Significance of Guru Purnima

Guru Purnima is the day to celebrate Gurus or spiritual and academic teachers. Teachers are the entities who educate us and pass on their knowledge, so we as a generation don’t feel deprived of information. Since our childhood, our Gurus motivate and inspire us to achieve something bigger in life.

Imagine a life where you don’t have a teacher to tell you things or what is right and wrong. How meaningless would life be? 

That is why on this day, we thank our teachers, such as those who are on the path of spirituality show gratitude toward their spiritual Gurus. In the same way, students thank their teachers, and schools and colleges conduct events as well. The day is celebrated in India as well as Nepal and Bhutan by Hindus, Jains, and Buddhists. 

The festival is celebrated on Guru Purnima every year where everyone revers their teacher and shows respect toward them. As per the Hindu calendar, it arrives in the month of Ashadha (June–July). The day is also known as Vyasa Purnima, as it marks the birthday of Veda Vyasa, the most excellent Guru.

It is important to know that every Purnima is dedicated to our teachers; however, Guru Purnima is the most significant. This arrives on Full Moon, which is an auspicious happening in itself. Saints and spiritual teachers meditate for hours on this day so they can receive the special grace.

Other than for Gurus, the event is significant for farmers too. The arrival of Guru Purnima also indicates the arrival of the monsoon. Hence the farmers become happy for their fields that are dried and thirsty for water. Monsoon brings hope along with that it would rain, and the fields would be green again.

Guru Purnima gives us a chance to earn prosperity and divinity by taking the blessings of our Gurus. For those who are into spirituality, the day gives them the results of several hours of meditation if they just meditate on this day. One can achieve great results in life by simply being around their Gurus and show them gratitude, respect, and love. Many people also worship Veda Vyasa, who was the author of four Vedas and wrote 18 Puranas and the Epic Mahabharata.

The Meaning of Guru

“Guru Brahma Guru Vishnu Guru Devo Maheshwara; Guru Sakshath Parambrahma Tasmai Shri Gurave Namaha.”

The famous shloka, Guru is the creator, Guru is the preserver, and Guru is also the destroyer. Guru is the absolute truth and happiness. I offer all humble salutations to such a Guru.

Here a Guru represents all three trinity Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva. Brahma is the creator, Vishnu is the preserver, and similarly, Shiva is the destroyer. Hence Guru is considered to be the God who is even worshipped by the Trinity.

He is truly our creator as he teaches us, gives us vision, and molds us to become fine and educated human beings. He teaches us without being selfish; our Guru is the one who wants us to see success in every stage of life. No matter what the phase of life you are in, approaching a Guru always enlightens us and refines our minds to think big and achieve big. If you are a student in school or a student in a spiritual community, only a Guru finds our blockages and guides you to go past them and improve. Thus Guru is a manifestation of the God himself on Earth.

Why Do We Need a Guru in Our Life?

Guru is like the foundation on which a home is built. A teacher molds us in a way that we all become beautiful creations in our life. He is like that sculptor who knows how to carve out a beautiful piece out of stone. Gurus bring discipline, they identify our potential, and accordingly, they guide us further.

When a person feels hopeless and dark all around, a teacher comes as a light of hope who lightens up the way for you. A teacher’s words come as a great lesson whenever we feel frustrated and dissatisfied in life. A Guru broadens our thinking sense and gives us the ability to think from a different perception. He infuses the vision of knowledge with which we become better decision-makers and overall better human beings.

Celebrate this Guru Purnima with your teachers and get blessed by them.