Guru Purnima Date 2024: Story, Puja Muhurat and Spiritual Significance

Guru Purnima Date 2024: Puja Timings, Rituals, and Significance – GHdays.in

Guru Purnima, known as Gurupurnima in Sanskrit, is a sacred celebration that pays homage to spiritual and academic mentors. Hindus, Jains, and Buddhists in India, Nepal, and Bhutan come together to observe this festival, which is a time-honored tradition of showing reverence to spiritual guides and mentors.

This festival coincides with the full moon day in the month of Ashadha (June–July) based on the Hindu Calendar. Mahatma Gandhi reintroduced this festival to honor his spiritual teacher, Shrimad Rajchandra. Additionally, it is referred to as Vyasa Purnima as it commemorates the birth of Veda Vyasa, the revered sage responsible for composing the Mahabharata and compiling the Vedas.

The term “guru” originates from the combination of the Sanskrit terms gu and ru. In Sanskrit, gu signifies “darkness” or “ignorance”, while ru signifies “dispeller.” Consequently, a guru is recognized as the illuminator who dispels darkness or ignorance.

Guru Purnima Date 2024: 21st July, Sunday

Guru Purnima Date 2024 Overview

Festival Name	Guru Purnima
Meaning	Guru Worship on a summer full moon day
Observed by	Jain, Hindu devotees & Buddhist disciples in Bhutan, India and Nepal
Type	National, religious, cultural
Significance	To express gratitude towards spiritual teachers
Celebrations	Worship of Guru and temple visit
Observances	Guru Puja
Date	Ashadha Purnima

Guru Purnima 2024 Time in India

The upcoming event of Guru Purnima, an important spiritual festivity, is scheduled for Sunday, July 21, 2024. The propitious Purnima Tithi, a moonlit day renowned for its completeness and prosperity, will begin at 05:59 PM on July 20, 2024, and end at 03:46 PM on July 21, 2024. This holy event is characterized by followers showing respect to their mentors, expressing appreciation for their sagacity and direction. It is a moment of profound veneration, during which disciples assemble to pay tribute to their spiritual guides and request their blessings for spiritual advancement and illumination.

When is Guru Purnima 2024?

Guru Purnima Date 2023	Monday, 3 July
Guru Purnima Date 2024	Sunday, 21 July
Guru Purnima Date 2025	Thursday, 10 July
Guru Purnima Date 2026	Wednesday, 29 July
Guru Purnima Date 2027	Sunday, 18 July
Guru Purnima Date 2028	Thursday, 6 July
Guru Purnima Date 2029	Wednesday, 25 July

Observances of Guru Purnima

Guru Purnima, a significant occasion in spiritual circles, is typically commemorated through sacred practices, possibly featuring a ceremonial tribute known as Guru puja to honor the revered guru or teacher. Many regard gurus as indispensable guides in life. During this day, disciples express their reverence through puja or acts of homage towards their guru. Apart from its religious connotations, this festival holds particular significance for the academic and scholarly community in India. Scholars in India celebrate Guru Purnima by expressing gratitude towards their mentors, while also reminiscing about past teachers and erudite figures.

In accordance with Buddhist customs, followers of Buddhism observe this festival to pay homage to the Buddha, who delivered his inaugural sermon at Sarnath, Uttar Pradesh, India, on this very day. In the realm of yoga traditions, this day is honored as the moment when Shiva assumed the role of the primary guru by initiating the transmission of Yoga to the Saptarishis.

Within Vedic Hindu customs, Guru Purnima is dedicated to the venerated sage Vyasa, considered one of the paramount gurus in ancient Hindu lore and a symbol of the guru-shishya lineage. Vyasa is believed to have not only been born on this auspicious day but also commenced the composition of the Brahma Sutras on ashadha sudha padyami. Devotional recitations are offered as a mark of tribute to him and are typically arranged on this day, also recognized as Vyasa Purnima. This festival is a shared tradition across various spiritual lineages within Hinduism, serving as an expression of gratitude from disciples towards their teachers.

Furthermore, Hindu ascetics and wandering sanyasis observe Guru Purnima by performing puja ceremonies for their gurus amidst Chaturmasya, a four-month period during the monsoon season when they opt for seclusion and settle in one chosen location; some may also deliver teachings to the local populace. Students of Indian classical music and dance, who adhere to the guru-shishya parampara, joyously celebrate this revered festival across global platforms.

Significance of Guru Purnima

On this auspicious day, Vyasa, the revered sage who penned the epic Mahabharata, was born to the union of sage Parashara and Satyavati, a humble fisherman’s daughter. This significant occasion is commemorated as Vyasa Purnima. Vyasa’s profound contribution to Vedic knowledge cannot be overstated; he meticulously compiled the existing Vedic hymns of his era and categorized them into four distinct sections according to their attributes and ritual significance.

Subsequently, Vyasa imparted this invaluable wisdom to his principal disciples – Paila, Vaisampayana, Jaimini, and Sumantu. It was his exceptional skill in organizing and refining these sacred texts that earned him the revered title of “Vyasa,” derived from the Sanskrit root “vyas,” meaning to arrange and differentiate. Through his scholarly efforts, Vyasa structured the Vedas into four distinct parts: Rig, Yajur, Sama, and Atharva.

Happy Guru Purnima 2024 Wishes

May the light of knowledge and the blessings of your gurus illuminate your path and lead you to success and happiness. Wishing you a joyous Guru Purnima!
Today, I honor and thank all the teachers and gurus who have shaped my life and guided me towards the right path. Happy Guru Purnima!
On the occasion of Guru Purnima, I extend my deepest respect and gratitude to all the teachers who have inspired me and instilled in me the love for learning. Thank you for being my guiding light!
May the divine blessings of your gurus empower you with knowledge, wisdom, and inner peace. Happy Guru Purnima to you and your loved ones!