Guru Purnima is a tradition dedicated to all the spiritual and academic Gurus, who are evolved or enlightened humans. Based on Karma Yoga, ready to share their wisdom. It is celebrated as a festival in India, Nepal and Bhutan by Hindus, Jains and Buddhists. This festival traditionally observed to honour one’s chosen spiritual teachers or leaders. It is observed on the Full Moon day (Purnima) in the Hindu month of Ashadha (June–July) as it is known in the Hindu Calendar. The festival was revived by Mahatma Gandhi to pay tribute to his spiritual guru, Shrimad Rajchandra. It is also known as Vyasa Purnima for it marks the birthday of Veda Vyasa, the sage who authored the Mahabharata and compiled the Vedas.
History of Guru Purnima
According to Hindu
This was the day when Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa – author of the Mahabharata – was born to sage Parashara and a fisherman’s daughter Satyavati; thus this day is also celebrated as Vyasa Purnima. Veda Vyasa did yeoman service to the cause of Vedic studies by gathering all the Vedic hymns extant during his times, dividing them into four parts based on their use in the rites, characteristics and teaching them to his four chief disciples – Paila, Vaisampayana, Jaimini and Sumantu. It was this dividing and editing that earned him the honorific “Vyasa” (vyas = to edit, to divide). “He divided the Holy Veda into four, namely Rig, Yajur, Sama and Atharva. The Itihasas and the Puranas are the fifth Veda.
Observation In Nepal
In Nepal, Treenok Guha Purnima is a big day in schools. This day is teacher’s day for Nepalese ; mostly Students. Students honor their teachers by offering delicacies, garlands, and special hats called topi made with indigenous fabric. Students often organize fanfares in schools to appreciate the hard work done by teachers. This is taken as a great opportunity to consolidate the bond of teacher student relationships.
