ज्ञान शक्ति समारूढ़: तत्व माला विभूषित:।
भुक्ति मुक्ति प्रदाता च तस्मै श्री गुरवे नमः।।
My Salutations to the Sublime Master (Guru) one who is enriched and rooted with power of Knowledge, the one adorning the garland of Philosophical principles and the One who bestows Worldly Pleasures and Salvation
Guru Purnima or Vyasa Purnima is celebrated on the Purnima Tithi (Full Moon Day) of Hindu Lunar month Ashadha (June/July). It is also called Vyasa Purnima as it the day Maharshi Veda Vyasa (Grandson of Maharshi Vashishta) was born to Maharshi Shakti and Satyavati. Maharshi Veda Vyasa is the composer of the Epic Srimad Mahabharata and is also the great soul who classified Vedas into Rig, Yajur, Sama and Atharva which is the reason why he is given the Title of Veda Vyasa).
The Supreme knowledge that was being passed on orally from the memory of the great Masters was for the first time compiled and written down by Maharishi Veda Vyasa. He had retired to a secluded place, inaccessible even to his closest disciples, and entered into deepest possible state of meditation. From that space of consciousness, he wrote down the great teachings of the Saints of yesteryugas. After recording the Supreme Knowledge on Bhoja Patra (Birch Tree bark and leaves), Maharishi Veda Vyasa emerged out and appeared to his disciples on this auspicious day of Ashada Purnima. Hence, this day is dedicated and celebrated by Spiritual Seekers as Vyasa Purnima.
PC: Wikipedia
The Legend(s)
According to Shaiva Hindu beliefs, Guru Purnima is the day when Bhagwan Shiva transferred his knowledge to “Sapatarishis”. Shiva thus is considered as the First Guru. Guru Purnima is dedicated to Shiva, his valuable teachings, and the Sapta Rishis. There is an interesting background story to this.
Long long ago, Bhagwan Shiva as Adiyogi appeared in the Himalayas laucnhed Himself into intense ecstatic dance (Ananda Tandava) on the mountains. It was very obvious to all observers that something was happening to Adi Yogi and to everyone witnessing that no one had known ever before. Everyone gathered around Him wanting to know more about it but the energy exuded was like a raging fire that no one dared to go near Him. All of them waited and waited and days became week and years. Many of them began leaving the place one by one and finally only Seven of them stayed back patiently. They were insistent and persistent that they had to learn from Adiyogi and began their penance. After 84 years Shiva relents and on the Full moon Day of Ashadha month, he decides to become Guru and impart the knowledge to the seven sadhaks which goes on and one for many yugas. Thus Shiva became the 1st Guru and by the time the knowledge was completed imparted Seven persons who received it got enlighteed and becamse Sapta Rishis.
According to Vaishnava Hindu beliefs, Maharshi Veda Vyasa was the divine incarnation of Lord Vishnu and was born on this day which is celebrated later as Guru Purnima or Vyasa Purnima. The day was earmarked to symbolically honour and respect all Gurus and teachers who have taught us the Vidya. It is also said to be the day Maharshi Veda Vyasa commenced his work on Brahma-Sutras.
Vaishnava Hindus especially the followers of Dwaita Philosophy regard Maharshi Veda Vyasa, whose powers and knowledge are unsurpassed, as the Aadi Guru, greatest of all Gurus, Guru of Gurus.
Aum Sarva Shashtraya Viddhamahe
Muni Shreshtaaya Dheemahe
Tanno Vyasa Prachodayaat
Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ji on Guru Purnima
Guru Purnima is the day when the disciple wakes up in his fullness and in the wakefulness he can’t be but grateful. This gratitude is not of dwaita (you and me), but of advaita. It is not a river moving from somewhere to somewhere, but is the ocean moving within itself. So, gratefulness on Guru-Purnima symbolizes that fullness.
Guru Purnima is widely believed to be the day of Master or Guru. The Art of Living founder, Pujya Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ji says, that it is the day of the DEVOTEE. Devotee differentiated with a student who goes through education and collect information. Information, however, is not knowledge; it is not wisdom.
Gurudev says, “A devotee is not there for wisdom only. He is simply rejoicing in love. He has fallen deeply in love with the Master, with Infinity, with God. He doesn’t care as to whether he gets enlightened or not. He doesn’t care as to whether he acquires a lot of wisdom or not because every moment he is immersed in divine love: That is enough for him. A devotee is difficult to find. Students, there are in abundance, disciples are a few, but devotees are rare”
“Everything is God, who is present in everything, so it is great to become a devotee. Everything, whether you want it or not, is already God, but when love and devotion has flowered in you totally, you become a devotee. Attraction is everywhere, love is somewhere, but devotion is rare. Devotion is beautiful. A student comes to the Master with tears in his eyes. There is so much pain and when he leaves, he is carrying the same tears, but the quality of the tears is different, they are of gratitude, of love. Entire creation is longing for only one thing, the transformation from salty tears to sweet tears”
The Buddha’s disciple Sariputra, got enlightened. The Buddha told him, “Now go ahead, go into the world and preach, teach and do the same work I do. Carry on my work”. Now Sariputra left, but he was crying and people asked him, “Why are you crying when you are enlightened?” He said, “Who cares about enlightenment, it could have waited, I would have waited. I didn’t even bother about it or ask for it because the joy of being at the feet of the Buddha was so great. Being a devotee was so great, now I am missing it. I would have preferred that to enlightenment”.
When Krishna was leaving his body, he spoke to his friend Uddhava with tears in his eyes. “These Gopis are so beautiful and I cannot bear the amount of devotion they have for me. Go and tell my devotees that only they can free me of their gratitude and of their love”. He rejoices, “Go tell them that where my devotees sing, I am right there”. Love is something that even the Divine rejoices in. Infinity longs for you as much as you long for it. It is waiting to receive you. God is as anxious as you are to be close. So when a devotee flowers on this planet, God is happy.
These two examples sums up why Gurupurnima is the day of the devotee.
You can watch the complete video of this amazing insightful talk in the Youtube link below.
How it is Observed
Guru Purima is the day for all Sadhaks, Jigyaasus and seekers to take stock of the progress made in the spiritual path. It is to assess and course correct vis-a-vis the status during previous Guru Purnima. It is the day to honour the Guru Tatva (Guru Principles in us), our teachers and the Gurus who remove the darkness of Ignorance from our minds.
- Rise early in the morning before sunrise, finish all the ablutions.
- Install Guru Murti or Photograph on the Peetha on which Yellow silk cloth is spread
- Perform Puja/Abhisheka/Homa depending on the convenience and capability.
- Listen to Vishnu Sahasranama
- Offer your respects to Guru and all Teachers and seek their Blessings
- Observe Upavasa Fast
- Conduct or participate in Bhajans
Ever Grateful to my Master, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ji, who plays the Usher at the door, nudging us to stumble into Infinity. The world is a beautiful place every since we set out in this path under His guidance. If you don’t believe it see it through our eyes. When there were times when we felt like giving up on the big bad world, He empowered us with positivity and knowledge to realise that that it is for us to make sure either we transform the world or change our perception.
For a seeker, Guru Purnima is a day of significance, is a day of New Year. It is the day to review one’s progress on the spiritual path and renew one’s determination and focus on the goal, and to resolve what one wants to do in the coming year. As the full moon rises and sets, tears of gratitude arise and repose into the vastness of one’s own self.”
“Where I am” to “What I am”
चिन्मयं व्यापि यत्सर्वं त्रैलोक्यं सचराचरम् ।
तत्पदं दर्शितं येन तस्मै श्रीगुरवे नमः
Chinmayam Vyapi Yat Sarvam, Trai Lokyam Sacharacharam
Tatpadam Darshitam Yena, Tasmai Shri Gurave Namaha
My Salutations to Sublime Master who blessed me with realisation of the essence which pervades past, present and future and all things moving and unmoving.
Our Guru Purnima is usually with Satsangs in Temples, after the morning Guru Puja (Expressing our Gratefulness to the Guru Parampara). Generally at least two of them that leaves in awe of the day
ध्यानमूलं गुरुर्मूर्तिः, पूजामूलं गुरुर्पदम् ।
मन्त्रमूलं गुरुर्वाक्यं, मोक्षमूलं गुरूर्कृपा
Dhyanamoolam Guru Murti, Pujamoolam Guru Padam
Mantra Moolam Guru Vakyam, Moksha Moolam Guru Kripa
Root of Meditation is Guru’s form, Root of worship is of the Guru’s feet. The basis of all mantras is the words of the Guru. The bestowal of liberation is only through Guru’s grace.
JAI GURUDEV!
You can read an experiential article written in 2013, Gurupurnima – How Truck Gives way in a Snow Storm by Mahesh Ram who lives in USA related to Guru Purnima (reproduced almost verbatim on this portal in his own words)
