Several mutts and community associations also hosted pada poojas and vandanas to their religious heads or spiritual gurus.

The full moon day in the month of Ashadha - Ashadha Poornima - is observed as Guru Poornima or Vyasa Poornima as a tribute to great sage Sri Vyasa Maharshi, the most revered guru in the rishi parampara. Vyasa is said to be the one who edited and classified the Vedas into four divisions as Rig Veda, Yajur Veda, Atharva Veda and Sama Veda and also edited 18 puranas. He is also the author of Mahabharatha and Srimad Bhagavad Gita as a part of the epic.

It is believed that Vyasa started writing Brahma Sutras on the Guru Poornima day.

The day, although falling in Ashada masa that is generally avoided for starting new ventures, is regarded auspicious to start the chaturmasya vratha taken up by seers. On this day, Vyasa is traditionally worshipped for being the guru of gurus.

In consonance with this tradition of respecting the gurus, a practice of worshipping and paying special respects to religious and spiritual gurus is also in vogue.

Poojas held

To mark the occasion, while lakhs of Bangaloreans held special poojas at their houses, many visited different mutts and temples including the crowded Sai Baba temples which hosted special poojas and bhajans on Friday.
Karnataka Pradesh Arya Ediga Sangha hosted pada pooja to Aryashri Renukananda Swamiji at Ediga Bhavan in Seshadripuram.

Vishwa Dharma Chetana Manch honoured diverse religious gurus and hosted Guru Bhajans, Pravachan and Mangalik, with a large gathering of enthusiasts, at the Palace Grounds in presence of ‘Guruji’ Sri Brahmrishi Guruvanandji Swamy.