Guru Purnima: Celebration & Religious Significance

Guru Purnima Celebration in Schools

 “Guru is an inspiration, Guru is an aspiration, Guru is everything. Guru is a light for his students in the dark. May Guru’s blessings always shower on you.”

 

Introduction:

On the occasion of Guru Purnima, disciples offer prayers to their gurus/teachers. Guru is the great man, who guides his disciples through spiritual knowledge and education. Guru Purnima is also known as Vyas Purnima. This year Guru Purnima is on 3rd July.

Every year the full moon day of Ashadh month is celebrated as Guru Purnima. It is believed that Ved Vyas ji was born on this day. It was Ved Vyas who first gave the knowledge of the four Vedas to mankind. That is why he is considered as the first Guru and the date of his birth is called Vyas Purnima and Guru Purnima. This time Guru Purnima is falling on 3th July. Purnima Tithi will start from 10:43 am on 3rd July and will remain till 08:06 am on 3rd July. But due to Udaya Tithi, it will be celebrated on 4th July.

One who removes darkness and leads towards light is called Guru. The festival of Guru Purnima is celebrated on the full moon day of Ashadh month. Maharishi Ved Vyas was born on the day of Ashadha Purnima. He gave knowledge of all the four Vedas and composed all the 18 Puranas. Guru Puja is performed on this day. Maharishi Vyas is called Adiguru and Guru Purnima is known as Vyas Purnima in his honour. Saint Ghisadas of Bhaktikal was also born on this day. He was a disciple of Kabirdas.

 

How to celebrate?

The tradition of worshipping Guru on the day of Ashadh Purnima is going on for centuries. From this day for four months, saints and sages stay at the same place and shed the Ganges of knowledge. Therefore, these four months are considered suitable for study. Holy bath in Ganga also has special significance on the day of Ashadh Purnima. Lord Vishnu is worshipped while observing fast on this day. Satyanarayan Katha is read or listened to on this day. On this day every person should worship his Guru. Ganga bath and charity have special significance on this date. It is believed that worshipping the Guru on Guru Purnima gives results equal to a hundred sacrifices. On this day chant the mantra of Lord Shri Hari Vishnu. Recite Shri Vishnu Sahasranama. Offering and donating kheer on the day of Guru Purnima gives mental peace.

 

Guru Pujan:

On the day of Guru Purnima, wake up early in the morning and after retiring from all work, go to temple and bow to the deities.

After this, recite this mantra - 'Guru Parampara Siddhayarthm Vyas Pujam Karishye'.

After this, worship Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva. For this, offer fruits, flowers, vermillion/roli, sweets etc. Along with this, sing hymn/aarti by lighting incense, lamp etc.

 

School Report:

Guru Purnima Celebration in School:

In many educational institutions, the festival of Guru Purnima is celebrated with enthusiasm. On the occasion of Guru Purnima festival in the premises of Sanskriti School, all the teachers and students worshipped and anointed Goddess Saraswati. Similarly, Peepal saplings were planted in the schools.

Guru Purnima festival was celebrated on Friday at Sanskriti School. The programme started with the joint lighting of the lamp and garlanding the picture of Maharishi Ved Vyas by the school's Principal, Vice Principal, Acharya Siddhanath and School Prefects.

Principal iterated that in today's society there is need of such a guru who can remove the vices of the disciples. Acharya Siddhnath also expressed his views. The students enthralled the audience by singing bhajans and songs, presented a nritya natika on the theme- Guru Pujan. The stage was jointly conducted by Class- 9^th & 10th.

On the occasion of Guru Purnima the Head Girl of the school presented a vibrant speech emphasizing the importance of Guru in life. She said that Guru is made up of two letters in which ‘Gu’ means ‘ignorance’ and ‘Ru’ means ‘remover’ i.e. Guru means remover of ignorance. Therefore, we should always respect our parents and teachers and try to make our parents and teachers proud by moving ahead on the path shown by them.

Plantation was done by School Heads and NCC Cadets and Interact Club Members participated. Peepal saplings were planted. Also other trees were planted. Guru Vandana was presented by School Choir, which left the audience mesmerized. On the occasion of Guru Purnima, all the teachers were honoured by the students in the school assembly with special gifts and titles.

 

Conclusion:

In the scriptures, Guru has been given a higher status than God because it is only a Guru, who shows us the way to reach God. That is why one should always respect the teachers. Apart from this, our parents, siblings or any such person who has always helped us to lead us towards the right path, they are all respectable to us and are like a guru. If you are away from your gurus, then you can express your respect towards your guru and respected people by sending greeting messages on the day of Guru Purnima.

 

“The one who inspires, one who informs, one who guides, one who teaches, who has always been my support and strength, to all those Gurus I would like to salute and thank.”

Also read: School Report on Teachers' Day