What is the history of Guru-Purnima?
This festival is dedicated to teachers and spiritual leaders. The Sanskrit word, ‘Guru’ is said to be divided into two roots, ‘Gu’ meaning darkness and ‘Ru’ meaning removal of darkness or ignorance. ‘Guru’ helps us eliminate our ignorance and guides us on the path of salvation. A famous sage once beautifully replied when asked, what the importance of ‘Guru’ is, he said one can feel air because it is all around us, but we sit near a fan in order to feel air better. Similarly, God is all around us, but we need, ‘Guru’ as that fan, sitting next to him that will make us feel God in a better way. The festival is celebrated on ‘Purnima’ (full moon day) in the ‘Ashadha’ month.
Buddhists celebrate this festival, as on this day their religion founder, Lord Buddha gave his first sermon at Sarnath (Uttar Pradesh). Hindus celebrate this day, as the famous Hindu sage, ‘VedVyasa’ who gave us epic literatures such as ‘The Mahabharata’ and the four main ‘Vedas’ (Rig, Yajur, Sam, Atharva) was born this day. Jain religion followers also have their own significance of this day, as the 24th ‘Tirthankara’ Mahaveer Swami after attaining salvation made his first disciple ‘Gautam Swami’.
What is the story behind the festival ‘Guru Purnima’?
This day is also marked as the birth of ‘Adi Guru’ or the first guru. The legend has it that around 15,000 years ago, a sage or ‘yogi’ appeared in the Himalayas. He used to just sit at one place, without showing any signs of life; his eyes were always closed as he was in deep thinking. Once in a while, tears used to dwell from his eyes. Seven men gathered around him and after many days passed, when he opened his eyes, the men pleaded him to tell them what he was going through. He told them about basic meditation and closed his eyes again. The men stayed there and sat with him for 84 years with their eyes closed. On the day of, ‘Dakshinayana’, when the sage opened his eyes, he was pleased to see the enlightened faces of the men and decided to part his wisdom to them. These seven men eventually were called the ’Saptrishis’ and they went in all the parts of the world to distribute the wisdom that they received from ‘Adi Guru’.
What is the significance of Guru Purnima?
Guru Purnima is celebrated on the Full moon day of Ashadha. It falls generally in the month of July or August. Many diverse programs are conducted by different organizations. Special cultural programs are organized by communities known as Samarohas. Devotees present fruits, sweets or flowers to their idol Guru. On the day of Guru Purnima, Vyasa is worshipped by the devotees and spiritual aspirants in the honor of his divine powers. A puja is performed by the devotees and disciples of Vyasa which are spiritual preceptor of him.
A great significance is related to farmers regarding Guru Purnima. It is believed that worshiping on this day helps to shower much needed rain for the crops. This time is considered as a good time for starting spiritual lessons. According to traditions, one who believes in spirituality begins ‘sadhana’ from the day of Guru Purnima.
A period of four months, that is,Chaturmas starts from this day. According to Hindu Mythology, Role of Guru in one’s life is of great significance. In past, relation of Guru and shishya was considered as very strong relation. Anything said by teacher was considered as final decision or order and it was necessary to follow the commands of teacher.
It is told in Vedas that God cannot come to us to teach each and everything. So he created Guru for teaching us everything in life. All the basics learned at home by a child are polished by teacher in school. The day of Guru Purnima is associated to remember the teachings, ideologies and great values of a teacher. A student should always be thankful to his teacher for teaching him the values of life.
There is a great significance of Guru Purnima in Buddhist community also. Guru Purnima in Buddhism is considered as the day when Buddhism community came in existence.
What are the rituals one can follow while doing the ‘Guru Purnima Pooja’?
- One should wake up early in the morning at the’ Brahmamuhurta’, take bath and sit in the praying area.
- Then he should give various offerings to the deity ‘VedVyasa’ and his ‘Guru’ and chant the mantra, “GururbrahmaGururvishnuGururdevoMaheshwaray, GururSakshatParabrahma, TasmaiShriguraveNamah”. This mantra means that ‘Guru’ is Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu and Lord Mahesh. All the three powers of this world are assimilated in one ‘Guru’ and that I will first bow in front of my ‘Guru’ who will lead me on the path of ‘Moksha’ and enlightenment.
- One should visit all his teachers and ‘Gurus’ and pay his respects by touching their feet.
- One should observe fast in order to seek his teachers’ blessings.
One should indulge in meditation as it is considered as one of the most important routes to achieve salvation in one’s life.
What to donate on Guru Purnima?
Many people donate food and clothes on this auspicious day. People offer food to ‘Brahmins’ and feed the needy and poor people as well. This is done in order to seek the blessings of the departed souls of ‘Gurus’ to bless them with a healthy, wealthy and prosper life. Giving ‘Ann Daan’ (food) and ‘VastraDaan’ (Clothes) helps one in reducing the ill effects from his/her ‘Kundli’. Many people do ‘MahaBhandaras’ (grand feasts) on this day at various holy places and feed numerous needy people as an act of charity.
