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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 ॥ Types of Gurus ==

== 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) was said to have 24 gurus including nature, from whom he learnt valuable lessons. This information is described in the Bhagavata Purana (Skanda 11 Adhyayas 7-9) in the [[Avadhutopakhyayana (अवधूतोपाख्यानम्)]] Among the deities, Dakshinamurty (Shiva) Brhaspati (the Devaguru), and Shukracharya (Asura Guru) are revered and have important roles in shaping their students.  

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)|twenty-four preceptors (चतुर्विंशतिगुरवः)]] who include many different beings in nature, from whom he learnt valuable lessons. This legend 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. 

 

 

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

Gurugita is one text that clearly highlights the seven different kinds of Gurus. They are classified based on how they contribute to the knowledge of the seeker. Classified as Suchaka and others, Gurus are of many kinds, an intelligent person should review and seek the guidance of a right guru.  

Gurugita is one text that clearly highlights the seven different kinds of Gurus. They are classified based on how they contribute to the knowledge of the seeker. Classified as Suchaka and others, Gurus are of many kinds, an intelligent person should review and seek the guidance of a right guru.