Guru Purnima

Guru Purnima Day - July 12, 2014

Guru Purnima is a day like Father’s day or Mother’s day when one pays respect to their teacher or Guru. Irrespective of their religions, Indian academics celebrate this day by thanking their teachers. Many schools, colleges and universities have events in which students thank their teachers and remember past scholars. Alumni visit their teachers and present gifts as a gesture of gratitude.

There are various reactions to the term Guru in western society. It seems to me that it is a term of respect for a teacher or mentor that has a great personal effect on the student, a teacher that has touched the heart and soul of the student. The Guru can come in many ways, the 5th grade teacher that encouraged you to become a writer or the co-worker that took you under their wing on your first job out of college or the parent that continues to influence you. Take a few minutes today to thank a current or past teacher that has touched your life. To acknowledge their hard work in removing the darkness in your understanding.

From Wikipedia:

“Guru Purnima (IAST: Guru Pūrṇimā, sanskrit: गुरु पूर्णिमा) is a Hindu festival dedicated to spiritual and academic teachers. This festival traditionally celebrated by Hindus and Buddhists, to thank their teachers. The word Guru is derived from two words, 'Gu' and 'Ru'. The Sanskrit root "Gu" means darkness or ignorance. "Ru" denotes the remover of that darkness. Therefore one who removes darkness of our ignorance is a Guru. It falls on the day of full moon, Purnima, in the month of Ashadh (June–July) of the Shaka Samvat, Indian national calendar and Hindu calendar.”

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