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== गुरोर्लक्षणानि ॥ Qualities of a Guru ==
== गुरोर्लक्षणानि ॥ Qualities of a Guru ==
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.<ref name=":0" />
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.<ref name=":0" />
=== Guru Gita ===
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><blockquote>jñānaṁ svānubhavaḥ śāntirvairāgyaṁ vaktr̥tā dhr̥tiḥ। ṣaḍguṇaiśvaryayukto hi bhagavān śrīguruḥ priye॥172॥ (Guru. Gita. 2.172)</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॥ (Guru. Gita. 3.270)<ref name=":5">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%A9 Adhyaya 3])</ref></blockquote><blockquote>cāturyavān vivekī ca adhyātmajñānavān śuciḥ। mānasaṁ nirmalaṁ yasya gurutvaṁ tasya śobhate॥270॥ (Guru. Gita. 3.270)</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॥ (Guru. Gita. 3.271)<ref name=":5" /></blockquote><blockquote>guravo nirmalāḥ śāntāḥ sādhavo mitabhāṣiṇaḥ। kāmakrodhavinirmuktāḥ sadācārāḥ jitendriyāḥ॥271॥ (Guru. Gita. 3.271)</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.
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><blockquote>jñānaṁ svānubhavaḥ śāntirvairāgyaṁ vaktr̥tā dhr̥tiḥ। ṣaḍguṇaiśvaryayukto hi bhagavān śrīguruḥ priye॥172॥ (Guru. Gita. 2.172)</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॥ (Guru. Gita. 3.270)<ref name=":5">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%A9 Adhyaya 3])</ref></blockquote><blockquote>cāturyavān vivekī ca adhyātmajñānavān śuciḥ। mānasaṁ nirmalaṁ yasya gurutvaṁ tasya śobhate॥270॥ (Guru. Gita. 3.270)</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॥ (Guru. Gita. 3.271)<ref name=":5" /></blockquote><blockquote>guravo nirmalāḥ śāntāḥ sādhavo mitabhāṣiṇaḥ। kāmakrodhavinirmuktāḥ sadācārāḥ jitendriyāḥ॥271॥ (Guru. Gita. 3.271)</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.
: uddharttuṁ caiva saṁharttuṁ samartho brāhmaṇottamaḥ । taṣasvī satyavādī ca gr̥hastho gururucyate ॥
: uddharttuṁ caiva saṁharttuṁ samartho brāhmaṇottamaḥ । taṣasvī satyavādī ca gr̥hastho gururucyate ॥
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.
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.
=== Avadhuta Gita ===
While the ideals portrayed by the Gurugita talk about the mental capabilities and education of a Guru, the Avadhuta Gita sums up how a sadhaka should unbiasedly look for sources of jnana and describes how an animate and inanimate Guru can also be the guiding light. Avadhuta Gita by Dattatreya is an advanced, enlightened exposition of selfless recluse, an Avadhuta - who has attained mukti, over the associations of the world; and who wanders about the earthly spheres imparting jnana to seekers.<blockquote>बालस्य वा विषयभोगरतस्य वापि मूर्खस्य सेवकजनस्य गृहस्थितस्य ।</blockquote><blockquote>एतद्गुरोः किमपि नैव न चिन्तनीयं रत्नुं कथं त्यजति कोऽप्यशुचौ प्रविष्टम् ॥ १॥ (Avad. Gita. 2.1)<ref name=":7">Mal, Kannoo. (1920) ''The Avadhuta Gita of Dattatreya. English Translation.'' Madras : S. R. Murthy & Co., (Pages 48-49)</ref></blockquote>Of the teacher-even if he be young illiterate, or addicted to the enjoyment of sense objects, even if he be a servant or a householder – none of these should be considered. Does anyone shun a gem that has fallen in an impure place?
Illiterate here refers to one who is not versed in the scriptures.<blockquote>नैवात्र काव्यगुण एव तु चिन्तनीयो ग्राह्यः परं गुणवता खलु सार एव ।</blockquote><blockquote>सिन्दूरचित्ररहिता भुवि रूपशून्या पारं न किं नयति नौरिह गन्तुकामान् ॥ २॥ (Avad. Gita. 2.2)<ref name=":7" /></blockquote>In such a case one should not consider even the quality of scholarship. A worldly person should recognize only the essence. Does not a boat, though devoid of beauty and vermilion paint nevertheless ferry passengers?
The essential qualification of the teacher is not intellectual immanence, but capacity to impart spiritual illumination.
Thus we have a clear 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 destroyed completely.
Thus we have a clear 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 destroyed completely.
Great importance was attached to the proper accent and pronunciation of Vedas, and a particular [[Vedapatha Paddhati (वेदपाठपद्धतिः)|vedapata paddhati]] could only be learnt from the lips of a qualified teacher. The continuous transmission of the store of vedic knowledge, which has a priceless position in the society, was possible only through the instrumentality of the teacher, thus he is highly revered all through the ages.
Great importance was attached to the proper accent and pronunciation of Vedas, and a particular [[Vedapatha Paddhati (वेदपाठपद्धतिः)|vedapata paddhati]] could only be learnt from the lips of a qualified teacher. The continuous transmission of the store of vedic knowledge, which has a priceless position in the society, was possible only through the instrumentality of the teacher, thus he is highly revered all through the ages.
Gurus are thus respected and praised due to superiority in knowledge and rigorous penance.<ref name=":4">Pt. Girija Prasad Dvivedi. (1917) ''The Manusmriti or Manavadharmashastra. Translated into Hindi with notes, index and critical introductions.'' Lucknow : Newul Kishore Press. ([https://archive.org/details/ManuSmritHindi-GpDwivedi/page/n184 Adhyaya 2 Page 46])</ref>
'''Manusmrti''' : Gurus are thus respected and praised due to superiority in knowledge and rigorous penance.<ref name=":4">Pt. Girija Prasad Dvivedi. (1917) ''The Manusmriti or Manavadharmashastra. Translated into Hindi with notes, index and critical introductions.'' Lucknow : Newul Kishore Press. ([https://archive.org/details/ManuSmritHindi-GpDwivedi/page/n184 Adhyaya 2 Page 46])</ref>
: गीर्य्यते स्तूयतेऽसौ ज्ञानतपोवृद्धत्वात् । ज्ञानप्रभावान्वितत्वात् तपोबलप्राधान्याद् वा पूज्यतमोमहात्मा । यथा, मनुः । २ । १३० ।
: गीर्य्यते स्तूयतेऽसौ ज्ञानतपोवृद्धत्वात् । ज्ञानप्रभावान्वितत्वात् तपोबलप्राधान्याद् वा पूज्यतमोमहात्मा । यथा, मनुः । २ । १३० ।
: gīryyate stūyate'sau jñānatapovr̥ddhatvāt । jñānaprabhāvānvitatvāt tapobalaprādhānyād vā pūjyatamomahātmā । yathā, manuḥ । 2 । 130 ।
: gīryyate stūyate'sau jñānatapovr̥ddhatvāt । jñānaprabhāvānvitatvāt tapobalaprādhānyād vā pūjyatamomahātmā । yathā, manuḥ । 2 । 130 ।
With the rise of persons seeking knowledge in Vedanta and darshana shastras, the reverence for the Guru became still more intensified; for adhyatmik upliftment depended entirely upon his proper guidance.<ref name=":0" />
With the rise of persons seeking knowledge in Vedanta and darshana shastras, the reverence for the Guru became still more intensified; for adhyatmik upliftment depended entirely upon his proper guidance.<ref name=":0" />
The Bhagavata Purana (Skandha 7, Adhyaya 15) says that guru (the spiritual master) should be considered verily the Supreme Being as he gives transcendental knowledge for enlightenment. Consequently, for one who maintains the material conception that the spiritual master is an ordinary human being, everything becomes useless. His enlightenment, Vedic studies and knowledge are like the bathing of an elephant (which besmears itself with dust immediately after the bath).<ref name=":6">Ganesh Vasudeo Tagare, The Bhagavata Purana (Part III), Ancient Indian Tradition & Mythology (Volume 9), Edited by J.L.Shastri, New Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass, P.no.[https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.150116/page/n115/mode/2up 985-996].</ref><ref>A.C.Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Srimad Bhagavatam (Seventh Canto), [http://prabhupadabooks.com/pdf/SB7.3.pdf Part 3-Chapters 10-15], 1976: Bhaktivedanta Book Trust.</ref> Because, the guru (spiritual preceptor) whom people regard as merely a human being, is directly the Almighty, Supreme Ruler of both Prakrti and Purusha whose feet are sought after by masters of Yoga.<ref name=":6" /><blockquote>यस्य साक्षाद्भगवति ज्ञानदीपप्रदे गुरौ | मर्त्यासद्धीः श्रुतं तस्य सर्वं कुञ्जरशौचवत् ||२६||</blockquote><blockquote>एष वै भगवान्साक्षात्प्रधानपुरुषेश्वरः | योगेश्वरैर्विमृग्याङ्घ्रिर्लोको यं मन्यते नरम् ||२७||<ref>Bhagavata Purana, Skandha 7, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%B6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AD%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D/%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A7%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%AD/%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%A7%E0%A5%AB Adhyaya 15].</ref></blockquote><blockquote>yasya sākṣādbhagavati jñānadīpapradē gurau | martyāsaddhīḥ śrutaṁ tasya sarvaṁ kuñjaraśaucavat ||26||</blockquote><blockquote>ēṣa vai bhagavānsākṣātpradhānapuruṣēśvaraḥ | yōgēśvarairvimr̥gyāṅghrirlōkō yaṁ manyatē naram ||27||</blockquote>
'''The Bhagavata Purana''' (Skandha 7, Adhyaya 15) says that guru (the spiritual master) should be considered verily the Supreme Being as he gives transcendental knowledge for enlightenment. Consequently, for one who maintains the material conception that the spiritual master is an ordinary human being, everything becomes useless. His enlightenment, Vedic studies and knowledge are like the bathing of an elephant (which besmears itself with dust immediately after the bath).<ref name=":6">Ganesh Vasudeo Tagare, The Bhagavata Purana (Part III), Ancient Indian Tradition & Mythology (Volume 9), Edited by J.L.Shastri, New Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass, P.no.[https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.150116/page/n115/mode/2up 985-996].</ref><ref>A.C.Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Srimad Bhagavatam (Seventh Canto), [http://prabhupadabooks.com/pdf/SB7.3.pdf Part 3-Chapters 10-15], 1976: Bhaktivedanta Book Trust.</ref> Because, the guru (spiritual preceptor) whom people regard as merely a human being, is directly the Almighty, Supreme Ruler of both Prakrti and Purusha whose feet are sought after by masters of Yoga.<ref name=":6" /><blockquote>यस्य साक्षाद्भगवति ज्ञानदीपप्रदे गुरौ | मर्त्यासद्धीः श्रुतं तस्य सर्वं कुञ्जरशौचवत् ||२६||</blockquote><blockquote>एष वै भगवान्साक्षात्प्रधानपुरुषेश्वरः | योगेश्वरैर्विमृग्याङ्घ्रिर्लोको यं मन्यते नरम् ||२७||<ref>Bhagavata Purana, Skandha 7, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%B6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AD%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D/%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A7%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%AD/%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%A7%E0%A5%AB Adhyaya 15].</ref></blockquote><blockquote>yasya sākṣādbhagavati jñānadīpapradē gurau | martyāsaddhīḥ śrutaṁ tasya sarvaṁ kuñjaraśaucavat ||26||</blockquote><blockquote>ēṣa vai bhagavānsākṣātpradhānapuruṣēśvaraḥ | yōgēśvarairvimr̥gyāṅghrirlōkō yaṁ manyatē naram ||27||</blockquote>
== बहुविधा गुरवः ॥ Kinds of Preceptors ==
== बहुविधा गुरवः ॥ Kinds of Preceptors ==