The full moon day in the Hindu month of Ashad (July-August) is observed as the auspicious day of Guru Purnima or Vyasa Poornima, a day sacred to the memory of the great sage Vyasa. All Hindus are indebted to this ancient saint who edited the four Vedas under four heads – Rig, Yajur, Saama and Atharva., wrote the 18 Puranas, the Mahabharata and the Srimad Bhagavata. Vyasa even taught Dattatreya, who is regarded as the Guru of Gurus.
On the day of Guru Purnima, disciples offer prayers and reverence to the Guru in mind, action and speech.
The Guru Purnima is celebrated every year on a very grand scale at many Hindu ashrams and gurukuls where the disciples wake up early morning at around 4 ‘o’clock and meditate on the Guru and offer prayers after taking bath. Guru is worshipped just like God is worshipped with flowers, fruits, incense and camphor. On the day the sacred worship of the Guru’s Feet is performed. Many disciples also keep fast by taking only milk and fruits the whole day and take fresh resolves for spiritual progress on the auspicious occasion of Vyaasa Purnima. Many disciples also observe a vow of silence on this day.
This day is of deep significance to the farmers, for it heralds the setting in of the much-needed rains, as the advent of cool showers usher in fresh life in the fields. It is a good time to begin your spiritual lessons. Traditionally, spiritual seekers commence to intensify their spiritual ‘sadhana’ from this day.
The period ‘Chaturmas’ (“four months”) begins from this day. In the past, wandering spiritual masters and their disciples used to settle down at a place to study and discourse on the Brahma Sutras composed by Vyasa, and engage themselves in Vedantic discussions.
