Guru Purnima, the religious festival that honors Gurus (spiritual teachers, mentors, and guide) is dedicated and celebrated in India, Nepal and Bhutan by Hindus, Jains and Buddhists to offer respect and honour one's chosen spiritual Guru. The word Guru is derived from the Sanskrit root words, gu and ru. Gu means "darkness" or "ignorance", and ru means "dispeller.". A Guru is the dispeller of darkness or ignorance. It is traditionally observed on the full moon day in the Hindu month of Ashadha, which usually falls in the month of July or August. Guru Purnima is the time we acknowledge Guru”s role in our lives. Feeling grateful for Guru’s grace and blessings is one of the highest feeling.
It is also known as Vyasa Purnima, for it marks the birthday of Veda Vyasa - born to sage Parashara and a fisherman's daughter Satyavati, the sage who authored the Mahabharata and compiled the Vedas and is seen as one of the greatest Gurus in ancient Hindu traditions and a symbol of the Guru-Shishya parampara.
In “RPVK” this opportunity is used by the devotees from all over the world to gather, for a period of 5 days and do Sadhana, in the presence of their GURU. They express their Gratitude to the Guru Parampara for the grace showered on them. Generally “RPVK” organises the Guru Purnima at a “ Shiv Sthala”. Mostly the venue chosen is one of the Jyothir Lingas. The Guru graces the devotees with the darshan and blessings of ‘Lord Shiva”, the Adi Guru. These Samohik Sadhanas are way more powerful than doing it alone. Immersed in the feeling of gratitude to one’s own Guru, Guru Purnima is the time to recommit oneself to get deeper into Sadhana and grow to be an universal being.
On this day In the auspicipus presence of Maha Acharya “Prem Vatsalya” Shri Chaitanya Kaikini ji, “Guru Paduka pooja” is performed, to express deepest gratitude to the Guru Parampara for all grace that was showered on the Sadhaks, and is taken as a way of rededicating to all that a Guru stands for. Disciples recommit themselves on this day, towards following their Guru”s guidance and teachings, in the coming year. This day is also seen as an occasion when fellow devotees, Guru Bhai and Guru-Behen (disciple-brother and disciple-sister), express their solidarity to one another in their spiritual journey. After the Guru Purnima, during Chaturmasya, a four-month period of the rainy season, Guru chooses seclusion and stays at one chosen place. On this day, Maha Acharya blesses the Sadhaks who attend the Guru Purnima festival, with a “Chaturmasa Vrata” to be observed. By committing to this Sadhana itself, Sadhaks feel blessed to grow into deeper Sadhana.