Guru
गुरुपुल्लिङ्ग (masculine) · गृ धातु (gṛ — to swallow) + उ प्रत्यय · गु (darkness) + रु (remover)
guru
Tradition and Teaching
Teacher who removes the darkness of ignorance
Guru literally means 'heavy' (with knowledge) or 'one who removes (ru) darkness (gu)'. In the Vedānta tradition, the guru is indispensable — self-knowledge is not achieved by one's own effort, but through systematic exposure to scriptures by a qualified teacher (śrotriya brahmaniṣṭha). The guru teaches using the traditional method (sampradāya) of analysis and negation.
Using this in academic work? Get formal citation
Vishva Vidya (2026). Guru (गुरु). Vishva Vidya — Vedanta. https://vedanta.com.br/en/glossary/guru
Vishva Vidya. "Guru (गुरु)." Vishva Vidya — Vedanta, January 1, 2026, https://vedanta.com.br/en/glossary/guru.
Vishva Vidya. "Guru (गुरु)." Vishva Vidya — Vedanta, January 1, 2026. https://vedanta.com.br/en/glossary/guru.
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