BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Dallas TX cordially invites you, your family & friends to celebrate the auspicious occasion of Guru Purnima. Guru Purnima, also known as Vyas Purnima, is celebrated on Ashadh Sud Poonam, the day of the full moon in the month of Ashadh. On this day, Hindus remember Ved Vyas, the eternal Guru of Hindu Sanatan Dharma, for he classified the 4 Vedas, Rig, Yajur, Sama, and Atharva, and wrote the Mahabharata and 18 Puranas. Guru, a Sanskrit word, comes from the root words ‘gu’ meaning darkness or ignorance and ‘ru’ meaning remover of that darkness. Hence, a Guru is one who removes our darkness in the form of ignorance, helps us overcome maya, and guides us on the path to realizing Bhagwan. On Guru Purnima, devotees sing praises of their Guru and perform Guru-puja. At BAPS Swaminarayan mandirs around the world, devotees lovingly celebrate Guru Purnima, while remembering their Guru, Pramukh Swami Maharaj. Annually, this festival is celebrated in the presence of Pramukh Swami Maharaj in at the BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir in Bochasan, where close to 65,000 people gather to perform their Guru’s puja.