Guru: The One Who Awakens the God Within

The Role of a Guru and Their Importance in the Modern World

The word Guru comes from two Sanskrit syllables: Gu, meaning darkness, and Ru, meaning remover. A Guru is not just a teacher or mentor, but a remover of ignorance—a guide who leads us from darkness to light. In today’s world, filled with distractions and sensual pleasure, a need of a Guru cannot be overstated. A mentor may help us in worldly matters — career, goals, personal development — but a Guru does something much deeper. A Guru touches the soul. They uplift us from sorrow, confusion, and ignorance, and bring us closer to our true nature — Aham Brahmasmi (I am Divine).

A Guru helps us rise above the six Avagun (weaknesses) of human nature. These begin to fade naturally in the presence of a Guru:

• Kaam (lust), Krodh (anger), Lobh (greed), Moh (attachment), Mad (pride), and Matsar (jealousy).

A Guru is not just a wise human being — he or she is a living embodiment of divine. We often fail to recognise them because of our limited understanding, but in reality, they carry the light of God in human form.

Even divine beings had Gurus; they reminds us how crucial it is to have a Guru in life.

• Lord Krishna learned under Sandipani Rishi.

• Lord Ram was guided by Sage Vashisth and Vishwamitra.

Now, the question is: whom should we consider a Guru?

• Saint Tulsidas beautifully wrote in the Ramcharitmanas that a true Guru is someone whose very presence begins to transform your habits, speech, and thoughts. If just seeing someone stills your mind, and if you feel drawn to their words again and again — that’s the sign of a real Guru.

Transformative Power of Guru

Let me share a few powerful and real stories from Indian tradition. They show just how deeply a Guru can transform someone’s life.

1. Valmiki and Sage Narada
   Valmiki was once a feared bandit named Ratnakar. He robbed and killed people to feed and care for his family. One day, while Narad Muni was crossing the forest, Ratnakar tried to rob him. Narad Muni had nothing but his veena, yet he calmly asked a question that shook Ratnakar to his core:
   “Will your family take a share of your sins?”
   Ratnakar laughed at first, but to confirm he went home and asked his parents, wife, and children. To his shock, they all said no. They enjoyed the comforts he provided, but none were willing to share the burden of his sins. This broke his heart. Hurt and shaken, he returned to Narad Muni and asked for guidance. Narad Muni told him to chant and meditate upon the name of Lord Ram. Ratnakar began meditating with deep remorse. He stayed so still that ants built a hill over his body. Through years of penance and devotion, he was transformed. He became Sage Valmiki—the great poet who wrote the Ramayan. This teaches us that even the most sinful soul can be transformed by a Guru's guidance.

2. Prahlad and Narad Muni
   Prahlad was the son of the demon king Hiranyakashyap, who hated Lord Vishnu and wanted everyone to worship him instead. But even before Prahlad was born, his mother had spent time with Narad Muni and listened to his teachings. Those words of wisdom went deep and reached Prahlad in the womb!

   As he grew, Prahlad became a fearless devotee of Lord Vishnu. This enraged his father. Hiranyakashyap tried everything to break his son’s faith—from persuasion to punishments, even attempts to kill him. But Prahlad remained calm and devoted, chanting Lord Vishnu’s name without fear. His Guru's influence had planted a devotion so deep that even death cannot harm him. This teaches us that it's essential for both parents to engage in satsang or spirituality before conception and throughout pregnancy.

3. Swami Vivekananda and Sri Ramakrishna
   Narendra was a brilliant and curious young man who questioned God's existence. One day, he met Sri Ramakrishna, a saint who changed his life forever. Instead of debating, Ramakrishna smiled and said, “Don’t believe me blindly. Experience it yourself.” Then, with just one divine touch, Ramakrishna gave Narendra a deep spiritual vision. It was something beyond words—something no logic could explain. That one moment changed him forever. And it all began with a Guru who didn’t just teach—he showed him the truth.

4. Totakacharya and Adi Shankaracharya
   Giri was a humble and quiet disciple among many brilliant scholars learning under Adi Shankaracharya. Most people thought he wasn’t very intelligent. But Giri had one quality that stood out—his deep devotion and selfless service to his Guru. He would engage himself in Guruseva so much that he often forgot his own needs.
   One day, when Shankaracharya was about to begin teaching the Vedanta Upanishads, the other students suggested they start without Giri, assuming he wouldn’t understand anyway. Hearing this, Shankaracharya became upset. He saw Giri’s pure heart and devotion towards him and decided to bless him by gifting Giri a part of his divine knowledge.
   To everyone’s amazement, Giri came and started singing beautiful Sanskrit verses in praise of his Guru—these became the famous Totakashtakam. From that day, he was no longer just Giri. He became Totakacharya, one of Adi Shankaracharya’s foremost disciples. This shows us that sincere Guruseva (service to the Guru) can open the door to knowledge, wisdom, and liberation. That’s why scholars say, "मोक्शमूलं गुरु कृपा" — liberation begins with the grace of the Guru.

5. Jesal and Toral

   Jesal was once a feared bandit in Gujarat who looted villages and had no regard for dharma. One day, he encountered Toral, a saintly woman filled with divinity. When he approached her, she didn’t resist him with fear. Instead, her quiet fearlessness and purity pierced through Jesal’s heart. Something about her presence melted him. He surrendered—not to her, but to the divine reflected in her. He became her disciple, gave up violence, and lived the rest of his life in devotion.

6. Parshuram and Rishi Kashyap

   Parshuram, known for his anger and immense power, had destroyed many warrior clans in revenge for his father’s murder. His axe had tasted too much blood. Kings, terrified by the unstoppable destruction caused by Parshuram, approached his Guru—Sage Kashyap—to seek help. They begged him to intervene and stop the massacre. Moved by their plea, Sage Kashyap agreed and went to meet Parshuram.

   Parshuram was about to set out for the 22nd time to destroy the Kshatriya clans, but the moment he heard the word “Ram” from his Guru, his anger dissolved. He ran to his Guru and fell at his feet. Sage Kashyap looked at him and said, “Enough Ram, now leave your weapons.” Without a word or hesitation, Parshuram obeyed. He surrendered and walked away from the path of bloodshed. This shows that a Guru’s words can truly melt a disciple’s heart.

7. Arunagirinathar and Lord Kartikeya

   Arunagirinathar was once a man of worldly pleasures. Born in Tamil Nadu, he spent his youth indulging in sensual desires. His family gave up on him. Eventually, ravaged by disease and shame, he climbed the temple tower at Tiruvannamalai—ready to end his life. He jumped, but something miraculous happened - Lord Kartikeya caught him mid-fall and gave him a new life. He healed Arunagirinathar’s body, and filled his heart with Bhakti (Devotion).

   From that day, Arunagirinathar became a saint-poet. He travelled and sang soul-stirring hymns in praise of Kartikeya—verses that still echo in temples today. This shows us that even in the darkest moments, the Divine can appear to transform through love—when there is faith.

There are countless examples where a Guru has transformed the life path of their disciples. Some other notable ones include Bilvamangala and Chintamani, Rishi Vishwamitra and Sage Vashistha, Shvetaketu and Uddalaka, Dhandhukari and Gokarna, Ajamil and the saints, Jagai–Madhai and Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, and many more. However, to keep this blog concise, I have highlighted only a few.

Disciples’ Love for their Gurus

Throughout Indian spiritual history, some of the greatest minds and poets didn’t just revere their Gurus — they composed timeless hymns, scriptures, and philosophies dedicated to them.

• Adi Shankaracharya

  One of the greatest philosophers in Indian history, he established Advaita Vedanta and travelled across India debating and unifying various schools of thought. Despite his immense brilliance, he bowed deeply to his Guru, Govindapada. He composed the Guru Ashtakam and Guru Paduka Stotram, a powerful hymn reminding us that even great knowledge is empty without Guru bhakti.

• Swami Vivekananda

  Swami Vivekananda, also known for extraordinary intelligence, introduce Indian spirituality to the West, was deeply shaped by Sri Ramakrishna. He once said, “If I have told you one word of truth, it is all by the grace of my Guru”

• Kabir Das

  A mystic poet whose verses shaped the Bhakti movement, Kabir often wrote about his Guru Ramananda. His poetry carries piercing lines like:
  “Guru Govind dono khade, kaake laagu paay?
  Guru ki kripa Govind mile, Govind ki kripa na hoy.”
  (If both Guru and God stand before me, whose feet should I touch first? I choose my Guru, because it is through him that I found God.)

• Tulsidas

  Tulsidas, the author of Ramcharitmanas, saw Lord Hanuman as his Guru. His entire literary and devotional life was shaped by the blessings and visions given to him by Hanuman — whom he revered as the one who opened his heart to Lord Ram.

There are countless examples of disciples expressing the love and grace of their Guru, but to keep this blog concise - I have shared only a few here.

The Power of Surrender

Many often mistake surrender as blind obedience. but that’s not true. Real surrender isn’t easy. It means letting go of sensual pleasures, having control over all five senses, and overcoming Maan — the subtle inner voice that has been driving us for lifetimes. True surrender means living according to the guidance of the Guru and the scriptures.

The ego resists surrender, and it’s not just from this life. According to the scriptures, our ego lives in the sukshma sharir (subtle body), which carries impressions (sanskars) from many lifetimes. That’s why even the poorest or most uneducated person can still be full of pride when challenged.

But when we surrender to a Guru or God, grace flows in. In Bhagavad Gita Chapter 12, Verse 8; Krishna says:

• मय्येव मन आधत्स्व मयि बुद्धिं निवेशय। निवसिष्यसि मय्येव अत ऊर्ध्वं न संशयः

  Keep your mind on Me alone, place your intellect in Me. Then, without doubt, you shall live in Me forever.

In Chapter 12 (Bhakti Yog), Krishna repeatedly says: Surrender unto Me alone — I will not only rescue you from the ocean of birth and death, but I will also provide what you lack and preserve what you have.

My Experience with My Guru

Before I met my Guru, I was impulsive, uncertain, and easily shaken by situations. I reacted quickly, spoke without thinking, and felt lost despite knowing what’s right. Within few months getting in contact with my Guru, things began to change — all because of my Guru’s grace. This change didn’t happen because of my efforts alone — it is the grace of my Guru. Had I not met my Guru, my life would have likely drifted in the wrong direction. I am deeply grateful to Krishna for creating the exact circumstances where I had no choice but to take refuge in my Guru’s shelter.

My Guru also helped me establish Niyam (disciplines) in my life — simple rules to follow daily, and certain things to avoid, no matter what. You can read more about these Niyams in the section titled “Follow the timeless principles passed down by the sages". He also put emphasis on Abhyas (practice), and Krishna repeatedly said the same thing to Arjun in the Bhagavad Gita.

Have you ever noticed that, despite knowing what is dharmic (right) and adharmic (wrong), we often end up choosing the adharmic path? It's because of our environment. The environment we live in can either lead us towards salvation or trap us in regret and sorrow.

That is why Swami Dayanand Saraswati said:

श्वपचैः सह वने वासो वरं स्वर्गेऽपि अधार्मिकैः सह न वासः।"
It is better to dwell in the forest with animals than to live in heaven with the unrighteous (adharmic).

Here are a few examples from history that show what happens when we choose the right path versus the wrong one:

• Karna, despite his generosity, met a tragic end because of his loyalty to Duryodhana.

• Kumbhakarn, though wise and devoted in many ways, stood by his brother Ravan and faced destruction.

• Vibhishan, on the other hand, chose dharma over blood ties and was ultimately rewarded with a kingdom and immortality.

• Yuyutsu, though born in the Kaurav camp, chose to side with the Pandavas when the war began. He stood for dharma over family, and because of that, he survived the war and was later entrusted with the responsibility of ruling the kingdom when Pandavas retired.

The message is clear: the people around us shape our future. Even the wise can fall when walking with the wrong crowd. But those who choose the right path — even when it’s hard — are the ones who find peace, respect, and growth.

I still remember during satsang my Gurudev mentioned that the strength to walk the right path comes through:

1. Surrender (aligning thought, speech and action with scriptures and Guru)

2. Tapasya (disciplined practice like meditation, mantra, naam jaap)

3. Swadhyay (self-study and reflection)

But if we surrender our mind, body, and intellect fully at the feet of a Guru, then: "Guru Kripa Hi Kevalam" — the Guru’s grace alone is enough. Living according to the knowledge and wisdom shared by the Guru is the true Guru Dakshina. No amount of money or gifts can equal that.

To end, I want to share two lines for my Guru, whose presence has had a transformative impact on my life. His grace is beyond my understanding, beyond words. This verse from the Kritagyata Stotram 11 captures what my heart feels:

• कृतज्ञता या च हृदि स्थिता मे वक्तुं न शक्या खलु यत्नतोऽपि ।
  गुरो प्रसीद कृपया विधेहि त्वत्पाद-भक्तिं परमानुरक्तिम् ॥
  The gratitude I feel in my heart, I can’t explain or describe, even if I try. O Guru, please be gracious and bless me with devotion to your lotus feet.