Guru Purnima 2026
Ashadha Purnima · Ashadha Purnima · Vikram Samvat 2083
Significance
Honour of spiritual and academic teachers (Gurus); Vyasa Jayanti.
Ashadha marks the onset of monsoon and the beginning of Chaturmas — the four-month period of austerities for wandering monks. Guru Purnima falls in Ashadha, dedicated to honouring the spiritual teacher and the sage Vyasa.
The 29.5-day synodic cycle arises because the Moon must "catch up" with the Sun as Earth advances along its own orbit. On Purnima night, the Moon rises near sunset and sets near sunrise — it is visible above the horizon all night. The IST peak time listed is the astronomically exact moment of 180° solar-lunar elongation as measured from Earth's geometric centre.
How to Observe Guru Purnima
Visit your Guru or bow before the lineage photo. Recite the Guru Stotram and offer flowers and sweets. In the Vedic ashram tradition, disciples fast until noon and share a meal with the Guru. Lay practitioners can donate books, robes, or dana to a monastery or local pandit.