Guru Purnima Retreat
ॐ गुरुर्ब्रह्मा गुरुर्विष्णुर्गुरुर्देवो महेश्वरः।
गुरुः साक्षात्परं ब्रह्म तस्मै श्रीगुरवे नमः
Om gurur brahmā gurur viṣṇur gurur devo maheśvaraḥ,
guruḥ sākṣāt paraṁ brahma tasmai śrī-gurave namaḥ.
Om. To that beautiful and benevolent Guru who is Brahmā, the Creator, Viṣṇu, the Maintainer, and Śiva, the Great Lord through whom all things return to their origin. To that Guru who is the direct experience of Brahman, salutations.
“This day, the day of Guru Purnima is considered to be the holiest day for the students of life; for those that have been treading the path of light; for those aspiring to attain enlightenment in this lifetime. They remember this day and celebrate it by becoming aware the purpose of life is to attain enlightenment; the state of mind, internal state, that makes one free from all pains and miseries.” – Swami Rama
On the sacred occasion of the Guru Purnima, a 9-day celebration is held annually at the Swami Rama Sadhaka Grama (SRSG) Ashram in Rishikesh. This includes akhanda-patha (24-hour non-stop recitation) of the Guru-Gita, the Song to the Guru, preceding the Guru Purnima Day. The akhanda-patha of the Guru-Gita is offered both at the SRSG and the Sadhana Mandir Ashram by 11 Pandits each. This special celebration is a reminder for us to pay our homage to the Guru Lineage that has bestowed upon us the great blessings of mantra, meditation, initiation and the teachings of the Himalayan Yoga Tradition. This way we also recommit ourselves to our practices.
This year, the Guru Purnima is celebrated on 21 July, 2024. The Guru Purnima Retreat will be organised at SRSG from 13 July – 21 July 2024.