Guru Purnima

About Guru Purnima

Significance

Guru Purnima, also called Vyasa Purnima, is the day on which disciples honour their teachers. It is named after Krishna Dvaipayana Vyasa, the son of Parashara and Satyavati, who according to tradition arranged the Veda into its divisions, composed the Mahabharata and is credited with the Puranas; a widely held tradition places his birth on this full moon. Honouring Vyasa is understood as honouring the whole line of teachers through whom knowledge has been handed down.

The full moon of Ashadha is also sacred in Buddhism. In the Theravada tradition it is Asalha Puja, the anniversary of the Buddha’s first discourse, the Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta, given to his five former companions at the deer park of Isipatana near Sarnath, which set the wheel of the Dhamma in motion. The Ministry of Culture, with the International Buddhist Confederation, has marked the day as Dhamma Chakra Pravartan Diwas.

How and where it is observed

The day is kept throughout India and Nepal by Hindus, Buddhists and many Jains, and in schools, ashrams, mathas and music gharanas. Monastic orders traditionally perform Vyasa puja on this day and, in many traditions, sannyasis begin the four-month Chaturmasya retreat around it, staying in one place through the rains. In Theravada communities Asalha Puja is followed by the start of the rains retreat (vassa) of the monks.

Rituals

Disciples visit their gurus, wash or worship their feet or sandals (padukas), offer flowers, fruit and guru-dakshina, and listen to teaching. Mathas perform a formal Vyasa puja honouring Vyasa, Shankara and the teachers of the line, and many families recite the Guru Gita or read from the Mahabharata or Bhagavata. Students of music and dance perform before their teachers, and Buddhists visit viharas, offer dana and listen to the first sermon being recited.

How the date is fixed

Guru Purnima is Ashadha Purnima, the full moon ending the bright fortnight of Ashadha, the same month name in the Amanta and Purnimanta calendars. It is shown on the day on which Purnima prevails at sunrise (udaya tithi). When Purnima is present at two sunrises the first day is taken, and when it begins after one sunrise and ends before the next, the day that contains it. Buddhist calendars may place Asalha Puja on a different day.

Sources

• Mahabharata, Adi Parva (birth of Vyasa to Satyavati and Parashara)
• Dharma Sindhu, Pariccheda 2, Ashadha (Vyasa-puja and the Chaturmasya of sannyasis)
• Samyutta Nikaya 56.11, Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta

Customs differ between regions, communities and families; this description is background, not a prescription. The date above is calculated by the rule shown on this page.