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Guru (Samskrit : गुरुः) means preceptor, one who imparts valuable life lessons to anyone who seeks knowledge. He is one who takes charge of immature children, moulds them and makes them worthy useful citizens of the world. Thus such a preceptor was naturally held high in reverence. Gurus held an esteemed position in the society due to their [[Vidya (विद्या)|Vidya]] or knowledge they possessed (Manyasthana).<ref name=":0">Altekar, A. S. (1944) ''Education in Ancient India.'' Benares : Nand Kishore and Bros.,</ref>

Guru (Samskrit : गुरुः) means preceptor, one who imparts valuable life lessons to the one who seeks knowledge. He is one who takes charge of immature children, sculpts them and makes them worthy useful citizens of the world. Thus such a preceptor was naturally held high in reverence. Gurus held an esteemed position in the society due to their [[Vidya (विद्या)|Vidya]] or knowledge they possessed (Manyasthana).<ref name=":0">Altekar, A. S. (1944) ''Education in Ancient India.'' Benares : Nand Kishore and Bros.,</ref>

The importance which in modern times is attached to the Institution, of study, was in ancient days attached to the teacher in India.   

The importance which in modern times is attached to the Institution, of study, was in ancient days attached to the teacher in India.   

== परिचयः ॥ Introduction ==

== परिचयः ॥ Introduction ==

In the context of Guru and Shishya, various definitions are seen in the ancient texts. [[Vidya (विद्या)|Vidya]] as in Adhyatma vidya or Paravidya is held in high reverence by the ancient seers (Mundakopanishad clearly explains it).   

In the context of Guru and Shishya, various definitions are seen in the ancient texts. [[Vidya (विद्या)|Vidya]] as in Adhyatma vidya or Paravidya is held in high reverence by the ancient seers (Mundakopanishad clearly explains it). While an acharya contributes to the growth of student's knowledge during the formative years, a Guru guides him all through his life, keeps him on the path of dharma, and leads him to practice the higher knowledge (Paravidya). The Shivasutras explained by the Shivasutra vimarshini highlight this aspect <blockquote>गुरुरुपायः । (Shiva Sutra 2.6) and गृणाति उपदिशति तात्त्विकमर्थम् इति गुरुः । (Shivasutra Vimarshini)<ref>Dr. Korada Subrahmanyam in Bharatiya Vidvat Parishad Forum ([https://groups.google.com/forum/#!msg/bvparishat/WzOL81dApIQ/yDp0WTycAQAJ A question: Guru-Shishya])</ref></blockquote>

== व्युत्पत्तिः॥ Etymology ==

== व्युत्पत्तिः॥ Etymology ==

Shabdakalpadruma<ref name=":3">Shabdakalpadruma ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%B6%E0%A4%AC%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%B2%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%83/%E0%A4%97%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%A3%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A1%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%83 See word गुरुः])</ref> defines गुरुः  <blockquote>गृणाति उपदिशति वेदादिशास्त्राणिइन्द्रादिदेवेभ्यः इति । one who teaches, advises (used in the sense of explaining, pointing out, informing, command, prescribe) the vedas and shastras to devatas like Indra and others.</blockquote>

Similar concept is seen in Shivasutras explained in Shivasutra vimarshini as follows<blockquote>गुरुरुपायः । (Shiva Sutra 2.6) and गृणाति उपदिशति तात्त्विकमर्थम् इति गुरुः । (Shivasutra Vimarshini)<ref>Dr. Korada Subrahmanyam in Bharatiya Vidvat Parishad Forum ([https://groups.google.com/forum/#!msg/bvparishat/WzOL81dApIQ/yDp0WTycAQAJ A question: Guru-Shishya])</ref></blockquote>

One who teaches the meaning of tattvas (higher knowledge) is a Guru.  

Shabdakalpadruma<ref name=":3">Shabdakalpadruma ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%B6%E0%A4%AC%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%B2%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%83/%E0%A4%97%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%A3%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A1%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%83 See word गुरुः])</ref> gives the various aspects of गुरुः as follows <blockquote>गृणाति उपदिशति वेदादिशास्त्राणिइन्द्रादिदेवेभ्यः इति । one who teaches, advises (used in the sense of explaining, pointing out, informing, command, prescribe) the vedas and shastras to devatas like Indra and others.</blockquote>

 

Said to be a part of Skanda Purana, Gurugita comprehensively summarizes the various aspects of Guru in Uma Maheshvara samvada (dialogue between Uma and Maheshvara).<blockquote>गुकारश्चान्धकारो हि रुकारस्तेज उच्यते। अज्ञानग्रासकं ब्रह्म गुरुरेव न संशयः॥४४॥ </blockquote>गु-कारः stands for अन्धकारः (darkness in the form of Ajnana) and रु-कारः denotes तेजः (light in the form of Jnana). The one who dispels Ajnana by the light of Brahmajnana is a Guru, without any doubt.<blockquote>गुकारो भवरोगः स्यात् रुकारस्तन्निरोधकृत्। भवरोगहरत्याच्च गुरुरित्यभिधीयते॥४५॥</blockquote>गु-कारः stands for भवरोगः (worldly inflictions) and रु-कारः denotes भवरोगनिरोधकः (preventing worldly inflictions). One who removes the  diseases of worldly attachments is called a Guru.<blockquote>गुकारश्च गुणातीतो रूपातीतो रुकारकः। गुणरूपविहीनत्वात् गुरुरित्यभिधीयते॥४६॥</blockquote>गु-कारः stands for गुणातीतः (one who is above the three gunas - satva, rajas and tamas) and रु-कारः denotes रूपातीतः (one who is formless). A Guru is so called because he is devoid of the gunas (three states) and form.<blockquote>गुकारः प्रथमो वर्णो मायादिगुणभासकः। रुकारोऽस्ति परं ब्रह्म मायाभ्रान्तिविमोचनम्॥४७॥ (Guru. Gita.1.44-47)<ref name=":2">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%A7 Adhyaya 1])</ref></blockquote>गु-कारः the first varna is गुणभासकः (indicates Maya and other such qualities) and रु-कारः denotes परं ब्रह्म (the highest Brahman which dispels Maya and other delusions).<ref>Gurugita Hindi Translation of selected [http://ashram.org/Portals/0/Books/GuruGita.pdf Slokas]</ref><blockquote>अत्रिनेत्रः शिवः साक्षात् द्विबाहुश्च हरिः स्मृतः। योऽचतुर्वदनो ब्रह्मा श्रीगुरुः कथितः प्रिये॥९२॥ (Guru. Gita.1.92)<ref name=":2" /></blockquote>Guru is none other than Shiva devoid of three eyes (Guru has two eyes), a two shouldered Vishnu and Brahma devoid of four faces (heads).

 

Thus Mahesvara extols the greatness of a Guru in many ways to Umadevi.

Said to be a part of Skanda Purana, Gurugita comprehensively summarizes the various aspects of Guru in the conversation between Uma and Maheshvara.<blockquote>गुकारश्चान्धकारो हि रुकारस्तेज उच्यते। अज्ञानग्रासकं ब्रह्म गुरुरेव न संशयः॥४४॥ </blockquote>गु-कारः stands for अन्धकारः (darkness in the form of Ajnana) and रु-कारः denotes तेजः (light in the form of Jnana). The one who dispels Ajnana by the light of Brahmajnana is a Guru, without any doubt.<blockquote>गुकारो भवरोगः स्यात् रुकारस्तन्निरोधकृत्। भवरोगहरत्याच्च गुरुरित्यभिधीयते॥४५॥</blockquote>गु-कारः stands for भवरोगः (worldly inflictions) and रु-कारः denotes भवरोगनिरोधकः (preventing worldly inflictions). One who removes the   diseases of worldly attachments is called a Guru.<blockquote>गुकारश्च गुणातीतो रूपातीतो रुकारकः। गुणरूपविहीनत्वात् गुरुरित्यभिधीयते॥४६॥</blockquote>गु-कारः stands for गुणातीतः (one who is above the three gunas - satva, rajas and tamas) and रु-कारः denotes रूपातीतः (one who is formless). A Guru is so called because he is devoid of the gunas (three states) and form.<blockquote>गुकारः प्रथमो वर्णो मायादिगुणभासकः। रुकारोऽस्ति परं ब्रह्म मायाभ्रान्तिविमोचनम्॥४७॥ (Guru. Gita.1.44-47)<ref name=":2">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%A7 Adhyaya 1])</ref></blockquote>गु-कारः the first varna is गुणभासकः (indicates Maya and other such qualities) and रु-कारः denotes परं ब्रह्म (the highest Brahman which dispels Maya and other delusions).<ref>Gurugita Hindi Translation of selected [http://ashram.org/Portals/0/Books/GuruGita.pdf Slokas]</ref><blockquote>अत्रिनेत्रः शिवः साक्षात् द्विबाहुश्च हरिः स्मृतः। योऽचतुर्वदनो ब्रह्मा श्रीगुरुः कथितः प्रिये॥९२॥ (Guru. Gita.1.92)<ref name=":2" /></blockquote>Guru is none other than Shiva devoid of three eyes (Guru has two eyes), two shouldered Vishnu and Brahma devoid of four faces (heads).

The other representations of Guru include the Devaguru Brhaspati बृहस्पतिः सुराचार्यो गीष्पतिर्धिषणो गुरुः ।। १.३.२२३ ।। (Amarakosha 1.3.223)<ref>Amarakosha ( [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%B6%E0%A4%83/%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%A5%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A1%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D Kanda 1 Varga 3])</ref>

Thus Mahesvara extols the greatness of a Guru in many ways to Uma.

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)

The other representations of Guru include the Devaguru Brhaspati बृहस्पतिः सुराचार्यो गीष्पतिर्धिषणो गुरुः ।। १.३.२२३ ।। (Amarakosha 1.3.223)<ref>Amarakosha ( [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%B6%E0%A4%83/%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%A5%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A1%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D Kanda 1 Varga 3])</ref> निषेकादिकृत् (one who performs the various prebirth and Upanayana samskaras), a मन्त्रदाता

The word Guru is also used convey respect and praise of those persons superior in knowledge and age. Due to the experience and influence of knowledge and penance they are highly respected.  

: मातुलांश्च पितृव्यांश्च श्वशुरानृत्विजो गुरून् । २.१३०॥ (Manu. Smrti 2.130)<ref name=":1" />

== Intellectual Father ==

== Intellectual Father ==