Guru-Mantras and Stotras
Guru is a Sanskrit term for a “mentor, guide, expert, or master” of certain knowledge or field.A guru is more than a teacher. In Sanskrit, guru means literally dispeller of darkness. Traditionally, the guru is a reverential figure to the disciple (or shisya in Sanskrit, literally seeker(of knowledge or truth)) or student, with the guru serving as a “counselor, who helps mold values, shares experiential knowledge as much as literal knowledge, an exemplar in life, an inspirational source and who helps in the spiritual evolution of a student.
गुशब्दस्त्वन्धकारः स्यात् रुशब्दस्तन्निरोधकः।
अन्धकारनिरोधित्वात् गुरुरित्यभिधीयते॥ १६॥
The syllable gu means darkness, the syllable ru, he who dispels them,
Because of the power to dispel darkness, the guru is thus named.
— Advayataraka Upanishad, Verse 16.
यस्य देवे परा भक्तिः यथा देवे तथा गुरौ ।
तस्यैते कथिता ह्यर्थाः प्रकाशन्ते महात्मनः ॥ २३ ॥
He who has highest Bhakti (love, devotion) of Deva (god),
just like his Deva, so for his Guru,
To him who is high-minded,
these teachings will be illuminating.
— Shvetashvatara Upanishad 6.23
The ancient tradition of reverence for the guru in Hindu scriptures is apparent in 6.23 of the Shvetashvatara Upanishad, which equates the need of reverence and devotion for guru to be the same as for god.
The 8th century Hindu text Upadesasahasri of the Advaita Vedanta philosopher Adi Shankara discusses the role of the guru in assessing and guiding students.In Chapter 1, he states that teacher is the pilot as the student walks in the journey of knowledge, he is the raft as the student rows. The text describes the need, role and characteristics of a teacher,as follows,
When the teacher finds from signs that knowledge has not been grasped or has been wrongly grasped by the student, he should remove the causes of non-comprehension in the student. This includes the student’s past and present knowledge, want of previous knowledge of what constitutes subjects of discrimination and rules of reasoning, behavior such as unrestrained conduct and speech, courting popularity, vanity of his parentage, ethical flaws that are means contrary to those causes. The teacher must enjoin means in the student that are enjoined by the Śruti and Smrti, such as avoidance of anger, Yamas consisting of Ahimsa and others, also the rules of conduct that are not inconsistent with knowledge. He [teacher] should also thoroughly impress upon the student qualities like humility, which are the means to knowledge.
— Adi Shankara, Upadesha Sahasri 1.4-1.5
The teacher is one who is endowed with the power of furnishing arguments pro and con, of understanding questions (of the student), and remembers them. The teacher possesses tranquility, self-control, compassion and a desire to help others, who is versed in the Sruti texts (Vedas, Upanishads), and unattached to pleasures here and hereafter, knows the subject and is established in that knowledge. He is never a transgressor of the rules of conduct, devoid of weaknesses such as ostentation, pride, deceit, cunning, jugglery, jealousy, falsehood, egotism and attachment. The teacher’s sole aim is to help others and a desire to impart the knowledge.
— Adi Shankara, Upadesha Sahasri 1.6
Adi Shankara presents a series of examples wherein he asserts that the best way to guide a student is not to give immediate answers, but posit dialogue-driven questions that enable the student to discover and understand the answer.
How does someone become a guru?
Hinduism as a religion may not have a single leader, but each individual teaching tradition that makes up Hinduism places great importance on lineage of teachers. This is referred to as guru-shishya parampara.
Most guru today were once themselves the shishya of another guru in the same lineage. However, a guru may arise who, through their own past sadhana (discipline and study), is widely recognized as an enlightened spiritual master, but this is rare.
In general, only when a recognized guru gives permission for one of their shishya to carry on the tradition as a guru, can that student rightfully use that title. Sometimes, advanced students of a guru will also begin teaching on their own, without claiming to be a full-fledged guru. This is something you often see in the study of yoga.
Lineage is especially important to emphasize today, for people looking to undertake deeper spiritual study under a guru. Has the teacher you are looking to study with been authorized in some capacity to teach by their teacher? Who have they studied under and learned from?
When looking for a guru or spiritual teacher, treat it not entirely unlike applying to a university. Before you even ask the university to accept you for study, you will want to learn the university’s educational philosophy, its history, how its students like studying there, and what its students have gone on to do. While, as a prospective student you may not be in a position to judge the spiritual attainment of a potential guru (just as you may not as a freshman grasp the complexity of the work of any professor), you nevertheless should try to assess the history and qualifications of any prospective guru.
Guru Mantrs and stotras:
Shodashopachara Guru Pooja Guru Pournima Puja -Thursday Pooja/puja Vidhi
Mahavatar Babaji Mantra Kriya Yoga -He is alive If call him with devotion he will come to you talk to you.
Dattatreya Vajra Kavacham with Meaning -This is very powerful Guru mantra.It is the the diamond Armour of Dathathreya.
Swapna Varahi Mantra and Benefits – You want to talk with goddess in dreams Chant this Mantra with devotion and dedication.
Saptarishi Stotra श्री सप्तर्षि स्तोत्रम సప్తర్షి శ్లోక స్మరణం-For wisdom,enhancement in self-awareness and spiritual growth and for washing bad karma
Sri Shirdi Saibaba Ashtothara Sathanamavali
గురు ప్రార్ధన:
1.గురుర్బ్రహ్మ గురుర్విష్ణుః గురుర్దేవో మహేశ్వరః !
గురుస్సాక్షాత్పరం బ్రహ్మ తస్మై శ్రీ గురవే నమః !!
2.అజ్ఞాన తిమిరాంధస్య జ్ఞానాంజన శలాకయా !
చక్షురున్మీలితం యేన తస్మై శ్రీ గురవే నమః !!
3.సదాశివ సమారంభాం వ్యాస శంకర మధ్యమాం!
అస్మదాచార్య పర్యంతాం వందే గురుపరంపరాం!!
(పాఠ భేదః: నారాయణ సమారంభాం వ్యాస శంకర మధ్యమాం!)
4.ధ్యానమూలం గురోర్మూర్తి పూజామూలం గురోర్పదం !
మంత్రమూలం గురోర్వాక్యం మోక్షమూలం గురోర్కృప !!
ఓం శ్రీ గురవేనమః !!
5. వాగర్థావివ సంపృక్తౌ వాగర్థ ప్రతిపత్తయే !
జగతః పితరౌ వందే పార్వతీపరమేశ్వరౌ !!
దక్షిణామూర్తి శ్లోకం:
గురవే సర్వ లోకానాం భిషజే భవ రోగిణామ్ !
నిధయే సర్వ విద్యానాం దక్షిణామూర్తయే నమః !!
హయగ్రీవ స్తుతి:
జ్ఞానానందమయం దేవం నిర్మల స్పటికాకృతిం !
ఆధారం సర్వవిద్యానాం హయగ్రీవ ముపాస్మహే !!
పతంజలి మహర్షి ప్రార్ధన శ్లోకం:
యోగేన చిత్తస్య పదేన వాచా మలం శరీరస్య చ వైద్యకేన !
యోపాకరోత్తం ప్రవరం మునీనాం పతంజలిం ప్రాంజలి రానతోస్మి !!
వాల్మీకిమహర్షి వందనమ్:
కూజంతం రామ రామేతి మధురం మధురాక్షరమ్!
ఆరుహ్య కవితాశాఖాం వందే వాల్మీకి కోకిలమ్!!
వాల్మీకేర్మునిసింహస్య కవితావనచారిణః!
శృణ్వన్ రామకథానాదం కో న యాతి పరాం గతిమ్!!
వ్యాసమహర్షి ప్రార్ధన:
నమోస్తుతే వ్యాస విశాల బుద్ధే ఫుల్లార విందాయత పత్రనేత్ర !
వినత్వయా భారత తైల పూర్ణః ప్రజ్వాలితో జ్ఞానమయః ప్రదీపః !!
సద్గురు శివానంద మంత్రం:
ఓం నమః శివానందాయ నందాయ నందాత్మజాయ !
పారమార్ధదాయకాయ ఓం నమః శివాయ !!
Some gurus list with year in Hinduism:
Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada (1 September 1896 – 14 November 1977)
Abhinavagupta (c. 950 – 1020)
Adi Shankara (c. 788 – 820)
Advaita Acharya (1434–1539)
Agastyar
Akka Mahadevi (c.1130 – 1160), Kannada literature
Alvar Saints (700–1000)
Anandamayi Ma (30 April 1896{snd}}27 August 1982)
Anasuya Devī, also known as Jillellamudi Amma(28 March 1923 – 12 June 1985)
Andal (c.767), Tamil literature
Anukulchandra Chakravarty, also known as Sree Sree Thakur (born 14 September 1888)
Arunagirinathar (15th Century A.D.)
Avvaiyar (c. 1st and 2nd century AD), Tamil literature
Ayya Vaikundar (1809–1851)
Baba Hari Dass (26 March 1923 – 25 September 2018)
Bahinabai (1628–1700), Marathi literature
Bamakhepa, or Bamakhyapa/ Bamdev Bhairav (1837 – 1911)
Basava (1105 CE–1167 CE)
Bhadase Sagan Maraj (1920–1971), Indo-Trinidadian Hindu leader and politician, founded the Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha
Dhanna jatt (born 1415)
Bhagawan Nityananda (November or December 1897 – 8 August 1961)
Dhananjay Das Kathiababa (1901-1963)
Bhakti Charu Swami (17 September 1945 – 4 July 2020)
Bhakti Tirtha Swami(25 February 1950 – 27 June 2005)
Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati (6 February 1874 – 1 January 1937)
Bhaktivinoda Thakur (2 September 1838 – 23 June 1914)
Bhaskararaya (c. 1690–1785)
Bijoy Krishna Goswami (2 August 1841 – 1899)
Brahma Chaitanya, also known as Gondavalekar Maharaj (1845–22 December 1913)
Brahmanand Swami (1772–1832)
Brahmananda Saraswati(20 December 1868 – 20 May 1953)
Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (18 February 1486 – 14 June 1534)
Chandrashekarendra Saraswati (20 May 1894 – 8 January 1994)
Chandrashekhara Bharati III (1892–1954)
Charan Singh (Sant) (Radha Soami Sant Satguru) (12 December 1916 – 1 June 1990)
Chattampi Swamikal (c. 1853–1924)
Chaturbhuj Sahay (3 November 1883 – 24 September 1957)
Chinmayananda Saraswati (8 May 1916 – 3 August 1993)
Chokhamela (14th century)
Dada Bhagwan, founder of Akram Vignan (7 Novembery 1908 – 2 January 1988)
Damodardev (c. 1488 – c. 1598)
Darshan Singh (Sant Mat) (1921–1989), founder of Sawan Kirpal Ruhani Mission
Dayananda Saraswati (Ärsha Vidya) (15 August 1930 – 24 September 2015)
Dayananda Saraswati, founder of Arya Samaj (12 February 1824 – 30 October 1883)
Dnyaneshwar (1275–1296)
Drona (mythohistorical)
Eknath (1533–1599)
Eknath Easwaran (1910–1999)
Gagangiri Maharaj (1906 – 4 February 2008)
Gajanan Maharaj (c. mid 19th century)
Ganapati Muni (c. 1878–c.1936)
Gaurakisora Dasa Babaji (1838–1915)
Gnanananda Giri[12] (c. early 19th century)
Gopala Bhatta Goswami (1503–1578)
Gopala Krishna Goswami[13] (born 14 August 1944)
Gopalanand Swami (1781–1852)
Gopi Krishna (yogi) (1903–1984)
Gora Kumbhar (c. 1267–c.1317)
Gorakhnath (c. 10th or 11th century)
Gulabrao Maharaj (6 July 1881 – 20 September 1915 )
Gunatitanand Swami (17 October 1785 – 11 October 1867)
Gurinder Singh (Radha Soami Sant Satguru) (born 1 August 1954)
Gurumayi Chidvilasananda[14] (born 24 June 1955)
Hans Ji Maharaj (8 November 1900 – 18 July 1966)
Haridasa Thakur(born 1451 or 1450)
Hariharananda Giri, (Paramahamsa Hariharananda) (27 May 1907 – 3 December 2002)
Isaignaniyar (c. 7th century), Tamil literature
J to L
Jagannatha Dasa Babaji (1776–1894)
Jaggi Vasudev (born 3 September 1957)
Jaimal Singh (Radha Soami Sant Satguru) (July 1839 – 29 December 1903)
Jalaram Bapa (4 November 1799 23 February 1881)
Janabai (c. 13th century), Marathi literature
Jayatirtha (1345-1388)
Jiddu Krishnamurti (11 May 1895 – 17 February 1986)
Jiva Goswami (c. 1513–1598)
Kabir (c. 15th century), Indian saint and mystic
Kalki Bhagwan (born 1949) [17][18]
Kamlesh D. Patel, also known as Daaji (born 28 September 1965)
Kanakadasa (1509–1609)
Kanhopatra (c. 15th century), Marathi literature
Kanwar Saheb
Karaikkal Ammaiyar (c. 6th century), Tamil literature
Khatkhate Baba (1859–1930)
Kirpal Singh (c. 1894–1974), (Sawan Kirpal Ruhani Mission)
Kripalu Maharaj (5 October 1922 – 15 November 2013)
Krishna Prem (1898–1965)
Krishnadasa Kaviraja (born 1496)
Krishnananda Saraswati (25 April 1922 – 23 November 2001)
Lahiri Mahasaya, (Shyamacharan Lahiri)(30 September 1828 – 26 September 1895)
Lakshman Joo (9 May 1907 – 27 September 1991), modern scholar of Kashmiri Shaivism
Lakshmanananda Saraswati (1926 – 23 August 2008)
Lalleshwari (c.1320 – 1392), Kashmiri literature
Madhavdev (c. 1489 – c. 1596)
Madhvacharya(c. 1238 – 1317)
Mahant Swami Maharaj (born 13 September 1933)
Maharishi Mahesh Yogi (12 January 1918 – 5 February 2008)
Mahavatar Babaji (mid 19th – mid 20th century)
Mangayarkkarasiyar (c. 7th century), Tamil literature
Manik Prabhu
Master C. V. V. (4 August 1868 – 12 May 1922)
Mata Amritanandamayi (born 27 September 1953)
Matsyendranath (c. 10th century)
Meera (c. 1498 – c. 1547), Hindi literature
Mehi (28 April 1885 – 8 June 1986)
Mirra Alfassa (21 February 1878 – 17 November 1973)
Morari Bapu (born 25 September 1946)
Mother Meera[25] (born 26 December 1960)
Muktabai (c.1279 – 1297), Marathi literature
Muktanand Swami (1758–1830)
Muktananda(16 May 1908 – 2 October 1982)
Namdev (c. 1270 – c. 1350)
Narasimha Saraswati(1378–1459)
Narayan Maharaj (20 May 1885 – 3 September 1945)
Narayana Guru, writer of Daiva Dasakam (c. 1854 – 1928)
Narayanprasaddasji Swami (14 January 1921 – 30 January 2018), also known as Tapomurti Shastri Swami and Guruji by his devotees, was one of the most noted Swami of the Swaminarayan Sampraday
Narottama Dasa (born 1466)
Narsinh Mehta (1414–1481), also known as Narsi Mehta or Narsi Bhagat
Nayakanahatti Thipperudra Swamy (c. 15th–c. 16th century), also known as Nayakanahatti Thippeswamy
Nayanmars Saints (700–1000)
Neem Karoli Baba (c. late 19th or early 20th century – 11 September 1973)
Nigamananda Paramahansa[(18 August 1880 – 29 November 1935)
Nimbarka (c. 13th century or earlier)
Niranjanananda (c. 1862 – 9 May 1904)
Nirmala Srivastava, also known as Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi (21 March 1923 – 23 February 2011)
Nisargadatta Maharaj[31](17 April 1897 – 8 September 1981)
Nishkulanand Swami (1766–1848)
Nityananda Prabhu (born 1474)
Om Swami (born 1979)
Osho (born 1931)
Panth Maharaj (3 September 1855 – 16 October 1905)
Paramahansa Yogananda(5 January 1893 – 7 March 1952)
Parthasarathi Rajagopalachari, also known as chariji (24 July 1927 – 20 December 2014)
Pattinathar (c. 10th or 14th century AD)
Pavhari Baba (birth unknown – 1898)
Potuluri Virabrahmendra Swami (c. 17th century)
Prabhat Ranjan Sarkar, also known as Shrii Shrii Anandamurti (21 May 1921 – 21 October 1990)
Pramukh Swami Maharaj(born 7 December 1921–13 August 2016)
Pranavananda, also known as Yugacharya Srimat Swami Pranavananda Ji Maharaj (29 January 1896 – 8 February 1941)
Pranavanda Saraswati (28 August 1908 – 28 August 1982)
Prem Rawat, also known as Maharaji, Guru Maharaj Ji, and Balyogeshwar (born 10 December 1957)
Purandara Dasa
Puran Puri (born 1742)
Ramdas Kathiababa (early 24 July 1800 – 8 February 1909)
Radhanath Swami (born 7 December 1950)
Raghavendra Swami (1595 – 1671)
Raghunatha Bhatta Goswami (1505–1579)
Rajinder Singh (spiritual master) (20 September 1946) (Sawan Kirpal Ruhani Mission) (Founder of Science of Sprituality)
Rakeshprasad(born 23 July 1966)
Raghuttama Tirtha (1537 – 1596)
Ram Chandra (Babuji) (30 April 1899 – 19 April 1983)
Ram Thakur (2 February 1860 – 1 May 1949)
Rama Tirtha (22 October 1873 – 27 October 1906)
Ramakrishna(18 February 1836 – 16 August 1886) See Disciples
Ramalinga Swamigal (5 October 1823 Disappeared on 30 January 1874), also known as Vallalar
Ramana Maharshi(30 December 1879 – 14 April 1950)
Ramanuja (c. 1017 – c. 1137)
Ramprasad Sen (c. 1718 or c. 1723 – c. 1775)
Ravidas (1398-1540)
Rupa Goswami (1489–1564)
Santadas Kathiababa (June 10, 1859 – 1935)
Sant Rampal Ji Maharaj (1951 se abhi tk)
Sahadeo Tiwari (1892–1972),
Sai Baba of Shirdi (1838–1918)
Samarth Ramdas (1608–1681)
Sanatana Goswami (1488–1558)
Sankardev (c. 1449 – c. 1568)
Sant Charandas (1703–1782)
Sant Nirmala (c. 14th century), Marathi literature
Sant Soyarabai (c. 14th century), Marathi literature
Sarada Devi (22 December 1853 – 20 July 1920)
Satchidananda Saraswati (22 December 1914 – 19 August 2002)
Sathya Sai Baba (23 November 1926 – 24 April 2011)
Satnarayan Maharaj (born 1931), Indo-Trinidadian Hindu leader and son-in-law of Bhadase Sagan Maraj
Satsvarupa dasa Goswami(born 6 December 1939)
Satya Narayan Goenka (30 January 1924 – 29 September 2013)
Satyananda Giri (17 November 1896 – 2 August 1971)
Satyananda Saraswati (25 December 1923 – 5 December 2009)
Satyapramoda Tirtha (1918–1997)
Sawan Singh (Radha Soami Sant Satguru) (27 July 1858 – 2 April 1948)
Shaunaka,
Seshadri Swamigal (22 January 1870 – 4 January 1929)
Shiv Dayal Singh also known as “Soamiji Maharaj” (25 August 1818 – 15 June 1878)
Shivabalayogi (24 January 1935 – 28 March 1994)
Shreedhar Swami (7 December 1908 – 19 April 1973)
Shripad Shri Vallabha
Sitaramdas Omkarnath (17 February 1892 – 6 December 1982)
Sivananda Saraswati (8 September 1887 – 14 July 1963)
Sivaya Subramuniyaswami (5 January 1927 – 12 November 2001)
Soham Swami (birth unknown – 1918)
Sopan (c. 13th century)
Sri Aurobindo (15 August 1872 – 5 December 1950)
Sripadaraja (c. 1422 – 1480)
Sri Chinmoy(27 August 1931 – 11 October 2007)
Sri M (born 06 November 1948)
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar (born 1956)
Sudhanshu Ji Maharaj (born May 1955)
Surdas (c. late 15th-century)
Swami Abhedananda (2 October 1866 – 8 September 1939)
Swami Bhoomananda Tirtha (born 13 May 1933)
Swami Chidbhavananda (11 March 1898 – 16 November 1985)
Swami Janakananda (born 13 June 1939)
Swami Keshwanand Satyarthi (born 5 September 1943), (Paramhans Satyarthi Mission, Advait Mat )
Swami Nithyananda (born 1 January 1978 or 13 March 1977)
Swami Purnachaitanya (born 1984)
Swami Sri Yukteswar Giri (1855–1936)
Swami Rama (1925–1996)
Swami Ramanand (c. 1738 – c. 1802)
Swami Ramdas (10 April 1884 – 25 July 1963)
Swami Samarth
Swami Vivekananda (12 January 1863 – 4 July 1902)
Swaminarayan (3 April 1781 – 1 June 1830)
Swarupanand (1 February 1884 – 9 April 1936), part of Advait Mat lineage
Swarupananda (8 July 1871 – 27 June 1906)
Tibbetibaba (birth unknown – 19 November 1930)
Trailanga (1607–1887)
Tukaram (c. 1608 – 1649)
Tulsidas (1532–1623), also known as Goswami Tulsidas
Upasni Maharaj (15 May 1870 – 24 December 1941)
Uppaluri Gopala Krishnamurti (9 July 1918 – 22 March 2007)
Utpaladeva (ca. 900–950), teacher of Kashmiri Shaivism
Vallabha Acharya(1479 – 1531)
Vadiraja Tirtha (1480–1600)
Vasugupta (800–850 CE), author of the Shiva Sutras in Kashmiri Shaivism
Vethathiri Maharishi (14 August 1911 – 28 March 2006)
Vidyaranya (c. 1268 – c. 1386)
Vishuddhananda Paramahansa (14 March 1853 – 14 July 1937)
Vishwesha Tirtha (1931–2019)
Vyasatirtha (c. 1460 – 1539)
Yogaswami (1872 – March 1964)
Yogi Ramsuratkumar (1 December 1918 – 20 February 2001)
Yogiji Maharaj
Yukteswar Giri (10 May 1855 – 9 March 1936)