Guru

A guru (गुरू Sanskrit) is a teacher in Hinduism, Buddhism and Sikhism. Based on a long line of philosophical understandings of the importance of knowledge, guru is seen in these religions as a sacred conduit, or a way to self-realization. In India and among people of Hindu, Buddhist, or Sikh belief, the title retains a hallowed meaning.

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Guru also refers in Sanskrit to Brihaspati, a Hindu figure analogous to the Roman planet/god Jupiter. In Vedic astrology, Jupiter/Guru/Brihaspati is believed to exert teaching influences. Indeed, in many Indian languages, such as Hindi, Thursday is called either Brihaspativaar or Guruvaar (vaar meaning period or day).

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In contemporary India and Indonesia, Guru is widely used with the general meaning "teacher". In Western usage, the original meaning of guru has been extended to cover anyone who acquires followers, not necessarily in an established school of philosophy or religion. In a further metaphorical extension, guru is used of a person who has authority because of his or her perceived knowledge or skills in a domain of expertise.

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The importance of discerning between a true guru and a false one is explored in scriptures and teachings of religions in which a guru plays a role. The assessment and criticism of gurus and the Guru-shishya tradition are espoused in the discourse about new religious movements by Western secular scholars, theologians, anti-cultists, and by skeptics both in the West and in India.

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Sanskrit: '...

Hinduism: :This article is about the Hindu religion; for other meanings of the word, see Hindu (disambiguation)....

Buddhism: Buddhism is a religion and philosophy based on the teachings of the Buddha, Siddhārtha Gautama, who lived between approximately 566 and 486 BCE in India. Buddhism gradually spread from India throughout Asia to Central Asia, Sri Lanka, Tibet, Southeast Asia, as well as to East Asian countries su...

Guru related Images and Photos (experimental)

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