Guru Poornima

Each year the full moon day in the month of Ashad (July-August) is the auspicious day of Guru Poornima, which in 2007 falls on July 29th. The day of Guru Poornima originates with the ancient sage, Bhagavan Sri Vyasa. Who it is believed edited the four Vedas, wrote the 18 Puranas, The Mahabharata and The Srimad Bhagavata.

In honour of this divine personage, spiritual aspirants and devotees either perform Vyasa Puja on this day, or worship their own spiritual preceptor. Saints, monks and men of God are honoured and entertained with acts of charity by householders with faith and sincerity. The period Chaturmas (the "four months") begins from this day; Sannyasins stay at one place during the ensuing four rainy months, engaging in the study of the Brahma Sutras and the practice of meditation.

The day of Guru Poornima is supposed to herald the settling in of the rains and is thus a time that aspirants commence or resolve to intensify their spiritual disciplines. The Srutis say: "To that high-souled aspirant, whose devotion to the Lord is great and whose devotion to his Guru is as great as that to the Lord, the secrets explained herein become illuminated".

To find out more about Rishi Vyasa click here.