Today is Guru Purnima!

Today we celebrate Guru Purnima.

Guru Purnima is a traditional celebration dedicated to all the gurus (both spiritual and academic) that have guided us or taught us something in our lives.

It is celebrated every year on the full moon day of Ashadha – आसाढ़ month, and this year the celebration will happen on July 13th.

Ashadha is a month of the Hindu calendar, and it corresponds to June/July in the Gregorian calendar. It is the first of the two months of the monsoon season.

Sadhguru – Photo by Isha Foundation

The celebration of Guru Purnima is marked by several spiritual activities which may also include ritualistic events in honor of the Guru (the so-called Guru Puja).

The word Guru – गुरु comes from Sanskrit (the earliest pieces of evidence of the term are found in the earliest Vedic texts).

Gurus are mentors, guides, experts, and masters, and an essential part of our life, especially when we are at the beginning of our journey.

Yet, a Guru is not just someone who teaches you a specific type of knowledge but is also someone who is also your counselor, someone who has both practical knowledge and theoretical knowledge. He is a model of life, an inspirational source, someone who guides you in understanding the journey of life.
A woman who is a Guru is called Gurvi.

In particular, in Yogic tradition, Guru Purnima is the day the first guru, Shiva, was born. In Yogic culture, Shiva is not just seen as a god, but he is also considered the Adiyogi, the first yogi. Guru Purnima is the full moon day when Adiyogi transformed himself into Adi Guru – the first guru.
On this day, Shiva, seeing how his Saptarishis, his first seven disciples were following him, decided to share his knowledge with them. In this way, teaching was born.

So today, think to all your guides, teachers, and masters and pay them respect and gratitude for what they gave you!