Know The Tithi, Rituals & Benefits Of Celebrating Guru Purnima 2023

Guru Purnima is an important festival in India people celebrate on the Full Moon day of the Hindu month Ashadha. It typically falls in July or August. On this day, devotees express their gratitude. Also, they pay tribute to their gurus, who are the guiding lights illuminating their paths and leading them toward enlightenment. A guru is typically a teacher or mentor who imparts their disciples’ knowledge, wisdom, and spiritual guidance. Read to know in detail about Guru Purnima 2023.

The festival signifies great enthusiasm and reverence across the country. Moreover, on this day, people offer prayers and perform various rituals to express their gratitude towards their gurus. Students of all ages and backgrounds pay homage to their teachers by presenting them with gifts and seeking their blessings.

Apart from the traditional rituals, the festival is also an occasion for cultural programs and social gatherings, where people come together to celebrate and share their experiences with their gurus. This day also marks the beginning of the monsoon season in India, which brings new hope and rejuvenation after the scorching summer heat.

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Guru Purnima 2023: Date & Tithi details

Guru Purnima is a significant Hindu festival that falls on the full moon day (Purnima Tithi) in the Hindu month of Ashadha (June-July). Thus, in 2023, Guru Purnima will be on July 03, 2023, which is a Monday.

The Purnima Tithi begins at 08:22 PM (20:22:36) on July 02, 2023, and ends at 5:09 PM (17:09:30) on July 03, 2023. This auspicious day is to honor and express gratitude towards one’s spiritual and academic teachers, or Gurus, who guide and inspire us on our spiritual journey. Hence, on this day, the cosmic energies are most conducive to receiving the blessings of the Guru.

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Spiritual Significance of Guru Purnima

According to Jainism, Lord Mahavira became the ‘Guru’ to his first disciple Gautam Swami on this day. Thus, this day also venerates Mahavira. This event marks an important moment in Jain history and serves as a reminder of the spiritual guidance that Lord Mahavira provided to his disciples. In ancient Indian history, Guru Purnima was of utmost importance to farmers as they worshiped God for giving them good rainfall for the next harvest. Also, this day was an opportunity to thank the divine for their bounty and seek blessings for the next season’s crops.

According to Buddhism, on this day, Gautam Buddha delivered his first sermon or teaching to his first five disciples after he migrated from Bodhgaya to Sarnath. This event is the beginning of the Sangha or the community of His disciples. Moreover, on this day, Buddha demonstrated the importance of knowledge and the role of the Guru in a spiritual journey.

In Hinduism, Guru Purnima celebrates the birth of Ved Vyasa, the famous sage who edited the Vedas dividing them into four. He also wrote the Puranas which is the ‘fifth Veda’ and the Mahabharata. This day is to honor the contributions that Ved Vyasa made to Hindu literature and the knowledge that he imparted to his disciples. On Guru Purnima, devotees seek blessings from their Gurus for knowledge, wisdom, and spiritual growth.

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What to do on Guru Purnima?

Here are some of the common rituals and practices followed by Guru Purnima:

• Paying homage to the Guru: On Guru Purnima, people pay their respects to their spiritual or academic teachers, mentors, and guides. They offer flowers, fruits, sweets, and other offerings at the feet of their Guru and seek their blessings.
• Performing Guru Puja: Guru Puja is a ritual where people worship the Gurus with flowers, incense, and other offerings. It is to express gratitude to the Guru for their teachings and guidance.
• Chanting of Mantras: Many people chant mantras dedicated to their Guru on this day. The most popular mantra is “Guru Brahma, Guru Vishnu, Guru Devo Maheshwara, Guru Sakshat Param Brahma, Tasmai Shri Gurave Namah.”
• Listening to discourses: On Guru Purnima, people attend discourses by spiritual leaders, gurus, and scholars to gain insights into the teachings of their Guru.
• Fasting: Some people observe a fast on Guru Purnima as a mark of respect for their Guru. Thus, they abstain from food and water and spend the day in prayer and meditation.
• Donating: Many people donate money, food, or other essential items to the poor and needy on this day as a way of giving back to society and seeking the blessings of their Guru.
• Self-reflection: Guru Purnima is also a day of self-reflection and introspection. People evaluate their progress in life. Moreover, they seek guidance from their Guru on how to improve themselves and overcome their shortcomings.
• Satsang: Satsang is a gathering of like-minded individuals who come together to discuss spiritual and philosophical topics. Many people participate in Satsangs on Guru Purnima to gain a deeper understanding of the teachings of their Guru.

How to perform Puja on Guru Purnima 2023?

• On Guru Purnima 2023, it is customary for devotees to begin their day by waking up early in the morning, taking a refreshing bath, and dressing in clean clothes to honor the occasion.
• To further show their reverence, spread a white cloth in the North direction of their home and place the idols or pictures of their revered Gurus upon it. Among the supreme Gurus are Brahma, Vishnu, and Mahesh. So, it is important to seek their blessings on this day while expressing gratitude for their guidance and teachings.
• Devotees should offer flowers and garlands as a symbol of their devotion to the deities. Moreover, they should present sweets as Prashad to show their appreciation.
• With closed eyes, one should recite the Guru mantra and reflect upon the invaluable guidance their teachers have imparted throughout their life. Thus, this is a time to express gratitude and thankfulness for their teachings.
• Performing the aarti is an integral part of this celebration. Thus, it is essential to thank the Gurus for all the meaningful lessons they have imparted. Finally, devotees should seek their blessings by joining their hands together in a gesture of reverence and humility. May the Guru Purnima 2023 be a joyous reminder of the invaluable role our Gurus play in our lives.

Mantra:

गुरुर्ब्रह्मा ग्रुरुर्विष्णुः गुरुर्देवो महेश्वरः।

गुरुः साक्षात् परं ब्रह्म तस्मै श्री गुरवे नमः॥

gururbrahma grururvishuh gururdevo mahesvarah।
guruh saksat param brahma tasmai shri gurave namah॥

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Astrological significance of Guru Purnima

This particular day in the Hindu calendar is significant and is known as Vyasa Purnima. It falls on the Purnima tithi, which means the full moon day, in the Sukla Paksha of the Ashadha month. According to astrology, during this time, the Moon stays in the house of Sagittarius, which Jupiter rules. Also, it stays in the Purvashadha Nakshatra, ruled by Venus. This positioning of the Moon has a significant impact on an individual’s heart and mind. Our Gurus use this connection to foster behavior that is both moral and pragmatic.

The Ashadha month represents gloomy and dark weather, with thick clouds covering the sky. However, on the day of Purnima, when the Moon finally shines bright, it dispels the darkness away. So, Ved Vyas and the interpreter of the Vedas, Sukhdev, are worshipped on this day as per the Puranas.

Moreover, by worshipping these great sages, we pay homage to their teachings and seek their blessings to guide us on the right path. The Gurus use this day to impart their knowledge and wisdom to their disciples, fostering their spiritual growth and development.

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Spiritual benefits of observing Guru Purnima Vrat

Fasting on this auspicious day has several spiritual benefits. It can help in deepening one’s connection with their inner self and the divine.

Here are some of the spiritual benefits of fasting on Guru Purnima:

• Fasting is a powerful tool for purifying the mind and body. When we fast, we give our digestive system a break, which allows our body to detoxify and eliminate toxins. This process helps to clear our minds of negative thoughts and emotions and promotes a sense of calm and clarity.
• Fasting can help in deepening one’s spiritual practices such as meditation, prayer, and chanting. When we fast, we become more aware of our physical and mental states. Hence, it can help us to focus and concentrate better during spiritual practices.
• Fasting can enhance our spiritual awareness and help us to connect with our higher self. As we abstain from food and drink, we become more attuned to our inner selves and our spiritual needs.
• Also, by practicing self-discipline through fasting, we can develop greater control over our thoughts and actions, and become more aligned with our spiritual goals.
• Fasting on Guru Purnima is a way of expressing gratitude towards one’s spiritual teacher or guru. It is a way of honoring their wisdom and teachings and acknowledging the role they played in our spiritual journey.

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