Guru Vandana Meaning — Line by Line
गुरु वंदना
Every verse and every word explained in English & Hindi
Meaning — Line by Line
Every verse of Guru Vandana with its English meaning. Tap any word to hear it, or ▶ to recite the verse.
Gurur Brahma Gurur Vishnu
गुरुर्ब्रह्मा गुरुर्विष्णुः गुरुर्देवो महेश्वरः। गुरुर्साक्षात् परं ब्रह्म तस्मै श्री गुरवे नमः॥
Gurur Brahma Gurur Vishnu Gurur Devo Maheshwarah Gurur Sakshat Param Brahma Tasmai Shri Gurave Namah
MeaningThe Guru is Brahma (creator), the Guru is Vishnu (preserver), the Guru is Lord Maheshwara (Shiva, the transformer). The Guru is the Supreme Absolute itself. I bow to that Guru.
Akhandamandalakaram
अखण्डमण्डलाकारं व्याप्तं येन चराचरम्। तत्पदं दर्शितं येन तस्मै श्री गुरवे नमः॥
Akhandamandalakaram Vyaptam Yena Characharam Tatpadam Darshitam Yena Tasmai Shri Gurave Namah
MeaningThe Guru whose form pervades the entire undivided circle of the universe — all that moves and all that is still — who has shown me that supreme state, I bow to that Guru.
Agyaana Timirandhasya
अज्ञानतिमिरान्धस्य ज्ञानाञ्जनशलाकया। चक्षुरुन्मीलितं येन तस्मै श्री गुरवे नमः॥
Agyaana Timirandhasya Gyananjana Shalakaya Chakshur Unmilitam Yena Tasmai Shri Gurave Namah
MeaningThe Guru who opened my eyes, blinded by the darkness of ignorance, with the needle of the collyrium of knowledge — I bow to that Guru.
Tvameva Mata Cha Pita Tvameva
त्वमेव माता च पिता त्वमेव त्वमेव बन्धुश्च सखा त्वमेव। त्वमेव विद्या द्रविणं त्वमेव त्वमेव सर्वं मम देव देव॥
Tvameva Mata Cha Pita Tvameva Tvameva Bandhush Cha Sakha Tvameva Tvameva Vidya Dravinam Tvameva Tvameva Sarvam Mama Deva Deva
MeaningYou alone are my mother, you alone are my father. You alone are my relative and friend. You alone are knowledge and wealth. You are everything to me, O God of gods.
Word-by-Word Breakdown
Origin & History
Source: Guru Gita (Skanda Purana)
Author: Attributed to Lord Shiva (taught to Parvati)
Period: Ancient (Puranic era)
The Guru Gita is a dialogue between Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati in the Skanda Purana. Parvati asks Shiva about the nature and importance of the Guru. Shiva responds with these verses, declaring that the Guru embodies the entire trinity — Brahma, Vishnu and Maheshwara — because the Guru creates knowledge, preserves wisdom, and destroys ignorance. The 'Tvameva Mata' verse is from a different source and is a universal prayer of surrender.
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