guruguru-gitashivaparvati

Guru Gita (Selected Verses)

गुरु गीता (चयनित श्लोक) in English · English

🕉️ hindu·📿 1× repetitions·🕐 Guru Purnima, Thursdays (Guruvar), and daily in the early morning (Brahma Muhurta)·📜 Skanda Purana — the dialogue of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati (Uttara Khanda)

Read in your language / script

हिन्दी / देवनागरी తెలుగు தமிழ்ಕನ್ನಡ മലയാളം ગુજરાતી বাংলা ଓଡ଼ିଆ ਪੰਜਾਬੀEnglishසිංහල 𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥

✦ Meaning

The Guru Gita ('Song of the Guru') is a revered dialogue between Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati, drawn from the Skanda Purana, in which Shiva expounds the supreme greatness of the Guru. These celebrated verses interpret the very word 'guru' as that which turns darkness into light, declare the Guru to be Brahman itself, and reveal the Guru's form, feet, word and grace as the roots of meditation, worship, mantra and liberation. The closing dhyana verse, 'Brahmanandam', is chanted daily across India as the supreme salutation to the Sadguru.

Origin & Story

Skanda Purana — the dialogue of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati (Uttara Khanda) · Traditional (revealed by Lord Shiva to Parvati; preserved in the Skanda Purana) · Ancient (Puranic)

When Goddess Parvati asks Lord Shiva to reveal the path by which a soul may attain union with Brahman, Shiva replies that there is no means higher than devotion to the Guru. He then expounds the Guru Gita — unfolding the meaning of the word 'guru', the worship of the Guru's feet, and the truth that the Guru is the very embodiment of Brahman, the destroyer of ignorance and the giver of liberation. These verses became one of the most cherished scriptures of guru-bhakti, recited daily in ashrams and homes throughout India.

✦ As told in scripture

Saints of every lineage testify that sincere recitation of the Guru Gita awakens the living grace of the Guru — countless sadhakas relate that daily reading of these verses brought sudden inner clarity, the removal of long-standing doubts, and the unmistakable, guiding presence of their teacher, fulfilling the promise that 'the root of liberation is the grace of the Guru'.

0all time

Complete Text with Meaning

Tap any line — or the ▶ button — to hear it recited

Verse 1

Gukaarash-chaandhakaaro hi Kakaaras-teja uchyate. Ajnaana-graasakam Brahma Gurur-eva na samshayah.

Meaning:The syllable 'gu' is the darkness (of ignorance) and the syllable 'ru' is the light; the Brahman that devours ignorance is verily the Guru — of this there is no doubt.

Verse 2

Gukaarah prathamo varno maayaadi-guna-bhaasakah. Rakaaro dviteeyo Brahma maayaa-bhraanti-vinaashanam.

Meaning:The first syllable 'gu' reveals the qualities born of maya; the second, 'ru', is the Brahman that destroys the delusion of maya.

Verse 3

Dhyaana-moolam guror-moortih poojaa-moolam guroh padam. Mantra-moolam guror-vaakyam moksha-moolam guroh kripaa.

Meaning:The root of meditation is the form of the Guru; the root of worship is the feet of the Guru; the root of all mantra is the word of the Guru; and the root of liberation is the grace of the Guru.

Verse 4

Gurur-eva param Brahma Gurur-eva paraa gatih. Gurur-eva paraa vidyaa Gurur-eva paraayanam.

Meaning:The Guru alone is the Supreme Brahman; the Guru alone is the highest goal. The Guru alone is the supreme knowledge; the Guru alone is the ultimate refuge.

Verse 5

Gurur-eva parah kaamo Gurur-eva param dhanam. Yasmaat-tattvopadeshtaasau tasmaad-gurutaro guruh.

Meaning:The Guru alone is the highest desire; the Guru alone is the supreme wealth. Because he is the one who imparts the knowledge of Truth, the Guru is therefore weightier than all.

Verse 6

Sarva-shruti-shiro-ratna-viraajita-padaambujah. Vedaantaambuja-sooryo yah tasmai Shri-Gurave Namah.

Meaning:Whose lotus-feet are made radiant by the crown-jewels of all the Shrutis (the Upanishads), who is the sun that makes the lotus of Vedanta blossom — to that revered Guru, salutations.

Verse 7

Brahmaanandam parama-sukhadam kevalam jnaana-moortim Dvandvaateetam gagana-sadrisham tattvam-asyaadi-lakshyam. Ekam nityam vimalam-achalam sarva-dhee-saakshi-bhootam Bhaavaateetam triguna-rahitam sad-gurum tam namaami.

Meaning:I bow to that true Guru, who is the bliss of Brahman and the giver of supreme joy, who is pure knowledge alone, beyond all dualities, vast as the sky, the goal of the saying 'That Thou Art' — the One, eternal, stainless and unmoving, the witness of every intellect, beyond all states of mind and free of the three gunas.

Word-by-Word Meaning

Click any word to hear its pronunciation

Gukaarah🔊The syllable 'gu' (of the word guru)

Andhakaarah🔊Darkness (here, the darkness of ignorance)

Kakaarah tejah🔊The syllable 'ru/ka' is said to be light (that dispels darkness)

Ajnaana-graasakam Brahma🔊The Brahman that devours (destroys) ignorance

Gurur-eva na samshayah🔊Is verily the Guru — there is no doubt of this

Dhyaana-moolam guror-moortih🔊The root of meditation is the form of the Guru

Poojaa-moolam guroh padam🔊The root of worship is the feet of the Guru

Mantra-moolam guror-vaakyam🔊The root of all mantra is the word of the Guru

Moksha-moolam guroh kripaa🔊The root of liberation is the grace of the Guru

Gurur-eva param Brahma🔊The Guru alone is the Supreme Brahman

Gurur-eva paraa gatih🔊The Guru alone is the supreme goal/refuge

Gurur-eva paraa vidyaa🔊The Guru alone is the highest knowledge

Tasmaad-gurutaro guruh🔊Therefore the Guru is weightier (greater) than all — none is higher

Sarva-shruti-shiro-ratna🔊The crown-jewel of all the Shrutis (the Upanishads, the crest of the Vedas)

Viraajita-padaambujah🔊Whose lotus-feet are radiantly adorned (by that crown-jewel of scripture)

Vedaantaambuja-sooryah🔊The sun that makes the lotus of Vedanta blossom

Tasmai Shri-Gurave Namah🔊To that revered Guru, salutations

Brahmaanandam jnaana-moortim🔊The bliss of Brahman, the very embodiment of knowledge

Tattvam-asyaadi-lakshyam🔊The goal pointed to by the great sayings such as 'Tat Tvam Asi' (That Thou Art)

Sarva-dhee-saakshi-bhootam🔊The witness of all intellects (the silent seer within every mind)

Sad-gurum tam namaami🔊To that true Guru I bow

Benefits of Chanting गुरु गीता (चयनित श्लोक)

✦

Reveals the supreme glory of the Guru as Brahman itself — the heart of guru-bhakti

✦

Each verse deepens reverence and surrender to the Sadguru's form, feet, word and grace

✦

The 'Brahmanandam' dhyana verse is a complete daily salutation to the Guru and the Self

✦

Bestows wisdom (jnana) and the inner removal of ignorance ('that which devours darkness')

✦

Brings peace, steadiness and the felt presence of the Guru in meditation

✦

Traditionally recited on Guru Purnima and Thursdays for the Guru's blessings

✦

Cultivates the understanding that the Guru and the supreme Truth are one

How to Chant गुरु गीता (चयनित श्लोक)

Repetitions1times

Best TimeGuru Purnima, Thursdays (Guruvar), and daily in the early morning (Brahma Muhurta)

Sit facing east before an image of one's Guru or of Lord Shiva, after bathing, and light a lamp. Recite these verses of the Guru Gita slowly and meditatively, dwelling on the meaning of the Guru as Brahman. The full Guru Gita is traditionally recited in the early morning; even a selection of these core verses, especially the closing 'Brahmanandam', is a complete and auspicious guru-vandana. Conclude by bowing at the Guru's feet (manasika namaskara).

Frequently Asked Questions

This page shows the complete गुरु गीता (चयनित श्लोक) 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.

The Guru Gita ('Song of the Guru') is a sacred text in the form of a dialogue between Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati, found within the Skanda Purana. In it Shiva explains to Parvati the nature, glory and worship of the Guru, declaring the Guru to be none other than the Supreme Brahman.

The Guru Gita interprets the syllables of 'guru' as 'gu' meaning darkness (ignorance) and 'ru' meaning light; the Guru is thus the one who dispels the darkness of ignorance with the light of knowledge, and is therefore Brahman itself.

'Brahmanandam Parama-sukhadam' is the famous closing dhyana (meditation) verse that salutes the Sadguru as the bliss of Brahman, pure knowledge, the witness of all minds, and the goal of the great saying 'Tat Tvam Asi'. It is chanted daily across India as the supreme salutation to the Guru.

It is recited especially on Guru Purnima, the great festival of the Guru, and on Thursdays, the day traditionally devoted to the Guru. Many sadhakas recite it daily in the early morning as part of their spiritual practice.