33 meanings of the word ‘guru’

On the occasion of #GuruPurnima, know 33 meanings of the word 'guru' as explained in various Sanskrit texts.

Pranama‑s to all guru‑s and best wishes to all on Guru Purnima.

Meaning #1: "one who swallows ignorance"

Meaning #2: "one who teaches 'dharma' and scriptures like Veda‑s"

Meaning #3: "one who is praised by gods, 'gandharva'‑s, humans, etc."

Meaning #4: "one who destroys darkness with brilliance"

Meaning #5: "one who removes the disease of worldly existence"

Meaning #6: "one who is beyond [three] qualities and form"

Meaning #7: "one who releases from the bondage of 'maya'"

Meaning #8: "Brahma (the creator)"

Meaning #9: "Vishnu"

Meaning #10: "Shiva"

Meaning #11: "Supreme Brahman"

Meaning #12: "Brihaspati, the teacher of the gods"

Meaning #13: "Prabhakara, the teacher of Mimamsa philosophy"

Meaning #14: "Drona, the teacher of the Pandava‑s and Kaurava‑s"

Meaning #15: "one who performs 'nisheka' rituals (garbhadhana etc.)"

Meaning #16: "one who gives a mantra"

Meaning #17: "the father"

Meaning #18: "any of eleven male elders"

Meaning #19: "any of the elders"

Meaning #20: "one who is great"

Meaning #21: "one who is ageless"

Meaning #22: "one who is large"

Meaning #23: "one who is powerful"

Meaning #24: "one who is honourable"

Meaning #25: "one whose speech has profound meaning"

Meaning #26: "heavy"

Meaning #27: "Shiva, who grants 'siddhi'‑s and burns sins"

Meaning #28: "the illuminator of truth who bestows oneness with Shiva for the attainment of 'jnana'"

Meaning #29: "abundance"

Meaning #30: "a long syllable"

Meaning #31: "the 'pushya' constellation"

Meaning #32: "the velvet bean creeper ('Mucuna pruritus')"

Meaning #33: "the foxtail millet grass ('Panicum italicum')"