Monday, July 22, 2013

Cloudy skies and a hidden moon…. Guru Purnima

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The cloudy skies over Delhi made shooting the full moon today a game of hide and seek. Waiting for the clouds to move and give a clear shot was a test of patience, but then like all good things, patience was rewarded and I got a clear shot at this beautiful moon, this Guru Purnima.

Significance of Guru Purnima

1. Hindus celebrate it in honour of the great sage Vyasa, who is seen as one of the greatest gurus in ancient Hindu traditions and a symbol of the Guru-shishya tradition. Vyasa was not only believed to have been born on this day, but also to have started writing the Brahma Sutras on ashadha sudha padyami, which ends on this day. Their recitations are a dedication to him, and are organised on this day, which is also known as Vyasa Purnima

2. Traditionally the festival is celebrated by Buddhists in honour of the lord Buddha who gave His first sermon on this day at Sarnath, Uttar Pradesh, India.