| A Guru, is a teacher in Hinduism, Buddhism, and | | | | knowledge". |
| Sikhism, as well as in many New religious movements. | | | | A notable esoteric etymology or interpretation of the |
| Based on a long traditional line of philosophical | | | | term "guru" is based on a metaphorical interplay |
| understanding as to the importance of knowledge, | | | | between darkness and light, in which the Guru is seen |
| the guru is seen in these religions as a sacred conduit, | | | | as the dispeller of darkness . In some texts it is |
| or a way to self-realization. The importance of finding | | | | described that the syllables gu and ru stand for |
| a true guru is described in the scriptures and | | | | darkness and light, respectively. |
| teachings of religions in which a guru plays a role. | | | | The syllable gu means shadows |
| "Guru" also refers in Sanskrit to Brihaspati, a Hindu | | | | The syllable ru, he who disperses them, |
| figure analogous to the Roman planet/god Jupiter. In | | | | Because of the power to disperse darkness |
| Vedic astrology, Guru or Brihaspati is believed to | | | | the guru is thus named. |
| exert teaching influences. Indeed, in many Indian | | | | Advayataraka Upanishad 14-18, verse 5) |
| languages such as Hindi, the occidental Thursday is | | | | A similar interpretation describes the guru as the one |
| called either Brihaspativaar or Guruvaar (vaar meaning | | | | that "removes the darkness of ignorance" is based |
| day of the week). | | | | on the Guru Gita (literally "song of the spiritual |
| In contemporary India, "guru" is widely used within | | | | teacher"), a spiritual text describing a dialogue |
| the general meaning of "teacher". In Western usage, | | | | between Shiva and his consort Parvati on the nature |
| the original meaning of guru has been extended to | | | | of the guru and the guru/disciple relationship. |
| cover anyone who acquires followers, though not | | | | Reender Kranenborg a Dutch religious scholar, |
| necessarily in an established school of philosophy or | | | | dismisses the etymology based on the Upanishads, |
| religion. In a further metaphorical extension, guru is | | | | the Guru Gita, the Sikh scriptures, the writings of |
| used to refer to a person who has authority because | | | | Krishnamurti, and other scholar's opinions such as |
| of his or her perceived knowledge or skills in a | | | | those of John Grimes, Thomas Murray, and others, |
| domain of expertise. | | | | by stating that the etymology of darkness and light |
| The word guru means "teacher" in Sanskrit, as well | | | | has nothing to do with word guru and describes it is |
| as in other languages derived from Sanskrit, such as | | | | as "people's etymology". |
| Hindi, Marathi, Bengali and Gujarati. The word is | | | | In the Western Esotericism and the Science of |
| attested from the Rigveda as an adjective meaning | | | | Religion, Pierre Riffard, the author, makes a distinction |
| "heavy", its opposite being laghu "light". It derives | | | | between "esoteric etymologies" and "scientific |
| from PIE *gwrus, cognate to Greek barus, Latin | | | | etymologies" presenting as an example the |
| gravis, both likewise meaning "heavy". | | | | etymology of "guru", in which the former is |
| The word holds a special place in Hinduism, signifying | | | | presented as ru ("to push away") and gu |
| both the sacred place of knowledge (jnana) and the | | | | ("darkness"), and the latter as "guru" as "heavy". |
| imparter of knowledge. The adjective meaning | | | | Another etymology of the word "guru" found in the |
| "heavy, weighty" is used in the sense of "heavy with | | | | Guru Gita, includes gu as "beyond the qualities" and ru |
| knowledge" , "heavy with spiritual wisdom", "heavy | | | | as "devoid of form", stating that "He who bestows |
| with spiritual weight", "heavy with the good qualities | | | | that nature which trascend the qualities is said to be |
| of scriptures and realization", "heavy with a wealth of | | | | guru. |