what is the significance of 'Guru Purnima' to Hindus?

Question

WHO IS WORSHIPPED IN GURU PURNIMA ?
1. Lord Shiva, 2. Lord Vishnu, 3. Basishta, 4. Veda Vyash.

Answer 1

Guru Purnima -

Guru Purnima is traditionally held to be Bhagawan Vyasa's birthday. According to the Indian calendar IT falls on the 15th of the month of Ashada. Bhagawan Vyasa is called Veda Vyasa - or the Compiler of the Vedas. Bhagawan Vyasa saw that, in the coming yugas, men would be of grosser mind and would lack the ability to learn and retain all of the Vedas. So he compiled the Vedas into four parts - the Rig, Yajur, Sama and Atharva Veda.

Furthermore he wrote the Puranas so that the common people could also benefit from the knowledge of the Vedas - he conveyed the same spiritual principles through the medium of stories and parables. He is also the author of the Brahma Sutras - the quintessence of Vedanta. So it is but fitting that his birthday is celebrated as Guru Purnima. The day of full moon, Purnima, in the month of Ashadh of the Hindu calendar is traditionally celebrated as Guru Purnima by Hindus. On this day, devotees offer puja (worship) to their Guru. Hindus attach paramount importance to spiritual gurus. Gurus are often equated with God and always regarded as a link between the individual and the Immortal. Just as the moon shines by reflecting the light of the sun, and glorifies it, all disciples can dazzle like the moon by gaining from their Gurus.

Significance of Guru Purnima
On this day, all spiritual aspirants and devotees worship Vyasa in honor of his divine personage and all disciples perform a 'puja' of their respective spiritual preceptor or 'Gurudevs'.

This day is of deep significance to the farmers, for it heralds the setting in of the much-needed rains, as the advent of cool showers usher in fresh life in the fields. It is a good time to begin your spiritual lessons. Traditionally, spiritual seekers commence to intensify their spiritual 'sadhana' from this day.

The period 'Chaturmas' ("four months") begins from this day. In the past, wandering spiritual masters and their disciples used to settle down at a place to study and discourse on the Brahma Sutras composed by Vyasa, and engage themselves in Vedantic discussions.

This day is also called as VYASA POORNIMA.-

Answer 2

Veda Vyasa is worshiped as the Guru of Gurus.

Guru Purnima is the day in which we pay our reverence to the Guru. It is a day filled with devotion, with love, with piety. On this day Sahdakas all across the world pay their deepest reverence to both their personal Guru and Guru lineage as well as Shri Maharishi Veda Vyasa. Veda Vyasa is known as the editor of four Vedas, and the author of 18 Puranas, The Mahabharata and Bhagavad-Gita. Having brought such an immeasurable treasure of wisdom to the world, Veda Vyasa is worshiped as the Guru of Gurus. It is he who has brought forth this ocean of divine light to dispel the darkness of humanity; therefore on this day we also pay deepest respect to Shri Veda Vyasa.

Guru Purnima was celebrated on the full moon day July 30, 2007.

Answer 3

On Guru Poornima, everyone worships one's Guru by offering Coconut (whole with water in it) garland of flowers, clothes for the Guru, Sweets. Importance of this day emanates from the fact that on this day Guru is under obligation of the Shishya and has to bless his followers. So u r entitled to Guru Kripa if u ask for sincerely. Of course Rishi Ved Vyas is also worshiped as Guru of all Gurus. This year 29th July, 2007 was the day of Guru Poornima. It varies every year as per Hindu Calendar and poornima falling in Ashada month.

Answer 4

Very high significance to those Hindus who understand the importance of Guru. To me its my top most festival in the list along with Sharad Poornima.

Talking of Lord Shiva, Vishnu, Vashishtha, Ved Vyas that you have named, they are all worthy personalities, but to us they are of no use since they are not available to us. We need to have the blessings of a Guru, with whom we can relate and benefit. We are not born in our human bodies just for showering accolades on different godheads.

We are here to benefit through the association of a true Guru.

Answer 5

The grace of the guru is like an ocean. If one comes with a cup he will only get a cupful. It is no use complaining of the niggardliness of the ocean. The biffee the vessel the more one will be able to carry. It is entirely up to him. The more you become surrendered to the guru, the more you feel that you have blissful freedom you never had before.. Thats all because of guru.. So in gratitude gurupurnima is celebrated ....who enlighten our paths..

Answer 6

None of them should be worship on this day only the best teacher for someonle may be worshiped !