Guru Purnima 2022: Muhurta, Significance & History

The importance of teachers, or Gurus, in our life, is immeasurable. It has been reiterated through the ages with stories of the strong bond between Gurus and disciples, the most famous pairs being Dronacharya and Arjun and Shri Ramkrishna Paramhans and Swami Vivekananda.

What made these teacher-student pairs unique was a mutual respect, dedication, and love they had for each other. The teacher was as invested in the student’s success as the student himself. Also, the student respected the teacher and followed his every order and teaching with the utmost dedication. These teachers not only imparted the best education to their disciples but also inculcated in them a sense of right and wrong, duty, and honor.

Guru Purnima is celebrated to honor such teachers, seek their guidance, and ask them for their blessings. This year, Guru Purnima is celebrated on July 13th, 2022.

Astrologically speaking, Guru Purnima this year is very auspicious because there are many auspicious Rajyogas yogas forming. The auspicious conjunction of the Sun, Venus, and Mercury on July 13th will be extremely beneficial. Jupiter, Mars, and Saturn are each in their own sign, which is considered extremely auspicious.

According to ancient texts, Guru Purnima is celebrated to honor Lord Shiva as the Adi Guru, the first Guru. It is believed that on this day, many many years ago, Lord Shiva took on the avatar of a yogi and went to the Himalayas to meditate. Realizing that he was someone with special abilities, seven men approached him to share his knowledge with them. He did not respond to them but closed his eyes to go into a deep meditative state, lasting for almost 84 years. And, when he opened his eyes, he noticed that the seven men were still there waiting for him to accept them as his disciples. Their patience and yearning for knowledge pleased Lord Shiva, and he enlisted them as his disciples on a Purnima. Since that day, the full moon falling in the Hindu month of Ashada came to be known as Guru Purnima. These seven disciples later came to be known as the Sapt Rishis.

There is another version of why this specific full moon day came to be known as Guru Purnima. This day is the birthday of Rishi Ved Vyasa and is thus also known as Vyasa Purnima. He has a very special and revered place in Hinduism. He is also known to be the Guru of Gurus.

Rishi Ved Vyasa was one of the most important and respected Gurus in India. He is known for creating the Mahabharata, one of the Hindu religion's most important texts. Guru Vyasa was also instrumental in forming the four Vedas (Rig Veda, Yajur Veda, Sama Veda, and Atharva Veda), the 18 Puranas, the Brahma Sutras, and other important Hindu texts and mantras. He is also known as the Guru of the Four Rishis: Paila, Jaimini, Vaishampayana, and Sumantu. These four Rishis were given the responsibility of teaching the four Vedas to their disciples.

The story of Lord Shiva becoming the Adi Guru and Rishi Ved Vyasa documenting his knowledge to share with future generations and imparting his learnings to his disciples so that they can further share them with the world defines the significance of Guru Purnima.

While we must always show our loyalty, gratitude, and respect to our teachers, this day has especially been set aside for students to visit their teachers, thank them for sharing their knowledge, for adding value to their lives, for widening their horizons, and for making them capable of dealing with the world and the many curve balls that life may throw at them. For example, it was Dronachraya’s teaching that helped Arjun prepare for the war with the Kauravas.

Apart from celebrating Gurus, this day also marks the importance of learning. The bridging of the gap between ignorance and knowledge, the sharing of knowledge, and setting foot on the path to developing our minds, emotions, and spirits to become a better version of ourselves.

Guru Purnima also celebrates the meeting of minds - one that of a teacher and the other of a student. The saying, 'When you are ready to learn, a teacher will appear' is the true essence of Guru Purnima. This day also reiterates the belief that just as a student comes in many forms, so does a teacher. A Guru is not necessarily someone who teaches you in school or college, but it can be anyone who teaches you life lessons, takes an active interest in your growth and development, encourages you to become a better version of yourself, gives you the courage to do the right thing, even if it may be the difficult thing, and helps you find the meaning of your life and walk the path. This is why Sai Baba, Gautam Buddha, and Jain and Sikh Saints are revered as Gurus.

If you have a Guru who has accepted you as their student or disciple, you can spend this day in their company, serving them and learning from them. If you have a special teacher from your school or college who has had a great influence on your life, then this would be a good day to connect with them and thank them for sharing their knowledge with you and helping you shape your life.

If you don’t have either of these, then on this day you can devote yourself to one of the deities and seek their blessings as your Guru. You can visit their temple, sit there and meditate, seek their guidance, and ask them for their blessings. Since it is Purnima, you can observe the day by keeping fast and reading the Satnaryan Vrat Katha, chanting mantras, and singing bhajans. If it is possible, you can also attend or hold a Satsang.

While you do all this, remember to say thank you and show gratitude to your very first Guru, your mother. The mother is, after all, a child’s creator and his very first teacher.