Guru Brahma Guru Vishnu Shloka
गुरुर्ब्रह्मा गुरुर्विष्णुः गुरुर्देवो महेश्वरः।
गुरुः साक्षात् परब्रह्म तस्मै श्री गुरवे नमः॥
Transliteration
Gururbrahmaa Gururvishnuh Gururdevo Maheshvarah
Guruh Saakshaat Parabrahma Tasmai Shri Guruve Namah
| Mantra Type | Guru Vandana Shloka — Skanda Purana |
| Deity | The Guru (Spiritual Teacher) as the embodiment of the Trimurti and Parabrahman |
| Japa Count | Recited once or thrice with deep reverence before guru darshan or study |
Meaning
The Guru is Brahma (creator of knowledge), the Guru is Vishnu (sustainer of knowledge), the Guru is the Divine Maheshvara (who destroys ignorance). The Guru is verily the Supreme Brahman itself — to such a glorious Guru, I offer my salutations.
Word-by-Word Meaning
- गुरुः (Guruh) — The Guru (one who removes darkness: Gu = darkness, Ru = remover)
- ब्रह्मा (Brahma) — Lord Brahma, the creator
- विष्णुः (Vishnuh) — Lord Vishnu, the preserver
- देवो महेश्वरः (Devo Maheshvarah) — The divine Lord Maheshvara (Shiva, the destroyer)
- साक्षात् (Saakshaat) — Directly / in person / verily
- परब्रह्म (Parabrahman) — The Supreme Absolute Reality beyond all forms
- तस्मै (Tasmai) — To that
- श्री गुरवे नमः (Shri Guruve Namah) — Salutation to the glorious Guru
Benefits
- The highest expression of reverence for one’s spiritual teacher
- Activates the guru-shishya parampara (lineage of wisdom)
- Removes ahamkara (ego) which is the greatest obstacle to learning
- Invokes the blessings of Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva simultaneously through the Guru
- Creates receptivity in the student’s mind to receive knowledge
- Reciting daily deepens the guru-disciple relationship
- Grants rapid spiritual progress under a qualified teacher
- Destroys ignorance — the root cause of all suffering
When to Chant
Before receiving any teaching, at the start of study, during Guru Purnima, before guru darshan. Recited by students and disciples in the gurukul tradition.
Historical & Scriptural Significance
Found in the Skanda Purana, this shloka encapsulates the entire Vedic philosophy of the Guru. It declares that the Guru transcends even the Trimurti (Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva) and is the direct embodiment of Parabrahman. The Guru Gita (from the Skanda Purana) contains 182 verses elaborating this same principle. This shloka is recited in all traditional Hindu educational institutions (gurukulas) and yoga ashrams worldwide.
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