Guru Purnima – Overview
The first full moon after the summer solstice is the brightest full moon of the year, is celebrated as Guru Purnima.
The festival of Guru Purnima is regarded as significant and sacred in Hindu and Buddhist religious texts. According to these ancient traditions and cultures, a teacher or guru is the pathway/channel to God and is, therefore, a crucial component of the formation of society. The holy day of Guru Purnima will be observed this year on July 13, 2022.
Date And Meaning Of Guru Purnima In 2022
Guru Purnima Date: Wednesday, July 13, 2022
Purnima On July 13, 2022, at 4:00 AM, Tithi begins.
On July 14, 2022, at 12:06 AM, Purnima Tithi ends.
The ancient Vedic shloka that follows explains the exalted position a teacher or guru is granted:
Gururbrahma Gururvishnu Gururdevoh Maheshvarah
Guru Saakshaata Param Brahmah Tasmai Shrī Gurave Namah
Translation: Oh Guru (teacher), you are Brahma (creator of the universe), you are Vishnu (caretaker of the universe), and, you are Shiva(the destroyer of the Universe).
Oh, Guru, you are the Supreme God, and therefore, I bow down to you.
Guru Purnima is observed on the day of the full moon in Shukla Paksha of the lunar month Ashad. Gu and Ru, which together make up the word “Guru,” denote (Gu) illusion and darkness and (ru) eradication, respectively. Guru is the one who guides a shishya (disciple) from ignorance to knowledge. Thus, the Guru is actually the one who enlightens us, makes us knowledgeable, and infuses joy and wisdom into our lives and minds.
Guru Purnima Muhurat
Purnima Tithi must hold for the first three Muhurats after sunrise in order to perform Guru Puja or Vyasa Puja.
Purnima celebrations will take place the day before if it is less than three muhurats after sunrise.
Astronomy of Guru Purnima
Guru Purnima is actually the year’s brightest full moon night, according to astronomy!
We need to look more closely at how the moon reflects the Sun’s light and how the northern and southern runs of the Sun affect it in order to comprehend why this phenomenon occurs. Due to the axial tilt of the earth, the northern hemisphere experiences longer days in the first half of the year, which gradually increases the amount of sunlight that is available to the planet. Because of this, the first full moon night after the longest summer day is the one with the most brightness.
The major constituent of our physical constitution and our mind, the water element, which is closely related to the moon, are in a higher state of receptivity as a result of the moon’s greater impact.
Guru Purnima: Significance of Purnima
Purnima is the name for the month’s full moon day. The day of Purnima is considered really auspicious throughout the world in spiritual communities. On a full moon day, many Hindu festivities are observed. In addition, many Hindu devotees fast on the day of the full moon.
The day of the full moon is seen to be particularly lucky for letting go of negative emotions, sins, and delusions.
Because the light of the full moon illuminates everything that is suppressed and hidden, it can be a particularly good moment to perform various important rituals intended to progress spiritually.
These rituals are designed to help people release their physical and mental pain from their lives. Any task completed on Purnima is expected to be successful because Purnima is associated with abundance and divinity.
Guru Purnima: What is the need of a Guru?
The 16th shloka of Advayataraka Upanishad says:
“gushabdastvandhakarah syat rushabdastannirodhakah
andhakaranirodhitvat gururityabhidhiyate”
Translation: gu shabdah=the sound ‘gu’, andhakarah syat=represents darkness; ru shabdah=the sound ru; tat nirodhakah=represents it’s removal.
andhakaranirodhitvat=due to the property of removing darkness, guruh iti abhidhiyate=the name guru is given.
As a result, the term “guru” refers to something that dispels darkness. Guru can also refer to a big, remarkable thing. Guru-Purnima literally translates to “great, darkness-eliminating moon”.
A Guru is anybody or anything, or any experience, that destroys the darkness of ignorance and leads one towards the brightness of clarity and knowledge
A Guru chisels his disciple’s consciousness to reveal his true potential, which he himself was not aware of, much like a sculptor uses his hammer and chisel to carve exquisite sculptures out of formless blocks of stone. As we grow more cognizant of our realities, the light of the Guru’s wisdom aids us in overcoming unhappiness and disappointment in life.
The guidance and blessing that a Guru bestows upon us aids us in identifying flaws in the path we have been taking and the steps we should take to achieve stability and joy in life. A student can transcend the bonds of karma with the aid of the grace and blessings of the Guru.
A Guru’s guidance promotes effortless achievement in significant life endeavors. Guidance from someone more knowledgeable in the matter would undoubtedly help someone sail effortlessly towards the objective, especially if they are passionate about learning a complex subject.
History & Significance of Guru Purnima
According to Hindu tradition, on this day, Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa, an outstanding figure from ancient times and the creator of wonderful books like the Vedas, Brahma Sutra, the Mahabharata, the Shrimad Bhagvat, and 18 Puranas, was born to the sage Parashara and fisherman’s daughter Satyavati. As a result, Vyasa Purnima is also observed on this day
All four of the Vedas, which the Lord Brahma recited, are credited to the Guru Vyasa.
As per Hindu sages, Veda Vyas was conscious of all the Kaals (times – past, present, future). He had seen with his divine vision that people will grow disinterested in religion in the future.
As a result, people will be less religious, avoid taking on responsibility, and live shorter lives. Such a person finds it difficult to read the entire Veda. Thus, Maharshi Vyasa split the Vedas into four sections so that others with weaker memories might still benefit from this knowledge.
He divided the Vedas into four sections and gave each one a different name: Rigveda, Yajurveda, Samaveda, and Atharvaveda. He gained fame under the name Veda Vyasa as a result. He taught his pupils Vaishampayana, Sumantumuni, Pail, and Jaimin the principles of these four Vedas.
Because of how complex and challenging this knowledge was, he produced the Puranas, which is the fifth Veda. He described Vedic wisdom as fascinating stories in these Puranas.
He imparted the wisdom of the Puranas to Roma Harshan, one of his students. According to their understanding, Vyasa Ji’s students subsequently subdivided these Vedas into several branches and sub branches.
Shiva became the Adi Guru, or the first Guru, on Guru Purnima, according to a certain Yogic school of Hinduism. On this day, Lord Shiva, also known as the Adiyogi, illustrated a number of life’s principles, and his seven followers, known as the Saptarishis, disseminated the knowledge throughout the globe.
According to Buddhist tradition, it was on this day that Lord Buddha delivered his first speech, known as the Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta, on Guru Purnima. Buddhists observe this day by meditating under the direction of their spiritual teachers in homage to Lord Buddha.
Due to the fact that this day is dedicated to gurus, individuals of all castes and backgrounds pray to their gurus and express gratitude for the knowledge they have given the disciple.
Guru Purnima Pooja Vidhi
- Celebrate this festival with sincerity and faith.
- Get up early on this day, go about your regular activities, such as bathing and performing Puja, and make sure you’re dressed nicely.
- After that, present Vyasa Ji’s portrait with flowers and a fragrant garland before paying a visit to your own Guru.
- Offer your Guru clothing, food, flowers, garlands, gifts, and Dakshina in the form of some cash, then accept their blessings.
- On this day, in addition to the Guru, the parents, siblings, and other family elders should also be regarded as being equal to the Guru.
- It is also an auspicious day to receive the Guru Mantra from your Guru on this day.
- By staying awake through this night, staying outdoors under the brightness of the full moon, and contemplating what one truly seeks in one’s life, one can imbibe the energies of the night, and move from darkness to light, which is seen as the highest pursuit of human life.
- The Guru’s blessings are sufficient for everyone’s well-being. By the grace of the Guru, one can attain all of the Vidyas (powers and wisdom) of the world.
