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गुरु वंदना Meaning — Line by Line

गुरु वंदना

Every verse and every word explained in English & Hindi

Meaning — Line by Line

Every verse of गुरु वंदना with its Hindi meaning. Tap any word to hear it, or ▶ to recite the verse.

Verse 1#

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

Meaningगुरु ब्रह्मा हैं, गुरु विष्णु हैं, गुरु ही साक्षात् महेश्वर (शिव) हैं; गुरु ही साक्षात् परब्रह्म हैं — उन श्रीगुरु को नमस्कार।

Verse 2#

Akhandamandalakaram

अखण्डमण्डलाकारं व्याप्तं येन चराचरम्। तत्पदं दर्शितं येन तस्मै श्री गुरवे नमः॥

Akhandamandalakaram Vyaptam Yena Characharam Tatpadam Darshitam Yena Tasmai Shri Gurave Namah

Meaningजो अखण्ड मण्डलाकार रूप में समस्त चराचर जगत् में व्याप्त हैं — उस (ब्रह्मरूप) पद को दिखाने वाले श्रीगुरु को नमस्कार।

Verse 3#

Agyaana Timirandhasya

अज्ञानतिमिरान्धस्य ज्ञानाञ्जनशलाकया। चक्षुरुन्मीलितं येन तस्मै श्री गुरवे नमः॥

Agyaana Timirandhasya Gyananjana Shalakaya Chakshur Unmilitam Yena Tasmai Shri Gurave Namah

Meaningअज्ञान के अन्धकार से अन्धे (मुझ) के नेत्रों को ज्ञान-अंजन की शलाका से खोलने वाले श्रीगुरु को नमस्कार।

Verse 4#

Tvameva Mata Cha Pita Tvameva

त्वमेव माता 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

Meaningतुम ही माता हो, तुम ही पिता; तुम ही बन्धु और सखा हो; तुम ही विद्या और धन हो; हे देवदेव! तुम ही मेरा सर्वस्व हो।

Word-by-Word Breakdown

गुरु
Guru
Teacher, remover of darkness (gu=darkness, ru=remover)
ब्रह्मा
Brahma
The creator god
विष्णुः
Vishnu
The preserver god
महेश्वरः
Maheshwarah
The great lord (Shiva)
साक्षात्
Sakshat
Directly, in person
परं ब्रह्म
Param Brahma
The supreme absolute truth
अखण्डमण्डलाकारं
Akhandamandalakaram
Whose form is the undivided circle of the universe
चराचरम्
Characharam
All moving and non-moving beings
अज्ञान
Agyaana
Ignorance
तिमिरान्धस्य
Timirandhasya
Blinded by the darkness of
ज्ञानाञ्जन
Gyananjana
The collyrium of knowledge
शलाकया
Shalakaya
With the needle/applicator
चक्षुः उन्मीलितं
Chakshuh Unmilitam
Eyes were opened
त्वमेव
Tvameva
You alone are
माता
Mata
Mother
पिता
Pita
Father
बन्धु
Bandhu
Relative, kin
सखा
Sakha
Friend
विद्या
Vidya
Knowledge
द्रविणं
Dravinam
Wealth

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Gurur Brahma Gurur Vishnu mean?
It means the Guru (teacher) is Brahma (creator of knowledge), the Guru is Vishnu (sustainer of knowledge), the Guru is Shiva (transformer through knowledge), and the Guru is the supreme truth itself. It elevates the teacher to the status of the divine trinity.
Who wrote the Guru Vandana?
These shlokas come from the Guru Gita, a section of the Skanda Purana, presented as a dialogue between Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati about the importance of the Guru.
When is Guru Vandana chanted?
Before every class in traditional Indian education, at the start of spiritual practices, during Guru Purnima (full moon in July), and whenever seeking knowledge or guidance.
What does Tvameva Mata Cha Pita mean?
You alone are my mother, father, relative, friend, knowledge, and wealth — you are everything. This shloka expresses complete surrender and devotion to God or Guru, acknowledging them as the source of everything in life.

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