गुरु / व्यास पूर्णिमा (guru / vyāsa pūrṇimā)

 

श्री गुरुभ्यो नमः (śrī gurubhyo namaḥ - salutations to the Divine Preceptor)

Today is the sacred गुरु / व्यास पूर्णिमा (guru / vyāsa pūrṇimā) the auspicious महा जयन्ति दिन (mahā jayanti dina - Divine Birthday) of his Holiness श्री कृष्ण द्वैपयन महऋषि (śrī kṛṣṇadvaipāyana mahaṛṣi), better known as व्यास महऋषि (vyāsa mahaṛṣi).

दैव गुरु वन्दनम् (daiva guru vandanam – salutations to Divine Guru)

Original	Transliteration	Translation
गुरुवे सर्वलोकानां भिषजे भवरोगिणां। निधये सर्वविद्यानां दक्षिणामूर्तये नमः॥	guruve sarvalokānāṁ bhiṣaje bhavarogiṇāṁ| nidhaye sarvavidyānāṁ dakṣiṇāmūrtaye namaḥ||	He is the preceptor for all the worlds. He is the physician to the people from disease of ‘Samsara’. He is the treasure house of all knowledge. I offer my worship to that great Dakshinamurthy.
Sanskrit Reference: श्री दक्षिणामूर्ति स्तोत्रं (śrī dakṣiṇāmūrti stotraṁ)

Original	Transliteration	Translation
ज्ञानानन्दमयम् देवम् निर्मलस्फटिकाकृतिं। आधारम् सर्वविध्यानाम् हयग्रीवं उपास्महे॥ - हयग्रीव स्तुतिः	jñānānandamayam devam nirmalasphaṭikākṛtiṁ| ādhāram sarvavidhyānām hayagrīvaṁ upāsmahe||	I offer my worship to Lord Hayagriva, who is the foundation of all knowledge, who possesses a body that is very pure like the purest of crystals and who is the storehouse of ‘Gnana’ or the Supreme form of Knowledge. .
Sanskrit Reference: हयग्रीव स्तुतिः (hayagrīva stutiḥ)

Original	Transliteration	Translation
सरस्वती नमस्तुभ्यं वरदे कामरूपिणि। विद्यारम्भं करिष्यामि सिद्धिर् भवतु मे सदा॥ - सरस्वती स्तुतिः (1)	sarasvatī namastubhyaṁ varade kāmarūpiṇi| vidyārambhaṁ kariṣyāmi siddhir bhavatume sadā||	O Devī Saraswati I pray to You. You are the bestower of all desires. I shall begin to acquire knowledge (start studying). Please help me to acquire perfection at all times.
Sanskrit Reference: सरस्वती स्तुतिः (Saraswati stutiḥ (1)

Significance of व्यास पूर्णिमा (vyāsa pūrṇimā)

Original	Transliteration	Translation
व्यासं वसिष्ठनप्तारं शाक्तेः पौत्रमकलषम्। पराशरात्मजं वन्दे शुकतातं तपोनिधिम्॥ व्यासाय विष्णुरूपाय व्यास रूपाय विष्णवे। नमो वै ब्रह्मनिधये वासिष्ठायय नमो नमः॥	vyāsaṁ vasiṣṭhanaptāraṁ śākteḥ pautramakalaṣam| parāśarātmajaṁ vande śukatātaṁ taponidhim|| vyāsāya viṣṇurūpāya vyāsa rūpāya viṣṇave| namo vai brahmanidhaye vāsiṣṭhāyaya namo namaḥ||	I salute Sage Vyasa, the great grandson of Sage Vasishtha, the grandson of sage Shakti, the son of sage Parashar and the father of Sage Shuka and who is (by Himself) an abode of “tapas” and who is blemishless. I bow to Vyaasa, who is the treasure house of Brahma Jnana, who is verily one with Vishnu, who is in the form of Vishnu and to Vishnu who is in the form of Vyaasa. Salutations to him again and again, who is an abode of the Vedas and who is of the lineage of Vasistha
Sanskrit Reference: श्री विष्णुसहस्रनामं (śrī viṣṇusahasranāmam)

As you must be aware, in Hinduism, व्यास महऋषि (vyāsa mahaṛṣi). is worshipped as one of the foremost of गुरु (guru -preceptor) because of his unparalleled contribution to Hindu spiritual wisdom. This is because, He is one of the earliest व्यास (vyāsa -compiler)'s of the अपौरुषेय वेदश्रुति (apauruṣeya veda śruti - super human Vedic wisdom) originally revealed to various ऋषि मुनि (ṛṣi muni – seer sage) who played an unparalleled role in collating, compiling and classifying the वेद संहिता (veda saṁhitā – vedic corpus) vertically into the four-fold structure viz. रृक् (ṛk), यजुर् (yajur), साम (sāma) & अथर्वण (atharvaṇa) and each of the further horizontally into मन्त्र (mantra), ब्राह्मन (brāhmana), आरण्यक (āraṇyaka) & उपनिषद् (upaniṣad).  
In fact, that is why he is popularly addressed by the title व्यास महऋषि (vyāsa mahaṛṣi - Supreme Seer-Compiler). Further, he also summarized the essence of the वेदान्त (vedānta - final conclusions of Vedic wisdom) into to simpler ब्रह्म सूत्र (brahma sūtra - divine aphorisms). The beauty of ब्रह्म सूत्र (brahma sūtra - divine aphorisms) is that it cryptic polymorphic messaging model is so masterly designed that it has paved the way for so many kinds of philosophical interpretations.  Variety is the spice of Hinduism. This formed the basis for उत्तर मीमाम्सा दर्शन (uttaramīmāmsā darśana), which forms the founding stone for all other popular वेदान्त दर्शन (vedānta darśana) further elaborated upon and formally established by eminent वेदान्तआचार्य (vedānta ācārya) including:

#	दर्शनस्य नाम (darśanasya nāma – name of philosophy)	प्रवार्तक परमाचार्य (pravārtaka paramācārya – primary founding preceptor)
A	केवलाद्वैतदर्शन   (kevalādtvaita darśana – absolute nondualstc philosophy)	श्री आदिशंकराचार्य भगवद्पाद (śrī ādiśaṁkarācārya bhagavadpāda)
B	विशिष्टाद्वैत दर्शन (viśiṣṭādvaita darśana – qualified  nondualistic philosophy)	श्री रामानुजाचार्य (śrī rāmānujācārya)
C	द्वैत दर्शन  (dvaita darśana – dualsitic philosophy)	श्री मद्वचार्य (śrī madvacārya)
D	औपाधिक भेदाभेद दर्शन (aupādhika bhedābheda darśana – different yet non-different philosophy)	श्री भास्कराचार्य (śrī bhāskarācārya)
E	अचिन्त्य भेद अभेद  दर्शन (acintya bheda abheda darśana)	श्रील रूपा गोस्वामि (śrīla rūpā gosvāmi)
F	शुद्धाद्वैत दर्शन (śuddhādvaita darśana – pure nondualstic philosophy)	श्री वल्लभाचार्य (śrī vallabhācārya)
G	स्वभाविक द्वैताद्वैत दर्शन  (svabhāvika dvaitādvaita darśana –  dual yet nondualistic philosophy)	श्री निम्बार्काचार्य (śrī nimbārkācārya)
H	विशिष्टशिवाद्वैत दर्शन (viśiṣṭaśivādvaita darśana – qualified auspicious nondualstic philosophy)	श्री श्रीकण्ठाचार्य (śrī śrīkaṇṭhācārya)
I	विशेषाद्वैत दर्शन (viśeṣādvaita darśana – special nondualistic philosophy)	श्री श्रीपति (śrī śrīpati)
J	अविभागाद्वैत दर्शन (avibhāgādvaita  darśana – undivided nondualistic philosophy)	श्री विज्ञानभिक्षु (śrī vijñānabhikṣu)

            His famous भाष्य (bhāṣya - commentary) on the योग सूत्र  (yoga sutra – yoga aphorisms) of the noble saint महऋषि पतञ्जलि (mahaṛṣi patañjali) is yet another unparalleled contribution of  व्यास महऋषि (vyāsa mahaṛṣi). Till date, it is considered as one of the best commentaries on the subject.  The contribution of व्यास महऋषि (vyāsa mahaṛṣi) does not end here, as he is also considered to be the ऋषि कवि (ṛṣi kavi - seer poet) of महाभारत (mahābhārata), the महाइथिहस काव्य (mahā ithihasa kāvya - mega historical poetry). Moreover, he is also believed to be the व्यास (vyāsa - compiler) of the अष्टदशमहापुराणानि (aṣṭadaśamahāpurāṇāni – eighteen mega legends) 

#	Name	Metrics (# verses)	Revealed by
A	ब्रह्मा (brahmā)
1	ब्रह्म पुराण (brahma purāṇa)	10000	Lord अग्नि देव (agni deva)  to वसिष्ठ महऋषि (vasiṣṭha mahaṛṣi)
2	पद्म पुराण (padma purāṇa)	55000	पुलस्त्य  महऋषि (pulastya mahaṛṣi)  to भीश्म (bhīśma)
B	विष्णु (viṣṇu)
3	विष्णु पुराण (viṣṇu purāṇa)	23000	परासर महऋषि (parāsara mahaṛṣi) to मैत्रेय (maitreya)
4	श्रीमद् भागवतपुराणम् (śrīmad bhāgavatapurāṇam)	18000	महऋषि शुक्राचार्य (mahaṛṣi śukrācārya) to परिक्षित् महा राज (parikṣit mahā rāja)
5	गरुड पुराण (garuḍa purāṇa)	19000	महा विष्णु  (mahā viṣṇu) to गरुड (garuḍa)
6	नारद पुराण (nārada purāṇa)	25000	नारद महऋषि (nārada mahaṛṣi)  to सनत् कुमार (sanat kumār)
C	शिव (śiva)
7	सिव पुराण (siva purāṇa)	24000	परमशिव (paramaśiva)
8	लिङ्ग पुराण (liṅga purāṇa)	11000	अग्नि लिङ्ग  (agni liṅga -Lord Shiva)
9	स्कन्द पुराण (skanda purāṇa)	81100	Muruga
10	ब्रह्माण्ड पुराण (brahmāṇḍa purāṇa)	12000	ब्रह्म (brahma)
11	मार्कन्देय पुराण (mārkandeya purāṇa)	9000	मार्कण्डेय  महऋषि (mārkaṇḍeya mahaṛṣi)  to जैमिनि  महऋषि  (jaimini mahaṛṣi)
12	मत्स्य पुराण (matsya purāṇa)	14000	मत्स्य अवतार (matsya avatāra)  to सत्य व्रत (satya vrata)
13	वामन पुराण (vāmana purāṇa)	10000	पुलस्त्य  महऋषि (pulastya mahaṛṣi)  to नारद महऋषि (nārada mahaṛṣi)
14	वराह पुराण (varāha purāṇa)	24000	वराह अवतार (varāha avatāra)  to भूम देवी  (bhūma devī)
15	वायु पुराण (vāyu purāṇa)	24000	.   वायु भग्वान  (vāyu bhagvān).
16	कूर्म पुराण (kūrma purāṇa)	17000	.   कूर्म  अवतार (Kūrma avatāra)  to नारद महऋषि (nārada mahaṛṣi) .
	सूर्य (sūrya)
17	भविश्य / ब्रह्मविवर्त पुराण  (brahmavivarta /bhaviśya purāṇa)	14500	.   व्यास  महऋषि (vyāsa mahaṛṣi)
	अग्नि (agni)
18	अग्नि पुरान्ण (agni purānṇa)	15400	हयग्रीव (hayagrīva)  to अगस्त्य महऋषि (agastya mahaṛṣi)

This forms a very vast corpus of eulogical literature (which according to an estimate is running to almost 4,06,000 verses) providing the most sacred independent yet holistically henotheistic accounts of theology, cosmology, genealogy, history etc,, of the तिरुंउर्ति (tiruṁurti - three primary Deities) of Hindu pantheon viz. ब्रह्म (brahma), वीश्णु (vīśṇu) & शिव (śiva). The beauty of these accounts is that in every पुराण (purāṇa) one of these deities is primary hero of the show, while others are supporting Him. At the same time, there is a fair share of prominence given to each of them, on the whole. In fact, that is why, the अष्टदश महा पुराण (aṣṭadaśa mahā purāṇa - Eighteen supreme mythologies) forms an integral part of the six main theological belief systems viz. षण्मत संप्रदायाः (ṣaṇmata saṃpradāyāḥ – six theological traditions) viz.

#	मतसंप्रदायम् (matasaṃpradāyam – theological tradition)	अधिकार देवत (adhikāra devata – Presiding Deity)
1	शैवमतसंप्रदायम् (śaivamatasaṃpradāyam – shaiva theological tradition)	श्री परमशिव (śrī paramaśiva)
2	वैष्णवमतसंप्रदायम् (vaiṣṇavamatasaṃpradāyam – vaishnava theological tradition)	श्री महाविष्णु (śrī mahāviṣṇu)
3	शाक्तमतसंप्रदायम् (śāktamatasaṃpradāyam – shakti theological tradition)	श्री पराशक्ति (śrī parāśakti)
4	गाणपत्यमतसंप्रदायम् (gāṇapatyamatasaṃpradāyam – Ganesha theological tradition)	श्री गणेश (śrī gaṇeśa)
5	कौमारमतसंप्रदायम् (kaumāramatasaṃpradāyam – kaumara theological tradition)	श्री स्कन्द (śrī skanda)
6	सौरमतसंप्रदायम् (sauramatasaṃpradāyam – sun theological tradition)	श्री सूर्य (śrī sūrya)

1

That is why, while there are thousands of gurus in Hinduism, yet very unique importance is given to व्यास महऋषि (vyāsa mahaṛṣi) as he is considered as the குருவின் குரு (guruvin guru - teacher of teachers).  In fact, he is considered as none other than an incarnation of Lord श्री महाविष्णु (śri mahāviṣṇu) Himself, as testified in the popular saying कृष्णद्वैपायनं व्यासं विद्धि नारायणं प्रभुम्। (kṛṣṇadvaipāyanaṁ vyāsaṁ viddhi nārāyaṇaṁ prabhum|). In fact, श्रीआदि शंकराचार्य (śrī ādi śaṁkarācārya) in the मङ्गल श्लोक (maṅgala śloka - benedictory verses) of his famous भाष्य(bhāṣya - commentary) on the sacred श्री विष्णुसहस्रनामं  (śrī viṣṇusahasranāmam) very clearly declares 

Original	Transliteration	Translation
सच्चिदानन्दरूपाय कृष्णायाक्लिष्टकारिणे नमो वेदान्त वेद्याय गुरवे बुद्धि साक्षिणे॥ कृष्णद्वैपायनं व्यासं सर्वलोकहितैषिणम्। वेदाबजभास्करं वन्दे समादि निलयं मुनिं॥	saccidānandarūpāya kṛṣṇāyākliṣṭakāriṇe namo vedānta vedyāya gurave buddhi sākṣiṇe|| kṛṣṇadvaipāyanaṁ vyāsaṁ sarvalokahitaiṣiṇam| vedābajabhāskaraṁ vande samādi nilayaṁ muniṁ||	OM! Adoration to Krishna whose nature is Sat, Cit & Ananda Who performs His acts without effort, Who is cognized through the Vedanta, who is the teacher and who is the Witness of all Cognitions. I adore the sage Krishnadvaipayana Vyasa, devoted to the welfare of all beings, who is the sun to the lotus of the Vedas, and who is the abode of self-control etc.
Sanskrit Reference: श्री विष्णुसहस्रनाम भाष्य (śrī viṣṇusahasranāma bhāṣya)

Moreover, the Lord is called as ‘व्यास (vyāsa)’, which is His 572^nd திரு நாமம் (thirun naamam – sacred name) according to श्री विष्णुसहस्रनामं (śrī viṣṇusahasranāmam – thousand names of Lord Vishnu) wherein the Lord is glorified as “सर्वदृगव्यासः (sarvadṛgavyāsaḥ -  Omniscient compiler)”.  Further, श्रीमद् भगवत्गीता (śrīmad bhagavatgītā), none other than भगवान् श्री कृष्ण परमात्मा (bhagavān śri kṛṣṇa paramātmā) Himself very categorically declares that

Original	Transliteration	Translation
मुनीनामप्यहं व्यासः	munīnāmapyahaṁ vyāsa	among the contemplative sages, I am vyāsa
Sanskrit Reference: श्रीमद् भगवत्गीता (śrīmad bhagavatgītā)

Again, श्री आदि शंकराचार्य (śrī ādi śaṁkarācārya), in his famous भाष्य (bhāṣya - commentary)  on the above verses, further euologizes ‘व्यास (vyāsa)’, as

Original	Transliteration	Translation
मुनीनां मनन शीलानां सर्वपादार्तज्ञानिनां अपिह्ंव्यासः।	munīnāṁ manana śīlānāṁ sarvapādārtajñānināṁ apiahṁvyāsaḥ|।	Among professional thinkers who know about all objects, I am Vyasa
Sanskrit Reference: श्रीमद् भगवत्गीता शंकरभाष्य (śrīmad bhagavatgītā śaṃkarabhāṣya)

Similarly, श्री रमानुजाचार्य (śrī ramānujācārya) in his famous famous भाष्य(bhāṣya - commentary)  on the above verses, further eulogizes ‘व्यास (vyāsa)’, as  

Original	Transliteration	Translation
मुन्यो मननेन अर्थयाथाम्य्दर्शनिः तेषां व्यसः अहम्।	munīnāṁ manana śīlānāṁ sarvapādārtajñānināṁ apiahṁvyāsaḥ|।	Among professional thinkers who know about all objects, I am Vyasa.
Sanskrit Reference: श्रीमद् भगवत्गीता रमानुज भाष्य (śrīmad bhagavatgītā ramānujabhāṣya)

These are some of the reasons as to why the महाजयन्ति दिन (mahā jayanti dina - divine birthday) is commonly celebrated as गुरु पूर्निमा (guru pūrnimā) by almost all the वैदीह गुरु परंपरा (vaidīha guru parampard - orthodox Vedic Guru lineages). On this day, each tradition pays their special homages to the respective गुरु परंपरा (guru paraṃparā – preceptor lineage), and through them offer their prayers to व्यास महऋषि (vyāsa mahaṛṣi) who is rightfully regarded as the “குருவின் குரு (guruvin guru - teacher of teachers).” 
Just like in these days. the birth anniversary of Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan is celebrated nationwide as “Teachers Day”, thereby honoring the entire community of teachers as a whole, similarly on this holy occasion of व्यास पूर्णिमा (vyāsa pūrṇimā), the reverence is extended to all spiritual Gurus cutting across all the sub faiths of Hinduism – वैदीक (vaidīka – vedic), आगमिक (āgamika – agamic), तान्त्रिक (tāntrika - tantric) etc.

 गुरु वैभवं (guru vaibhavam – greatness of preceptor)

 In Hinduism celebrate this day very great religious pious. Thus, this sacred day is considered as गुरु पूर्णिमा (guru pūrṇimā) for all. With this basic historical background of the गुरु पूर्णिमा (guru pūrṇimā) celebration, let us understand why after all so much importance is given to गुरु (guru - preceptor) in Hinduism. In fact, people, who do not understand the value of a guru are considered the greatest of fools.

Original	Transliteration	Translation
यज्ञो व्रतम् तपो दानम् जपस्तीर्थम् तथैव च गुरुतत्त्वम् अविज्ञय मूधास्ते चरते जनाः।	yajño vratam tapo dānam japastīrtham tathaiva ca gurutattvam avijñaya mūdhāste carate janāḥ|	Those people who blindly engage in sacrificial rites, vows, penance, chanting, charity and also pilgrimages without understanding the Guru principle are fools
Sanskrit Reference:

According to Hinduism, a गुरु (guru – preceptor) plays an indispensable role in grooming spiritual साधक (sādhaka –seeker) by removing the तम अविद्यस्य  (tama avidyasya -  darkness of ignorance) and lighting the  ब्रह्मज्ञानस्य ज्योति (brahmajñānasya jyoti–  lamp of spiritual wisdom), as explained in the following verses of the गुरु गीता (guru gīta)

Original	Transliteration	Translation
गुकारस् त्वन्दकारश्च रुकारस् तेज उच्यते। अज्ञानग्रासकं ब्रह्म गुरुरेव न संशयः॥ गुकारः प्रथमो वर्णो मायादि गुणभासकः। रुकारो द्वितीयो ब्रह्म माया भ्रान्ति विनासनम्॥ गुकारं च गुणतीतं रुकारं रूपवर्जितम्। गुणतितस्वरूपं चा यो दद्यात्स गुरुः स्मृतः॥	gukāras tvandakāraśca rukāras teja ucyate। ajñānagrāsakaṃ brahma gurureva na saṃśayaḥ॥ gukāraḥ prathamo varṇo māyādi guṇabhāsakaḥ। rukāro dvitīyo brahma māyā bhrānti vināsanam॥ gukāraṃ ca guṇatītaṃ rukāraṃ rūpavarjitam। guṇatitasvarūpaṃ cā yo dadyātsa guruḥ smṛtaḥ॥	The syllable “Gu” is the darkness and the syllable “Ru” is said to be light. There is no doubt that the Guru is indeed the Supreme Knowledge that dispels (the darkness of) ignorance. “Gu” Kara means the darkness and “Ru” Kara means the remover of the darkness. On account of the power of removing darkness, the teacher is known by the significant name “Guru”. The first syllable “Gu” represents the principles such as maya and the second syllable “Ru” the supreme knowledge that destroys the illusions of maya
Sanskrit Reference: गुरुगीता (gurugītā) (23, 24, 46)

. 

In fact, our scriptures very categorically declare that गुरु (guru - preceptor) is non-other than the absolute Divinity itself – “குருவே திரு, திருவே குரு (guruvē tiru, tiruvē guru - Preceptor himeself is God, God Himself is preceptor)!”.  The famous verse from गुरुगीता (gurugītā)

Original	Transliteration	Translation
गुरुर्ब्रह्मा गुरुर्विष्णुर् गुरुर्देवो महेश्वरः। गुरुरेव परब्रह्म तस्मै श्री गुर्रवे नमः॥	gururbrahmā gururviṣṇur gururdevo maheśvaraḥ। gurureva parabrahma tasmai śrī gurrave namaḥ॥	Know the Guru to be Brahma. He is Vishnu. He is also Shiva. Know Him to be the Supreme Brahman, and offer thy adorations unto that peerless Guru.
Sanskrit Reference: गुरुगीता (gurugītā) (32)

Moreover, as seekers of such enlightenment, it becomes necessary for us to sincerely follow their footsteps, not blindly but with a commitment to fully understand the inner meaning and purpose of their lives, the challenges they faced and overcame, they message they carry, their sacrifices for humanity, their love for God, their mystical ecstasies etc. For after all they are all our role models, and it is because of their compassion for us they have gifted us with such priceless treasure house of wisdom in the form of the scriptures about which we briefly touched upon earlier. In fact, that is why the great Saint and Guru -  திருமூலர் (tirumūlar ), sings thus:

Original	Transliteration	Translation
தெளிவு குருவின் திருமேனி காண்டல் தெளிவு குருவின் திரு நாமம் செப்பல் தெளிவு குருவின் திருவார்த்தை கேட்டல் தெளிவு குரூவுரு சிந்தித்தல் தானே.	teḻivu guruvin tirumēni kāṇḍal teḻivu guruvin tiru nāmam ceppal teḻivu guruvin tiruvārtai kēṭṭal teḻivu guruvuru sindittal thānē	It is but to see the Guru’s Holy Form It is but to chant the Guru’s Holy Name It is but to hear the Guru’s Holy Word, It is but to muse on Guru’s Holy Being, That it is the soul its illumination receives. Into His own, all difference lost He sure doth make the soul Divine This is the path called great Siva Bhoga. -translation by T.N. Ramachandran.
Tamil Reference : திருமந்திரம் (tirumandiram)

But to be honest, I have not done enough homework. I have so far made very little (almost nil) progress in this regard of understanding my गुरवः (guravaḥ - preceptors) and hence I do not have much to share about them, than my awe and respects to them from the deepest of my hearts. All that, I can do at this point of time is share whatever little I have learnt about them, even if it is just knowing their names.

Having said thus, let me try now to paint a picture of my views on the spiritualists, religious leaders and philosophers. Although many of my views may not conform to theirs, I do not undermine their greatness. Their greatness has been proved over the years and the massive followings they have left behind them. I in no way deserve to comment on them. The devil does not deserve to comment on the Divine! However, I am of the opinion that the genuine spiritualists who have realized the Truth mean the same though their approaches may differ.

But please be noted that I am not referring here to the fake spiritualists and pseudo religious leaders who are exploiting our ignorance, rather than enlightening us. To hell with them! Yes, we have to neglect them. I am here considering only the genuine गुरु (guru - preceptor). But how does one identify a genuine one from the fake imitatons? In other words, what qualifies a real गुरु (guru - preceptor)? Well, जगत्गुरु श्री आदिशंकराचर्य भगवत्पाद (jagatguru śrī ādiśaṁkarācarya bhagavatpāda) in his  famous treatise विवेकचूडामणि (vivekacūḍāmaṇi)

Original	Transliteration	Translation
श्रोतियोऽवृजिनोऽकामहतो यो ब्रह्मविदुत्तमः। ब्रह्मण्यूपरतश्शान्तो निरिन्धन इवानलः॥	śrotiyo'vṛjino'kāmahato yo brahmaviduttamaḥ| brahmaṇyūparataśśānto nirindhana ivānalaḥ||	The guru is well-versed in the Vedas; he is sinless; he is not smitten by desire; he is a knower of Brahman; he is super-eminent; withdrawing himself into Brahman, he is ever at peace; he is like a smoldering fire unfed by fuel.
Sanskrit Reference: विवेकचूडामणि (vivekacūḍāmaṇi) (34)

And such an evolved गुरु (guru - preceptor) plays an unparalleled role in the life of a साधक (sādhaka - student) not only in மலபரிபாகம் / मलपरिपाक (malaparipākam / malaparipāka – fetter ripening / sublimation), but also helps in kindling the higher realms of ब्रह्मचैतन्य (brahmacaitanya – spiritual consciousness) which is latent in the शिष्य (śiṣya - disciple). Thus, a गुरु (guru - preceptor) formally inducts him into the Rites Of Spititual Passage, technically called as समयदीक्षा (samayadīkṣā – spiritual initiation). In the शारदातिलकतन्त्रम् (śāradātilakatantram), the concept of दीक्षा (dīkṣā - initiation) is well defined by श्री लक्ष्मणदेशिकेन्द्र (śrī lakṣmaṇadeśikendra)

Original	Transliteration	Translation
ज्ञानं दिव्यं यतो दद्यात् कुय्यार्त पापन्दयं यतः। तस्माद्दीचेति सा प्रोक्ता टोशिकैस्तन्त्तवेदिभिः॥	jñānaṁ divyaṁ yato dadyāt kuyyārta pāpandayaṁ yataḥ| tasmāddīceti sā proktā ṭośikaistanttavedibhiḥ||	Since it is illuminer of knowledge and destroyer of sins, it is called Diksha by the Tantric scholars. -translation by a board of scholars (Satguru Publications)
Sanskrit Reference: शारदातिलकतन्त्रम् (śāradātilakatantram)) (4.1)

According to कुलागम तन्त्र (kulāgama tantra), there are essentially six milestones in the process of such spiritual दीक्षा (dīkṣā - initiation); in other words, a गुरु (guru - preceptor) typically plays the following six roles in initiating his शिष्य (śiṣya - disciple)  

#	गुरु (guru - preceptor)	Primary Role Focus
1	प्रेरक (preraka - initiator)	The गुरु (guru- preceptor) urges the शिष्य (śiṣya - disciple) to the path of दीक्षा (dīkṣā - initiation)
2	सूचक (sūcaka - inagurator)	He then indicates / recommends the specific मार्ग (mārga - path) to be followed by the शिष्य (śiṣya - disciple)
3	वाचक (vācaka - explainer)	He then explains the best ritualistic practices (art) underlying the chosen मार्ग (mārga - path)
4	दर्शक (darśaka - director)	He reveals the esoteric science (wisdom) underlying these practice
5	शीक्षाक (sīkśaka - preacher)	He preaches the techniques of mastering the same.
6	बोधक (bhodhaka - illuminator)	Finally, he helps in the final enlightenment the शिष्य (śiṣya - disciple)

The next important point to understand is that there could potentially be variations in the maturity levels of இருவினை ஒப்பு/द्वयकर्मसंय (iruvinai oppu /dvayakarmasaṃya - neutralizing both karmas), மலபரிபாகம் /मलपरिपाक (malaparibaagam /malaparipāka – fetter ripening) & சத்தினிபாதம் / शक्तिनिपाद (sattinipādam/ śaktinipāda - downstream flow of grace/energy)  based on the spiritual quotient of the शिष्य (śiṣya - disciple). The philosophy of शैवागम संप्रदाय (śaivāgama saṃpradāya), for example, refers to a three-fold classification of souls viz.

#	गुरु (guru - preceptor)	Primary Role Focus
1	सकलात्मन्  /சகலாத்மன் (sakalātman / sakalātman – mundane / common soul)	These are the mundane souls bound by all the त्रयमलाः   மும்மலங்கள் (trayamalāḥ  / mummalṅgaḻ - triple fetters) viz.   आणवमल / ஆணவமலம் (āṇavamala / āṇavamalam –nescient darkness- fetter),  कर्ममल  / கன்மமலம் (karmamala / kanmamalam – karma-fetter) मायामल / மாயைமலம் (māyāmalam / māyaimalam – delusion-fetter)
2	प्रलयाकलात्मन् /பிரலயாகலாத்மன் (pralayākalātman / piralayākalātman   - annihilation-soul)	These souls have conquered their मायामल / மாயைமலம் (māyāmalam / māyaimalam – delusion-fetter) but are still bound by the remaining two viz.  आणवमल / ஆணவமலம் (āṇavamala / āṇavamalam –nescient darkness- fetter),  कर्ममल  / கன்மமலம் (karmamala / kanmamalam – karma-fetter)
3	विज्ञानकलात्मन्  / விஞானகலாத்மன்(vijñānakalātman / vijñānakalātman- cognitive-soul)	These are the शुद्धात्मनः (śuddhātmanaḥ – pure souls) who are in the last rung of the spiritual ladder with only one viz.: आणवमल / ஆணவமலம் (āṇavamala / āṇavamalam –nescient darkness fetter) binding them.

Obviously, the இறை அருளஂ / ईश्वर अनुग्रह (iṛai aruḻ / īśvara anugraha – Divine Grace) bestowed on each  बद्धजीवात्मन् / पशु (baddhajīvātman / paśu – bound soul) varies in accordance with the लक्षण च संवेग बन्धस्य (lakṣaṇa ca saṃvega bandhasya - nature and intensity of bondage), as explained by திரு அருள்நந்தி சிவாச்சாரியார் (tiru aruḻ nandi sivāccāriyār) in the following verses of சிவஞானசித்தியார் (sivajñānasiddiyār)

Original	Transliteration	Translation
கருவியால் பொருளால் காட்டால் காலத்தால் கருமந் தன்னால் உருவினால் அளவால் நூலால் ஒருவரா லுணர்த்த லானும் அருவனாய் உண்மை தன்னில் அறியாது நிற்ற லானும் ஒருவனே எல்லாத் தானும் உணர்த்துவன் அருளி னாலே	karuviyāl poruḷāl kāṭṭāl kālattāl karuman taṉṉāl uruviṉāl aḷavāl nūlāl oruvarā luṇartta lāṉum aruvaṉāy uṇmai taṉṉil aṟiyātu niṟṟa lāṉum oruvaṉē ellāt tāṉum uṇarttuvaṉ aruḷi ṉālē	The one and only God graciously imparts knowledge to the soul by means of various organs of sense and sensation, by means of luminaries and time, by karma and bodies, by means of books on logic and philosophy and the words of a Guru. The Supreme One after inducing the soul to unite in bodies with senses and undergo pains and pleasures thus make it gather experience, at the right time graciously grants it the higher knowledge. -Translation by N.Murugesa Mudaliar
Tamil Reference : சிவஞான சித்தியார் (sivajñānasiddiyār)

    Thus, to the सकलात्मन्  /சகலாத்மன் (sakalātman / sakalātman – mundane / common soul) who is fully engrossed in अशुद्ध माया (aśuddha māyā – impure illusion), i.e., bound within the evolutes of मूल प्रकृति तत्त्व (mūla prakṛti tattva - gross phenomenal evolutes), God out of His, infinite compassion, bestows சாதார அருளஂ (sādāra aruḻ – dependent / supportive grace) by taking the role of a गुरु (guru - preceptor) guiding his शिष्य (śiṣya - disciple) in படர்கை உறவு (paḍarkkai uṛavu – third person relationship) - viz. “He / She / It”.  
    Whereas in the remaining two categories of जीवात्म (jīvātma – corporeal souls), He offers நிராதார அருளஂ (niraadhaara aruL – independent grace) as गुरु (guru - preceptor) in முனஂனிலை (munnilai – second person) & தனஂமை (thanmai – first person) capacities respectively. Moreover, there are variations in the modes of दीक्षा (dīkṣā - initiation) offered by the गुरु (guru - preceptor) to his शिष्य (śiṣya - disciple) including the following प्रकाराः दीक्षस्य (prakārāḥ dīkṣasya  - modes of initiation)

#	प्रकार दीक्षस्य (prakāra dīkṣasya – mode of initiation)
1	नयनदीक्षा (nayanadīkṣā – ocular / visual initiation)
2	स्रिङ्गारदीक्षा (sriṅgāradīkṣā)
3	निग्रहदीक्षा (nigrahadīkṣā)
4	अनुग्रहदीक्षा (anugrahadīkṣā)
5	स्पर्शदीक्षा (sparśadīkṣā – initiation by touch)
6	वाचकदीक्षा (vācakadīkṣā – vocal initiation)
7	मानसदीक्षा (mānasadīkṣā –  psychic initiation)
8	शास्त्रदीक्षा (śāstradīkṣā -  scriptural initiation)
9	होतृ / क्रिया दीक्षा (hotṛ / kriya dīkṣā – lithurgic / ritualistic initiation)
10	ज्ञानदीक्षा (jñānadīkṣā – cognitive initiation) which can be further classified as ·        बीजदीक्षा (bīja dīkṣā – seeded initiation) ·        निर्बीजदीक्षा (nirbīja dīkṣā – unseeded initiation)

குருவே சரணம் (guruvē saraṇam - salutations to preceptor)

Having understood thus, let us sincerely pay our humble salutations to all our गुरु (guru - preceptor) from the deepest of our hearts. I take this an opportunity to salute these great गुरु (guru - preceptor) with the deepest reverence and respects, for their noble service of helping humanity to understand its spiritual purpose and recommended strategies for achieving the same.

#	वर्ग गुरूनाम् (varga gurūnām – category of preceptors)
1	परब्रह्म (parabrahma - Supreme Divinity / God)
2	·Our Beloved Parents
A	हिन्दु सनतनधर्म (hindu sanatanadharma – eternal hinduism)
3	वेद मन्त्र ऋषि कवि (veda mantra ṛṣi kavi)
4	ऋषिमुन्यः उपनिषदानाम् (munyaḥ upaniṣadānām- sages of upanishads)
5	सप्त ब्रह्मऋष्यः (sapta brahmaṛṣyaḥ- seven divine seers)
6	ऋषिमुन्यः षडास्तिकदर्शनानाम्  (ṛṣimunyaḥ ṣaḍāstikadarśanānām – seer sages of six orthodox philosophies)
7	गुरुपरंपरा स्मार्तमतसंप्रदायस्य (guruparaṃparā smārtamatasaṃpradāyasya – preceptor-lineage of Smarta theological tradition)
8	गुरुपरंपरा श्रीवैष्णवमतसंप्रदायस्य (guruparaṃparā śrīvaiṣṇavamatasaṃpradāyasya – perecptor-lineage of Sri Vaishnava theological tradition)
9	गुरुपरंपर ब्रह्मवैष्णवमतसंप्रदायस्य (guruparaṃpara brahmavaiṣṇavamatasaṃpradāyasya – preceptor lineage of brahma vishnava theological tradition)
10	गुरुपरंपर औपाधिकभेदाभेदवेदान्त उत्तरमीमांसदर्शन (guruparaṃpara aupādhikabhedābhedavedānta uttaramīmāṃsadarśana – preceptor lineage of deceptive different yet non-different final wisdom posterior inquiry philosophy)
11	गुरुपरंपर कुमारवैष्णवमतसंप्रदायस्य (guruparaṃpara kumāravaiṣṇavamata saṃpradāya sya – precptor lineage of kumara vishnava theological tradition)
12	गुरुपरंपर रुद्रवैष्णवमत संप्रदायस्य (guruparaṃpara rudravaiṣṇavamata saṃpradāyasya – precptor lineage of rudravishnava theological tradition)
13	गुरुपरंपर गौडियवैष्णवमत संप्रदायस्य (guruparaṃpara gauḍiyavaiṣṇavamata saṃpradāyasya – precptor lineage of gaudiya vaishnava theological tradition)
14	गुरुपरंपर सिद्धान्तशैव संप्रदायस्य (guruparaṃpara siddhāntaśaiva saṃpradāyasya – precptor lineage of final accomplishment auspisciousness theological tradition)
15	गुरुपरंपर वीरशैव संप्रदायस्य (guruparaṃpara vīraśaiva saṃpradāyasya – precptor lineage of brave auspisciousness theological tradition)
16	गुरुपरंपर वेदान्तशैव संप्रदायस्य (guruparaṃpara vedāntaśaiva saṃpradāyasya – precptor lineage of final wisdom auspiecious theological tradition)
17	गुरुपरंपर त्रिकशैवसंप्रदायस्य (guruparaṃpara trikaśaivasaṃpradāyasya – preceptor lineage of triadic auspicious tradition)
18	நாதசித்தமரபு / नाथसिद्ध संप्रदाय (nātasidda marabu / nāthasiddha saṃpradāya  - nath siddha tradition)
19	ரசசித்தர்மரபு / रससिद्ध संप्रदाय (rasasiddha marabu / rasasiddha saṃpradāya – rasa siddha traditions)
20	மகேஷ்வர சித்தர் மரபு / महेश्वरसिद्ध संप्रदाय (magēṣvara siddar marabu / maheśvarasiddha saṃpradāya – maheshvara siddha tradition)
21	சங்கடசித்தர் சித்தர் மரபு /  सङ्घटसिद्ध संप्रदाय (saṅkaṭasiddar marabu  / saṅghaṭasiddha saṃpradāya – maheshvara siddha tradition)
22	தமிழ் சைவ நாயன்மார்கள் (tamiḻ saiva nāyanmārgaḻ -  Tamil saivite leaders)
23	தமிழ் வைணவ ஆழ்வார்கள் (tamiḻ vaiṇava āḻvārgaḷ -  Tamil vaishnavite leaders)
24	கௌமாரமத குருமார்கள் (kaumāramata kurumārgaḷ - kaumara theology preceptors)
25	दासमार्गसाध्वः कर्णाटक्स्य (dāsamārgasādhvaḥ karṇāṭaksya – servitude-path saints of karnataka)
26	मार्गसाध्वः महाराष्ट्रस्य (sādhvaḥ mahārāṣṭrasya – servitude-path saints of Maharashtra)
27	साध्वः मार्ग पञ्चापस्य (sādhvaḥ mārga pañcāpasya– servitude-path saints of Punjab)
B	जैन सनतनधर्म (jaina sanatanadharma – eternal jainism)
28	चतुर्विंशति जैनतीर्तङ्कराः (caturviṃśati jainatīrtaṅkarāḥ - twentyfour jain perfected souls)
29	गणधाराः / शिष्याः जैन तीर्तण्कराणाम् (gāṇadhārāḥ  / śiṣyāḥ  tīrtaṇkarāṇām – attendants / disciples of the jain perfected soul)
C	बौद्धसनतनधर्म (baudhasanatanadharma – eternal buddhism)
30	दशमुख्यशिष्याः श्री गौतमबुद्धस्य (daśamukhyaśiṣyāḥ śrī gautamabuddhasya – ten main disciples of Gautaama Buddha)
31	माध्यमकदर्शन महायानबौद्धधर्मस्य (mādhyamakadarśana mahāyānabauddhadharmasya – middleway philosophy of  Greater Vehicle Buddhism)
32	योगचार/विज्ञानप्तिमात्र दर्शन महायानबौद्धधर्मस्य महायानबौद्धधर्मस्य (yogacāra/vijñānaptimātra darśana mahāyānabauddhadharmasya – unitive-disciple / consciousness-only philosophy of  Greater Vehicle Buddhism)
D	Sikhism
33	Saints of Sikhism
E	Abrahamic Religions
34	Hebrew Apostles & Rabbis of Judaism
35	Jesus Christ and the Holy Trinity
36	12 Direct Apostles of Christ
37	Other Christian Saints
38	Islamic & Sufi Saints
F	Theosophical society
39	Theosophists
G	Chinese Saints
40	Saints of Confusianism
41	Saints of Taosim
G	Persian  Saints
42	Saints of Zorastrianism
H	Greek  Saints
43	Greek Philosophers
I	Western Philosophers
44	Medieaval western philosophers
I	Modern Scientists
45	Modern Physcists
46	Modern Biologists
47	Modern Chemists
48	Modern Information technologists
49	Modern Mathematicians
50	Modern Astro-physcists
J	Our own self

· 

    Before proceeding further, I would like to offer my humble servitude to all these Divine souls by reflecting here the unparalleled verses of the Saiva saint திரு நம்பி ஆருரான் (thiru nambi aarUraan) better known as சுந்தரமூர்த்தி நாயனார்(sundharamUrththi naayanaar). In his mystic state of दास भाव (dāsa bhāva) highlighting supreme modesty, outpours his gratitude to the entire of gamut of not only गुरु (guru - preceptors), but to every true பக்த்தன் (bhakthan - devotee).

Original	Transliteration	Translation
பத்தராய்ப் பணிவார்கள் எல்லார்க்கும் அடியேன் பரமனையே பாடுவார் அடியார்க்கும் அடியேன் சித்தத்தைச் சிவன்பாலே வைத்தார்க்கும் அடியேன் திருவாரூர்ப் பிறந்தார்கள் எல்லார்க்கும் அடியேன் முப்போதுந் திருமேனி தீண்டுவார்க் கடியேன் முழுநீறு பூசிய முனிவர்க்கும் அடியேன் அப்பாலும் அடிச்சார்ந்தார் அடியார்க்கும் அடியேன் ஆரூரன் ஆரூரில் அம்மானுக் காளே	pattarāyp paṇivārkaḷ ellārkkum aṭiyēṉ paramaṉaiyē pāṭuvār aṭiyārkkum aṭiyēṉ cittattaic civaṉpālē vaittārkkum aṭiyēṉ tiruvārūrp piṟantārkaḷ ellārkkum aṭiyēṉ muppōtun tirumēṉi tīṇṭuvārk kaṭiyēṉ muḻunīṟu pūciya muṉivarkkum aṭiyēṉ appālum aṭiccārntār aṭiyārkkum aṭiyēṉ ārūraṉ ārūril ammāṉuk kāḷē	Servitor am I to all that bow unto as pious devotees Servitor am I to servitors that sing the Supreme ONE Servitor am I to those with their conscious poised in Sivam Servitor am I to they that get born in all births in Tiruvaaroor Servitor am I to they do rites propitiatory to the holy mien in all canonical hours Servitor am I to all sages wearing holy ash all over Servitor am I to all that reach unto Lord's Feet in all Time beyond Slave Aarooran am I serving the Fair Lord in Aaroor translation by S. A. Sankaranarayanan, Kumbakonam
Tamil Reference : சுந்தரர்தேவாரம் (sundarardēvāram)

Interestingly, on an almost similar note, the revered Vaishnava saint நம்மாழ்வார் (nammaazhvaar) in his magnum opus mystical masterpiece திருவாய்மொழி (thiruvaaimozhi) also shows his modest respects to all the பாகவதர்கள் (baagavathargaL - devotees) irrespective of class, caste of creed and even to the extent of respecting the devotion of sinners – thereby giving even the devil its rightful due, as testified in the following verses

Original	Transliteration	Translation
குளம் தாங்கு சாதிகள் நாளிலும் கீழிருந்து எத்தனை நலம் தான் இல்லத சண்டால சண்டாளர்களாகிலும் வலம் தாங்கு சக்கரத்து அன்னல் மணிவண்ணற்கு ஆள் என்று உள்கலத்தார் அடியார் தம் அடியார் எம் அடிகளே அடி ஆர்ந்த வையும் உண்டு ஆல் இல்லை அன்ன வசம் செய்யும் படியாதும் இல்குழவிப் படிஎந்தல் பிரான் தனக்கு அடியார் அடியார்தம் அடியார் அடியார் தமக்கு அடியார் அடியார்தம் அடியார் அடியோங்களே	kulam tāṅgu sādigaḻ nālilum kīḹ iḷndu ettanai nalamtān ilāda saṇḍāḻa saṇḍāḻargaḻāgilum valam tāṅgu cakkarattu annal maṇivaṇṇaṛku āḻ enṛu uḻkalattār aḍiyār tam aḍiyār em aḍigaḻē aḍi ārnda vaiyam uṇḍu āl ilai anna vasam seiyum paḍiādum ilkuḹavip paḍi endhai pirān tanakku aḍiyār aḍiyārtam aḍiyār aḍiyār tamakku aḍiyār aḍiyārtam aḍiyār aḍiyōṅgaḻē.	They are my masters who are the servants of servants who come together desiring service to the Lord of saffire-hue with the discus in His right hand, even if they ar candAlas of candAlas, without any goodness in them, lower than the lowest of the four castes in their lineage. We are the servants of servants of servants etc. of seven counts of the servants of the Chief who lay as a baby of unsurpassed beauty on a banyan leaf, having swallowed the worlds which he trod on (as vAmana)
Tamil Reference : திருவாய்மொழி (thiruvaaimozhi)

Yes, all these Prophets, Messiahs, Preachers and teachers have been directly as well as indirectly influencing the whole of mankind in general, and each of one of us particularly, in one way or the other. They have been kindling the spiritual urge in us; my heartfelt respects to them. Here, I would like to specifically highlight the slow, silent and seemingly insignificant but in reality, very effective role played by the last few roles in the list above. Yes, the important point to understand, appreciate, acknowledge and reflect within each of us is that we were not only being spiritually initiated, lead or guided by the Graceful compassion of all the erstwhile saintly guru's directly from the heavens. But these compassionate Gurus, also reach us indirectly in the guides of many mortal forms of personalities - around us in our day to day lives. There could be no greater example than our own parents who were our first and foremost Gurus. - Friend, philosopher & guides.

சபரிமலை-யாத்திரை குருசுவாமிகள்  (sabarimalai yāttirai gurusuvāmigaḷ - sabarimala-pilgrimage preceptors)

I began to taste the आनन्द (ānanda – bliss) of the சபரிமலை யாத்திரை (sabarimalai yāttirai - sabarimala pilgrimage) only after going through the process of immersive experience. From then on, I became a great admirer of the system and a regular visitor to சபரிமலை (sabarimalai) joining the group of my brother-in-law and his cousins. Initially, I started going on the pilgrimage at least once a year by சின்னப்பாதை (ciṉṉappādai – short trek).

Eventually, my respects for this system increased multi-fold, when I got my first பெரியப்பாதை (periyappādai – long trek) opportunity, by joining my friend Gopi and his brothers. பெரியப்பாதை யாத்திரை (periyappādai yāttirai - long trek pilgrimage) without doubt is one of my most memorable experiences that has literally made me fall in love with this system. I consider it as one of the most valuable gifts from God. In fact, whenever I think of this, I would melt down, reflecting the following golden verses of the popular song,

Original	Transliteration	Translation
இந்த ஜீவன் என்பது உள்ளவரை என் உள்ளம் வணங்கும் சபரிமலை ஹரிஹர சுதனை பாடும்வரை வாழினவினில் தோன்றும் சாந்த் நிலை	inta jīvaṉ eṉpatu uḷḷavarai eṉ uḷḷam vaṇaṅkum caparimalai harihara cutaṉai pāṭumvarai vāḻiṉaviṉil tōṉṟum cānt nilai
Tamil Reference : ஐயப்பன் பஜனைப்பாடல் (aiyappaṉ bajaṉaippāḍal)

  

Later, a few years ago, I came to know that my wife’s cousin brother named Annand happens to visit சபரிமலை (sabarimalai) every month without fail. His dedication and devotion further inspired me and I even had the opportunity of joining his group (RBI staff group) once.

From then on, although I could not afford to consistently maintain the similar frequency as my cousin (12 times a year), by God’s Grace, as of now, I at least manage to visit சபரிமலை (sabarimalai) regularly, at a minimum of two times a year - viz., typically சின்னப்பாதை (ciṉṉappādai – short trek) during June – July time frame and பெரியப்பாதை யாத்திரை (periyappādai yāttirai - long trek pilgrimage) during the Dec – Jan season.
More recently, in the last two years, I was introduced to the ஐயப்பா சேவாசங்கம் (aiyappā sēvāsaṅgam) belonging to the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Chennai  through Jayakarna, who was my colleague at HCL and through him, his beloved brother Rukmakanth. As on date, this group happens to be one of the largest and most passionate groups in Chennai pursuing சபரிமலை யாத்திரை (sabarimalai yāttirai - sabarimala pilgrimage). I had the Divine blessings of joining this esteemed group. I also consider it a blessing to have met the senior and elderly குருசுவாமி (gurusuvāmi) by name சுகுமார் சுவாமி (sukumār swami), who had even visited காந்தமலை (gāndhamalai – magnet mountain) a couple of times.  
I owe my heart felt, lifetime gratitude to the following persons, who played a critical role in introducing me to this system viz.  My friend Gopi and his brother Sukumar, my elder sister Jayasathya and my brother-in-law, Suresh, my cousins ‘Mahi’ Saravanan, Dhamu and ‘Chumki Saravanan’, my wife’s cousin Anand and above all to my revered குருசுவாமிகள் (gurusuvāmigaḷ - preceptor-gods).

2006 Cousin's team with குருசுவாமி(gurusuvāmi - preceptor-god) at the Center

Collage Friend குருசுவாமிகள் (gurusuvāmigaḷ - preceptor-gods): Gopi & Sukumar

Revered IIT குருசுவாமிகள் (gurusuvāmigaḷ - preceptor-gods)

Detailed Blog

https://whatisgod-religiousfestivals.blogspot.com/p/om-suvamiye-saranam-aiyappa.html

Detailed Blog

https://whatisgod-religiousfestivals.blogspot.com/p/om-suvamiye-saranam-aiyappa.html

सामयिक आचार्यदेवो भवः (sāmayika ācāryadevo bhavaḥ - salutations to present teachers)

    I would next like to offer my sincere salutations from the deepest of my heart to all my शास्त्र आचार्याः (śāstra ācāryāḥ - present teachers) from whom I am currently learning specific scriptural texts and philosophies.    

#	आचार्य (ācārya - teacher)	दर्शन (darśana – philosophy)
1	Acharya Sri. Nallur Saravanan,	शुद्धाद्वैतशैवसिद्धान्तदर्शन (śuddhādvaitaśaivasiddhāntadarśana – prestine non-dualistic auspiscious final accomplishment philosophy)
2	Acharya Srimati. Ranjani Meenakshi Sundaram,	विशिष्टाद्वैतवेदान्तदर्शन (viśiṣṭādvaitavedāntadarśana – qualified non-dualistic final-wisdom philosophy)
		न्याय दर्शन (nyāya darśana – philosophy of epistemology/logic)
3	Acharya Sri Motilal Pandit	परमाद्वैतशैवसिद्धान्तदर्शन (paramādvaitaśaivasiddhāntadarśana – supreme non-dualistic auspiscious final accomplishment philosophy)
4	Acharya Sri Sthaneshvar Timalsina	परमाद्वैतशैवसिद्धान्तदर्शन (paramādvaitaśaivasiddhāntadarśana – supreme non-dualistic auspiscious final accomplishment philosophy)
5	Acharya Sri Rangaji, Brahma Vidya,	केवलाद्वैतवेदान्तदर्शन (kevalādtvaitavedāntadarśana – absolute non-dualistic final-wisdom philosophy)
6	Acharya Sri Dattanubhava Tengse	न्याय दर्शन (nyāya darśana – philosophy of epistemology/logic)
8	Acharya Ilangai Jayaraj	शुद्धाद्वैतशैवसिद्धान्तदर्शन (śuddhādvaitaśaivasiddhāntadarśana – prestine non-dualistic auspiscious final accomplishment philosophy)
9	Acharya K Sivakumar	शुद्धाद्वैतशैवसिद्धान्तदर्शन (śuddhādvaitaśaivasiddhāntadarśana – prestine non-dualistic auspiscious final accomplishment philosophy)

मातापितृ देवो भवः (mātāpitṛ devo bhava - salutation to parents)

Of course, our beloved parents are naturally our first and best, friend philosopher and guiding gurus  both genetically and otherwise they are constantly transmitting wisdom in various forms – language, morals, love, religion etc.  I am just reminded of the following famous verses

Original	Transliteration	Translation
தாயிற் சிறந்த கோயிலும் இல்லை தந்தை சொல்மிக்க மந்திரம் இல்லை ஆயிரம் உறவில் பெருமைகள் இல்லை அன்னை தந்தையே அன்பின் எல்லை தன்னலம் அற்றது தாயின் நெஞ்சம் தாய்மை நிறைந்தது கடவுளின் நெஞ்சம் மண்ணுயிர் காப்பவர் மாந்தருள் தெய்வம் அன்னையும் பிதாவும் முன்னறி தெய்வம்	tāyir ciṛanda kOyilum illai tantai solmilla mandiram illai āyiram uṛavil perumaigaḻ illai annai tantaiyē anbin ellai. tannalam aṛṛadu tāyin nenjam tāimai niṛaindadu kaḍavuin nenjam maṇṇuyir kāppavar māndaruḻ deivam annaiyum pitāvum munnaṛi deivam.	There is no greater God than one’s own mother. There is no greater mantra than Father's words There is nothing prideful about having thousand relations (when) mather and father are the pinnacle of love unselfish is mother's heart motherly is God's heart one who protects life on earth is god among men mother and father are the first-knowable gods
Tamil Reference : பூவை செங்குட்டுவன் பாடல்(pūvai seṅguṭṭavan pāḍal)

I would like to offer my herefelt salutations to my parents and grandparents 

#	Category	Names
1	Paternal Grandparents	Sri Kumaraswami S.P
2		Sri Parvathi Kumaraswami
3	Maternal Grandparents	Sri Dhanakoti
4		Srimati Ambujam Dhanakoti
5	Parents	Sri Santhamoorthy S.K.
6		Srimati Sivagamasundari
7	Parents-in-Law	Sri Balasubramaniyan
8		Sri Rajini Balasubramaniyan

  

Salutations to peer gurus & social networks

Again, there are various other, what I would like to call as the peer gurus amidst each of us who have been indirectly influencing our spiritual journey one way or the other. If we all honestly turn back and browse through the pages of our own spiritual pilgrimage so far, it would be obviously evident that we have been silently learning from many people - brothers, sisters, relatives, friends, colleagues, co-travelers, enemies etc. Many of spiritual learning, directions we would have received, unexpectedly, unknowingly from such peer gurus in a very casual manner. Many times, it is subconscious influence, and we may fail to recognize it at that point of time but realize it when we self-introspect latter. Interestingly, this is not one-way traffic; we are also silently influencing the other, from our end. Yes, that’s why i call it peer to peer influencing. But unfortunately, many times we fail to appreciate or acknowledge it openly and thank our peers for being a positive influence (a guru) to us. Many a times our stupid fetters called Ego comes in the way to openly acknowledge our learning from our own peers.

 I take my opportunity on this sacred day, to extend my respects to all such direct and indirect peer Gurus, who have helped in my pilgrim’s progress. 

#	Category	Names
A	Family & Relations
1	Sisters	Srimati. Jayasatya Suresh
2		Srimati. Nivedita Prabhakar
3	Spouse	Srimati. Vidya Shankar
4	Children	Sri Deepa Kartika
5		Sri Yamuna Shree
6	Brother In Law	Sri Suresh V.S.
7		Sri Prabhakar
8	Other relations	Close cousins
C	Friends
1	Best Friends	Sri. Karthikeyan L
2		Sri. Ramalingam B
3		Sri. Gopi T.K.
4		Sri. Nagarajan V
5		Sri. Nagaraj
6	Good friends at work-places	Govindarajan TML
7		Lakshminarayanan Madhavan
		Madhusudan Hanumanthrao
		Venkat
8		Vijay Srinivasan
		Meenakshi Sundaram Murali

In the heart felt words of the great saint and mystic poet, திருஅருட்பிரகாச இராமலிங்க வள்லலார் (tiru aruṭpirakāsa irāmaliṅga vaḻḻalār), I pay my respects to all of them

Original	Transliteration	Translation
எவ்வுயிர்க்கும் பொது எனக் கண்டிரங்கி உபகைகின்றார் யாவர் அதச் செவ்வியர்தம் செயல் அனைத்தும் திரு அருளின் செயல் எனவே அத்திருவாளர் தமக்கேவல் களிப்பால் செய்ய ஒவ்வைதென் கருத்தவார் சீர் ஓதிட என் வாய்மிகவும் ஊர்வதலோ	evvuyirkkum podu enak kaṇḍiraṅgi ubagarikinḍrār yāvar andac sevviyartam seyal anaittum tiru aruḻin seyal enavē attiruvaruḻālar tamakkēval kaḻippal seiyya ovvaiten karuttavār sīr ōdiḍa en vāi migavum ūrvadalō	Whosoever sees all life as the effulgent abodeof my Lord, Whosoever is compassionate and relives the suffering and sorrows of living beings, I have come to know, my Lord that all the activities of those beautiful souls are activities of Divine Grace. I have come to know too that their blessed souls are free from sorrow and suffering, and they are Thy loving devotees. My Lord! My mouth earnestly longs to utter the praise of those loving devotees. I yearn to serve them and rejoice.
Tamil Reference :திரு அருட்பா (tiru aruṭpā)

In today’s Digital Age of Information Technology revolution, I also would like here to include the virtual non-human gurus - the World Wide Web at large social network platforms which have been indirectly serving mankind as the most easily reachable source of wisdom

#	Category
1	Facebook Friends
2	Facebook Groups
3	Whasapp Groups
4	Clubhouse
5	Twitter

 I honestly find Facebook for example a very powerful medium for sharing spiritual information among friends. So many friends are sharing content on these social networks which have great spiritual content. There are so many people who learn about sacred scriptures, religion, philosophies, spiritual / religious events etc. from these postings. I am myself a direct beneficiary of it. I am my own greatest proof for that. The beauty of such medium is that it helps like-minded people to collaborate, share and learn from each other. A smart seeker form whom every source is spiritual source, learns from every possible channel. To quote திருவள்ளுவர் (tiruvaḻḻuvar)

Original	Transliteration	Translation
எப்பொருள் யார் யார் வாய் கேட்பினும் அப்பொருள் மெய்பொருள் காண்பது அறிவு	epporuḻ yār yār vāi keṭpinum apporuḻ meipporuḻ kāṇbadaṛivu	From whomsoever one hears about a thing, it is wisdom to understand the true import of it
Tamil Reference :திருக்குறள் (tirukkuṛaḻ)

Interestingly, such a learner not only learns from it but is also kind enough to share it with the rest of his friends, in the lines of what saint திருமூலர் (tirumūlar) says:

Original	Transliteration	Translation
யான் பெற்ற இன்பம் பெறுக இவ்வையகம் வான்பற்றி நின்ற மறை பொருள் சொல்லிடின் ஊன் பற்றி நின்ற உணர்வுறு மந்திரம் தான் பற்றப் பற்றத் தலைப்படும் தானே	yān peṛṛa inbam peruga ivvaiyagam vānpaṛṛ ninṛa maṛai poruḻ solliḍin ūn paṛṛi ninṛa uṇarvuṛu mandiram tān paṛṛa talai paḍum tāṇE	Bliss To Humanity All the world may well attain the Bliss I have; Who hold firm to the Heavenly secret the Books impart, Who chant the hymns that thrill the flesh And swell the heart, They, sure, take their place in foremost rank. Translation by Dr. B. Natarajan
Tamil Reference :திருமந்திரம் (tirumandiram)

स्वयमात्म वन्दनम् (svayamātma vandanam – salutations to one’s own self)

Last, but (definitely) not the least, I would like to highlight one of the most neglected aspect that we are our own greatest Guru. There can be no greater teacher than your own soul. To quote Swami Vivekananda,

 “You have to grow from inside out, none can teach, none can make you spiritual, there is no other teacher except your own soul”. 

In fact, the  Swamiji further declares

 “What Jesus or Buddha or Mosses did is nothing to us unless we too do it for ourselves. It would not satisfy our hunger to shut ourselves in a room and think what Moses ate nor would what Moses thought would save us My ideas are very radical on these points, sometimes I think I am right when I agree with all the ancient teachers, at other times I think they are right when they agree with me. I believe in thinking independently. I believe in becoming entirely free from the holy teachers. Pay all references to them but look at religion as an independent research; I have to find my light just as they found theirs. Their finding the light will not satisfy us at all. You have to become the Bible and not to follow it except to pay reverence to it as a light on the way as a guide post that’s all the value it has.”

Philosophically speaking, your student and teacher are two sides of the same coin – the one absolute divinity. The जीवात्म (jīvātma – corporeal soul) is a reflection of the अन्तर्यामि परमात्म (antaryāmi paramātma – indwelling supreme divinity). The former is the student, the latter is the teacher. Both are two sides of the same coin, as testified by परमाचार्य श्री अभिनवगुप्त (paramācārya śrī abhinavagupta) in his famous work परात्रिंशिकाविवर्ण (parātriṁśikāvivarṇa)

Original	Transliteration	Translation
स्वात्मा सर्व भाव स्वभावः स्वयं प्रकाशमानः स्वात्मानामेव स्वात्मा विभिन्नेन प्रश्नप्रतिविचानात् प्रष्तृ प्रतिवल्टृस्वात्मयेन अहंतयाचमत्कुर्व्न्विमर्शति	svātmā sarva bhāva svabhāvaḥ svayaṁ prakāśamānaḥ svātmānāmeva svātmā vibhinnena praśnaprativicānāt praṣtṛ prativalṭṛsvātmayena ahaṁtayācamatkurvnvimarśati	The Self which is present in every form and is self-luminous, does both the questioning and answering as if by dividing itself into the questioner and the answerer, both being itself at the same time.
Sanskrit Reference: परात्रिंशिकाविवर्ण (parātriṁśikāvivarṇa)

Thus, there is mutual interdependency between the teacher and student and in fact, a healthy synergy between these two roles is indispensable for effective spiritual education. In fact, the famous शान्ति मन्त्र (śānti mantra – peace mantra) in the sacred तैत्तिरीय उपनिषद् (taittirīya upaniṣad) was an integral part of their regular prayers in every गुरुकुल (gurukula)

Original	Transliteration	Translation
ॐ सह नाववतु सह नौ भुनक्तु। सह वेर्यम् करवावहै। तेजस्वि नावधीतमस्तु मा विद्विषावहै। ॐ सन्तिः सन्तिः सन्तिः॥	om saha nāvavatu saha nau bhunaktu| saha veeryam karavāvahai| tejasvi nāvadhītamastu mā vidviṣāvahai| om santiḥ santiḥ santiḥ||	May the Eternal guard us both! May the Eternal rule us both! May we make a bold attempt! May our studies become illuminative! May no differences arise between us! In the name of the Eternal, Peace! Peace! Peace!
Sanskrit Reference: तैत्रीय उपनिषद् (taitrīya upaniṣad)

Again,  His Holiness भगवान् श्री रमणमहऋषि (bhagavān śri ramaṇamahaṛṣi), one of the most enlightened जीवन् मुक्त ब्रह्म ज्ञानि  (jīvan mukta brahma jñāni) in recent centuries, very categorically declares thus, as registered by his principle disciple ஸ்ரீ முருகநார்  (Sri Mrurganaar) in his குரு கவச கோவை (guru kavas a kOvai – garland of Guru’s sayings):   

“The Self-Consciousness which shines after the destruction of the [root] thought – the identification with any one of the [three] bodies as ‘I’ – is, the Almighty Power [Akila Para Shakti] who resides as ‘I’ in the hearts of all created beings. This natural Self-Consciousness of mere Existence, without any sense of duality, is the Supreme Silence, which is glorified [by the scriptures] as the perfection of Jnana, and which cannot be known by the ego, the foolish demon-nature. Know and discover that He alone who possesses such Akila Para Shakti [i.e., the Power of Supreme Silence which consumes all by remaining as mere Existence-Self-Consciousness], is the Real Guru who can by His unlimited Grace merge any soul who comes to Him into the non-dual Self, the Jnana beyond all speech. Truly, perfect discipleship – which is the steadfast Supreme Devotion that flares up with the merging of the ego into the Light of Supreme Stillness [i.e. Self-Consciousness] – is alone the right Guruship. Thus, you should know. He who turns you towards Self and reveals to you the knowledge of Self, is the Guru. In truth He is Self and He is God. Cling to Him… Since one does not love to listen to the teaching of the Supreme Self, which is ever going on in the Heart, one comes out with great enthusiastic delusion. Because of this, one needs a Guru outside… That Self-Consciousness [Sat-Chit] which shines in all, as All, is the Guru”.

Other related topics on गुरुवैभवम् (guruvaibhavam - Guru Glory)

#	Topic	Microblog Link
1	श्री आदि शंकरचार्य जयन्ति (śrī ādi śaṁkaracārya jayanti)	Spiritual Significance of Religious Festivals: श्री आदि शंकरचार्य जयन्ति (śrī ādi śaṁkaracārya jayanti) (whatisgod-religiousfestivals.blogspot.com)
2	श्री रामानुजाचार्य अवतार जयन्ति (śrī rāmānujācārya avatāra jayanti - Sri Ramanujacharya incarnation anniversary)	Spiritual Significance of Religious Festivals: श्री रामानुजाचार्य अवतार जयन्ति (śrī rāmānujācārya avatāra jayanti - Sri Ramanujacharya incarnation anniversary) (whatisgod-religiousfestivals.blogspot.com)
3	ஆடி அமவாசை (āḍi amāvasai)  & திரு கைலாய காட்சி தரிசனம் (tiru kailāya kāṭci darisanam)	Spiritual Significance of Religious Festivals: ஆடி அமவாசை (aadi amaavasai) & திரு கைலாய காட்சி தரிசனம் (thiru kailaaya kaatchi dharisanam) (whatisgod-religiousfestivals.blogspot.com)
4	வள்ளலாரின் மகத்துவம் (vaḷḷalāriṉ magattuvam)	வள்ளலாரின் மகத்துவம் (vaḷḷalāriṉ magattuvam) (whatisgod-vallalarinmagattuvam.blogspot.com)
5	Spiritual significance of Jesus Christ &  Good Friday	Spiritual Significance of Religious Festivals: Spiritual significance of Good Friday (whatisgod-religiousfestivals.blogspot.com)
6	Spiritual significance of  महावीर् जयन्ती (mahāvīr jayantī)	Spiritual Significance of Religious Festivals: Spiritual significance of महावीर् जयन्ती (mahāvīr jayantī) (whatisgod-religiousfestivals.blogspot.com)