Guru ( / ˈ ɡ uː r uː / Sanskrit : गुरु ; IAST : guru ) is a Sanskrit term for a " mentor , guide , expert , or master" of certain knowledge or field. In pan- Indian traditions , a guru is more than a teacher: traditionally, the guru is a reverential figure to the disciple (or shisya in Sanskrit, literally seeker [of knowledge or truth ]) or student, with the guru serving as a "counselor, who helps mold values, shares experiential knowledge as much as literal knowledge , an exemplar in life , an inspirational source and who helps in the spiritual evolution of a student". Whatever language it is written in, Judith Simmer-Brown says that a tantric spiritual text is often codified in an obscure twilight language so that it cannot be understood by anyone without the verbal explanation of a qualified teacher, the guru. A guru is also one's spiritual guide, who helps one to discover the same potentialities that the guru has already realized.
65-718: Shri Samarth Muppin Kaadsiddheswar Maharaj (23 April 1905 – 16 August 2001) was a guru in the Navnath tradition of Hindu philosophy . He was a disciple of Shri Samarth Siddharameshwar Maharaj , disciple of Shri Samarth Bhausaheb Maharaj, disciple of Shri Gurulingajangam Maharaj (Shri Nimbargi Maharaj), disciple of the 22nd Shri Samarth Muppin Kaadsiddheswar Maharaj. Kaadsiddheswar was born on April 23, 1905 (Chaitra Sankashti day) in Linganoor village, Kolhapur district, Maharashtra state, India. His father's name
130-444: A spiritual advisor , or someone who performs traditional rituals outside a temple, or an enlightened master in the field of tantra or yoga or eastern arts who derives his authority from his experience, or a reference by a group of devotees of a sect to someone considered a god-like Avatar by the sect. The tradition of reverence for guru continues in several denominations within modern Hinduism, but rather than being considered as
195-525: A 42 ft tall idol of a meditating Shiva with an equally massive Nandi , built halls and hostels for devotees, started a school with a hostel for poor, underprivileged students on the Math campus, and started an old-age home there. He revitalized the pravachans (discourses) organized in the Siddhagiri Math. These were organized on every full moon and on every major Hindu religious occasion, like
260-509: A Guru, loving devotion with the Almighty is not possible. Guru Amar Das , the third Sikh Guru says knowledge will have no foundation without a Guru Nandi (bull) Saiddhantika Non - Saiddhantika Nandi ( Sanskrit : नन्दि ), also known as Nandikeshvara or Nandideva , is the bull vahana (mount) of the Hindu god Shiva . He is also the guardian deity of Kailash ,
325-641: A life of study in the Gurukula (the household of the Guru ). The process of acceptance included proffering firewood and sometimes a gift to the guru, signifying that the student wants to live with, work and help the guru in maintaining the gurukul , and as an expression of a desire for education in return over several years. At the Gurukul, the working student would study the basic traditional vedic sciences and various practical skills-oriented shastras along with
390-515: A line of gurus who claim descent from Nandi. Many Puranic legends are available about Nandi. One describes his conflict with Ravana , the antagonist of the Ramayana . Nandi cursed Ravana, the rakshasa king of Lanka , that his kingdom would be burnt by a forest-dweller monkey ( vanara ), since he behaved in a restless manner, just like a monkey, while waiting to meet Shiva . Later, Hanuman burned Lanka when he went in search of Sita , who
455-937: A lineage of gurus, who would study and focus on certain schools of Hindu philosophy or trade, also known as the guru-shishya parampara (teacher-student tradition). This guru -driven tradition included arts such as sculpture, poetry and music. Inscriptions from 4th century CE suggest the existence of gurukuls around Hindu temples , called Ghatikas or Mathas , where the Vedas were studied. In south India, 9th century Vedic schools attached to Hindu temples were called Calai or Salai , and these provided free boarding and lodging to students and scholars. Archaeological and epigraphical evidence suggests that ancient and medieval era gurukuls near Hindu temples offered wide range of studies, ranging from Hindu scriptures to Buddhist texts, grammar, philosophy, martial arts, music and painting. The guru-shishya parampara , occurs where knowledge
520-642: A noun, connotes "teacher" in Sanskrit , but in ancient Indian traditions it has contextual meanings with significance beyond what teacher means in English. The guru is more than someone who teaches a specific type of knowledge, and included in the term's scope is someone who is also a "counselor, a sort of parent of mind ( Citta ) and Self ( Atman ), who helps mold values ( Yamas and Niyamas ) and experiential knowledge as much as specific knowledge , an exemplar in life, an inspirational source and who reveals
585-507: A personal teacher. Buddha is called as Lokagaru, meaning "the teacher of the world". In Vajrayana Buddhism's Tantric teachings, the rituals require the guidance of a guru. The guru is considered essential and to the Buddhist devotee, the guru is the "enlightened teacher and ritual master", states Stephen Berkwitz. The guru is known as the vajra guru (literally "diamond guru"). Initiations or ritual empowerments are necessary before
650-489: A prophet, the guru is seen as a person who points the way to spirituality, oneness of being, and meaning in life. In some forms of Buddhism , states Rita Gross, the concept of Guru is of supreme importance. Guru is called as Garu in Pali. The Guru is the teacher, who teaches the spiritual and religious knowledge. Guru can be anyone who teach this knowledge and not generally need to be Acariya or Upajjhaya . Guru can also be
715-530: A role served by Jain ascetics . The guru is one of three fundamental tattva (categories), the other two being dharma (teachings) and deva ( divinity ). The guru-tattva is what leads a lay person to the other two tattva . In some communities of the Śvētāmbara sect of Jainism, a traditional system of guru-disciple lineage exists. The guru is revered in Jainism ritually with Guru-vandan or Guru-upashti , where respect and offerings are made to
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#1732782673106780-847: A school run by guru , were an established tradition in India by the 1st millennium BCE , and these helped compose and transmit the various Vedas , the Upanishads , texts of various schools of Hindu philosophy , and post-Vedic Shastras ranging from spiritual knowledge to various arts. By about mid 1st millennium CE, archaeological and epigraphical evidence suggest numerous larger institutions of gurus existed in India, some near Hindu temples , where guru-shishya tradition helped preserve, create and transmit various fields of knowledge. These gurus led broad ranges of studies including Hindu scriptures , Buddhist texts , grammar , philosophy , martial arts , music and painting . The tradition of
845-534: A teacher of skills, a counselor, one who helps in the realization of one's Self ( Atma ), who instills values and experiential knowledge, an exemplar, an inspiration and one who helps guide a student's ( śiṣya ) spiritual development. At a social and religious level, the Guru helps continue the religion and Hindu way of life. Guru thus has a historic, reverential and an important role in the Hindu culture. The word Guru
910-640: A vision to Sri Gurulingajangam Maharaj or The 22nd or 24th Shri Samarth Muppin Kaadsiddheswar Maharaj, who initiated Sri Gurulingajangam Maharaj or "The 25th generation of the kadsiddha at siddhagiri had then initiated Guruling jangam maharaj of nimbargi." or "Juangam Maharaj" c.q. "a yogi [at Siddhagiri] who gave [Nimabargi Maharaj] a mantra and told him to meditate regularly on it" (1857 Jigajevani – 1933 Inchgiri) Student of Sri Siddharameshwar Maharaj Notes Sources Websites Kaadsiddheswar worked extensively with poor laborers and farmers. He gave extensive discourses on Hindu philosophy and
975-584: A zoo-anthropomorphic form, with the head of bull and four hands, with antelope , axe, mace, and abhayamudra . In his mount form, Nandi is depicted as a seated bull in all Shiva temples, all over the world. This form has been found even in Southeast Asian countries including Cambodia . The white color of the bull symbolizes purity and justice. Symbolically, the seated Nandi faces the sanctum in Shiva temples and represents an individual jiva (soul) and
1040-413: Is a guru who removes the disciples' suffering. Numerous here on earth are those who are intent on social class, stage of life and family. But he who is devoid of all concerns is a guru difficult to find. An intelligent man should choose a guru by whom supreme Bliss is attained, and only such a guru and none other. A true guru is, asserts Kula-Arnava , one who lives the simple virtuous life he preaches,
1105-745: Is also the main Kuldaivat (Dynastic Gods/Teachers) of the Lingayat Shaiva community. Shri Muppin Kaadsiddheswar Maharaj the 26th Mathaadheepati of this tradition from 1922 to 2001. The Siddhagiri Math was established around the Moola-Kaadsiddheswar Shiva temple in the Shaiva - Lingayat tradition. It is a vast campus with the central Shiva temple, Adhyatmik Center, and a complex of halls for discussions, residential hostels for devotees, and adjacent farms. About 1200 villages in
1170-435: Is available only to men of three varnas, unavailable to Shudra and women. Kramrisch, Scharfe, and Mookerji state that the guru tradition and availability of education extended to all segments of ancient and medieval society. Lise McKean states the guru concept has been prevalent over the range of class and caste backgrounds, and the disciples a guru attracts come from both genders and a range of classes and castes. During
1235-587: Is considered to be chief among the Siddhars , initiated by Parvati and Shiva . He is regarded to have passed on what he had learned to his eight disciples, namely, the Four Kumaras , Tirumular , Vyagrapada (also known as Pullipani), Patanjali , and Sivayoga Muni. They were sent out in eight different directions to spread his wisdom. His teachings are held by the Nandinatha Sampradaya ,
1300-506: Is for everyone, and offer examples of women and people from all segments of society who are guru and participated in vedic studies. The Upanishads assert that one's birth does not determine one's eligibility for spiritual knowledge, only one's effort and sincerity matters. The early Dharma-sutras and Dharma-sastras, such as Paraskara Grhyasutra, Gautama Smriti and Yajnavalkya smriti, state all four varnas are eligible to all fields of knowledge while verses of Manusmriti state that Vedic study
1365-647: Is high-minded, these teachings will be illuminating. The Bhagavad Gita also exemplifies the importance of a guru within Hinduism . Arjuna when faced with the realization of having to wage war with his kin is paralyzed with grief and remorse. Overwhelmed he lays down his weapons and refuses to fight. Despite his intellectual prowess and skill in warfare he finds himself lacking in Dharmic (moral) clarity. At this moment he turns to Krishna for guidance and in essence seeks Krishna as his guru. This interaction exemplifies
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#17327826731061430-461: Is literally understood as "weighty", states Alex Wayman, and it refers to the Buddhist tendency to increase the weight of canons and scriptures with their spiritual studies. In Mahayana Buddhism, a term for Buddha is Bhaisajya guru , which refers to "medicine guru", or "a doctor who cures suffering with the medicine of his teachings". Guru is the spiritual preceptor in Jainism , and typically
1495-592: Is mentioned in the earliest layer of Vedic texts. The hymn 4.5.6 of Rigveda describes the guru as, "the source and inspirer of the knowledge of the Self, the essence of reality," for one who seeks. In chapter 4.4 within the Chandogya Upanishad , a guru is described as one whom one attains knowledge that matters, the insights that lead to Self-knowledge. Verse 1.2.8 of the Katha Upanisad declares
1560-582: Is passed down through succeeding generations. It is the traditional, residential form of education, where the Shishya remains and learns with his Guru as a family member. The Hindu texts offer a conflicting view of whether access to guru and education was limited to men and to certain varna (castes). The Vedas and the Upanishads never mention any restrictions based either on gender or varna . The Yajurveda and Atharvaveda texts state that knowledge
1625-564: Is stable and firm in his knowledge, master yogi with the knowledge of Self ( Atma Gyaan ) and Brahman (ultimate reality). The guru is one who initiates, transmits, guides, illuminates, debates and corrects a student in the journey of knowledge and of self-realization. The attribute of the successful guru is to help make the disciple into another guru, one who transcends him, and becomes a guru unto himself, driven by inner spirituality and principles. In modern neo-Hinduism, Kranenborg states guru may refer to entirely different concepts, such as
1690-774: Is to help others and a desire to impart the knowledge. Adi Shankara presents a series of examples wherein he asserts that the best way to guide a student is not to give immediate answers, but posit dialogue-driven questions that enable the student to discover and understand the answer. Reverence for the guru is a fundamental principle in Hinduism, as illustrated in the Guru Gita by the following shloka गुरु ब्रह्मा गुरु विष्णु गुरु देवो महेश्वरः। गुरु साक्षात् परम ब्रह्म तस्मै श्री गुरुवे नमः। Transliteration: Guru Brahma, Guru Vishnu, Guru Devo Maheshwara, Guru Sakshat Parabrahma, Tasmai Shri Gurave Namah. Meaning: This shloka praises
1755-693: Is unified. To realize this unity is the simplest form of Vidnyani Avastha . Shri Samarth Revannath (c. 1112 CE), one of the Navnath Parampara (The Nine Teachers) in the Indian Teacher-Disciple tradition, is considered the founder and the first Kaadsiddheshwar. He established the Kaadsiddheshwar temple and math at Kanheri village in Karveer tehsil, Kolhapur district, Maharashtra state, India. The Kaadsiddheshwar Peeth
1820-500: The Advaita Vedanta philosopher Adi Shankara discusses the role of the guru in assessing and guiding students. In Chapter 1, he states that teacher is the pilot as the student walks in the journey of knowledge, he is the raft as the student rows. The text describes the need, role and characteristics of a teacher, as follows, When the teacher finds from signs that knowledge has not been grasped or has been wrongly grasped by
1885-484: The Proto-Indo-European root *gʷerə- , specifically from the zero-grade form * gʷr̥ə- . गु शब्दस्त्वन्धकारः स्यात् रु शब्दस्तन्निरोधकः । अन्धकारनिरोधित्वात् गुरु रित्यभिधीयते ॥ १६॥ The syllable gu means darkness, the syllable ru , he who dispels them, Because of the power to dispel darkness, the guru is thus named. A popular etymological theory considers the term "guru" to be based on
1950-524: The bhakti movement of Hinduism, which started in about mid 1st millennium CE, the gurus included women and members of all varna . The Advayataraka Upanishad states that the true teacher is a master in the field of knowledge, well-versed in the Vedas , is free from envy, knows yoga , lives a simple life that of a yogi, has realized the knowledge of the Atman (Self). Some scriptures and gurus have warned against false teachers, and have recommended that
2015-527: The guru , and the guru sprinkles a small amount of vaskep (a scented powder mixture of sandalwood, saffron, and camphor) on the devotee's head with a mantra or blessings. In Sikhism, seeking a Guru (Gurmukhi: ਗੁਰੂ gurū ) is of the utmost importance, Guru Nanak writes in Ang (ਅੰਗ):751 (੫੧ of the Guru Granth Sahib : ਗਾਫਲ ਗਿਆਨ ਵਿਹੂਣਿਆ ਗੁਰ ਬਿਨੁ ਗਿਆਨੁ ਨ ਭਾਲਿ ਜੀਉ ॥ O foolish mind, without seeking
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2080-493: The guru . In Tantra, states Feuerstein, the guru is the "ferry who leads one across the ocean of existence." A true guru guides and counsels a student's spiritual development because, states Yoga-Bija , endless logic and grammar leads to confusion, and not contentment. However, various Hindu texts caution prudence and diligence in finding the right guru, and avoiding the wrong ones. For example, in Kula-Arnava text states
2145-524: The meaning of life ." The word has the same meaning in other languages derived from or borrowing words from Sanskrit, such as Hindi , Marathi , Punjabi , Tamil , Telugu , Kannada , Malayalam , Odia , Bengali , Gujarati and Nepali . The Malayalam term Acharyan or Asan is derived from the Sanskrit word Acharya . As a noun the word means the imparter of knowledge ( jñāna ; also Pali : ñāna ). As an adjective, it means 'heavy,' or 'weighty,' in
2210-421: The Guru, identifying them as the creator (Brahma), the preserver (Vishnu), and the destroyer (Shiva), ultimately recognizing the Guru as the supreme reality. Other notable examples of devotion to the guru within Hinduism include the religious festival of Guru Purnima . Traditionally, the Guru would live a simple married life, and accept shishya (student, Sanskrit: शिष्य) where he lived. A person would begin
2275-600: The Marathi language and were very simple to understand. They mainly focused on the concept of "Aham Brahmasmi" ("I am Brahma"). Brahma is a complex word with several layers of meaning, including universe, soul, eternity, timelessness and nothingness. His constant teaching was "Ghabru Nakos" ("Do not fear" in Marathi) and " Soham " ("That Itself is Me"). He propagated the Shrimad Dasbodh , a book by Samarth Ramdas , as
2340-625: The Sharavan Month, the Navratri and Ramnavmi . However, the largest pravachans were organized on the three-day festival around Maha Shivarati day (February–March), where over 50,000 lakh devotees have been recorded at the Siddhagiri Math. He also established maths in Mumbai , Mahabaleshwar , Khopi-Pedambe , Amurteshwar-Satara , Pune and elsewhere. Discourses were organized in these centers of philosophy regularly. They were delivered in
2405-635: The Truth, which is the source, stay and end of the universe." The ancient tradition of reverence for the guru in Hindu scriptures is apparent in 6.23 of the Shvetashvatara Upanishad , which equates the need of reverence and devotion for guru to be the same as for god, यस्य देवे परा भक्तिः यथा देवे तथा गुरौ । तस्यैते कथिता ह्यर्थाः प्रकाशन्ते महात्मनः ॥ २३ ॥ He who has highest Bhakti (love, devotion) of Deva (god), just like his Deva , so for his Guru , To him who
2470-484: The abode of Shiva. Almost all Shiva temples display stone images of a seated Nandi, generally facing the main shrine. The Sanskrit word nandi ( Sanskrit : नन्दि ) means happy, joy, and satisfaction, the properties of divine guardian of Shiva-Nandi. The application of the name Nandi to the bull (Sanskrit: Vṛṣabha ) is a development of recent syncretism of different regional beliefs within Shaivism. The name Nandi
2535-615: The age of 17. He was a master in yoga and mastered all the difficult asanas , such as the Kumbhak , which he could maintain for nine minutes. He would meditate for over ten hours a day, and from 1922 to 1935 he mastered all aspects of the Hindu spiritual tradition and philosophy. He met his philosophical and spiritual guru , Siddharameshwar , in 1935. He was given a new outlook on the deep philosophical concepts and attained self-realization, or Gyan Drishti . He taught that concepts of sects and religions are an illusion and that everything
2600-790: The area are devoted to the Kaadsiddheswar Parampara. Kaadsiddheshwar's guru Siddharameshwar belonged to the Inchegiri Sampradaya, a Navnath/Lingayat sampradaya which is strongly influenced by the Sant Mat and the Deshastha Brahmin caste, to which the thirteenth century Varkari saint and philosopher Dnyaneshwar belonged, the 16th century sant Eknath , and the 17th century saint and spiritual poet Samarth Ramdas . Different accounts: Kadasiddha, also called "Almighty "Kadsiddeshwar", who appeared as
2665-544: The basic and simplest book on philosophy. During His discourses, he would often quote the Mahāvākyas . He wrote mainly in Marathi . He also wrote several essays on philosophy, mainly for the quarterly magazine Siddhagiri Sandesh (Message from Siddhagiri), published from 1964. Guru The oldest references to the concept of guru are found in the earliest Vedic texts of Hinduism . The guru , and gurukula –
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2730-460: The following guidance: Gurus are as numerous as lamps in every house. But, O-Goddess, difficult to find is a guru who lights up everything like a sun. Gurus who are proficient in the Vedas, textbooks and so on are numerous. But, O Goddess, difficult to find is a guru who is proficient in the supreme Truth. Gurus who rob their disciples of their wealth are numerous. But, O Goddess, difficult to find
2795-413: The form of a whale and started to trouble the people. Parvati's father declared that the man who would kill the whale would marry his daughter. Later, Shiva took the form of a fisherman and killed the whale, and received Parvati in her previous form. The Cham Hindus of Vietnam believe that when they die, Nandi takes their soul to the holy land of India from Vietnam. The Agamas describe Nandi in
2860-426: The former the etymology of 'guru' in which the derivation is presented as gu ("darkness") and ru ('to push away'); the latter he exemplifies by "guru" with the meaning of 'heavy.' Traditional The Guru is an ancient and central figure in the traditions of Hinduism . Ultimate liberation or moksha and inner perfection is considered achievable in Hinduism with the help of a guru . The Guru can also serve as
2925-498: The guru "as indispensable to the acquisition of knowledge." In chapter 3 of Taittiriya Upanishad , human knowledge is described as that which connects the teacher and the student through the medium of exposition, just like a child is the connecting link between the father and the mother through the medium of procreation. In the Taittiriya Upanishad, the guru then urges a student to "struggle, discover and experience
2990-572: The guru is also found in Jainism , referring to a spiritual preceptor, a role typically served by a Jain ascetic . In Sikhism , the guru tradition has played a key role since its founding in the 15th century, its founder is referred to as Guru Nanak , and its scripture as Guru Granth Sahib . The guru concept has thrived in Vajrayāna Buddhism, where the tantric guru is considered a figure to worship and whose instructions should never be violated. The word guru (Sanskrit: गुरु ),
3055-526: The guru is the means [to awakening]. Therefore, someone wishing to attain the state of Buddhahood should please the guru. There are Four Kinds of Lama (Guru) or spiritual teacher (Tib. lama nampa shyi) in Tibetan Buddhism : In various Buddhist traditions, there are equivalent words for guru , which include Shastri (teacher), Kalyana Mitra (friendly guide, Pali: Kalyāṇa-mittatā ), Acarya (master), and Vajra-Acarya (hierophant). The guru
3120-491: The importance within the Hindu tradition for a disciple to seek guidance from an experienced spiritual guru. Additionally, other references to the role of a guru in the Bhagavad Gita include verse 4.34 - those who know their subject well are eager for good students, and the student can learn from such a guru through reverence, service, effort and the process of inquiry. The 8th century Hindu text Upadesasahasri of
3185-479: The message that the jiva should always be focused on the Parameshvara . From the yogic perspective, Nandi is the mind dedicated to Shiva, the absolute. In other words, to understand and absorb light, the experience, and the wisdom is Nandi, who is the guru within. Nandi flag or Vrshabha flag, a flag with the emblem of seated bull is recognized as the flag of Shaivism, particularly among Tamil community all over
3250-566: The one who "dispels ignorance, all kinds of ignorance", ranging from spiritual to skills such as dancing, music, sports and others. Karen Pechilis states that, in the popular parlance, the "dispeller of darkness, one who points the way" definition for guru is common in the Indian tradition. In Western Esotericism and the Science of Religion , Pierre Riffard makes a distinction between "occult" and "scientific" etymologies, citing as an example of
3315-478: The religious texts contained within the Vedas and Upanishads . The education stage of a youth with a guru was referred to as Brahmacharya , and in some parts of India this followed the Upanayana or Vidyarambha rites of passage. The gurukul would be a hut in a forest, or it was, in some cases, a monastery, called a matha or ashram or sampradaya in different parts of India. Each ashram had
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#17327826731063380-554: The request and guidance of S. Danapala, a Sri Lankan Shaiva personage, in the 1990s. The first Nandi flag was hoisted in 1998, at Colombo Hindu College at Ratmalana , Sri Lanka. Following years, it was declared as the official Shaiva flag in fourth International Saiva Siddhanta Conference, held in Zurich in 2008. Nowadays, Tamil Shaivas, especially in Sri Lanka , Canada , Australia , UK , South Africa , and Switzerland , hoist
3445-530: The right way to live, which would lead him to Gyan Drishti and Vignayni Avastha. His main focus was to live his life fully while understanding that the world is an illusion, or Maya. Realizing this is considered Gyan Drishti, literally knowledge and vision, and living according to this concept is to be in Vignayni Avastha. He renovated the Kaneri Math and renamed it Siddhagiri Math. He constructed
3510-512: The sense of "heavy with knowledge," heavy with spiritual wisdom, "heavy with spiritual weight," "heavy with the good qualities of scriptures and realization," or "heavy with a wealth of knowledge." The word has its roots in the Sanskrit gri (to invoke, or to praise), and may have a connection to the word gur , meaning 'to raise, lift up, or to make an effort'. Sanskrit guru is cognate with Latin gravis 'heavy; grave, weighty, serious' and Greek βαρύς barus 'heavy'. All three derive from
3575-526: The spiritual seeker test the guru before accepting him. Swami Vivekananda said that there are many incompetent gurus, and that a true guru should understand the spirit of the scriptures, have a pure character and be free from sin, and should be selfless, without desire for money and fame. According to the Indologist Georg Feuerstein , in some traditions of Hinduism, when one reaches the state of Self-knowledge, one's own Self becomes
3640-690: The student is permitted to practice a particular tantra , in Vajrayana Buddhist sects found in Tibet and South Asia. The tantras state that the guru is equivalent to Buddha, states Berkwitz, and is a figure to worship and whose instructions should never be violated. The guru is the Buddha , the guru is the Dhamma , and the guru is the Sangha . The guru is the glorious Vajradhara , in this life only
3705-435: The student that are enjoined by the Śruti and Smrti , such as avoidance of anger, Yamas consisting of Ahimsa and others, also the rules of conduct that are not inconsistent with knowledge. He [teacher] should also thoroughly impress upon the student qualities like humility, which are the means to knowledge. The teacher is one who is endowed with the power of furnishing arguments pro and con, of understanding questions [of
3770-415: The student, he should remove the causes of non-comprehension in the student. This includes the student's past and present knowledge, want of previous knowledge of what constitutes subjects of discrimination and rules of reasoning, behavior such as unrestrained conduct and speech, courting popularity, vanity of his parentage, ethical flaws that are means contrary to those causes. The teacher must enjoin means in
3835-480: The student], and remembers them. The teacher possesses tranquility, self-control, compassion and a desire to help others, who is versed in the Śruti texts ( Vedas , Upanishads ), and unattached to pleasures here and hereafter, knows the subject and is established in that knowledge. He is never a transgressor of the rules of conduct, devoid of weaknesses such as ostentation, pride, deceit, cunning, jugglery, jealousy, falsehood, egotism and attachment. The teacher's sole aim
3900-437: The syllables gu ( गु ) and ru ( रु ), which it claims stands for darkness and "light that dispels it", respectively. The guru is seen as the one who "dispels the darkness of ignorance." Reender Kranenborg disagrees, stating that darkness and light have nothing to do with the word guru . He describes this as a folk etymology . Joel Mlecko states, " Gu means ignorance, and Ru means dispeller," with guru meaning
3965-541: The world. Nandi was the emblem of historical Tamil Shaiva monarchs, such as Pallava dynasty and Jaffna Kingdom . Several campaigns to aware the Shaivas about their Nandi flag is carried out continuously during the Shivaratri session, particularly among Tamil community of Sri Lanka , Tamil Nadu , and diaspora . The Nandi flag used nowadays was designed by Ravindra Sastri of Madurai , Tamil Nadu , according to
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#17327826731064030-576: Was Shaigauda Patil, and he was named Jaigauda Patil. His living descendant is Indumati Magdum (daughter of his real sister). Indumati is 85 and lives with her son Sanjeev, daughter in law Jayashree and grand daughter Krupa in Nagala Park, Kolhapur. He was formally adopted by the 25th Virupaksha Kaadeshwar of the Kaneri Math , Natha Parampara , and invested as the 26th Mathadheepati of the (Siddhagiri) Kaneri Math, Lingayat Parampara, in 1922 at
4095-531: Was born from a yajna performed by Shilada. Nandi grew up as an ardent devotee of Shiva and he performed severe penance to become his gate-keeper, as well as his mount, on the banks of river Narmada . According to regional legend , this site is identified with the Tripur Tirth Kshetra in present-day Nandikeshwar Temple, in Jabalpur , Madhya Pradesh . According to Shaiva Siddhanta , Nandi
4160-552: Was imprisoned by Ravana in the grove called the Ashoka Vatika . The ancient Tamil text Tiruvilaiyadal Puranam mentions another story in which Nandi is incarnated as a whale. According to this legend, Parvati lost her concentration while Shiva was explaining the meaning of the Vedas to her. Parvati, then incarnated as a fisher-woman to atone for her lack of concentration. To unite his master and his beloved-wife, Nandi took
4225-444: Was widely used instead for an anthropomorphic door-keeper of Kailash, rather than his mount in the oldest Shaivite texts in Sanskrit, Tamil, and other Indian languages. Siddhanta texts distinguish between Nandi and Vṛṣabha . Nandi is described as the son of the sage Shilada. Shilada underwent severe penance to have a boon– a child with immortality and blessings of Shiva, and received Nandi as his son. Shiva Purana says that Nandi
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