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Guru Purnima is considered as an important festival to show respect and honour to the teachers and mentors in our lives. We can find the traces of guru purnima in the Hindu, Buddhist and Jain traditions. It falls on the full moon day of the Ashadha month to pay respect to the teachers who have helped us in achieving success in life. Guru Purnima 2024 falls on July 21st, and it is a perfect occasion to acknowledge the invaluable contribution of mentors in our lives.
What is Guru Purnima?
Guru Purnima is celebrated on the purnima i.e. on the full moon day in the Hindu month of Ashadha. The term ‘Guru’ has been derived from the Sanskrit word; ‘Gu,’ which states the darkness and ignorance in one’s life, and ‘Ru,’ which depicts the remover of darkness.
In short, ‘Guru’ means someone who helps to dispel the darkness and ignorance from one’s life and illuminate the path of knowledge and brightness.
Why is Guru Purnima Celebrated?
The story of Guru Purnima can be traced back to Lord Shiva. According to Yogic traditions, on this day, Lord Shiva shared his wisdom with people and thus became the first guru. Thus, this day is celebrated to honour the importance of the first guru in our lives.
There is another story related to the Sage Vyasa, who is the author of Mahabharata. On this day, Sage Vyasa shared his wisdom with four disciples, and therefore, it holds great significance as a guru. On the other hand, Buddhists consider this day auspicious because it was the day when Buddha gave his first sermon.
Similarly, Jains also consider guru purnima as an important day to pay respect to their gurus who guided the path of spiritual awakening. It is observed in India and various parts of the world, such as Bhutan and Nepal, where Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism prevail.
When is Guru Purnima in 2024?
Guru Purnima in 2024 will be celebrated on 21st July. It is an auspicious day that falls on the full moon (Purnima) in the month of Hindu month Ashada. This day is dedicated to honouring and expressing our gratitude to our beloved gurus, teachers and mentors for their important contribution in our spiritual and educational journeys.
On this day, students and disciples across India follow various rituals and express their gratitude to their teachers. It is considered as a time to acknowledge the significant impact that teachers had in our lives and to celebrate their wisdom and guidance.
How is Guru Purnima Celebrated?
Guru Purnima is celebrated by performing rituals in the honour of the teachers and mentors. According to Hindu traditional ways, students visit temples and pay their respect to their first guru i.e. Lord Shiva. Additionally, there are places where people sing religious hymns, and commit themselves to the teachings of their gurus.
In schools and universities, there are huge events to honour teachers. In these events students thank their mentors and teachers who have paved a significant path to the success of their students. Students also prepare some gifts and delicacies for teachers to show their gratitude.
How to Wish Guru Purnima?
Wishing your teachers on Guru Purnima can be heartfelt and meaningful, and it can make their day. You can express your gratitude and respect for their guidance by saying “Happy Guru Purnima.” You can say some meaningful things about how their guidance made things easier for you and how it changed your life.
You can say that their teachings and support made a profound impact on your journey, and you wish to have their guidance throughout your life to help you become more knowledgeable. You can make such personalised messages to honour their efforts in shaping your life.
How was Guru Purnima Celebrated Traditionally?
Performing Guru Pooja
It is one of the traditional ways to celebrate guru purnima. There is a performance of guru puja in which students offer flowers, fruits and other sacred things to their gurus. In these offerings, there are also chanting of mantras and prayers. It was one of the ways to show gratitude towards their gurus.
Fasting and Meditation
Many devotees and students observed facts on guru purnima as a form of devotion and self-purification. Engaging in meditation and spiritual practices helped them to connect with the teachings of the gurus deeply and reflect on their guidance.
Reading Sacred Texts
Reading scriptures and texts written by the guru was a way to honour their wisdom, and therefore, students and disciples used to read their wisdom thoughts on guru purnima. This practice was important to pay homage and also to reinforce the teachings of the guru in their life.
How to Celebrate Guru Purnima in Modern Ways?
Expressing Gratitude
You can write a heartfelt gratitude message which should show the real guru purnima meaning to your guru. Write a letter to your mentor expressing how their guidance impacted your life. It would help if you were specific about the ways in which their guidance helped you grow in your life.
Personalised Gifts
You can consider gifting personalised guru purnima gifts that will affect their appreciation. You can make some customised journals, photo books, or a piece of art that will be touching for your mentors. Think about the values that your mentor has given to you, and your gift should resonate with their interests.
Acts of Service
This can be a practical and meaningful way to show respect to your teachers and mentors. You can indulge in some acts of service like volunteering people in orphanage activities or helping children in their educational activities. These activities will resonate with your teacher’s values, and thus, they will be the best gift for your gurus.
Conclusion
As we are approaching Guru Purnima 2024, you can express your beautiful gestures by sending happy Guru Purnima wishes and honour those who have illuminated your paths. You can send customised gifts or send personalised messages to honour their presence in your life.
Know more about the Guru Purnima 2024 date and time with Pawan Kaushik. He is a renowned astrologer in Gurugram to help you attain goodness in your life. On this Guru Purnima, connect with the divine energies of the universe and bring harmony to your life with personalised astrological consultations with Pawan Kaushik.
