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→गुरोर्लक्षणानि ॥ Qualities of a Guru: added content/translation
Manu defines a Guru as निषेकादिकृत् i.e., one who performs the various prebirth and Upanayana samskaras and helps the parents in raising the child.(Manu. Smrti 2.142)
Manu defines a Guru as निषेकादिकृत् i.e., one who performs the various prebirth and Upanayana samskaras and helps the parents in raising the child.(Manu. Smrti 2.142)
== आध्यात्मिकपिता ॥ Intellectual Father ==
== आध्यात्मिकपिता ॥ Spiritual Father ==
While earthly parents are revered and one owes their physical birth to them, the Guru is revered and designated as the spiritual and intellectual father of the student. No education is complete without the help and guidance of the teacher. Different ancient texts describe the role of a teacher who is instrumental in the spiritual awakening and moral conditioning of an immature child.
While earthly parents are revered and one owes their physical birth to them, the Guru is revered and designated as the spiritual and intellectual father of the student. No education is complete without the help and guidance of the teacher. Different ancient texts describe the role of a teacher who is instrumental in the spiritual awakening and moral conditioning of an immature child.
Shabdakalpadruma<ref name=":3" /> defines the characteristics of a Guru who gives mantra upadesha to knowledge seekers.
Shabdakalpadruma<ref name=":3" /> defines the characteristics of a Guru who gives mantra upadesha to knowledge seekers.
: मन्त्रदगुरोर्लक्षणं यथा ।
: मन्त्रदगुरोर्लक्षणं यथा । गकारः सिद्धिदः प्रोक्तो रेफः पापस्य हारकः । उकारो विष्णुरव्यक्तस्त्रितयात्मा गुरुः परः ॥
The Ga (गकारः) in the word Guru is said to stand for conferring Siddhi (giver of perfection), and Ra (रेफः) is said to dispel Papam (sin). Ukara (उकारः) in the word Guru stands for Avyakta Vishnu (Brahman), thus three fold in meaning is the Guru.
The Ga (गकारः) in the word Guru is said to stand for conferring Siddhi (giver of perfection), and Ra (रेफः) is said to dispel Papam (sin). Ukara (उकारः) in the word Guru stands for Avyakta Vishnu (Brahman), thus three fold in meaning is the Guru.
: शान्तो दान्तः कुलीनश्च विनीतः शुद्धवेशवान् । शुद्धाचारः सुप्रतिष्ठः शुचिर्दक्षः सुबुद्धिमान् ॥
: शान्तो दान्तः कुलीनश्च विनीतः शुद्धवेशवान् । शुद्धाचारः सुप्रतिष्ठः शुचिर्दक्षः सुबुद्धिमान् ॥
: आश्रमी ध्याननिष्ठश्च मन्त्रतन्त्रविशारदः । निग्रहानुग्रहे शक्तो गुरुरित्यभिधीयते ॥
: आश्रमी ध्याननिष्ठश्च मन्त्रतन्त्रविशारदः । निग्रहानुग्रहे शक्तो गुरुरित्यभिधीयते ॥
Peaceful, patient, a person of eminent descent, is humble and of pure personality and actions, is of good repute, well capable, intelligent, belonging to an ashram, engaged in meditation (penance), well versed in mantras and tantras, having the power to bestow a boon or utter a bane - such a person is called a Guru.
: उद्धर्त्तुं चैव संहर्त्तुं समर्थो ब्राह्मणोत्तमः । तषस्वी सत्यवादी च गृहस्थो गुरुरुच्यते ॥
: उद्धर्त्तुं चैव संहर्त्तुं समर्थो ब्राह्मणोत्तमः । तषस्वी सत्यवादी च गृहस्थो गुरुरुच्यते ॥
The best of brahmins, he who is having the capacity to uplift or destroy (by the power of pronouncing a boon or a curse), is engaged in tapas, and follows satya (the righteous way) and is a grhastha, is called a Guru.
Thus we have a clearer picture about the qualities present in a Guru in ancient days. With the fall of the ashramas and the change in educational system, the Guru- shishya parampara has been greatly destroyed.
== Reverence to Gurus ==
== Reverence to Gurus ==
== Kinds of Gurus ==
== Kinds of Gurus ==
The teaching profession had a very high code in ancient India. However, where ever there was a learning, the source of such a learning was attributed as a Guru. Dattatreya was said to have 24 gurus including nature, which taught him valuable lessons. Among the deities, Dakshinamurty (Shiva) is called as a Guru.
Gurugita is one text that highlights the different kinds of Gurus. They are classified based on how they contribute to the knowledge of the seeker.
सूचकादिप्रभेदेन गुरवो बहुधा स्मृताः। स्वयं सम्यक् परीक्ष्याथ तत्त्वनिष्ठं भजेत्सुधीः॥२७२॥
सूचकादिप्रभेदेन गुरवो बहुधा स्मृताः। स्वयं सम्यक् परीक्ष्याथ तत्त्वनिष्ठं भजेत्सुधीः॥२७२॥