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YogAnga Retreat at Sri Santosh Puri Ashram: Explore a yogic lifestyle, where yogis were born and raised… on the bank of the sacred Ganga River in the foothills of the Himalayas (between Haridwar and Rishikesh).
Guru Purnima according to the Hindu lunar calendar, is held every year in the month of Ashadh (typically around June or July during monsoon). In 2025 YogAnga Retreat will celebrate Guru Purnima at Sri Santosh Puri Ashram on July 10.
Come gather with us in this special time of year. Mingle among old friends and fellow devotees. Share stories about your experiences with Babaji and Mataji. Listen to the recitation of the Guru Gita.
In Sanskrit the word गुरु guru is made of two root words: गु gu meaning darkness, and रु ru meaning the remover of darkness. Our spiritual and academic preceptors remove the darkness of ignorance by imparting us ‘Apara Vidya’ (temporal knowledge).
ॐ असतो मा सदगमय ।
oṃ asato mā sad-gamaya
Om, Lead us from Unreality (of Transitory Existence) to the Reality (of the Eternal Self),
तमसो मा ज्योतिर्गमय ।
tamaso mā jyotir-gamaya
Lead us from the Darkness (of Ignorance) to the Light (of Spiritual Knowledge),
मृत्योर्मा अमृतं गमय।
mṛtyor-mā amṛtaṃ gamaya
Lead us from the Fear of Death to the Knowledge of Immortality.
One who dispels ignorance and leads to the path of knowledge. Guru Purnima is meant to pay tribute and shower utmost adoration, and respect for the one who like the phrase in Upanishad, which says ‘tamaso mā jyotir-gamaya‘ leads in the journey towards light.
Guru Purnima also marks the first day of monsoon, the rainy season. On this full moon celebration, all spiritual aspirants / devotees pay tribute to their respective (spiritual or academic) teacher or Guru.
The day before we decorate the ashram with flowers. That morning we perform a havan (sacred fire ceremony). After which we will enjoy a special meal. Through out the day we will take turns reading from the sanskrit sacred text: Guru Gita.
Hindus often associate Guru Purnima with the sacred memory of Saint Guru Vyas Dev, who taught Dattatreya, the one who is considered the guru of gurus. Ved Vyasa was the one to divide the Vedas into four- Rig, Sama, Yajur, and Atharva.