Gurus in Hinduism

The importance of finding a guru who can imparta guru is one's spiritual guide on earth. In some more
transcendental knowledge (vidya) is one of themystical traditions, it is believed that the guru could
tenets of Hinduism. One of the main Hindu texts, theawaken dormant spiritual knowledge within the pupil.
Bhagavad Gita, is a dialogue between God in theThe act of doing this is known as shaktipat.
form of Krishna and Arjuna a nobleman. Not onlyIn Hinduism, the guru is considered a respected
does their dialogue outline many of the ideals ofperson with saintly qualities who enlightens the mind
Hinduism, but the discussion and relationship betweenof his or her disciple, an educator from whom one
the two considered to be an expression of the idealreceives the initiatory mantra, and one who instructs
Guru/disciple relationship. In the Gita itself, Krishnain rituals and religious ceremonies. The Vishnu Smriti
speaks of the importance of finding a guru to Arjuna:and Manu Smriti regard the teacher, along with the
Acquire the transcendental knowledge from amother and the father, as the most venerable gurus
Self-realized master by humble reverence, by sincere(teachers) of an individual.
inquiry, and by service. The wise ones who haveSome influential gurus in the Hindu tradition (there
realized the Truth will impart the Knowledge to you.have been many) include Adi Shankaracharya, Shri
(Bhagavad Gita, c4 s34)Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, and Shri Ramakrishna. Other
In the sense mentioned above, guru is used more orgurus whose legacy of continuing the Hindu yogic
less interchangeably with "satguru" (literally: truetradition grew in the 20th century were men like Shri
teacher) and satpurusha. Compare also Swami. TheRam Chandra, Shri Aurobindo Ghosh, Shri Ramana
disciple of a guru is called a chela. Often, a guru livesMaharshi, Sri Chandrashekarendra Saraswati (The
in an ashram or in a gurukula (the guru's household)Sage of Kanchi), Swami Sivananda, Swami
together with his disciples. The lineage of a guru,Chinmayananda and A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami
spread by worthy disciples who carry on that guru'sPrabhupada. See also the list of Hindu gurus.
particular message, is known as the guru paramparaIn Indian culture, someone not having a guru or a
or disciplic succession.teacher (acharya) was once looked down upon as
In the traditional sense, the word guru describes abeing an orphan, and as under a sign of misfortune.
relationship rather than an absolute and is used as aThe word anatha in Sanskrit means "the one without
form of address only by a disciple addressing hisa teacher". An acharya is the giver of gyan
master. Some Hindu denominations like BAPS(knowledge) in the form of shiksha (instruction). A
Swaminarayan Sanstha hold that a personalguru also gives diksha initiation which is the spiritual
relationship with a living guru, revered as theawakening of the disciple by the grace of the guru.
embodiment of God, is essential in seeking moksha.Diksha is also considered to be the procedure of
The guru is the one who guides his or her disciple tobestowing the divine powers of a guru upon the
become jivanmukta, the liberated soul able to achievedisciple, through which the disciple progresses
salvation in his or her lifetime through God-realization.continuously along the path to divinity.
The role of the guru continues in the original sense ofThe origin of concept of "guru" can be traced as far
the word in such Hindu traditions as the Vedanta,back as the early Upanishads, where the conception
yoga, tantra and bhakti schools. Indeed, it is now aof the Divine Teacher on earth first manifested from
standard part of Hinduism (as defined by the sixits early Brahmin associations.
Vedic streams and the tantric agamic streams), that