Menu:
Guru Purnima
Celebrating the Guru
It has been age old that Hindus have been giving primordial importance to spiritual gurus. these Gurus are often kept in par with God. They are always regarded as a link between the individual and the Immortal, which is God. Like the moon shines by reflecting the light of the sun, God’s disciples, can dazzle like the moon through teachings from the Gurus.
What is Guru Purnima?
On the day of full moon day in the Hindu month of Ashad which falls in the month between July and August, this day is observed as the auspicious day of Guru Purnima. This day is sacred and is celebrates in the memory of the great sage Vyasa. All Hindus have a reverence for this day. They are indebted to this ancient saint. This saint was the one who edited the four Vedas. Apart from that, he also has written the 18 Puranas, the Mahabharata and the Srimad Bhagavata. Sage Vyasa also taught Dattatreya. He is also regarded as the Guru of Gurus.
Significance of Guru Purnima
On this occasion, all people who intend to have spiritual aspirations worship vyasa. Also devotees worship Vyasa in honor of his divine personage. The devotees and all disciples perform a 'puja' of their particular spiritual preceptor or 'Gurudevs'.
The Guru Purnima celebrations are of great importance to the farmers. This festival is important as it heralds the setting in of the rains. As the cool showers come in and the rains touch the fields, this occasion is celebrated and it is said that this time is the best time to begin your spiritual lessons in your life. In the past, there were some people who seeked spirituality and they started their practice on this day.
During the time of 'Chaturmas' which is also known as the "four months" starts right from this day. In the past, there are some spiritual masters who were wandering. Their disciples used to settle down at a place for learning spiritual scriptures. These included the study and discourse on the Brahma Sutras which was compiled by Vyasa. This was to engage themselves in Vedantic discussions.
The Role of the Guru
Today there are people like the great Swami Sivananda who ask some questions. This includes questions like, "Do you realize the purity and significance and the supreme importance of the Guru's role in human being’s evolution? In the past, that is the reason why media had given a lot of importance to keep the Guru Tattva alive in the country. In India, year after year, age after age, the concept of Guru is commemorated anew. This ancient concept of the Guru adores it and pays homage to it again. This re-affirms its belief and allegiance to it. The true Indian knows that the Guru is the only solution for people who want to get rid of their bondage like sorrow and death.