guru bhakti: (Sanskrit) Devotion to the teacher.

The attitude of humility, love and loyality held by a student in any field of study. In the spiritual realm, the devotee strives to see the guru as his higher Self.

By attuning himself to the satguru's inner nature and wisdom, the disciple slowly transforms his own nature to ultimately attain the same peace and enlightenment his guru has achieved.

Guru bhakti is expressed through serving the guru, meditating on his form, working closely with his mind and obeying his instructions.

See: guru, satguru, guru-shishya system, Kularnava Tantra.

(See also: Guru bhakti, Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

Guru-bhakti:

Guru-bhakti ("teacher devotion"): a disciple's self-transcending devotion to the guru; see also bhakti

(See also: Guru-bhakti, Yoga, Yoga Dictionary)

guru

A spiritual master. The gurus who initiate one and instruct one in pure Krishna consciousness are to be honored equally with the Supreme Lord.

(See also: guru, Bhakti, Bhakti Yoga, Bhakti Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul)

Sant Dnyaneshwar realised that the Gita's teachings could be read and understood only by a small Sanskrit-knowing elite. Dnyaneshwar, under the advice of his guru, Nivrathinath, rendered a Marathi version of the Gita known as Dnyaneshwari. It contains more than 9,000 verses called ovies. So Sant Dnyaneshwar brought the teachings of the Gita within reach of the common man. Dnyaneshwari was composed around the twelfth century, when Dnyaneshwar was only 16 years old. He took samadhi at the age of 22 and left this mortal world.

(See also: Dnyaneshwar, Spiritual Guidance, God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

Mantras

Awakening Kundalini is effected by Mantra also. It is a portion of Bhakti Yoga. Some aspirants should repeat the Mantra given by their Guru even lakhs of times. During the time of Diksha of an Uttama Adhikari, the Guru utters a particular Mantra and Kundalini is awakened immediately.

From "Kundalini Yoga" by Sri Swami Sivananda

Read more here: » Mantras: Mantras for Awakening Kundalini

Sri Madhvacharya, the 13th century dvaita philosopher, is believed to have his divine origin from Mukhyaprana or Vayu, who had in earlier yugas been born as Hanuman, the attendant of Lord Rama and Bhimasena, celebrated in the Mahabharata as the mightiest man, the destroyer of asuras born as kings.

Sri Madhva was a dualist who believed in the verity of God, jeeva and matter existing eternally as distinct entities. His philosophy is a realistic and theistic philosophy. He advocated an active life emphasising duty, devotion and dedication.

(See also: Sri Madhvacharya, Spiritual Guidance, God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

The path of spiritual progress leading to Self-realisation, propagated by Gurudeva Mangatram is the Surat Shabd Yoga, the path advocated by a number of spiritual teachers like Vasisht and Patanjali in ancient times and saints like Kabir and Guru Nanak in mediaeval times.

Gurudeva's teaching includes the themes of bhakti yoga, gnana yoga, nishkam karma yoga and surat shabd yoga . At this stage of experience, the moolmantra was revealed unto young Mangat: Om Brahman alone is being, without shape and form, One without a second, all pervasive, blessing incarnate. To him, the Supreme Lord, we offer our salutations.

(See also: Gurudeva Mangatram, Spiritual Guidance, God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

In olden days the aspirants were required to live with the Guru for a number of years, so that the Guru could study the students thoroughly. The food during practice, what to practise and how, whether the students are qualified for the path of Yoga, and the temperament of the aspirants and other important items have to be considered and judged by the Guru.

Read more here: » Yogic Guru: Necessity For A Yogic Guru

Bhakti is not kamayamana or desire-driven; it is nirodh , a check on desire. When attained, bhakti makes a person into siddha , perfect and trupta , satisfied. Such a person thereafter has neither desire nor worry, hate, pleasure or excitement. Does it imply dullness? No, it implies fulfilment born of antar-aarama or inner harmony, which could so suffuse the mind as to make the bhakta look inebriated or matta . Does attaining such a state imply stagnation?

(See also: Life and Death, Life and Beyond, Death and Dying, Body Mind and Soul)

Saint, scholar, soldier all rolled into one, Guru Gobind Singh was responsible for the evolution of the Khalsa Panth.

He was barely nine years old when the dismembered head of his father Guru Teg Bahadur was brought to him at Anandpur Saheb. This became the turning point in little Gobind Rai's life and paved the way for the concretisation of the Sikh tradition. The child held back his tears, embraced the faithful Jaita who had risked his life to bring the sacred trust in tact, and declared that henceforth all untouchables would be the Guru's own children.

(See also: Guru Gobind Singh, Spiritual Guidance, God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

The guru-shishya tradition (also guru-shishya parampara or lineage) is a spiritual relationship found within traditional Hinduism which is centered around the transmission of teachings from a guru (teacher, गुरू) to a 'śiṣya' (disciple, शिष्य) . The term shishya roughly equates to the western term disciple, and in some parts of India is synonymous with the term chela. In a Hindu context, the term guruIncluding:

• Guru-shishya tradition - Common characteristics of the guru-shishya relationship
• Guru-shishya tradition - Guru-shishya relationship types
• Guru-shishya tradition - In bhakti yoga
• Guru-shishya tradition - Other
• Guru-shishya tradition - In Buddhism
• Guru-shishya tradition - Psychological aspects

Read more here: » Guru-shishya tradition: Encyclopedia - Guru-shishya tradition

Puri can mean: Puri, a city in the Indian state of Orissa. puri, an Indian bread. Bhakti Vaibhava Puri Maharaj, Gaudiya Vaishnava Guru, and founder-acharya of the Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mission. Puri is a family name (surname) among Hindus and Sikhs originating from Punjab. Other related archivesBhakti Vaibhava Puri Maharaj, Gaudiya Vaishnava, Guru, Indian, Orissa, Puri, Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mission, acharya, bread, puri

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Shaktipat is a term from Sanskrit and Hindi that refers to the act of a guru or spiritual teacher conferring a form of spiritual 'power' or awakening on a disciple/student. This power has been referred to by various terms, such as Shakti, Kundalini, Chi, Holy Spirit. Shaktipat can be carried out by either touch or presence, intentionally or accidentally. The schools of yoga whose gurus perform shaktipat are as follows: Bhakti Yoga, the yoga of devotion. Maha Yoga, a school using shaktipat as its ...

Read more here: » Shaktipat: Encyclopedia - Shaktipat

In Hinduism, diksha is the ritual of initiation into the worship of some deity by a guru (diksha guru) who bestows mantra(s) and takes the karma of the initiate - at least in case of Vaishnava diksha, as per Hari Bhakti Vilasa 1.70: raji catmatyaja dosah patni-papam sva-bhartari tatha sisyartjitam papam guruh prapnoti niscita "The faults of the counselor fall on the king, and the sins of a wife fall on her husband. In the same way a spiritual master attains the sins of his disciple. That is certain." Diksha primarily means a transfer of spir ...

Read more here: » Diksha: Encyclopedia - Diksha

A bhajan or kirtan is a Hindu devotional song, often but not necessarily of ancient origin. Great importance is attributed to the singing of bhajans within the Bhakti movement. It is also one of the pillars of Sikhism and in that context refers to the singing of the Sacred Hymns from the Sri Guru Granth Sahib, or "SGGS". The Sikhs place huge value on this type of singing and a Sikh is duty bound to listen to and/or sing Guru-Kirtan as frequently as possible. In Surat Shabd Yoga, bhajan means listening to the i ...

Including:

• Bhajan - History and Origin
• Bhajan - Types of Bhajans
• Bhajan - Kirtan in Sikhism
• Bhajan - Ragas in Sikh Kirtan
• Bhajan - Tala in Sikh Kirtan
• Bhajan - Meaning According to the SGGS
• Bhajan - Great Exponents
• Bhajan - Popularity with the Masses
• Bhajan - Modern Forms
• Bhajan - Usage in Surat Shabd Yoga

Read more here: » Bhajan: Encyclopedia - Bhajan

Mirabai (मीराबाई) (1498-1547) (sometimes also spelled Meera) was a female Hindu mystical poet during the Mughal period of Indian history. Disciple of Guru Ravidas, she composed many prayerful songs called (Bhajans). They are in the bhakti tradition, and most passionately praised Lord Krishna. Mirabai - Life story. She was born in Merta in Rajasthan, and the extant version of her poems are in Hindi. Her father's elder brother Viram Deo who succeeded to the throne ar ...

Including:

• Mirabai - Life story
• Mirabai - Poetry

Read more here: » Mirabai: Encyclopedia - Mirabai

In Hindu mythology, Vedavati is speculated to have been the spirit of Sita Devi, the wife of Rama in the epic Ramayana. Vedavati - Early Life. Vedavati is the daughter of Brahmarishi Kusadhvaja, who is the son of Brihaspati, Lord-Guru of the Devas, the Gods. Having spent his life chanting and studying the sacred Vedas, he names his daughter Vedavati, or Embodiment of the Vedas, born as the fruit of his bhakti and tapasya. Vedavati - Dedication to Vishnu. ...

Including:

• Vedavati - Early Life
• Vedavati - Dedication to Vishnu
• Vedavati - Violation and death
• Vedavati - Prophesy

Read more here: » Vedavati: Encyclopedia - Vedavati

Vedanta (Vedānta, वेदान्त, pronounced as //vé: dα:n tə//) means the anta or culmination or essence of the Vedas. It is a principal branch of Hindu philosophy. As per some, it is a form of Jnana Yoga (one of the four basic yoga practices in Hinduism; the others are: Raja Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Karma Yoga), a form of yoga which involves an individual seeking "the path of intellectual analysis or the discrimination of truth and reality." As per other ...

Including:

• Vedanta - Sub-schools of Vedanta
• Vedanta - Roots of Vedanta
• Vedanta - Transition from Vedic to Vedantic religion
• Vedanta - Formalization
• Vedanta - Vedanta and science
• Vedanta - Major Vedantic Gurus

Read more here: » Vedanta: Encyclopedia - Vedanta

A guru (गुरू Sanskrit) is a teacher in Hinduism, Buddhism or Sikhism. Based on a long line of philosophical understanding as to the importance of knowledge, the guru is seen in these religions as a sacred conduit, or a way to self-realization. In India and among people of Hindu, Buddhist, or Sikh belief, the title retains a hallowed meaning. Guru also refers in Sanskrit to Brihaspati, a Hindu figure analogous to the Roman planet/god Jupiter. In Vedic astrology, Jupiter/Guru/Brihaspati is believed to ...

Including:

• Guru - Etymology
• Guru - Guru in Hinduism
• Guru - Guru in Buddhism
• Guru - Guru in Sikhism
• Guru - Types of gurus
• Guru - Succession and lineage parampara
• Guru - Guru in a Western culture context
• Guru - Gurus in the West
• Guru - Assessment and criticism
• Guru - Notable scandals and controversies
• Guru - Bibliography

Read more here: » Guru: Encyclopedia - Guru

Parampara (Sanskrit: परमपरा) denotes a long succession of teachers and disciples in traditional Indian culture. It is also known as Guru (teacher) Shishya (disciple) parampara, where the knowledge (in any field) is passed down (undiluted) through the succeeeding generations. In Sanskrit, the word literally means: Uninterrupted series of succession. It is the traditional method of residential form of education wherein the Shishya remains with his Guru as a family member and gets the education as a true learner. The domains may include spir ...

Including:

• Parampara - Other uses

Read more here: » Parampara: Encyclopedia - Parampara