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In Sanatani culture, Guru has been given a higher position than God, but do you know how this sacred Guru-disciple tradition started on earth? According to mythology, the foundation of this great path of knowledge was laid by Adiguru Lord Shiva himself. This holy festival of Guru Purnima, celebrated on the full moon day of the month of Ashadha, is a symbol of this historical and spiritual event, which teaches us respect for the Gurus who take us from darkness to light.
How did Mahadev become the first ‘Adiguru’ of the universe?
According to religious beliefs, Lord Shiva is the first Guru of this world. Thousands of years ago, when Mahadev came out of his deep trance in the serene valleys of the Himalayas, he saw seven sages (Saptarshis) sitting before him with an intense desire to attain knowledge. Seeing the harsh penance and unwavering devotion of these sages, Mahadev’s heart melted. Lord Shiva took the form of ‘Dakshinamurthy’ and imparted supreme knowledge to the seven sages on the full moon day of the month of Ashadh. This historical day of imparting knowledge later became famous as Guru Purnima.
Saptarishis spread the knowledge of Shiva all over the world
After receiving ultimate knowledge and initiation from Lord Shiva, the Saptarishis did not limit it to themselves only. He considered Mahadev as his first Guru and set out in different directions of the world to spread this divine knowledge to the people. These sages showed the common man the right path of religion, action, truth, life and God. Just as Mahadev sowed the seed of knowledge, similarly these sages created a strong foundation of Guru-shishya tradition in the society.
Maharishi Vedvyas and importance of ‘Vyas Purnima’
Guru Purnima also has a direct and unbreakable connection with the great sage Vedvyas ji. According to the scriptures, Maharishi Vedvyas was born on this auspicious day of Ashadh Purnima. It was he who expanded and divided the four Vedas for human welfare. Apart from this, the credit for the creation of great texts like 18 Puranas and Mahabharata also goes to him. Because of presenting this immense ocean of knowledge to the world, Ved Vyas ji was considered the greatest guru of mankind. To honor his incomparable contribution, Guru Purnima is also called ‘Vyas Purnima’.