📜 Significance:
Guru Purnima is a sacred day dedicated to honoring and expressing gratitude to one’s Gurus (spiritual and academic teachers). It commemorates the birth anniversary of Maharishi Ved Vyasa, the compiler of the Vedas and author of the Mahabharata. In Maharashtra, devotees worship their spiritual guides, school teachers, and even parents as manifestations of the divine Guru. The day is seen as an opportunity to reconnect with wisdom, humility, and devotion.
🗓️ When It’s Performed:
- Celebrated on the Purnima (full moon) day in the month of Ashadha (June–July)
- Pooja is performed during morning or mid-day hours, ideally after taking a bath and observing cleanliness
🛐 Who Can Perform:
- Students, disciples, devotees of spiritual Gurus
- Can be done by individuals, families, and at gurukuls, schools, ashrams, or temples
- Pooja may be performed in the presence of the Guru or in front of their photograph or Paduka (sacred sandals)
📦 Puja Samagri (Items Required):
- Photo or symbolic representation (Paduka) of Guru or spiritual teacher
- Kalash, turmeric, kumkum, sandalwood paste
- Fresh flowers and garlands
- Diya (lamp), agarbatti (incense sticks), camphor
- Fruits, sweets (especially laddoos, kheer, and seasonal fruits)
- Panchamrit, betel leaves, supari, dakshina (offering/envelope)
- Sacred books (scriptures, Bhagavad Gita, Vedas) placed near the altar
🕯️ Main Rituals:
- Cleaning the altar and placing the Guru’s photo or Paduka on a yellow/white cloth
- Offering haldi, kumkum, flowers, and garlands
- Performing Guru Vandana and chanting Guru Stotram, Guru Ashtakam, or Guru Gita
- Lighting a diya and performing aarti
- Offering naivedya (sweets/fruits) and giving dakshina or charity
- If Guru is present, washing their feet (Padya Puja) and seeking blessings
- Observing silence, meditation, or satsang (spiritual discourse)
⏳ Duration:
Approximately 45 minutes to 1 hour, depending on the rituals and inclusion of bhajans or satsang
🎁 Benefits of Guru Purnima Pooja:
- Deepens respect and devotion towards teachers and mentors
- Enhances learning, wisdom, and spiritual progress
- Helps in clearing karmic obstacles through Guru’s blessings
- Strengthens disciple-Guru relationship
- Brings peace, humility, and purpose into one’s life
