The Guru is the one who takes you from darkness to the light, from ignorance to truth, from suffering to salvation. All the spiritual Gurus need to be thanked. Mere thanks is nowhere close to the sacrifices and unconditional love that they have poured on you. But at least it is a good start. Some say that Guru Purnima is the best day to thank the Gurus, but the wisest among men know that Gurus need to be remembered and revered each day. This not only ensures our spiritual progress but also blesses us in our materialistic pursuits. Below is a famous hymn, known as the Gurustotram (“in praise of the Guru”) that shows gratitude to all the spiritual Gurus.
- gururbrahma gururvishnuh gururdevo maheshvarah
gurureva param brahma tasmai shrigurave namah - akhandamandalakaram vyaptam yena caracaram
tatpadam darshitam yena tasmai shrigurave namah - ajnanatimirandhasya jnananjanashalakaya
cakshurunmilitam yena tasmai shrigurave namah - sthavaram jangamam vyaptam yatkincitsacaracaram
tatpadam darshitam yena tasmai shrigurave namah - cinmayam vyapi yatsarvam trailokyam sacaracaram
tatpadam darshitam yena tasmai shrigurave namah - sarvashrutishiroratna-virajita-padambujah
vedantambujasuryo yah tasmai shrigurave namah - caitanyah shashvatah shantah vyomatito niranjanah
bindunada-kalatitah tasmai shrigurave namah - jnanashaktisamarudhah tattvamalavibhushitah
bhuktimuktipradata ca tasmai shrigurave namah - anekajanmasamprapta-karmabandhavidahine
atmajnanapradanena tasmai shrigurave namah - shoshanam bhavasindhosca jnapanam sarasampadah
guroh padodakam samyak tasmai shrigurave namah - na guroradhikam tattvam na guroradhikam tapah
tattvajnanatparam nasti tasmai shrigurave namah - mannathah shrijagannathah madguruh shrijagadguruh
madatma sarvabhutatma tasmai shrigurave namah - gururadiranadishca guruh paramadaivatam
guroh parataram nasti tasmai shrigurave namah - tvameva mata ca pita tvameva tvameva bandhushca sakha tvameva
tvameva vidya dravinam tvameva tvameva sarvam mama devadeva
I pay tribute to the Creator (Lord Brahma), Sustainer (Lord Vishnu) and Destroyer (Lord Shiva) who are embodied in my Guru. The Guru is verily Para-Brahman (Supreme consciousness). I express my gratitude to that Guru through my salutations.
To the one who revealed to me the truth, which is to be known, that which takes the form of the entire universe, pervading all that moves and all that is static, I express my gratitude to that Guru through my salutations.
To the one who opened my eyes (which were previously blinded by the veil of ignorance) to the truth by applying the collyrium (Kajal) of the light of knowledge, I express my gratitude to that Guru through my salutations.
To the one who revealed to me the truth which is to be known, that which permeates all that moves and all that doesn’t move, all that is sentient and insentient, I express my gratitude to that Guru through my salutations.
To the one who revealed the truth which is to be known, that which is pure consciousness and pervades all three worlds made up of the sentient and insentient, I express my gratitude to that Guru through my salutations.
To the one who unfolded the supreme (universal) wisdom, known as the crown jewel (pinnacle) of the Vedas, enabling it to blossom forth in my head as the lotus petals open to the sun, I express my gratitude to that Guru through my salutations.
To the one who unfolded the supreme (universal) wisdom, known as the crown jewel (pinnacle) of the Vedas, enabling it to blossom forth in my head as the lotus petals open to the sun, I express my gratitude to that Guru through my salutations.
To the one who is well grounded in the wisdom and carries unimaginable strength, who is adorned with the garland of truth and bestows worldly happiness as well as the lasting joy of liberation, I express my gratitude to that Guru through my salutations.
To the one who pointed the way to the self-knowledge (Atmagyan) that burns away the chains of innumerable births and their accumulated causes and effects (Karma), I express my gratitude to that Guru through my salutations.
To the one who exudes the essence of the entire Vedas and Vedanta, from whom flows the perennial wisdom that dries up the ocean of temporary materialistic existence, and who reveals the essence of all wealth (Atma) within us, I express my gratitude to that Guru through my salutations.
Because there is no knowledge more valuable than the ultimate truth, no pursuit more purifying than seeking the truth, I express my gratitude to the Guru, who guides me to attain the truth (myself). I express my gratitude to that Guru through my salutations.
To the one who reveals to me that the essence of the universe is the essence in me and in all beings, I express my gratitude to that Guru through my salutations.
I bow down to you, the beginning and the one without any beginning, the supreme without any equal, the One without a second. I express my gratitude to that Guru through my salutations.
You are my mother, father, relative, and friend. You are all wisdom and wealth. You are indeed my All. I express my gratitude to that Guru through my salutations.
