July 21, 2013: The Sanskrit root "Gu" means darkness or ignorance. "Ru" denotes the remover of that darkness. Therefore one who removes darkness of our ignorance is a Guru. Only he who removes our ultimate darkness, known as Maya, and who inspires and guides us on to the path of God-realization is the true Guru. Students also refer to their school teacher or college lecturer as guru. The connotation of the word guru in this case is one who imparts temporal knowledge (Apara Vidya) and is thus accordingly offered respect. Guru Purnima is a festival traditionally celebrated on the full moon day in the Hindu month of Asada (July/August). Also known as Vyas Purnima, the day is celebrated in remembrance and veneration to sage Ved Vyas. He is the Adi (original/first) Guru of the Hindu Dharma who edited the four Vedas, wrote the 18 Puranas, the Mahabharata and the Srimad Bhagavata. Vyas even taught Dattatreya, who is regarded as the Guru of Gurus. On this day, the Guru is offered Puja (worship) by the disciples.

all Hindu spiritual aspirants and devotees worship Vyas in honor of his divine personage and all disciples perform a 'puja' of their respective spiritual preceptor or 'Gurudevs'. It is a good time to begin our spiritual lessons. Traditionally, spiritual seekers commence to intensify their spiritual 'sadhana' from this day. The period 'Chaturmas' begins from this day. Chaturmas is a holy period of four months (July-October) beginning from Devashayani Ekadasi in Asar to Prabodhini Ekadasi in Kartik. The period corresponds with the rainy season. 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 Vyas, and engage themselves in Vedantic discussions. Sanyasis are supposed to halt during this period at one selected place (Rains Retreat), and give discourses to the public.

Traditionally the festival is celebrated by Buddhists in the honor of lord Buddha who gave His first sermon on this day at Sarnath. Buddha went from Bodhgaya to Sarnath about 5 weeks after his enlightenment. He had left his five friends before attaining enlightment. Using his spiritual powers, he had seen that his five former companions would be able to understand Dharma ( his preaching) quickly. When Gautam Buddha found his five former companions, he taught them. They understood and as a result they also became enlightened. At that time the Sangha, the community of the enlightened ones, was founded. The sermon Buddha gave to the five monks was his first sermon, called theDhammacakkappavattana Sutta (Dharma Chakra Pravartan Sutra). It was given on the full-moon day of Asar. Buddha subsequently also spent his first rainy seasoni.e. Varsha (vassa) at Sarnath at the Mulagandhakuti. The Sangha had grown to 60 in number (after Yasa and his friends had become monks). Buddha, then, sent them out in all directions to travel alone and teach the Dharma. All 60 monks were Arihants. Buddhists observe on this day uposatha (the cleansing of the defiled mind). Vipassana meditators practice meditation on this day under the guidance of their teachers. Rainy season i.e. varsha (vassa) also starts with this day. During this time Buddhist monks remain in a single place, generally in their temples. In some monasteries, monks dedicate the Vassa to intensive meditation. During Vassa, many Buddhist lay people reinvigorate their spiritual training and adopt more ascetic practices, such as giving up meat, alcohol, or smoking.

According to Jain traditions, it was on this day, Mahavir, the 24th Tirthankara, after attaining Kaivalya (solitariness or detachment), made Indrabhuti Gautam, later known as Gautam Swami, a  Ganadhara (troupe leader-a primary disciple- of Tirthankara in Jainism), his first disciple, thus becoming a Guru himself. Therefore, the day is observed as Guru Purnima and marks special veneration to one's Gurus and teachers. The relationship between the Guru and the Disciple is considered very sacred. This relationship is purely spiritual in nature and is independent of age of the two. It is based on maturity of Gyan (Spiritual Knowledge) and Shraddha (Spiritual Practice). The only awareness that a Disciple should foster is, ‘I should be uplifted spiritually’. The Guru too harbours only one thought, ‘May this Disciple be uplifted’.

Gurubrahma Guruvishnu Gururdevo Maheshwaraha |
Guruhu sakshaat Parambrahma tasmai Shrigurave namaha ||

The guru is Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh (Shiva), veneration to the Guru who is Parabrahma manifest. The second line of the couplet does not literally mean that the Guru becomes Parabrahma - God, rather he is venerated as if God is manifesting through him.

Source: Speaking Tree, DT. July 21, 2013.