Guru Purnima 2025 - Thursday, Jul 10 2025

“Guru is creator Brahma; Guru is preserver Vishnu; Guru is also the destroyer Siva and he is the source of the Absolute. I offer all my salutations to the Guru”.

The full moon day in the month of Ashadh (July) of the Hindu calendar is celebrated as Guru Purnima by all Hindus all over. This day is celebrated as a mark of respect to the “Guru” i.e. a teacher or a preacher.

Guru Purnima is a traditional Hindu festival dedicated to spiritual and academic teachers, known as "gurus." It is celebrated on the full moon day (Purnima) in the Hindu month of Ashadha (June–July). The festival is marked by paying respect and expressing gratitude to one's gurus, who are considered to be instrumental in imparting knowledge and wisdom.

This day is celebrated in the sacred memory of the great sage Vyasa, the ancient saint who compiled the four Vedas, wrote 18 Puranas, the Mahabharata and the Srimad Bhagavata.

Significance

• Vyas Purnima: Guru Purnima is also known as Vyas Purnima in honor of the sage Ved Vyasa, who is regarded as one of the greatest gurus in Hindu tradition. Ved Vyasa is credited with compiling the Mahabharata, the Vedas, and various Puranas.
• Spiritual Tradition: In many spiritual traditions, this day is seen as a time to remember and honor one's spiritual teachers and mentors.
• Educational Institutions: In academic settings, students often express their gratitude to their teachers through various activities and ceremonies.

The day, also known as “Vyasa Purnima” is observed by devotees who offer pujas (worship) to their beloved Gurus. Sage Vyasa is known to be the Adi (original) Guru of the Hindu religion. The auspicious day of Vyaasa Poornima has a great significance, as everybody knows that the role of a Guru in real life is very much important.

Hindus show much respect to their gurus. Gurus are often regarded as Gods. The Shvetashvatara Upanishad (6/23) tells :

“Yasya deve para bhaktir yatha deve tatha gurau
Tasyaite kathitaa hi arthaaha prakashante mahatmanaha”

This means, Guru to be worshipped in the same manner as the deity - God, to attain all there is to attain on the path of God-realization. When we realize this then there is a need to search for someone to teach you!

On this day, several programs and cultural performances are organized by spiritual organizations. Divine discourse and bhajan samarohas are also organized to make the day even more special.

General Observances

1. Puja and Offerings: Devotees perform special pujas (worship rituals) to honor their gurus. This includes offering flowers, fruits, sweets, and other items that are considered auspicious.
2. Guru Paduka Puja: In many traditions, the footwear (paduka) of the guru is worshipped, symbolizing the guru's teachings and presence.
3. Recitations and Chants: Sacred texts, mantras, and hymns dedicated to gurus are recited. This can include chanting the Guru Stotram or the Guru Gita.
4. Meditation and Prayer: Many people spend time in meditation, reflecting on the teachings of their gurus and seeking their blessings.
5. Discourse and Satsang: Spiritual gatherings, or satsangs, are organized where the teachings of the guru are discussed. Gurus or senior disciples often give discourses on spiritual topics.
6. Feasting and Prasad: Communal meals are organized, and prasad (blessed food) is distributed among devotees.

Specific Traditions

• Hinduism:

  • Ashrams and Temples: Many followers visit ashrams and temples to participate in special programs and rituals. For example, at the ashrams of spiritual leaders, grand celebrations are organized where disciples gather in large numbers.
  • Home Celebrations: Some people set up altars at home with pictures or idols of their gurus and perform rituals.

• Buddhism:

  • Monasteries: In Buddhist monasteries, the day is marked by special prayers and offerings. It is also a time for monks to renew their vows and reflect on the teachings of the Buddha.

• Jainism:

  • Community Gatherings: In Jain communities, Guru Purnima is celebrated by honoring Jain monks and nuns who are seen as guides on the path of non-violence and truth.

Modern Celebrations

• Educational Institutions: In schools and colleges, students may organize events to honor their teachers. This can include speeches, cultural programs, and presenting tokens of appreciation.
• Online Celebrations: With the rise of digital communication, many spiritual organizations and gurus now hold online events, allowing disciples from around the world to participate.
• Charity and Service: Some followers engage in acts of charity, such as feeding the poor, donating to educational causes, or other community service activities as a way to honor their gurus.

In India, Guru Purnima is celebrated at various ashrams, especially with much grandeur at Sivananda Ashram, Rishikesh. The day is celebrated here on a grand scale with devotees coming from various parts of the country. The same is also celebrated at ashram of Satya Sai Baba at Puttaparthy, Ashram in Amritapuri and few other places of spiritual importance. Guru Purnima is also celebrated few places outside India.

This is a day for spiritual seekers who remain extremely open to their gurus to receive divine power, and for this reason holy people choose this day to shower everyone with their most auspicious divine blessings.

The day of Guru Purnima has great significance for spiritual sadhaks and farmers. All spiritual aspirants and devotees worship Vyasa in honor of his divine personage and all disciples perform puja of their respective spiritual preceptor or Gurudevas . They offer flowers and sweets to their spiritual gurus. It is also good time to begin spiritual lessons from a guru. Traditionally, spiritual seekers commence to intensify their spiritual sadhana from this day.

The day also finds a great importance for farmers. The period Chaturmas ("four months") begins from this day. The water, drawn up and stored as clouds in the hot summer, now manifests in plentiful showers that brings fresh life everywhere.

इस आर्टिकल को हिंदी में पढ़ने के लिए यहां क्लिक करें

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