Let’s Celebrate Guru Purnima!
Guru Purnima is a revered Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain festival that celebrates the spiritual and academic teachers, gurus, who are believed to enlighten one's life. It is observed on the full moon (Purnima) day in the month of Ashadha, which this year falls on Thursday, July 10, 2025.
The word "Guru" is derived from two Sanskrit words: "Gu," meaning darkness, and "Ru," meaning remover. Thus, a Guru is someone who removes the darkness of ignorance and leads one toward enlightenment.
Significance of Guru Purnima:
Honoring Teachers: It's a day to express heartfelt gratitude and respect to all teachers, mentors, and spiritual guides who have imparted knowledge, wisdom, and guided individuals on their life's journey.
Vyas Purnima: In Hinduism, it also marks the birth anniversary of Maharishi Ved Vyas, the sage who compiled the Vedas and authored the Mahabharata.
Buddha's First Sermon: For Buddhists, it is the day when Gautama Buddha delivered his first sermon at Sarnath after attaining enlightenment.
Lord Mahavira's First Disciple: In Jainism, it commemorates the day Lord Mahavira took Gautam Swami as his first disciple.
Adi Guru Shiva: In yogic traditions, it's considered the day when Lord Shiva, the Adi Guru (first teacher), began transmitting yogic science to the Saptarishis (seven sages).
Traditions and Rituals:
On Guru Purnima, devotees often engage in various practices to honor their gurus:
Guru Puja: Offering flowers, lamps, incense, fruits, and prayers to living gurus or symbolic representations.
Paduka Puja: Worshipping the guru's sandals or footprints as a gesture of humility and reverence.
Chanting and Meditation: Reciting sacred texts like the Guru Gita or Guru Stotram, and engaging in meditation.
Acts of Service (Seva): Offering time, effort, or resources to community service, education, or spiritual causes in honor of their teachers.
Seeking Blessings: Students seek blessings from their teachers for continued learning and growth.
Guru Dakshina: Offering a token of gratitude, which can be monetary or non-material, to their teachers.
Blessings and Thanks to Spiritual Teachers on Guru Purnima:
On this auspicious day, we at Luminous Path Yoga and Wellness, offer our deepest gratitude and heartfelt blessings to all spiritual teachers. Your wisdom illuminates our path, dispels the darkness of ignorance, and guides us towards self-realization and inner peace. 🙏 Jai Guru
If you'd like to learn more about my Guru please visit https://www.kriya.org/kriya-yoga/EN