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Who's A Guru? All About the Hindu Spiritual Teacher Ads Guru Meditation Bhagavad Gita Status for God Krishna Hindu Hinduism Quotes Spiritual Teachings Yoga Guru India God Yoga Meditation SHARE PIN Guru Dronacharya & Ekalavya. www.exoticindia.com Subhamoy Das Hinduism Expert "Guru is Shiva sans his three eyes, Vishnu sans his four arms Brahma sans his four heads. He is parama Shiva himself in human form" ~ Brahmanda Puran Guru is the God, say the scriptures. Indeed, the 'guru' in Vedic tradition is looked upon as one no less than a God. 'Guru' is a honorific designation of a preceptor as defined and explained variously in the scriptures and ancient literary works including epics. Ads Download a Free Audiobook audible.com/Free-Trial Join Today & Get a Free Audiobook. Listen on Your iPhone or Android! Study English Online www.deepenglish.com/LearnEnglish Speak Fluent English. Be Confident. Get Our Free Email Course. 7 Days. Guru Meditation Bhagavad Gita Status for God Krishna Hindu Hinduism Quotes The English word 'guru' has its etymological origin in the Sanskrit term. The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Current English defines it as "Hindu spiritual teacher or head of religious sect; influential teacher; revered mentor". More Real Than Gods Aren't gurus more real than the gods? Basically the guru is a spiritual teacher leading the disciple on the path of "god-realization". In essence, the guru is considered a respected person with saintly qualities who enlightens the mind of his disciple, an educator from whom one receives the initiatory mantra, and one who instructs in rituals and religious ceremonies. The Vishnu Smriti and Manu Smriti regards the Acharya (teacher), along with the mother and the father as the most venerable gurus of an individual. According to Deval Smriti there can be eleven kinds of gurus and according to Nama Chintamani ten. According to his functions he is categorized as rishi, acharyam, upadhya, kulapati or mantravetta. The Guru's Role The Upanishads have profoundly underlined the role of the guru. Mundak Upanishad says to realize the supreme godhead holding samidha grass in his hands one should surrender himself before the guru who knows the secrets of Vedas. Kathopanishad too speaks of the guru as the preceptor who alone can guide the disciple on the spiritual path. Over time the guru's syllabus gradually enlarged incorporating more secular and temporal subjects related to human endeavor and intellect. Apart from usual spiritual works his sphere of instruction now included subjects like Dhanurvidya (archery), Arthashastra (economics) and even Natyashastra(dramatics) and Kamashastra (sexology). Such was the ingenuity of the all pervading intellect of the ancientAcharyas that they perpetuated even shastra like thievery. Shudraka's celebrated play Mricchakatikam tells the story of Acharya Kanakashakti who formulated the Chaurya Shastra, or the science of thievery, which was further developed by the gurus like Brahmanyadeva, Devavrata and Bhaskarnandin. From Hermitages to Universities Gradually the institution of Gurukula or in-forest-hermitage, where disciples learnt at the feet of guru for long years was evolved. The great urban universities at Takshashila, Vikramashila and Nalanda essentially evolved from these tiny gurukulas tucked away in deep woods. If we have to believe the records of Chinese travellers who visited Nalanda at that time, there were more than 1,500 teachers teaching various subjects to more than 10,000 students and monks. Legends of Gurus & Desciples There were gurus as well as disciples of different hues to whom references were made in scriptures and literary works. The most popular legend is that of the amazing young tribal boy Ekalavya on being rejected by the ace trainer Dronacharya, raised his statue and with great dedication practised the art of archery and left behind Arjuna, the master archer, who actually learnt the art under the living guru. And the heartless guru asked for his thumb as gurudakshina or fees, and made him inferior before his royal disciple. In the Chandogya Upanishad, we meet an aspiring disciple Satyakama, who refuses to tell lies about his caste in order to get an admission in the gurukula of Acharya Haridrumat Gautam. And in the Mahabharata we come across Karna who did not bat an eyelid while telling Parashurama that he belonged to the Bhrigu Brahmin caste just to obtain the Brahmastra, the supreme weapon. Lasting Contribution From generation to generation the institution of the guru has evolved various basic tenets of Indian culture and transmitted spiritual and fundamental knowledge. Gurus formed the axis of ancient educational system and ancient society, and enriched various fields of learning and culture by their creative thinking. Herein lies the lasting significance of gurus and their contribution to the upliftment of mankind. Related Articles What's the Significance of Guru Purnima? What Are the Sacred Texts of the Hindus? Veda Vyasa: Life & Works of the Greatest of Hindu Sages Gurus & Saints Learn About the Ancient Hindu Guide to Life Hinduism 101: The Basics for Beginners Why the Upanishads Are Important to Hindus Gurus of the Past SEE MORE HINDUISM CATEGORIES The Basics Hindu Gods & Goddesses Gurus & Saints Hindu Scriptures & Epics Hindu Festivals & Holidays Hindu Temples & Organizations Hindu / Indian Arts & Culture Matrimonials & Weddings Ayurveda & Healthcare Yoga & Meditation Vedic Astrology Blog Beliefs & Practices Life & Culture Celebrations - Major Hindu Festivals Updated Articles and Resources Expert Videos Sign up for our free Hinduism newsletter SIGN UP You can opt-out at any time.. See our privacy policy. MOST POPULAR 15 Surprising Health Benefits of Hinduism's Holy Basil 5 What Does 'Namaste' Really Mean? 4 Hindu Festivals Calendar 2015 3 What's the Significance of Guru Purnima? 2 Hinduism 101: The Basics for Beginners 1 About.com About Religion & Spirituality Hinduism The Basics Hinduism for Beginners Ads Hindu Reincarnation Religion Hinduism Shiva Hindu God God Hindu World The Hindu Spiritual Teachings Shiva Karma Om is the sacred symbol of Hinduism. Getty Images Subhamoy Das Hinduism Expert SHARE PIN If you're new to this faith, here's where to begin. In this simple introduction to a complex religion, get your basic questions on Hinduism answered and explained in brief. What is Hinduism? Hinduism is the world's oldest extant religion, with a billion followers, which makes it the world's third largest religion. Hinduism is a conglomeration of religious, philosophical, and cultural ideas and practices that originated in India, characterized by the belief in reincarnation, one absolute being of multiple manifestations, the law of cause and effect, following the path of righteousness, and the desire for liberation from the cycle of births and deaths. Ads 3-Minute Chakra Test chakrahealing.com/3-Min-Chakra-Test Take the Free Chakra Test to Find Out Which of Your Chakras Are Weak 3 veggies to never eat: beyonddiet.com If you never eat these 3 veggies, You will burn stomach fat every day Eastern Qigong Methods modernqigong.com/FreeVideo If You Truly Want To Heal Yourself Download This Free Healing Exercise Hindu Reincarnation Religion Hinduism Shiva Hindu God God Read More: How do you define Hinduism? How is Hinduism unique from other religions? Hinduism cannot be neatly slotted into any particular belief system. Unlike other religions, Hinduism is a way of life, a Dharma, that is, the law that governs all action. It has its own beliefs, traditions, advanced system of ethics, meaningful rituals, philosophy and theology. The religious tradition of Hinduism is solely responsible for the creation of such original concepts and practices as Yoga, Ayurveda, Vastu, Jyotish, Yajna, Puja, Tantra, Vedanta, Karma, etc. Read More: The Uniqueness of Hinduism How and when did Hinduism originate? Hinduism has its origins in such remote past that it cannot be traced to any one individual. Some scholars believe that Hinduism must have existed even in circa 10000 B.C. and that the earliest of the Hindu scriptures – The Rig Veda – was composed well before 6500 B.C. The word "Hinduism" is not to be found anywhere in the scriptures, and the term "Hindu" was introduced by foreigners who referred to people living across the River Indus or Sindhu, in the north of India, around which the Vedic religion is believed to have originated. Read More: Theories About the Origin of Hinduism What are the basic tenets of Hinduism? There is no “one Hinduism”, and so it lacks any unified system of beliefs and ideas. Hinduism is a conglomerate of diverse beliefs and traditions, in which the prominent themes include: Dharma (ethics and duties) Samsara (rebirth) Karma (right action) Moksha (liberation from the cycle of Samsara) It also believes in truth, honesty, non-violence, celibacy, cleanliness, contentment, prayers, austerity, perseverance, penance, and pious company. Read More: The Main Tenets of Hinduism What are the key Hindu scriptures? The basic scriptures of Hinduism, which is collectively referred to as "Shastras", are essentially a collection of spiritual laws discovered by different saints and sages at different points in its long history. The Two types of sacred writings comprise the Hindu scriptures: "Shruti" (heard) and "Smriti" (memorized). They were passed on from generation to generation orally for centuries before they were written down mostly in the Sanskrit language. The major and most popular Hindu texts include the Bhagavad Gita, the Upanishads, and the epics of Ramayana and Mahabharata. Read More: The Sacred Texts of the Hindus What are the major Hindu deities? Hinduism believes that there is only one supreme Absolute called "Brahman". However, it does not advocate the worship of any one particular deity. The gods and goddesses of Hinduism amount to thousands or even millions, all representing the many aspects of Brahman. Therefore, this faith is characterized by the multiplicity of deities. The most fundamental of Hindu deities is the Trinity of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva - creator, preserver and destroyer respectively. Hindus also worship spirits, trees, animals and even planets. Read More: Gods & Goddesses in Hinduism Who is a Hindu and how to become one? A Hindu is an individual who accepts and lives by the religious guidance of the Vedic scriptures. While the teachings of the Hindu tradition do not require that you have a religious affiliation to Hinduism in order to receive its inner teachings, it can be very helpful to formally become a Hindu because it provides one a formal connection to the “world's oldest continually existing enlightenment tradition." Read More: Who is a Hindu? See Also: How to be an Ideal Hindu Related Articles An Intriduction to Hindu Gods and Goddesses When Do Scholars Believe Hinduism Began? Who's a Hindu? These are 7 legally accepted features of Hinduism How Do You Define Hinduism? Myth Busters: 6 Facts About Hinduism Reclaiming the Jewel of Dharma