Everything about Hindu Gurus and Yoga


What is a guru?

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



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