Guru Purnima 2024

Guru Purnima is an important festival of Hindu religion, which is celebrated on Ashadh Shukla Purnima. This day is also known as Vyas Purnima and Ved Vyas Jayanti.

According to mythological belief, Guru Purnima is celebrated as the birthday of Ved Vyas, the author of Mahabharata. This day is also called Vyas Purnima.

It is also mentioned in the scriptures that Maharishi Vedvyas composed the four Vedas on the day of Guru Purnima, due to which he was named Vedvyas.

Gurus have always had a special place in Indian culture. From ancient times to the modern era, the role of gurus has been considered extremely important in the building of society. Saint Kabirdas has also described the glory of Gurus through his couplets.

 

The glory of Guru in Kabir’s couplets

 

Saint Kabirdas has described the glory of the Guru in his couplets. They consider the Guru equivalent to God. According to him, it is the Guru who leads the disciple from ignorance to knowledge and shows him the path to attain God.

In this couplet, Kabirdas says that if Guru and God both stand together, then whom should one salute? He answers that one should pay obeisance at the feet of the Guru. Because it is impossible to find God without a Guru. It is the Guru who shows the disciple the path to see God. Without a Guru, knowledge cannot arise, without a Guru, there is no happiness.

In this couplet, Kabirdas says that knowledge cannot be attained without a Guru. Unless one receives the blessings of the Guru, man continues to wander in the darkness of ignorance. Man attains salvation only through the knowledge of Guru.

Truth cannot be written without a Guru, faults cannot be erased without a Guru. In this couplet, Kabirdas says that without a Guru, the difference between truth and falsehood cannot be known. Without a Guru, man’s faults cannot be cured. Only through the knowledge of the Guru does man find the path of truth and his faults are removed.

 

mythological belief

 

According to mythology, from this day Jagat Guru Lord Shiva started teaching yoga to the Saptarishis. This day is also considered a symbol of Guru Shishya tradition.

 

Mahatma Gandhi also paid tribute

 

In the modern era, the Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi also chose the day of Guru Purnima to pay homage to his spiritual guru Shrimad Rajchandra.

 

Also celebrated in Nepal and Bhutan

 

The festival of Guru Purnima is celebrated on a large scale in India, Nepal,  and Bhutan. Guru Purnima is celebrated as Teacher’s Day in Nepal.

 

Special importance in Buddhism also

 

Believers of Buddhism celebrate Guru Purnima in memory of Lord Buddha. They believe Lord Buddha gave his first sermon on this day in Sarnath, Uttar Pradesh. It is believed that Buddhism started only after this.

 

mythological belief

 

According to mythology, from this day Jagat Guru Lord Shiva started teaching yoga to the Saptarishis. This day is also considered a symbol of Guru Shishya tradition.

 

Mahatma Gandhi also paid tribute

 

In the modern era, the Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi also chose the day of Guru Purnima to pay homage to his spiritual guru Shrimad Rajchandra.

 

Also celebrated in Nepal and Bhutan

 

The festival of Guru Purnima is celebrated on a large scale in India, Nepal, and Bhutan. Guru Purnima is celebrated as Teacher’s Day in Nepal.

 

Special importance in Buddhism also

 

Believers of Buddhism celebrate Guru Purnima in memory of Lord Buddha. They believe Lord Buddha gave his first sermon on this day in Sarnath, Uttar Pradesh. It is believed that Buddhism started only after this.

 

Description of the importance of Guru

 

There is a mantra for the Guru:

 

Guru Brahma, Guru Vishnu, Guru Devo Maheshwara: Guru Sakshat Param Brahma, Tasmai Shri Guruve Namah.

 

The meaning of this mantra is:

 

O Guru, you are like gods. You are Lord Brahma, you are Lord Vishnu and you are Mahesh. You are the god of gods. Hey Guruvar! You are the supreme being. I bow down and pay my respects to you.

It is clear from this mantra that Guru is considered equal to God. It is the Guru who shows the disciple knowledge, philosophy and the right path of living. Without a Guru, a disciple’s life is dark.

meaning of the word guru

The word Guru is made up of ‘Gu’ and ‘Ru’. In this, ‘Gu’ means darkness, and ignorance, while ‘Ru’ means to remove or eliminate. In this way, Guru is the one who removes the darkness of ignorance from our lives and makes us knowledgeable. The light of knowledge brings positivity in life only from the Guru.

 

Importance of Guru Purnima

 

Gurus are worshipped on the day of Guru Purnima. On this day, disciples offer their gurus flowers, garlands, Dakshina, etc., and seek their blessings. On the day of Guru Purnima, stories about Gurus are told and they are honoured. This festival of Guru Purnima reminds us of the importance of Guru. Guru only illuminates our life and takes us on the right path. The day of Guru Purnima is a day of honour and respect for the Gurus. On this day, disciples offer their gurus flowers, garlands, Dakshina, etc., and seek their blessings. On the day of Guru Purnima, stories about the Gurus are narrated and they are honoured for their knowledge and contributions. The importance of Guru Purnima is as follows:

 

respect and honour of gurus

The day of Guru Purnima is a day of honour and respect for the Gurus. On this day, disciples offer their gurus flowers, garlands, Dakshina, etc., and seek their blessings. On the day of Guru Purnima, stories about the Gurus are narrated and they are honoured for their knowledge and contributions.

 

symbol of knowledge and light

 

Guru Purnima is a symbol of knowledge and light. The Guru guides the disciple on the right path with his knowledge and leads him from the darkness of ignorance to light. The day of Guru Purnima reminds us of the importance of Guru and inspires us to follow the path of knowledge.

 

Guru Dosh ends in the horoscope

 

According to astrology, worshipping Guru on the day of Guru Purnima eliminates Guru Dosh in the horoscope. Due to Guru Dosh, a person has to face obstacles in education, career, marriage etc. Worshiping Guru on the day of Guru Purnima provides relief from these obstacles.

 

How did Guru Purnima start?

 

According to mythology, Guru Purnima was started by 5 disciples of Maharishi Ved Vyas. Maharishi Ved Vyas is considered to be the incarnation of Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh in Hinduism. He is the author of texts like Mahabharata, 18 Mahapuranas, Brahmasutra, Srimad Bhagavad Gita etc.

 

It is said that on the day of Ashadh month, Maharishi Ved Vyas had given the knowledge of Shri Bhagwat Purana to his disciples and sages. His disciples started the tradition of celebrating this day as Guru Purnima and worshipping Guru on this day.

 

Vedvyasji became the first Guru

 

Maharishi Vedvyas was born on the day of Ashadh Shukla Purnima. This day is also known as Guru Purnima. Maharishi Vedvyas is considered the first guru in the Hindu religion. He had given the knowledge of the four Vedas to mankind. The Vedas are considered the most sacred texts of Hinduism. Knowledge of all aspects of life is given in the Vedas.

 

Maharishi Vedvyas was born as the son of Maharishi Parashar and Satyavati. He received education in Gurukul since childhood. He was an accomplished scholar and sage. He composed texts like Mahabharata, 18 Puranas, Srimad Bhagavad Gita etc.

 

Maharishi Vedvyas has gained an important place in Hinduism for his knowledge and contributions. He is the first Guru of mankind. He has shown the path of knowledge and light to mankind.

 

In 2024, Guru Purnima will be celebrated on Sunday, 21st July.