Guru Purnima
guru purnima sanskrit गुरुपूर्णिमा romanized gurupūrṇimā religious festival dedicated offering respect spiritual academic guru celebrated festival india nepal bhutan hindu jains buddhist festival traditionally observed honour one chosen spiritual teacher leader observed full moon day purnima month ashadha june–july according hindu calendar also known vyasa purnima mark birthday veda vyasa sage authored mahabharata compiled veda word guru derived sanskrit root word gu ru gu mean darkness ignorance ru mean dispeller therefore guru dispeller darkness ignorance celebration guru purnima marked spiritual activity may include ritualistic event guru puja honour guru teacher guru believed many necessary part life day disciple offer puja pay respect guru addition religious importance festival great importance indian academic scholar indian academic celebrate day thanking teacher well remembering past teacher scholar hindu guru revered day remembering life teaching festivity usually followed feast disciple shishya prasada charnamrita nectar foot symbolic wash guru foot represents kripa grace distributed special recitation hindu scripture like guru gita held day apart singing bhajans hymn special kirtan session havan many place devotee gather ashram matha place seat guru guru gaddi exists day also see ritual padapuja worship guru sandal represent holy foot seen way rededicating guru stand disciple also recommit day towards following teacher guidance teaching coming year day also seen occasion fellow devotee guru bhai disciplebrother express solidarity one another spiritual journey vedic hindu tradition day celebrated honour sage vyasa seen one greatest guru ancient hindu tradition symbol gurushishya tradition recitation dedication organised day also known vyasa purnima vyasa puja held various temple floral offering symbolic gift given away honour hindu ascetic wandering sanyasi observe day offering puja guru chaturmasya fourmonth period rainy season choose seclusion stay one chosen place also give discourse local public student indian classical music indian classical dance also celebrate festival per buddhist tradition festival celebrated buddhist honour buddha gave first sermon day sarnath uttar pradesh india yogic tradition day celebrated occasion shiva became first guru began transmission yoga saptarishis buddhist observe uposatha ie observe eight precept day rainy season vassa also start day lasting three lunar month july october time buddhist monk remain single place generally temple monastery monk dedicate vassa intensive meditation vassa many buddhist lay people reinvigorate spiritual training adopt ascetic practice giving meat alcohol smoking nepal guru purnima big day school day teacher day nepalese student honour teacher offering delicacy garland special hat called topi made indigenous fabric student often organize fanfare school appreciate hard work done teacher taken great opportunity consolidate bond teacherstudent relationship day vyasa – author mahabharata – born sage parashara fisherman daughter satyavati thus day also celebrated vyasa purnima veda vyasa yeoman service cause vedic study gathering vedic hymn extant time dividing four part based characteristic use rite taught four chief disciple – paila vaisampayana jaimini sumantu dividing editing earned honorific vyasa vyas edit divide divided veda four part namely rig yajur sama atharva gautama buddha went bodhgaya sarnath week enlightenment attained enlightenment gave austere penance former comrade pañcavargika left went ṛṣipatana sarnath attaining enlightenment buddha left uruvilvā travelled ṛṣipatana join teach went using spiritual power seen five former companion would able understand dharma quickly travelling sarnath gautama buddha cross ganges king bimbisara heard abolished toll ascetic gautama buddha found five former companion taught dharmacakrapravartana sūtra understood also became enlightened marked establishment mendicant sangha fullmoon day asadha buddha subsequently spent first rainy season sarnath mulagandhakuti bhikshu sangha soon grew member buddha sent direction travel alone teach dharma according jain tradition special veneration offered one guru teacher guru purnima day fall beginning chaturmasya day mahavira attaining kaivalya made gautama swami first disciple ganadhara thus becoming guru guru