revered as one of the greatest gurus in the history of Hinduism and a representation of the guru-shishya tradition.

On top of being thought to have been born on this day, Vyasa is also credited with beginning to write the Brahma Sutras on ashadha sudha padyami. On this day, which is also known as, “His Birthday,” they organize recitations as a tribute to him.

All Hindu spiritual traditions share this event, which is a manifestation of the students’ thanks to the instructor. This sacred holiday is observed worldwide by devotees of Indian classical music and dance who also adhere to the guru shishya parampara.

Hindu travelling sanyasis and ascetics commemorate this day by performing puja for their master during Chaturmas, a four-month period during the rainy season when they choose isolation and remain in one particular location; some also provide public lectures.

Indian academic tradition

On this day, regardless of their religion, Indian students honour their lecturers. Many schools, colleges, and universities offer events where students can thank their teachers and pay tribute to former pupils. Alumni visit their professors and bring gifts as a gesture of gratitude.

Students plan several art competitions in accordance. The fundamental custom among guru-shishya is blessings, whereby the student bows to his or her guru and the guru bestows blessings for the student’s happiness and success. Guru Purnima is, in essence, a customary way for Indians to observe Teacher’s Day.