GURU (3) - गुरु:

SUBHASHITHANI:206
Guru is a Sanskrit term that connotes someone who is a "teacher, guide or master" of certain knowledge.
In Sanskrit, the word ‘Gu’ stands for darkness and ,’Ru’stands for remover.  So in essence, a guru shatters the darkness or ignorance ( avidya ) and helps one to gain knowledge including power to analyse, to discriminate right  from wrong and be able to take the right action at the right time.  He is the one who ensures success for his disciple. Here is a collection of some very beautiful slokas on "guru"

विद्वत्त्वं दक्षता शीलं सङ्कान्तिरनुशीलनम् ।
 शिक्षकस्य गुणाः सप्त सचेतस्त्वं प्रसन्नता ॥
The following seven are the qualities of a good teacher; Scholarship, dexterity, morality, reflection or moving from place to place, constant practice, intelligence, and cheerfulness.   
ध्यानमूलं गुरुर्मूर्तिः पूजामूलं गुरुर्पदम् ।
मन्त्रमूलं गुरुर्वाक्यं  मोक्षमूलं गुरूर्कृपा ॥   
    Dhyaanamoolam gurormoortih poojaamoolam guroh padam; Mantramoolam gurorvaakyam mokshamoolam guroh kripaa”.
The Guru's form is the best to meditate upon; the Guru's feet are the best for worship; the Guru's word is the mantra; the Guru's Grace is the root of liberation.

गुरोस्तु मौनं व्याख्यानं शिष्यास्तु छिन्नसंशयाः ।। 

“It is strange to see, the very old disciples, and the very young teacher, who sit under a banyan tree, with the teacher always observing silence, and the students getting all the doubts cleared.” (Shri Dakshinamurti Stotram: 12)

न गुरोरधिकं तत्त्वं न गुरोरधिकं तपः ।
तत्त्वज्ञानात्परं नास्ति तस्मै श्रीगुरवे नमः ॥ Guru Gita
na guroradhika.n tattva.n na guroradhika.n tapaH
tattvadnyaanaatpara.n naasti tasmai shriigurave namaH
Salutation to the noble Guru, beyond whom there is no higher truth, there is no higher penance and there is nothing higher attainable than the true knowledge.

दुग्धेन धेनुः कुसुमेन वल्ली शीलेन भार्या कमलेन तोयम्। 

गुरुं विना भाति न चैव शिष्यः शमेन विद्या नगरी जनेन॥ 

Cow is respected for its milk, a creeper for its flower, wife for exemplary behaviour, and water body for its lotus flowers. A city for its people and education for nurturing sense control. In the same way , a student can not shine with out a guru.

धर्मज्ञो धर्मकर्ता च सदा धर्मपरायणः ।
तत्त्वेभ्यः सर्वशास्त्रार्थादेशको गुरुरुच्यते ॥

Dharmagyo dharmakartaa cha sadaa dharmaparaayanah I

Tatvebhyah sarva shaastrartha deshako gururuchyate II

One who is well-versed in righteousness  ( Dharma ) , who performs dharma, always inclined towards dharma, and explains all the nuances of shastraas to his disciples is called a ‘guru’.

सर्वाभिलाषिणः सर्वभोजिनः सपरिग्रहाः ।
अब्रह्मचारिणो मिथ्योपदेशा गुरवो न तु ॥

Sarvaabhilaashinah sarva bhojinah saparigrahaah I

Abrahmachaarino mithyopadesaa guravo na tu II

Excessive Desire, excessive enjoyment, grabbing  every thing, not following celibacy, giving spurious advice, these are not the qualities of a Guru.

विना गुरुभ्यो गुणनीरधिभ्यो जानाति तत्त्वं न विचक्षणोऽपि ।
आकर्णदीर्घायित लोचनोऽपि दीपं विना पश्यति नान्धकारे ॥

Vinaa gurubhyo gunaneerdhibhyo jaanaati tatvam na vichakshanopi I

Aakarnadeergaayita lochanopi deepam vinaa pasyati na andhakaare II

Even if one is very intelligent and scholarly ,he will not be able to grasp the truth without a guru ,who is an ocean of virtues. Like, even though a man may have an excellent vision , he will not be able to see in darkness without a lamp.  

अधिगत्य गुरोर्ज्ञानं छात्रेभ्यो वितरन्ति ये।

विद्यावात्सल्यनिधयः शिक्षका मम दैवतम॥

The one who by acquiring knowledge from his teachers, distributes it to the students, that source  of knowledge and love, teacher, is my God.

गुरुर्न स स्यात् स्वजनो न स स्यात्

पिता न स स्याज्जननी न सा स्यात्।
दैवन्न तत् स्यात् न पतिश्च स स्यान्-
न मोचयेद्यः समुपेत-मृत्युम्॥५-५-१८॥ Srimad Bhagavatham

gururna sa syāt svajano na sa syāt  pitā na sa syājjananī na sā syāt|
daivanna tat syāt na patiśca sa syān-  na mocayedyaḥ samupeta-mṛtyum||5-5-18||
One is not a guru (worthy of being a guru): one is not a relative
One is not father; one is not a mother; One is not a deity; one is not a husband; If they cannot guide those dependent from [the cycle of birth and] death.

अक्रोधो गुरुशुश्रूषा शौचमाहारलाघवम् ।
नित्य स्वाध्याय इत्येते नियमाः पञ्च कीर्तिताः ॥

Mastery over anger, serving the guru, purity, moderation  in eating, and regular  scriptural study are the five qualities which will bring respect to a sadhaka.

इमं लोकं मातृभक्त्या पितृभक्त्या तु मध्यमम्।

गुरुशुश्रूषया त्वेव ब्रह्मलोकं समश्नुते॥
imaṁ lokaṁ mātṛbhaktyā pitṛbhaktyā tu madhyamam|
guruśuśrūṣayā tveva brahmalokaṁ samaśnute||
By honouring/worshipping (one’s) mother he gains this world, by honouring one’s father the middle sphere, but by obedience to his Teacher, the World of Brahman.

त्वमेव माता च पिता त्वमेव, त्वमेव बन्धुश्च सखा त्वमेव। 

त्वमेव विद्या च द्रविणं त्वमेव, त्वमेव सर्वं मम देव देव॥

This is a prayer dedicated to the Almighty who is the Ultimate Guru. (Oh Guru!) You are my mother and father; you are my brother and companion; you alone are knowledge and wealth. Oh the Almighty, you are everything to me.

गुरोर्यत्र परीवादो निंदा वापिप्रवर्तते ।

कर्णौ तत्र विधातव्यो गन्तव्यं वा ततोऽन्यतः ॥

Guroryatra parivaado nindaa vaapi pravartate I

Karnau tatra vidhatavyo gantavyam vaa tato anyatah II

Where something bad about guru is being  said you should try to refute it. If it is not possible don’t listen to such words. Even if that is not possible leave that place without delay. ( This advice is stressed by both Sri  Ramanuja and  sri Vedanta Desika )

गुरुं प्रयोजनोद्देशादर्चयन्ति न भक्तितः l 

दुग्धदात्रैति गौः गेहे पोष्यते न तु धर्मतः ll 

gurum prayojanoddeshaadarchayanti na bhaktitah l

dugdhadaatraiti gauh gehe poShyate na tu dharmatah ll

People worship a guru (preceptor) not because of devotion, but because they have some motive behind this. (It is just like) People do not feed and nourish a cow at home because it is the right thing to do, but because it gives milk !

SRI KRISHNAYA THUBHYAM NAMAH