A disciple is showing respect to his guru.
The festival of Guru Purnima is celebrated on the full moon day in the month of Ashadha (June-July). It is one of the major festivals of Hindus. Buddhists and Jains also celebrate the day. This is the day for disciples to worship and express gratitude to their spiritual or academic Gurus. Guru Purnima is also known as Vyasa Purnima.
According to Hindu mythology, Lord Shiva is denoted as Adi Yogi and Adi Guru of the universe. He had two disciples, Shani Deva and Parashurama. Shiva introduced civilization and religion on this material world. That is why, he is called Adi Deva and Adi Guru. He had given knowledge to seven other people along with Shani Deva and Parashurama. Next, these seven people began to be known as Saptarishis (Agastya, Atri, Bhardwaja, Gautama, Jamadagni, Vashistha and Vishvamitra) and they spread knowledge of Shiva to the whole world.
It is believed that Maharshi Vyasa was also born on this day. So, Guru Purnima is also called Vyasa Purnima. Krishna Dvaipayana Vyasa was the son of sage Parashara and Mata Satyavati. He is also considered as an Avatar of Lord Vishnu. He is the author of the Mahabharata, the Bhagavad Gita (as a part of the Mahabharata), eighteen Puranas and the Brahma Sutras. He arranged the mantras (hymns) of four Vedas (Rig Veda, Yajur Veda, Sama Veda and Atharva Veda). So he is also known as Veda Vyasa. He is also called Adi Guru of this world.
In Hinduism, the Guru is given a higher status. The Guru is the man who shows the way to light from ignorance. A Guru determines the right direction in his disciples’ life. The Gurupranam mantra says that the Guru is equal to Supreme God. In Hinduism, the place of the Guru is above all. So, Hindus celebrate Guru Purnima.
Guru Purnima or Ashadha Purnima is also an important day for the followers of Buddhism. It is believed that Gautama Buddha had given his first sermon at Sarnath, Uttar Pradesh, India after acquiring knowledge in Bodh Gaya, Bihar, India. It is said that Lord Buddha traveled from Bodh Gaya to Sarnath five weeks after his enlightenment. There he gave the first sermon to the Panchavargika (five ascetic disciples named Kondanna, Assaji, Bhaddiya, Vappa and Mahanama). That day was Ashadha Purnima. So, Buddhists celebrate the day in honour of Gautama Buddha.
Many ideal spiritual gurus have been born in Bengal throughout the ages. Here, I would like to mention the names of top 10 spiritual gurus of Bengal. They are Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (18 February, 1486-14 June, 1534), Nityananda Prabhu (1474 AD-1540 AD), Loknath Brahmachari (31 August, 1730 -3 June, 1890 AD), Harichand Thakur (1812 AD-1877 AD), Ramakrishna Paramahamsa (18 February, 1836 – 16 August, 1886), Sadhak Byamakshyapa (1837 AD-1911 AD), Sri Sri Ram Thakur (2 February, 1860-1 May, 1949), Swami Vivekananda (12 January,1863 -4 July,1902 ), Thakur Anukul Chandra (14 September 1888 – 26 January 1969) and A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada (1 September, 1896-14 November,1977 ).
Guru Purnima is celebrated on the full moon day of Ashadha month (June-July). It is believed that on this day Maharshi Veda Vyasa first told the story of Bhagavata Purana to his disciple. Later, on the day of Guru Purnima, the disciples of Maharshi Veda Vyasa started the tradition of Guru Puja. It is also believed that Lord Buddha gave his first advice on this auspicious day in Sarnath. For four months from this day, the saints stayed in one place and continued to spread their knowledge.
Guru Purnima is celebrated through some special rituals. Many people bathe in the Ganges on the morning of Guru Purnima. After bathing they wear clean white or yellow clothes. The first Guru in our life is our parents. So it is a rule to get up in the morning on the day of Guru Purnima and bow down to parents. Guru Puja is performed on this day. The disciples place the image of their Guru on the altar to worship. Lord Vishnu, Lord Shiva, Devguru Brihaspati, Maharshi Ved Vyasa are also worshipped along with one’s own Guru. There is a tradition of paying homage with flowers, fruits, sweets lamps, sandalwood, Dakshina etc. on this day. Disciples also donate to the Brahmins and the poor as much as possible. Vaishnava devotees think that it is good to recite Bhagavad Gita at home on this day. Those who do not have Gurudev or those who have not taken Guru Diksha, they worship Shiva or Krishna. While worshipping, the deotees chant Gurupranam mantra–
GururBrahma GururVishnu GururDevo Maheshwaraha Guru Saakshaat ParaBrahma Tasmai Sri Gurave Namaha
गुरुर्ब्रह्मा गुरुर्विष्णु र्गुरुर्देवो महेश्वरः
गुरु साक्षात परब्रह्मा तस्मै श्रीगुरवे नमः
This year, Guru Purnima will be celebrated on 03 July, 2023. According to the calendar, the Purnima tithi begins at 08:51 pm on 02 July, 2023 and will end on 05:38 am on 03 July, 2023.
By Krishna Das
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