Guru Purnima is a day of gratitude for those who teach. It falls on Purnima in Ashadha, at the start of the rainy season, when ascetics traditionally settled in one place for the monsoon. The day is named for Vyasa, who is said to have divided the single Veda into four and composed the Mahabharata and the Puranas, and who is regarded as the guru of gurus.
Timing
The day is the full Moon of Ashadha, and the best time for the worship is the morning, though the almanac names a window which differs from city to city. The Guru Purnima page lists the date and the Purnima timing for 49 cities. City pages such as New Delhi, Boston and London give the local picture, and the any-city tool covers other places. For the monthly full Moon vrat, see the Purnima vrat. Dates are not given here.
Samagri: what to gather
| Item | Use |
|---|---|
| Picture of Vyasa, or of your guru, or a book of the Vedas or the Gita | The focus of the worship |
| Flowers, garland, sandal, kumkum, rice | Offered |
| White or yellow cloth | Placed on the seat or offered to the guru |
| Fruit, sweets, a coconut | Naivedya and gift |
| A lamp, incense, camphor | Worship and aarti |
| A donation, called guru dakshina | Offered according to your means |
| A notebook, to write down what you have learned | Reflection |
Steps in order
- Bathe, put on clean clothes and prepare the seat with a cloth.
- Light the lamp. Invoke Ganesha and then Vyasa with a prayer for knowledge.
- Offer flowers, sandal and rice to the picture of Vyasa, or to the book.
- If your guru is present or nearby, offer flowers, a garland or fruit, touch their feet if that is the family custom and ask for their blessing. If they are far away, call or write.
- Offer guru dakshina according to your means. In the tradition, a heartfelt thanks and a promise to continue the study are as welcome as a gift.
- Recite a mantra of your guru or the Gayatri mantra, if you are used to doing so.
- Spend part of the day reading something that you value, and thank those who taught you, including parents, teachers and mentors.
The katha
The tradition tells that the sage Parashara and Satyavati, a boatman’s daughter, had a son who was born on an island in the Yamuna and was dark in colour. He is called Krishna Dvaipayana, the dark one born on an island, and later Vyasa, the one who arranges. When he was a boy, he asked his mother for permission to go to the forest to practise austerities, and she agreed, saying that she would call him when needed.
Vyasa divided the Vedic hymns into the four Vedas and taught them to four disciples. He also composed the Mahabharata, which tradition says was written down by Ganesha, and gave form to the Puranas and the Brahma Sutras. The day is called Vyasa Purnima in his honour, and the tradition says that every guru shares in his lineage. This is a traditional account, and scholars hold that the Vedic texts and the epics were composed by many hands over a long time.
Regional variations
Customs differ by region and family; follow your family’s custom. In many places disciples visit their guru’s seat or ashram and sing in groups. In music and dance, students offer a first gift to the teacher on this day, in the guru-shishya tradition. In Nepal it is a day to honour teachers at school. Some also read the Bhagavad Gita or the Guru Gita.
Fasting and food
Many people do not fast on Guru Purnima and have a simple meal after the puja. Some take only fruit until the worship is over. If you are pregnant, diabetic, ill or on medication, please eat on time. The day asks for attention and gratitude more than abstinence.
Frequently asked questions
↳ Do I need a guru to keep Guru Purnima?
No. You can honour a teacher, a parent, a mentor or the tradition itself, or worship Vyasa through the books he is said to have arranged.
↳ Why is it called Vyasa Purnima?
Because the tradition holds that Vyasa, the arranger of the Vedas, was born or honoured on this day. Many gurus are seen as his heirs.
↳ What is guru dakshina?
It is a gift offered to a teacher in thanks. It can be money, food, service or simply a promise to continue the practice that was taught.
↳ Why does the day fall in Ashadha?
It marks the start of the monsoon retreat, when teachers and students traditionally settled in one place and study began in earnest.