Guru Purnima 2017: Celebrating the Culture of Placing the 'Guru First'

Guru Purnima 2017 is being celebrated today i.e. July 9, 2017. Guru Purnima is the day revered by Hindus across India to honour their Gurus or Teachers for teaching them life skills besides imparting academic knowledge. Guru Purnima is celebrated on the first full moon or Purnima of the Aashad month according to the Hindu Calendar. The history of Guru Purnima dates back to ancient India where the author of four Ved samhitas – Sage Ved Vyas recited his collection to Lord Vishnu and got the Creator’s blessings.

Sage Ved Vyas authored Rig Veda, Sama Veda, Yajur Veda, and Atharva Veda, which were the pillars of knowledge as well as the curriculum in Ancient India. The students used to start their academic session after the first full moon or Purnima of the Shukal Paksh of Aashad month. On this day, the students used to celebrate Guru Purnima and would honour their Gurus (Teachers) by touching their feet, presenting them gifts and fasting to prepare themselves for their educational journey.

In the modern India, things haven’t changed much as Indians still celebrate Guru Purnima every year and follow the rich Culture of placing the ‘Guru first'. Regarded as the fountain of knowledge and life skills, nobody is above and beyond the words of Guru. In large parts of India, Indians honour their Gurus – be it their Religious Heads, Teachers or Parents – Guru can be anyone who takes you to the next level of spiritualism and oneness with the Lord while keeping you humble and knowledgeable. It seems like the popularity of Guru Purnima is not just limited to India but has also reached worldwide.

In a tweet last evening, @NASAmoon Posted – ‘Full moon this weekend - called Guru Purnima, Hay Moon, Mead Moon, Ripe Corn Moon, Buck Moon, or our favorite, ⛈ THUNDER MOON ⛈’

It is said that God cannot be everywhere to give direct answers to your questions, so He created Guru to guide you on the path of a good life. According to the Indian Culture, if God is in the Heavens, Guru is on Earth thereby Guru is revered as pious and as respectable as the Lord Himself.

This Guru Purnima, let’s show gratitude to the Gurus of our lives – our mentors, our guides as gratitude is the first step towards success and guru the first guide. Share this article as a gratitude to the Mentor of your Life and tell him what He means to You!