#GuruPurnima
It is believed to be the day when Lord Shiva became the Adi Guru or the 1st Guru. The story goes that over 15,000 years ago, a yogi appeared in the upper regions of Himalayas. Nobody knew what his origins were. But his presence was extraordinary so people gathered.

He did not show any signs of life, however, but for the occasional tears that rolled down his face. People started drifting away but seven remained. When he opened his eyes, they pleaded with him, wanting to experience whatever that was happening to him.

He dismissed them, but they persevered. He finally gave them an easy preliminary step and again shut his eyes. The seven men began to prepare. Days rolled in weeks, months, years, but the attention of the yogi did not come back to them.

After 84 years of sadhana, the yogi looked at them again. They had become wonderfully receptive. He couldn't ignore them anymore. On the very next full moon day, the yogi turned South and sat as a Guru to these seven men. Shiva, the Adiyogi(the 1st yogi) thus became the Adi Guru.

The seven disciples became the Saptarishis and took the knowledge across the world. In the yogic tradition, Guru Purnima is sacred because the Adiyogi opened up the option of conscious evolution for a human being.

The full moon day of Ashadh, the fourth month of Hindu year is known as Vyasa Purnima because it is the birth anniversary of Sage Vyasa. It is to him we owe the Vedas, codified and handed down to us. Had he not reproduced the Vedas about 5000 years ago....

we would have lost the teachings of the four Vedas which were revealed in the very beginning of the world.
He's therefore called Veda-Vyasa, the supreme Guru and his birth anniversary celebrated as Guru Purnima. It is a day that symbolizes the giving of eternal wisdom.

This festival is traditionally observed by Hindus, Buddhists and Jains to revere their chosen spiritual teachers and express their gratitude. It’s also a full moon night, symbolizing the guru leading his disciples out of the darkness of ignorance into the light of wisdom.

The word Guru is made up of two syllables ‘Gu’ & ‘Ru,’ meaning darkness & light. Guru means “One who dispels darkness.” Darkness refers to ignorance, delusion, false beliefs.
It's celebrated by Buddhists in honor of Lord Buddha who gave His 1st sermon on this day at Sarnath.

Jupiter is called Bṛhaspati in India, which is one of the Navagrahas. Bṛhaspati is considered to be the most beneficial sign of any of the planets. As per Astrology, planet Jupiter is kind, optimistic, giver of knowledge and wisdom. That is why it is also referred to as Guru.

A guru comes to us by the grace of God, according to our preparation, readiness, karma and faith. In Hindu tradition it is said: 
गुरुर ब्रह्मा गुरुर विष्णु गुरुर देवो महेश्वरः
गुरुः साक्षात्परब्रह्मा तस्मै श्री गुरुवे नमः

Sant Kabir Das:
गुरू गोविन्द दोऊ खड़े, काके लागूं पांय।
बलिहारी गुरू अपने गोविन्द दियो बताय।।
गुरू और गोबिंद एक साथ खड़े हों तो किसे प्रणाम करना चाहिए –ऐसी स्थिति में गुरू के श्रीचरणों में शीश झुकाना उत्तम है जिनके कृपा से गोविन्द का दर्शन करने का सौभाग्य प्राप्त हुआ।

There are as many paths to God as there are people. Shri Krishna speaks of a variety of paths in the Bhagwad Gita – Karma Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Japa Yoga, Dhyana Yoga etc. Each Guru imparts knowledge, wisdom and practices which are best suited to his disciple.
#GuruPurnima