People around the world are celebrating Guru Purnima today, a day meant to commemorate teachers, mentors and guides. Guru Purnima is common festival that is celebrated in the month of Ashadha.
On Guru Purnima, people worship their teachers and gurus for guiding them towards the right path. This day is also known as Vyasa Purnima and it marks as the birth anniversary of Veda Vyasa.
Hindus, Buddhists and Jains observe the day as a mark of respect to their gurus across the world. On Asadh Purnima, some 2,500 years ago, the Word of Wisdom was spoken out by the Buddha for the first time. On attaining enlightenment, the Buddha spent five weeks in a state beyond description and then he started sharing with people the nectar he had discovered.
Rituals, celebrations and mantra:
On Guru Purnima, devotees take a bath and offer prayers to their Gurus. People chant prayers in ashrams and monasteries whereas, in temples, a special prasad is offered to visitors. They recite Shloka in remembrance of their Gurus.
Recite this Sanskrit shloka - Gurur Brahma, Gurur Vishnu, Gurur Devo Maheshwara, Gurur Saakshaat Parabrahma, Tasmai Shri Gurave Namah.