In the month of Ashadha (June-July), on the day of Purnima, or the full moon, people of India, Nepal and other parts of the world observe the Guru Purnima, with an intent to pay tribute to the most revered gurus of one’s life be they spiritual or academic.
Guru Purnima holds significance across several Indian religions. To the Buddhists, on this very special day, the Lord Buddha gave first sermon at Sarnath after he became enlightened. This noble deed is referred to as the Dhammacakkappavattana meaning the setting in motion of the Wheel of Dharma and signifying the official commencement of the teachings that would go on to spread to the world for more than two thousand years.
For Hindus, Guru Purnima is celebrated to honor the sage Vyasa, the scribe of the Mahabharata and the Puranas and the classifier of the Vedas into four divisions. Also known as Vyasa Purnima, this day is dedicated to the profound work that he has done to the Hindu philosophy and literature.
The term ‘guru’ itself has much more meaning to it in Sanskrit. One explanation is that ‘gu’ means darkness & ‘ru’ means the dispeller. Hence, a guru is a guide who eliminates the darkness of ignorance and shows the path to light or knowledge. Similarly, “guru” also means heavy, thus indicating that a teacher with imbued with knowledge and wisdom.
May you remember all the positive qualities of your gurus continuously and be of service to them!