Guru Purnima

Guru Purnima is celebrated on the full moon date of the Hindu month Ashadha. On this day our Guru teacher or our mentor is worshiped. In general terms, Guru is the person who brings us into the light from the darkness by enlightening us with knowledge. This festival is celebrated with full faith and emotions throughout the nation.

Hinduism emphasizes the importance of Gurus and the extraordinary bond between a Guru and his Shishya. An age-old Sanskrit phrase ‘Mata Pitah Guru Daivam’, says that the first place is reserved for the mother, second for the father, third for Guru, and fourth for God. Thus, teachers have been given a higher place than Gods in Hindu tradition.

An eminent personality who wrote incredible texts like Brahma Sutra, Mahabharata, Shrimad Bhagvat, and 18 Puranas; Maharshi Veda Vyasa was born on the Ashadha Purnima, as per the beliefs. Ved Vyas was the son of Rishi Parashara. Veda Vyas was aware of all the Kaals (times — past, present, future). With his divine eye, he had witnessed that people will lose interest in religion in the future. Due to this, humans will believe less in God, they will avoid responsibilities, and will have lesser age. Such a person cannot easily go through the entire Veda. Hence, Maharshi Vyasa divided the Vedas into 4 parts; so that people with less understanding and memory can utilize this knowledge.

After dividing the Vedas into 4 parts, he named them Rigveda, Yajurveda, Samaveda, and Atharvaveda. Due to this, he got famous with the name Veda Vyasa. He gave the knowledge of these 4 Vedas to his students — Vaishampayana, Sumantumuni, Pail, and Jaimin.

As this knowledge was quite mysterious and difficult, he created Puranas as the fifth Veda. In these Puranas, he explained the knowledge of Vedas as interesting stories. Maharshi Vyas is considered our ancient Guru. This famous festival of Guru Poornima is celebrated as the birthday of Vyasa Ji. That is why we also know this day as Vyasa Purnima. We must consider our Gurus as part of Vyasa Ji and worship them.

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