Guru Purnima, July 31,2015
July 31st this year,
is auspicious in that we have a Hinduism based Teacher’s day. Teacher here
primarily refers to spiritual leader.
The festival is dedicated to
teachers of both spiritual and academic fields and is traditionally celebrated
by Hindus, apart from Jains and Buddhists, two offshoots of Hindus.
Guru in Sanskrit means dispeller
of darkness and hence the Guru, dispels the darkness of ignorance and leads the
aspirants on the path to enlightenment.
Guru Purnima falls on the full
moon day of Ashadha month (July-August, Karkidakam or Avani month). Guru pooja
or guru worship is the idea behind this day.
Guru Purnima commemorates with
two traditional incidents:
a) the very first transmission of
yogic sciences from Shiva (the Adiyogi or first yogi) to the Saptharishis, the
seven celebrated sages.
b) the birth anniversary of Veda Vyasa, who is a revered and
central figure in Hindu traditions. He is considered as the scribe of both the
Vedas and Puranas.
Veda Vyasa lived around the 3rd
Millennium BC. This great sage is considered as one of the seven Chiranjivins
(immortals), according to Hindu belief.
Adi Shankara, Sri Ramanuja
Acharya and Sri Madhvacharya are some of the noteworthy Gurus in Hinduism.
Buddhists also celebrate Guru
Purnima in the honour of Gautama Buddha to commemorate the day when Buddha gave
his first sermon at Sarnath, Uttar Pradesh, India. Guru Purnima is also
considered as the day when Vyasa split the Vedas.
Let us pay our obeisance to all
the spiritual Gurus, who continue to guide us in this world.
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