Guru Pūrṇimā

Guru Pūrṇimā is an auspicious day dedicated to honoring our teachers. It's celebrated by both Hindus and Buddhists on the full moon day in the Hindu month of Âshâdha (from June to July). This year, Guru Pūrṇimā falls on July 13th - today!

Guru Pūrṇimā marks the beautiful relationship between guru (spiritual leader, mentor, teacher) and śiṣya (pupil, disciple). Traditionally, when we say guru, we're talking about a spiritual leader or mentor - on this day, the śiṣya offers gratitude and reverence to their guru.

The Advayatāraka Upaniṣad describes "Guru" in this way:

गुशब्दस्त्वन्धकारः स्यात् रुशब्दस्तन्निरोधकः ।

अन्धकारनिरोधित्वात् गुरुरित्यभिधीयते ॥ १६॥

The syllable Gu indicates darkness, the syllable Ru means its dispeller,

Because of the quality of dispelling darkness, the Guru is thus termed.

And so, in many ways, a guru is more than a teacher. Gurus are reverential figures, spiritual guides, absolute experts in their fields, and a source of inspiration to their śiṣyas. They are considered a link between the disciple and the divine. If you accept the definition found in the Advayatāraka Upaniṣad, they literally expel the darkness from our lives.

Not all teachers are gurus, but we know from our own experience that we can learn from all kinds of people. A friend, a partner, an acquaintance who has already come and gone from your life - these people can all have profound affects on our lives.

Spend some time today considering the teachers in your life - who has helped guide and shape you? Who has set you up on the right path? No human being is an island - many hands have carried you through your life to this moment. Celebrate these people, even if it's just reaching out with a kind word and a gesture of gratitude.

Happy Guru Purnima!

💖 kass