The full moon day in the Hindu month of Ashad (July-August) is observed as the auspicious day

of Guru Purnima, a day sacred to the memory of the great sage Vyasa. All Hindus are indebted to
this ancient saint who edited the four Vedas, wrote the 18 Puranas, the Mahabharata and the
Srimad Bhagavata. Vyasa even taught Dattatreya, who is regarded as the Guru of 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.
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.
Guru purnima is the new year for the spiritual seeker. It is a day forreflection on our credits and
debits. A day to be grateful for allthat you have achieved in the past and resolving all that you
want todo in the coming years. It is a day to be grateful for all theblessings and knowledge
received and to see how the knowledge hastransformed our life.Realising this and feeling
grateful for all thathas come your way - celebrating this and the tradition of Masters who
preserved this knowledge is guru purnima.
Buddhists observe on this day uposatha i.e. to observe eight precepts. Vipassana meditators
practice meditation on this day under the guidance of their teachers. Rainy season i.e. varsha
vassa also starts with this day. During the rainy season lasting for three lunar months from July to
October. During this time Buddhist monks remain in a single place, generally in their temples. In
some monasteries, monks dedicate the Vassa to intensive meditation. During Vassa, many
Buddhist lay people reinvigorate their spiritual training and adopt more ascetic practices, such as
giving up meat, alcohol, or smoking.
The Hindu spiritual Gurus are revered on this day by remembering their life and teachings. Vyasa
Puja is held at various temples, where floral offerings and symbolic gifts are given away in his
honour and that of the cosmic satguru. The festivities are usually followed by feast for the
disciples, shishya, where the prasad and charnamrita literally nectar of the feet, the symbolic
wash of Guru's feet, which represents his grace, kripa is distributed.[7]

Glory of the Guru

The Hindu shastras have hailed such a Guru immeasurably:
Skanda Purana - Guru Gita
A famous verse known by heart by all Hindu children glorifies the Guru:
Gurubrahma
Guruvishnu
Gururdevo
Guruhu sakshaat Parambrahman tasmai Shrigurave namaha ||

Maheshwaraha

"The guru is Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh (Shiva), veneration to the Guru who is Parabrahman
manifest."
The second line of the couplet does not literally mean that the Guru becomes Parabrahman God, rather he is venerated as if God is manifesting through him.
This is subtly illustrated by another famous verse known to all Hindus:
Guru
Govind
donu
khade,
Balihari Gurudevaki jinhe Govind diyo bataay.

kisko

laagu

paay,

The Guru and Govind -God, are present before me, to whom shall I bow down first? Glory to the
Guru since he showed me Govind.