📿 Guru Purnima (Vyasa Purnima) Vrat Katha
The story
Krishna Dvaipayana, son of sage Parashara and Satyavati (Matsyagandha), was born on an island in the Yamuna on Ashadha Purnima — and went off to penance as soon as he was born. Since human memory and lifespan would shrink in Kali Yuga, he divided the one Veda into four (Rig-Yajur-Sama-Atharva) — 'Veda Vyasa'; one Veda each to the disciples Paila, Vaishampayana, Jaimini and Sumantu; the 18 Puranas, the Brahma Sutras, and the Mahabharata written by Ganesha's pen — which holds the Gita.
His son Shukadeva recited the Bhagavata to Parikshit; Vyasa is still regarded as immortal, in the Vyasa cave near Badrinath. All scriptural knowledge that has flowed to this day comes from Vyasa — 'Vyasochchhishtam jagat sarvam' (the whole world is the leftover of Vyasa). Hence every katha reciter's seat is the 'Vyasa peetha' and this Purnima is 'Vyasa Purnima'.
Eklavya and Drona, Aruni and Dhaumya, Kabir and Ramananda, Vivekananda and Ramakrishna — the stories of guru and disciple are told on this day; the Buddha gave his first sermon of the Four Noble Truths to five monks at Sarnath on this Purnima (the turning of the wheel of dharma); Shiva as Adiyogi taught yoga to the Saptarishis — the day of the origin of the guru principle.
Why this katha — the significance
'Gurur Brahma Gurur Vishnu Gurur Devo Maheshwarah, Guruh sakshat Parabrahma tasmai Shri Gurave namah' — the guru is the remover of the darkness of ignorance (gu = darkness, ru = remover); the fruit of guru worship on Ashadha Purnima is knowledge, learning and spiritual progress through the guru's grace; with the worship of Vyasa, the worship of Shukadeva, Shankaracharya and one's own guru lineage (the guru mandala).
Shiva the first guru (Adiyogi) — on this Purnima he gave the science of yoga to the Saptarishis (the yoga tradition); the day for taking initiation into the guru mantra, beginning a new study/sadhana, guru vandana for students and honouring teachers; children give teachers flowers and cards, guru vandana in schools.
The Purnima vrat (fruit all day, paran after seeing the Moon in the evening), the Satyanarayan katha; from this Purnima the Chaturmas of saints (until Kartika Purnima — discourses and satsang in one place); the Kokila vrat (Ashadha Purnima — the story of Sati; some regions); 'Guru Purnima/Rishi puja' in Bengal-Odisha; the 'Guru Purnima/Teachers' Day' holiday in Nepal.
How the katha is heard
- Hear or read the katha after the puja, before the aarti — the whole family sits together.
- The one keeping the vrat should listen with a calm mind; keep a lamp lit and a little akshat-flowers in hand.
- At the end, offer the flowers at the deity's feet and bow; share the prasad with everyone.
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Frequently asked questions
When is Guru Purnima in {Y}?
This year's Ashadha Purnima date, puja muhurat and moonrise (Delhi) are above — guru worship in the morning, the Moon arghya of the Purnima vrat/Satyanarayan katha in the evening; if the Purnima is split across two days, the day with the udaya tithi is for guru worship.
Whom to worship if there is no guru?
Vyasa (the guru of all gurus), Shiva-Dattatreya (the first guru), one's ishta deity, parents (the first gurus), the teacher; or whoever's teaching changed one's life — even the author of a book; bow to the guru principle — the 'Gurur Brahma…' verse is enough.
What to give as guru dakshina?
As means allow — fruit-clothes-flowers-dakshina; but the real dakshina is walking the path the guru showed, the vow of one rule/renunciation, service in the guru's work; if there is no guru, donate books, a poor student's fees/notebooks and pens — the gift of learning is guru dakshina itself.
Is it auspicious to take initiation on this day?
Yes — Guru Purnima is the best day for initiation (the guru mantra), a new study, beginning a sadhana, the first lesson in music/art, wearing rudraksha; ashrams hold group initiations; the Abhijit muhurat (above) is best.
What is Chaturmas?
The four months from Devshayani Ekadashi/Guru Purnima to Devuthani/Kartika Purnima — Vishnu's sleep, no weddings or other auspicious ceremonies; saints stay in one place and give discourses; householders keep one rule (sattvic food, Gita reading, celibacy, charity); in Jainism and Buddhism too (the rains retreat).
What to do for the planet Jupiter (Guru) on this day?
If Jupiter is weak/afflicted in the chart — donate yellow clothes-gram-saffron-turmeric-books on Guru Purnima, chant 'Om Brim Brihaspataye Namah', water a banana tree, serve elders and teachers; the Thursday vrat vow can begin today too; yellow sapphire on a priest's advice.
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