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Guru Purnima: A Day to Honor the Guiding Light in Our Lives
By Professor Juliana Swanson
ACVA Provost and Dean of Academics
Guru Purnima will be celebrated this year on July 21 around the world. This auspicious Vedic festival takes place every year at the Full Moon in the lunar month of Ashadha (which extends from July 5 to August 4). Guru Purnima is a special event in the lives of all sincere seekers on the path of spirituality.
Vyasa Purnima is another name for Guru Purnima, as this date marks the birthday of Veda Vyasa, the guru-preceptor of all humanity who authored the Mahabharata and compiled the Vedas. Hence, Guru Purnima is one of the best times of the year to begin a writing project or a new spiritual or educational endeavor.
This is also an important time to honor and propitiate our gurus, and to commune with the divine guru who exists within each of us and within all of nature. On Guru Purnima, we can more readily access the highest spiritual light and wisdom within, not only through our teachers, guides, and preceptors, but through all forms and areas of life.
Offering alms to the needy on Guru Purnima is customary and considered a great honor and blessing in the Vedic tradition. This is called annadanam. Many will sponsor spiritual pujas at this time, which additionally offer food and donate money for food to be distributed to those who are less fortunate.
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