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While greatest importance was attached to a teacher in ancient education for his grounding in his own branch of vedic knowledge and learning, people always sought for Gurus for their idealistic personality. He was the ideal person and the students were naturally inclined to follow in the footsteps of his teacher. A student was to regulate his own conduct by the example of his teacher. Thus the character and moral conduct of a Guru was of high standard. He was expected to be a pious, patient person and treat all students impartially. Apart from profound scholarship, one became an exemplary teacher by having fluent delivery, presence of mind, wit, and a great stock of interesting anecdotes to explain difficult concepts in an interesting manner.  

While greatest importance was attached to a teacher in ancient education for his grounding in his own branch of vedic knowledge and learning, people always sought for Gurus for their idealistic personality. He was the ideal person and the students were naturally inclined to follow in the footsteps of his teacher. A student was to regulate his own conduct by the example of his teacher. Thus the character and moral conduct of a Guru was of high standard. He was expected to be a pious, patient person and treat all students impartially. Apart from profound scholarship, one became an exemplary teacher by having fluent delivery, presence of mind, wit, and a great stock of interesting anecdotes to explain difficult concepts in an interesting manner.  

Gurugita aptly summarizes the characteristics of a Guru  <blockquote>ज्ञानं स्वानुभवः शान्तिर्वैराग्यं वक्तृता धृतिः। षड्गुणैश्वर्ययुक्तो हि भगवान् श्रीगुरुः प्रिये॥१७२॥ (Guru. Gita.2.172)<ref>Guru Gita ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%97%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%97%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BE_%E0%A4%B5%E0%A5%83%E0%A4%B9%E0%A4%A6_%E0%A5%A8 Adhyaya 2])</ref></blockquote>One who has these six qualities - jnana (ज्ञानं । knowledge), personal experience (स्वानुभवः), peace (शान्तिः), disinclination towards worldly objects (र्वैराग्यं), eloquence in speech (वक्तृता), consistency (धृतिः) - is none other than the supreme Guru.<blockquote>चातुर्यवान् विवेकी च अध्यात्मज्ञानवान् शुचिः। मानसं निर्मलं यस्य गुरुत्वं तस्य शोभते॥२७०॥</blockquote><blockquote>गुरवो निर्मलाः शान्ताः साधवो मितभाषिणः। कामक्रोधविनिर्मुक्ताः सदाचाराः जितेन्द्रियाः॥२७१॥</blockquote>Shabdakalpadruma<ref name=":3" />

Gurugita aptly summarizes the characteristics of a Guru  <blockquote>ज्ञानं स्वानुभवः शान्तिर्वैराग्यं वक्तृता धृतिः। षड्गुणैश्वर्ययुक्तो हि भगवान् श्रीगुरुः प्रिये॥१७२॥ (Guru. Gita.2.172)<ref>Guru Gita ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%97%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%97%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BE_%E0%A4%B5%E0%A5%83%E0%A4%B9%E0%A4%A6_%E0%A5%A8 Adhyaya 2])</ref></blockquote>One who has these six qualities - jnana (ज्ञानं । knowledge), personal experience (स्वानुभवः), peace (शान्तिः), disinclination towards worldly objects (र्वैराग्यं), eloquence in speech (वक्तृता), consistency (धृतिः) - is none other than the supreme Guru.<blockquote>चातुर्यवान् विवेकी च अध्यात्मज्ञानवान् शुचिः। मानसं निर्मलं यस्य गुरुत्वं तस्य शोभते॥२७०॥</blockquote>In one who is skilled, intelligent, knowledgeable about the Supreme, virtuous (pure) and tranquil at heart - such a person is endowed with greatness.<blockquote>गुरवो निर्मलाः शान्ताः साधवो मितभाषिणः। कामक्रोधविनिर्मुक्ताः सदाचाराः जितेन्द्रियाः॥२७१॥</blockquote>A guru is one who is peaceful, virtuous, a person of few words, clean of kama (desires) and krodha (anger) and who conducts himself well, and has overcome the senses.

 

Shabdakalpadruma<ref name=":3" />

: मन्त्रदगुरोर्लक्षणं यथा ।

: मन्त्रदगुरोर्लक्षणं यथा ।

: गकारः सिद्धिदः प्रोक्तो रेफः पापस्य हारकः । उकारो विष्णुरव्यक्तस्त्रितयात्मा गुरुः परः ॥

: गकारः सिद्धिदः प्रोक्तो रेफः पापस्य हारकः । उकारो विष्णुरव्यक्तस्त्रितयात्मा गुरुः परः ॥