Informative

How Did Guru Purnima Originate? Two Stories, A Deeper Meaning

As we prepare and open ourselves to receive the divinity on the pious day of Guru Purnima, it is important to know how the festival originated. Who was the first Guru? Who were His first disciples? What were the first teachings? What happened that made this day so important? In this blog, we discuss two stories that narrate the origin of Guru Purnima and the deeper meaning behind the festival. It is the biggest spiritual festival in the Tantra tradition and hence it is important to understand its history. Only when we fully understand something from beginning to now, are we fully able to reap its benefits. 

The First Guru (Adi Guru)

According to legend, when the Saptarishis (the great seven sages), named Atri, Bhardwaja, Gautama Maharishi, Jamadagni, Kashyapa, Vashishtha, and Vishwamitra went to Lord Shiva to gain wisdom and knowledge, Lord Shiva was in deep meditation. The Rishis kept waiting, they waited for a long, long time before Lord Shiva opened his eyes. The day Lord Shiva opened his eyes, was the day of summer solstice and was a full moon. For 28 days, Lord Shiva observed the SaptaRishis, and saw them open up to become receptive to the knowledge He was going to impart to them. After 28 days, on the next full moon, Lord Shiva began showering the divine knowledge to the SaptaRishis. Thus, Lord Shiva became the first Guru, the first teacher and the SaptaRishis became the first disciples or students. What was the first knowledge we wonder? It was the knowledge of Tantra Science, and the wisdom of the entire universe. 

Each of the sages received all of this wisdom from Lord Shiva and then mastered one part each. More on this later. 

This day, when Lord Shiva began imparting knowledge, was the full moon and is since called as Guru Purnima, with lord Shiva being the first, (Adi) Guru. 

Lord Shiva taught the Saptarishis, not only wisdom beyond boundaries, but also the art to be limitless, to embrace the unknown and be open to infinity. This is a very important lesson in Tantra, to embrace the unknown and be open to, not scared of, of the possibilities. 

There’s also another story of how Rishi Vyasa was born on this day, and that Guru Purnima is also celebrated as Vyasa Purnima but we have discussed this story in the past. It’s time to look at another story, which took place many centuries later, and was as important as the first one. 

The Enlightenment 

When Gautam Buddha, the founder of Buddhism, gained enlightenment, He went to Sarnath from Bodhgaya, after five weeks. In Sarnath, He taught His disciples the lessons of Dharma on the full moon of Ashadha month, which was then known as Guru Purnima. He then sent all His disciples in different directions to teach Dharma to people. They went out, not knowing where they were going, how the people were, there was obviously no internet back then to research. They just went out into the unknown and spread the lessons of Dharma. For they know that the unknown, might be anything, but will definitely be a new experience. 

The Deeper Meaning 

On the day of Guru Purnima, our masters ask us to be completely open. No inhibitions, no boundaries, no fear and no thoughts. Just open, being totally receptive to their teachings, the divine blessings, the wisdom and grace. We need to let go of the known and embrace the unknown on this day and learn that infinity, without boundaries is the way of life. 

We hope this blog helped you understand the origin of Guru Purnima better. In case of any doubts, feel free to write to us at info@chamundaswamiji.com