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== बहुविधा गुरवः ॥ Kinds of Preceptors ==

== बहुविधा गुरवः ॥ Kinds of Preceptors ==

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 to a Guru. Dattatreya (Vishnu avatara as the son of [[Atri (अत्रिः)|Atri]] and Anasuya) the Avadhuta has twenty-four preceptors (चतुर्विंशतिगुरवः) who include different beings in nature, from whom he learnt valuable lessons of life. This ancient legend namely [[Avadhuta Yadu Samvada (अवधूतयद्वोः संवादः)]] is described in the Bhagavata Purana (Skanda 11 Adhyayas 7-9) in the Avadhutopakhyana (अवधूतोपाख्यानम्). <blockquote>सन्ति मे गुरवो राजन्बहवो बुद्ध्युपश्रिताः यतो बुद्धिमुपादाय मुक्तोऽटामीह तान्शृणु ३२</blockquote><blockquote>पृथिवी वायुराकाशमापोऽग्निश्चन्द्र मा रविः कपोतोऽजगरः सिन्धुः पतङ्गो मधुकृद्गजः ३३</blockquote><blockquote>मधुहा हरिणो मीनः पिङ्गला कुररोऽर्भकः कुमारी शरकृत्सर्प ऊर्णनाभिः सुपेशकृत् ३४</blockquote><blockquote>एते मे गुरवो राजन्चतुर्विंशतिराश्रिताः शिक्षा वृत्तिभिरेतेषामन्वशिक्षमिहात्मनः ३५ (Bhag. Pura. 11.7.32-35)<ref>Bhagavata Purana ([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% Skanda 11 Adhyaya 7])</ref></blockquote>Summary: These twenty-four have been adopted by me as 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 to a Guru. Dattatreya (Vishnu avatara as the son of [[Atri (अत्रिः)|Atri]] and Anasuya) the Avadhuta has twenty-four preceptors (चतुर्विंशतिगुरवः) who include different beings, both animate and inanimate in nature, from whom he learnt valuable lessons of life. This ancient legend namely [[Avadhuta Yadu Samvada (अवधूतयद्वोः संवादः)]] is described in the Bhagavata Purana (Skanda 11 Adhyayas 7-9) in the Avadhutopakhyana (अवधूतोपाख्यानम्). <blockquote>सन्ति मे गुरवो राजन्बहवो बुद्ध्युपश्रिताः यतो बुद्धिमुपादाय मुक्तोऽटामीह तान्शृणु ३२</blockquote><blockquote>पृथिवी वायुराकाशमापोऽग्निश्चन्द्र मा रविः कपोतोऽजगरः सिन्धुः पतङ्गो मधुकृद्गजः ३३</blockquote><blockquote>मधुहा हरिणो मीनः पिङ्गला कुररोऽर्भकः कुमारी शरकृत्सर्प ऊर्णनाभिः सुपेशकृत् ३४</blockquote><blockquote>एते मे गुरवो राजन्चतुर्विंशतिराश्रिताः शिक्षा वृत्तिभिरेतेषामन्वशिक्षमिहात्मनः ३५ (Bhag. Pura. 11.7.32-35)<ref>Bhagavata Purana ([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% Skanda 11 Adhyaya 7])</ref></blockquote>Summary: These twenty-four have been adopted by me as Gurus.   

{{columns-list|colwidth=15em|style=width: 600px; font-style: italic;|#पृथिवी  Prthvi (Earth)

{{columns-list|colwidth=15em|style=width: 600px; font-style: italic;|#पृथिवी  ॥ Prthvi (Earth)

# वायु Vayu (Air)

#वायु ॥ Vayu (Air)

# Akasha (Ether)

#आकाशम् ॥ Akasha (Ether)

# Apah (Water)

#आपः॥ Apah (Water)

# Agni (FIre)

#अग्निः ॥ Agni (FIre)

# Chandra (Moon)

#चन्द्रः ॥ Chandra (Moon)

# Surya (Sun)

#रविः ॥ Surya (Sun)

# Kapota (Pigeon)

#कपोतः ॥ Kapota (Pigeon)

# Ajagar (A Boa-Constrictor snake)

#अजगरः ॥ Ajagar (A Boa-Constrictor snake)

# Sindhu (Sea)

#सिन्धुः ॥ Sindhu (Sea)

# Patanga (A Moth)

#पतङ्गः ॥ Patanga (A Moth)

# Madhukrd (A Bee)

#मधुकृत् ॥ Madhukrd (A Bee)

# Gaja (An Elephant)

#गजः ॥ Gaja (An Elephant)

# Madhuha (A honey-gatherer)

#मधुहा ॥ Madhuha (A honey-gatherer)

# Harini (A deer)

#हरिणः ॥ Harini (A deer)

# Meena (A fish)

#मीनः ॥ Meena (A fish)

# Pingala (A courtesan)

#पिङ्गला ॥ Pingala (A courtesan)

# Kurara (A fish)

#कुररः ॥ Kurara (A Bird)

# Arbhaka (A child)

#अर्भकः ॥ Arbhaka (A child)

# Kumari (A maiden)

#कुमारी ॥ Kumari (A maiden)

# Sharakrt (A Black-smith)

#शरकृत् ॥ Sharakrt (An arrow-sharpner)

# Sarpa (A Snake)

#सर्पः ॥ Sarpa (A Snake)

# Urnanabhi ( A Spider)

#ऊर्णनाभिः ॥ Urnanabhi ( A Spider)

# Supeshakrt (A Wasp)}}  

#सुपेशकृत् ॥ Supeshakrt (A Wasp)}}  

Among the deities, Dakshinamurty (Shiva) Brhaspati (the Devaguru), and Shukracharya (Asura Guru) are revered and have important roles in shaping their students.  

Among the deities, Dakshinamurty (Shiva) Brhaspati (the Devaguru), and Shukracharya (Asura Guru) are revered and have important roles in shaping their students.