Guru Purnima Puja
Thanking your teachers, with Vyasa's name and a gift from the heart
Common way — most homes
Guru Purnima, Ashadha Purnima, in the morning. Muhurtha shows the day on the festival card.
About 20 minutes, plus a visit or call
This day honours Vyasa and every teacher since: a spiritual guide, a parent, a schoolteacher, anyone who taught you something that lasted. The worship is simple, and the heart of it is going to your teacher and saying thank you. If a mantra is hard, "Om Gurave Namah" can stand in for any of them.
Prayers in this puja
Shubham Karoti ›Vakratunda Mahakaya ›Shuklambaradharam ›Mushikavahana ›Guru Brahma ›
Get ready
The day before
- Think of who you want to thank, and plan a visit, call or letter.
- Buy flowers and fruit, and a small gift if you wish.
In the morning
- Bathe and set out your teacher's picture, a book they gave you, or a picture of Vyasa.
- Keep the plate ready for the worship.
What you need
For the guru
- 1Picture of your guru or Vyasa, or a book from your teacher
- 1Flowers or a garland
- 1 plateFruit and a sweet
- As you wishSmall gift or dakshina
- 1A letter or note of thanksOptional, and often the most valued.
- 1Book you are reading or studying
For the altar
- 1Clean cloth to place it onRed or yellow is traditional.
- 1Puja plate (thali)
On the plate
- 1Oil lamp (diya) with a cotton wickGhee or sesame oil.
- 2Incense sticks (agarbatti)
- A pinch eachKumkum and haldi
- A littleSandal paste (chandan)No chandan? Use kumkum.
- 1 tablespoonAkshat — unbroken rice grains mixed with a little kumkum
- A handfulFresh flowers
- 1Small vessel of clean water with a spoon
- 1Small bellOptional.
To offer
- A littleFruit, jaggery, sugar crystals (mishri) or anything cooked fresh at home
- 1 or 2 piecesCamphor for the aartiOptional; the lamp can be used instead.
The puja
Settle in
Sit facing east or north before the deity on a mat or folded cloth. Keep the plate on your right. Take a breath and let the day wait for a few minutes.
Light the lamp
Light the lamp and place it to the right of the deity. Fold your hands to it.
śubhaṁ karōti kalyāṇamārōgyaṁ dhanasampadaḥ. śatrubuddhivināśāya dīpajyōtirnamō'stu tē.I bow to the flame of the lamp, which brings good fortune, well-being, health and wealth, and destroys ill will.Remember Ganesha
Every puja begins with Ganesha, the remover of obstacles. Fold your hands and say the verse once.
vakratuṇḍa mahākāya sūryakōṭisamaprabha. nirvighnaṁ kuru mē dēva sarvakāryēṣu sarvadā.O Ganesha of the curved trunk and mighty form, radiant as a crore suns, keep my every work free of obstacles, always.Sankalpa — state your intention
Hold a little water, akshat and a flower in your right palm. Say your name, today's date in the Hindu calendar, and why you are doing the puja — for example, for the well-being of the family. Then let the water fall on the ground or into a plate. Tap "Make sankalpa" to read today's full sankalpa.
Pushpa — flowers
Offer the flowers at the deity's feet, one or a few at a time.
ōm guravē namaḥ. puṣpāṇi samarpayāmi.Guru Brahma — bow to the teacher
Fold your hands before the picture or book and say this verse.
gururbrahmā gururviṣṇuḥ gururdēvō mahēśvaraḥ. guruḥ sākṣāt paraṁ brahma tasmai śrīguravē namaḥ.The guru is Brahma, the guru is Vishnu, the guru is Maheshvara; the guru is truly the supreme itself: to that guru, salutations.Remember your teachers
Sit quietly and name each person who taught you something that lasted. Offer one flower for each.
Read
Read a page from a text or book your teacher valued. Tradition holds that study is the best thanks to a teacher.
Deepa — the lamp
Lift the lamp and show it to the deity, circling it clockwise three times.
ōm guravē namaḥ. dīpaṁ darśayāmi.Naivedya — food
Place the food before the deity. Sprinkle a little water around it, and offer it with folded hands. Wait a moment, as if it is being received.
ōm guravē namaḥ. naivēdyaṁ nivēdayāmi.Kshama prarthana — ask forgiveness
With folded hands, ask forgiveness for anything done wrong or left out. This closes every puja.
āvāhanaṁ na jānāmi na jānāmi visarjanam. pūjāṁ caiva na jānāmi kṣamasva paramēśvara. mantrahīnaṁ kriyāhīnaṁ bhaktihīnaṁ surēśvara. yatpūjitaṁ mayā dēva paripūrṇaṁ tadastu mē.I do not know how to invite you, nor how to send you off, nor even how to worship; forgive me, O Lord. Whatever I have offered — lacking in mantra, in action or in devotion — may it be made whole.Go and thank them
Visit your teacher if you can and touch their feet, or give the gift with both hands. If they are far away, call or write. If they have passed, tell a younger person what they taught you.
Fasting
No fast is required. Some keep one until the worship.
Good to do
- Say specifically what the person taught you.
- Teach something to someone younger today.
Tradition avoids
- Do not make the gift a show of money.
- Do not limit the day to religious teachers; anyone who taught you counts.
A teacher's real gift is passed on. Thanks given, and a lesson taught forward, complete the day.
Traditions vary. Follow your own family's way.