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Guru Stotram — Gurur Brahma Gurur Vishnu

Guru Stotram — Gurur Brahma Gurur Vishnu in English · English

🕉️ hindu·📿 3× repetitions·🕐 Daily morning; before study or meeting one's Guru; especially on Guru Purnima and Thursdays (Guruvar)·📜 Guru Gita (Skanda Purana)
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हिन्दी / देवनागरीతెలుగుதமிழ்ಕನ್ನಡമലയാളംગુજરાતીবাংলাଓଡ଼ିଆਪੰਜਾਬੀEnglish

Origin & Story

Guru Gita (Skanda Purana) · Traditional (dialogue of Shiva and Parvati) · Puranic

From the Guru Gita — the discourse of Lord Shiva to Goddess Parvati on the glory of the Guru — this single verse has become the universal salutation to the teacher across every Hindu tradition. By equating the Guru with Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva and with Parabrahman itself, it teaches that it is through the Guru's grace that the seeker crosses from ignorance to the light of knowledge.

✦ As told in scripture

It is said that the Guru's grace, invoked by this verse, can accomplish what even the gods cannot — for the Guru is the visible doorway to the formless Absolute, and a single sincere salutation to the Guru is held to dispel lifetimes of ignorance.

The Mantra

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Gururbrahma gururvishnuh gururdevo maheshwarah Guruh sakshat parabrahma tasmai shrigurave namah

Meaning:The Guru is Brahma, the Guru is Vishnu, the Guru is Lord Maheshwara (Shiva); the Guru is verily the Supreme Brahman itself. Salutations to that revered Guru.

Word-by-Word Meaning

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Gururbrahma gururvishnuh🔊The Guru is Brahma (the creator), the Guru is Vishnu (the preserver)
Gururdevo maheshwarah🔊The Guru is the divine Lord Maheshwara (Shiva, the transformer)
Guruh sakshat parabrahma🔊The Guru is verily the Supreme Brahman (the Absolute) itself
Tasmai shrigurave namah🔊To that revered Guru, my salutations

Benefits of Chanting Guru Stotram — Gurur Brahma Gurur Vishnu

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The most beloved verse in praise of the Guru, declaring the teacher to be Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva, and verily the Supreme Brahman.

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The central shloka of Guru Purnima and Guru Vandana, recited before study, before the Guru, and at the start of learning and spiritual practice.

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Cultivates reverence, humility and gratitude towards one's teacher and the guru-tattva (the principle of the Guru) within.

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Traditionally believed to remove the darkness of ignorance and open the heart to true knowledge (jnana).

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Short and easily memorised, suitable for daily recitation by students, seekers and devotees of every path.

How to Chant Guru Stotram — Gurur Brahma Gurur Vishnu

Repetitions3times
Best TimeDaily morning; before study or meeting one's Guru; especially on Guru Purnima and Thursdays (Guruvar)
FaceEast or North

Sit calmly, bring your teacher (and the inner Guru) to mind, and recite the verse slowly with reverence. It is chanted before beginning study or spiritual practice, before bowing to one's Guru, and is the foremost prayer of Guru Purnima. Repeat three times or as many as you wish.

Frequently Asked Questions

This page shows the complete Guru Stotram — Gurur Brahma Gurur Vishnu written in the English script — the same Sanskrit/Hindi verses, transliterated character-by-character so you can read and chant comfortably. Tap any line (or the ▶ button) to hear it recited aloud.
Yes — only the script changes; the words and their meaning are the original. The verse-by-verse meaning, benefits and how-to-chant guidance on this page apply exactly the same.
It means: 'The Guru is Brahma, the Guru is Vishnu, the Guru is Lord Shiva (Maheshwara); the Guru is verily the Supreme Brahman itself — salutations to that revered Guru.' The verse declares that the Guru embodies the three divine functions of creation, preservation and transformation, and is ultimately one with the Absolute.
It is recited daily in the morning, before study or spiritual practice, and before bowing to one's teacher. It is the central prayer of Guru Purnima and is also chanted on Thursdays (Guruvar), the day of Guru (Brihaspati).
This famous verse appears in the Guru Gita, a dialogue between Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati within the Skanda Purana, and is the best-known of all verses in praise of the Guru.

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