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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.  

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.

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 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.

== Acharya Pariksha in Ayurveda ==

== आचार्यंपरीक्षेत ॥ Acharya Pariksha in Ayurveda ==

Scholars have expressed different views regarding the practice of evaluation of the teacher and his abilities by the parents before sending their child for education.

Scholars have expressed different views regarding the practice of evaluation of the teacher and his abilities by the parents before sending their child for education.

Acharya Charaka says that the ideal Ayurveda preceptor should have clear knowledge of the subject and practical experience. One should be diligent, dexterous, virtuous, with skilled hand, well equipped, possessing all the senses in normal condition, acquainted with constitutions, well- versed in courses of emergency management and quick actions, having his knowledge uncensured, free from ego, envy, anger, forbearing, paternal to disciples, having characteristics of a good teacher and fit for imbue understanding.<blockquote>ततोऽनन्तरमाचार्यंपरीक्षेत;</blockquote><blockquote>तद्यथा-पर्यवदातश्रुतंपरिदृष्टकर्माणंदक्षंदक्षिणंशुचिंजितहस्तमुपकरणवन्तंसर्वेन्द्रियोपपन्नंप्रकृतिज्ञंप्रतिपत्तिज्ञमनुपस्कृतविद्यमनहङ्कृतमनसूयकमकोपनंक्लेशक्षमंशिष्यवत्सलमध्यापकंज्ञापनसमर्थंचेत एवङ्गुणोह्याचार्यःसुक्षेत्रमार्तवोमेघइवशस्यगुणैः \सुशिष्यमाशुवैद्यगुणैः सम्पादयति|| (Char. Samh. 8.4)</blockquote><blockquote>tato'nantaramācāryaṁparīkṣeta;</blockquote><blockquote>tadyathā-paryavadātaśrutaṁparidr̥ṣṭakarmāṇaṁdakṣaṁdakṣiṇaṁśuciṁjitahastamupakaraṇavantaṁsarvendriyopapannaṁprakr̥tijñaṁpratipattijñamanupaskr̥tavidyamanahaṅkr̥tamanasūyakamakopanaṁkleśakṣamaṁśiṣyavatsalamadhyāpakaṁjñāpanasamarthaṁceta evaṅguṇohyācāryaḥsukṣetramārtavomeghaivaśasyaguṇaiḥ \\suśiṣyamāśuvaidyaguṇaiḥ sampādayati|| (Char. Samh. 8.4)</blockquote>Acharya Charaka further adds that a teacher holding such qualities quickly inculcates physician’s qualities in his disciple just as the seasonal cloud furnishes good crop in a suitable land.

Acharya Charaka says that the ideal Ayurveda preceptor should have clear knowledge of the subject and practical experience. One should be diligent, dexterous, virtuous, with skilled hand, well equipped, possessing all the senses in normal condition, acquainted with constitutions, well- versed in courses of emergency management and quick actions, having his knowledge uncensured, free from ego, envy, anger, forbearing, paternal to disciples, having characteristics of a good teacher and fit for imbue understanding.<blockquote>ततोऽनन्तरमाचार्यंपरीक्षेत;</blockquote><blockquote>तद्यथा-पर्यवदातश्रुतंपरिदृष्टकर्माणंदक्षंदक्षिणंशुचिंजितहस्तमुपकरणवन्तंसर्वेन्द्रियोपपन्नंप्रकृतिज्ञंप्रतिपत्तिज्ञमनुपस्कृतविद्यमनहङ्कृतमनसूयकमकोपनंक्लेशक्षमंशिष्यवत्सलमध्यापकंज्ञापनसमर्थंचेत एवङ्गुणोह्याचार्यःसुक्षेत्रमार्तवोमेघइवशस्यगुणैः \सुशिष्यमाशुवैद्यगुणैः सम्पादयति|| (Char. Samh. 8.4)</blockquote><blockquote>tato'nantaramācāryaṁparīkṣeta;</blockquote><blockquote>tadyathā-paryavadātaśrutaṁparidr̥ṣṭakarmāṇaṁdakṣaṁdakṣiṇaṁśuciṁjitahastamupakaraṇavantaṁsarvendriyopapannaṁprakr̥tijñaṁpratipattijñamanupaskr̥tavidyamanahaṅkr̥tamanasūyakamakopanaṁkleśakṣamaṁśiṣyavatsalamadhyāpakaṁjñāpanasamarthaṁceta evaṅguṇohyācāryaḥsukṣetramārtavomeghaivaśasyaguṇaiḥ \\suśiṣyamāśuvaidyaguṇaiḥ sampādayati|| (Char. Samh. 8.4)</blockquote>Acharya Charaka further adds that a teacher holding such qualities quickly inculcates physician’s qualities in his disciple just as the seasonal cloud furnishes good crop in a suitable land.

== Reverence to Gurus ==

== गुरुस्तुतिः ॥ Reverence to Gurus ==

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.