Guru Purnima: Significance, Date and Puja Vidhi

In an individual’s life, the mata (mother), pitah (father), Guru (teacher) and Daivam (God) play an essential role. And all of these have significance in the stated order. In our Indian culture, Guru or teacher holds a lot of relevance and is considered a God. Guru is the most important person in our life because they are the ones who take us from darkness to light. Moreover, a Guru is our good guide, teacher and also a good friend. We all need a guru in life to show us the right path.

Thus, Guru Purnima or Vyasa Purnima is the day to celebrate and pay our utmost gratitude to our Gurus. This 2023, Guru Purnima will be observed on 3rd July 2023, which will be on Monday. Now, let us now have a look at why the festival of Guru Purnima is celebrated and what are the rituals that an individual must follow on this day. 

Guru Purnima 2023: History and Significance

Many people wonder about Guru Purnima meaning. However, let us tell you that the meaning and significance of this festival are hidden in Guru Purnima history and also in its celebration. We honour Ved Vyasa on the day of Guru Purnima. On this day, Lord Shiva, as the Adi Guru taught the seven rishis, who were the seers of the Vedas, represents the Guru Purnima. Ishvara, as Pranava or Om, is the Adi Guru of Yoga according to the Yoga Sutras.

Popular belief says that Lord Buddha delivered his first sermon on this very day at Sarnath, reflecting the power of that sacred time. Moreover, this day is observed on the Purnima Tithi, the full moon day. Also, we celebrate it in the month of Ashadha, a day commemorating the birth anniversary of the founder of the great Indian epic, Mahabharata, Veda Vyasa.

Other Interesting Facts About Guru Purnima

The Ved Vyas story holds great significance for the history of the Guru Purnima celebration. However, there are some other interesting aspects of the celebration of this festival. Let us have a look at these facts. Some more facts about Guru Purnima are as follows: 

• The day of Guru Purnima does not only pay homage to Ved Vyas but also honours other Gurus like Lord Shiva and Lord Buddha. 
• It represents the date on which Lord Shiva, as the Adi Guru or the original Guru, taught the seven seer rishis of the Vedas. 
• This day also relates to the day on which Lord Buddha delivered his first sermon at Sarnath. 
• The day honours our teachers and countless other people who acted as Gurus in our lives.
• In Hinduism, all the holy books dictate the importance of Gurus.
• The books also highlight the beautiful bond shared between a Guru and their Shishya, or disciple.
• An old Sanskrit phrase, ‘Mata Pita Guru Daivam, ‘ iterates on the position of these people in a person’s life. A mother is placed at the top, followed by the father. Then a place is reserved for the Guru, and the fourth position is for God.
• The Tithi of this festival is highly significant for the followers and devotees of Buddhism. This is because Gautam Buddha (the founder of Buddhism) delivered his first sermon at Sarnath after attaining enlightenment. Hence, Buddhists celebrate it to pay their tributes to Gautam Buddha.
• This phrase suggests that a Guru holds a higher position than God, and thus he should be treated with respect. 
• To summarise, the auspicious day of Guru Purnima reflects on the power of a holy time and the vital role of Gurus. 

Also Read: Dev Uthani Ekadashi: An Ideal Time To Seek God’s Blessings

Guru Purnima 2023: Puja Vidhi

There is a specially and carefully designed Puja Vidhi for each festival in Hinduism. Let us have a look at the Puja Vidhi an individual must follow on the occasion of this festival. These are as follows: 

• The day starts with waking up early and performing the daily mundane tasks of bathing, puja, etc. This is to be ensured that only clean and tidy clothes will be worn.
• Post that, flowers are offered and a garland of fresh flowers with good fragrance is placed on the image of Vyasa Ji. This is when you visit your own Guru. 
• Ensure that your Guru is seated on a chair, and then proceed to offer a garland to them.
• Following that, offer fruits, flowers, clothes and Dakshina (a form of giving money) to your Guru. In the end, seek their blessings for a fruitful and peaceful life.

Guru Purnima 2023: Do’s and Don’ts

The celebration of a festival has some set of rules and guidelines that an individual must follow. As every ritual and guideline is carefully curated, an individual should follow them. Let us have a look at these rituals. Thee are as follows: 

Do’s 

• Guru Purnima celebrations start by expressing gratitude to the Gods who are like our Gurus.
• Monasteries and Ashrams see countless disciples offering their prayers in honour of their teachers.
• People chant an age-old Sanskrit shloka, that is, “गुरुर्ब्रह्मा ग्रुरुर्विष्णुः गुरुर्देवो महेश्वरः । गुरुः साक्षात् परं ब्रह्म तस्मै श्री गुरवे नमः ॥” which translates to “Guru is truly the image and of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. He creates, sustains, and nourishes knowledge and destroys the weeds of ignorance. I salute such a great Guru.” 
• Moreover, one should also dedicate themself to the teaching and principles of the Guru.
• They break their fast by performing puja in the evening.
• The performing of the puja is to pay one’s respects to the Gods above and to pay respect to the Gurus.

Don’ts

• Do not consume alcohol on the day of Guru Purnima festival. 
• Do not disrespect your elders or Gurus on this day.
• Try to avoid the consumption of meat and non-vegetarian food on the occasion of Guru Purnima.
• Along with this, an individual should also try to avoid consuming any heavy food items. Keep your meals light by including yoghurt or fruits.
• Lastly, people should also not forget to practice the Guru’s teachings and must channelise their energy following the principles of the Guru. 

Conclusion

There you have it, folks! This was all on Guru Purnima information. The day of Guru Purnima stands for our teachers’ strength, warmth, and dedicated support. Our Gurus remove darkness from our minds and help us become better versions of ourselves. So this Guru Purnima, don’t forget to honour your teachers and practice their teachings in your life!

Moreover, on this day, by respecting your elders and teachers (Gurus), one can please the Lords and can get the blessings of the divine. Furthermore, if you liked this blog and want to read more such detailed yet interesting blogs about other Indian festivals, then do check InstaAstro’s website or download the app for the same. Moreover, there you can read many more such informative and interesting blogs. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Also Read: Shravan Somvar 2023: History, Significance And Rituals

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