The day of full moon, Purnima, in the month of Ashadh of the hindu calender is traditionally celebrated as Guru Purnima Guru Pūrṇimā, गुरु पूर्णिमा) by hindus. On this day, devotees offer puja (worship) to their Guru.
This was the day when krishna -dwaipayana vyasa -author of the mahabharata was born. veda vyasa , did yeoman service to the cause of vedic studies by gathering all the vedic hymnsextant during his times, dividing them into four parts based on their use in the sacrificial rites, and teaching them to his four chief disciples – Paila, Vaisampayana, jaimini and Sumantu. It was this dividing and editing that earned him the honorific "Vyasa" (vyas = to edit, to divide).
"He divided the Veda into four, namely Rig, Yajur, Sama and Atharva. The histories and the Puranas are said to be the fifth Veda."- Brahmanda Purana 1.4.21
The spiritual Gurus are revered on this day by remembering their life and teachings.
Seekers try to get as much opportunity to do Satseva of the Guru as possible during this period. As the Guru principle is 1000 times more active during this period, when compared to any other day during this year, the satseva done on Guru Poornima fetches substantial grace of the Guru for their spiritual progress. (Ref : Sanatan Prabhat)
The relationship between the Guru and the Disciple is considered very sacred. This relationship is purely spiritual in nature and is independent of age of the two. It is based on maturity of Gyan (Spiritual Knowledge) and Sadhna (Spiritual Practice). The only awareness that a Disciple should foster is, ‘I should be uplifted spiritually’. The Guru too harbours only one thought, ‘May this Disciple be uplifted’. Relationships other than Guru-Disciple are bound by worldly restrictions wherein the ego constantly manifests itself while Gyan and other Sadhna have no value. Since these worldly relationships needs ego for its sustenance, such relationships are albeit false from spiritual level. (Ref : Sanatan Prabhat)
Celebration of Guru Poornima Day in Shirdi
The celebration of Guru Poornima began in Shirdi around 1908. One day Shri Baba told his disciple Shri Dada Kelkar, "Do you know this day is the day to approach Gurus? Bring your worship articles". Then Shri Kelkar and his friends looked up the calendar and found that the day was Guru Poornima day. They started worshipping Shri Sai Baba as their Guru, and that practice has continued till today not only in Shirdi but all over the world where prayers are offered to Shri Sai.
Guru Poornima is celebrated by devotees by performing Guru Pooja(offering prayers to the Guru) to our Lord Shri Sai Baba. Each Sai Devotee can either perform the Sai Guru Pooja(prayer) at home or attend a Sai Guru Pooja or sponsor a Sai Guru Pooja being performed at a Sai temple by offering donation or other articles used in Pooja(Pooja samagri).
One can attend a bhajan or visit a Sai Mandir where ever possible. For those of us who do not have the fortune of visiting a Sai temple or attending a Bhajan, this web site organization has teamed with Sai temples from various areas to help devotees participate in Sai Guru Pooja by sponsoring Guru Pooja.
For those who are unable to do so, humming songs about Sai or repeating Sai slokams or SaiNama would be a good way to spend Guru Poornima day.
This was the day when krishna -dwaipayana vyasa -author of the mahabharata was born. veda vyasa , did yeoman service to the cause of vedic studies by gathering all the vedic hymnsextant during his times, dividing them into four parts based on their use in the sacrificial rites, and teaching them to his four chief disciples – Paila, Vaisampayana, jaimini and Sumantu. It was this dividing and editing that earned him the honorific "Vyasa" (vyas = to edit, to divide).
"He divided the Veda into four, namely Rig, Yajur, Sama and Atharva. The histories and the Puranas are said to be the fifth Veda."- Brahmanda Purana 1.4.21
The spiritual Gurus are revered on this day by remembering their life and teachings.
Seekers try to get as much opportunity to do Satseva of the Guru as possible during this period. As the Guru principle is 1000 times more active during this period, when compared to any other day during this year, the satseva done on Guru Poornima fetches substantial grace of the Guru for their spiritual progress. (Ref : Sanatan Prabhat)
The relationship between the Guru and the Disciple is considered very sacred. This relationship is purely spiritual in nature and is independent of age of the two. It is based on maturity of Gyan (Spiritual Knowledge) and Sadhna (Spiritual Practice). The only awareness that a Disciple should foster is, ‘I should be uplifted spiritually’. The Guru too harbours only one thought, ‘May this Disciple be uplifted’. Relationships other than Guru-Disciple are bound by worldly restrictions wherein the ego constantly manifests itself while Gyan and other Sadhna have no value. Since these worldly relationships needs ego for its sustenance, such relationships are albeit false from spiritual level. (Ref : Sanatan Prabhat)
Celebration of Guru Poornima Day in Shirdi
The celebration of Guru Poornima began in Shirdi around 1908. One day Shri Baba told his disciple Shri Dada Kelkar, "Do you know this day is the day to approach Gurus? Bring your worship articles". Then Shri Kelkar and his friends looked up the calendar and found that the day was Guru Poornima day. They started worshipping Shri Sai Baba as their Guru, and that practice has continued till today not only in Shirdi but all over the world where prayers are offered to Shri Sai.
Guru Poornima is celebrated by devotees by performing Guru Pooja(offering prayers to the Guru) to our Lord Shri Sai Baba. Each Sai Devotee can either perform the Sai Guru Pooja(prayer) at home or attend a Sai Guru Pooja or sponsor a Sai Guru Pooja being performed at a Sai temple by offering donation or other articles used in Pooja(Pooja samagri).
One can attend a bhajan or visit a Sai Mandir where ever possible. For those of us who do not have the fortune of visiting a Sai temple or attending a Bhajan, this web site organization has teamed with Sai temples from various areas to help devotees participate in Sai Guru Pooja by sponsoring Guru Pooja.
For those who are unable to do so, humming songs about Sai or repeating Sai slokams or SaiNama would be a good way to spend Guru Poornima day.
