Various meanings of the word Guru

 

Various meanings of the word Guru

 

The various meanings of the word Guru are explained in the Guru Gita, through a conversation between Lord Shiva and Mother Parvati. Parvati knowing that the entire world meditates on Lord Shiva is curious to know who Lord Shiva himself is ever meditating upon. The 'Guru-tattva' (essence of the Guru) explains Lord Shiva as he also shares the various meanings of the term. Some of them are shared below:



गुकारो भवरोगः स्यात् रुकारस्तन्निरोधकृत्।

भवरोगहरत्वाच्च गुरुरित्यभिधीयते॥ [- गुरु गीता ४५]

gukāro bhavarogaḥ syāt rukārastannirodhakṛt,

bhavarogaharatvācca gururityabhidhīyate. [- Guru-gītā 45]



'Gu' means the disease of birth and death. 'Ru' means the destroyer of birth and death. On account of the power of destroying the disease of birth and death, the teacher is known by the significant name 'Guru'.



गुकारश्च गुणातीतो रूपातीतो रुकारकः।

गुणरूपविहीनत्वात् गुरुरित्यभिधीयते॥ [- गुरु गीता ४६]

gukāraśca guṇātīto rūpātīto rukārakaḥ,

guṇarūpavihīnatvāt gururityabhidhīyate. [- Guru-gītā 46]



The letter 'Gu' denotes that he is above the three gunas (sattva, rajas and tamas) and 'Ru' denotes that he is beyond forms. Because he is free from gunas and forms he is called 'Guru'.



गुकारः प्रथमो वर्णो मायादिगुणभासकः।

रुकारोऽस्ति परं ब्रह्म मायाभ्रान्तिविमोचनम्॥ [- गुरु गीता ४७]

एवं गुरुपदं श्रेष्ठं देवानामपि दुर्लभम्।

गरुडोरगगन्धर्वसिद्धादिसुरपूजितम्॥ [- गुरु गीता ४८]

gukāraḥ prathamo varṇo māyādiguṇabhāsakaḥ,

rukāro'sti paraṁ brahma māyābhrāntivimocanam. [- Guru-gītā 47]

evaṁ gurupadaṁ śreṣṭhaṁ devānāmapi durlabham,

garuḍoragagandharvasiddhādisurapūjitam. [- Guru-gītā 48]



The first syllable 'Gu' makes Maya manifest and 'Ru' is Brahman that removes Maya and delusion. This way, the state of (or the word) Guru is great and sublime, very difficult for even demigods to attain and worthy of worship by Garuda, serpents, Gandharvas, Siddhas and the celestials.



गुकारं च गुणातीतं रुकारं रूपवर्जितम्।

गुणातीतमरूपं च यो दद्यात् स गुरुः स्मृतः॥ [- गुरु गीता ९१]

gukāraṁ ca guṇātītaṁ rukāraṁ rūpavarjitam,

guṇātītamarūpaṁ ca yo dadyāt sa guruḥ smṛtaḥ. [- Guru-gītā 91]



'Gu' indicates the state of the Guru who is beyond attributes and 'Ru' denotes freedom from the shackles of forms. One, who bestows the state beyond attributes and forms, is the Guru.



The term shishya means 'शासते असौ' i.e. one who submits to discipline - the discipline as instructed by the Guru.