Guru Ashtakam

Guru Ashtakam: Mantra with Meaning

Guru Ashtakam is an octet in the praise of spiritual Guru, composed by Adi Sankaracharya. Originally, Adi Shankara has written this in praise of his Guru Govinda Pada. He emphasizes that without deep devotion to the spiritual teacher, all our attainments are meaningless.

In Hinduism, a Guru is a spiritual teacher who imparts the higher knowledge of the Vedas and the way of achieving liberation (enlightenment). But mere study of books cannot make one a Guru. One who has studied the Vedas, and who has direct knowledge of Atman (soul) through self-realization can only be enrolled as a Guru. A Guru is knowledgeable, self-realized, liberated, chaste, virtuous, austere, truthful, detached, free from lust and delusion, and dedicated and devoted to God. A Guru is the knower of Brahman. A Guru is God in human form. The words of a Guru are like the words of God.

A popular Hindu prayer declares, "The Guru is Brahma, the Guru is Vishnu, the Guru is Shiva, the Guru is verily the Supreme Absolute itself. To that Guru, I offer my salutations."

Paying respects to a Guru, touching the feet of a Guru, serving the Guru and taking care of his personal needs, praising and appreciating a Guru, seeking the blessings of a Guru, remembering and meditating on the name of a Guru, are the parts of Hindu spiritual traditions. But it doesn’t insist that everyone should have a Guru in physical form. In Hinduism, there is a provision to consider a sacred scripture, a deity or our very Self as our guide and Guru, and develop a mental and intuitive connection with them. With the help of concentration, austerities and self-purification, we can strengthen our faith in our personal Guru of the subtle realm and seek his help either to introduce us to a real Guru, or lead us towards light, knowledge and immortality.

Composed By: Adi Shankaracharya

Guru, imparting the knowledge of Shastras

Play the music, and sing the stotra along with it

॥ गुर्वष्टकम् ॥

शरीरं सुरुपं तथा वा कलत्रं
यशश्चारू चित्रं धनं मेरुतुल्यम् ।
मनश्चेन्न लग्नं गुरोरंघ्रिपद्मे
ततः किं ततः किं ततः किं ततः किम् ।।१।।

One's body may be perfect, with consort likewise, reputation resplendent and renowned, and riches as high as the Mount Meru;
But if one's mind is not fixed upon the lotus feet of the Guru, what is the use, what is the use, what is the use, and what is the use (of all those achievements)?

कलत्रं धनं पुत्रपौत्रादि सर्वं
गृहं बान्धवाः सर्वमेतद्धि जातम् ।
मनश्चेन्न लग्नं गुरोरंघ्रिपद्मे
ततः किं ततः किं ततः किं ततः किम् ।।२।।

One may have wife, wealth, sons, grandsons, and all these; home, relations, and the host of all there may be;
But if one's mind is not fixed upon the lotus feet of the Guru, what is the use, what is the use, what is the use, and what is the use (of all those achievements)?

षडंगादिवेदो मुखे शास्त्रविद्या
कवित्वादि गद्यं सुपद्यं करोति ।
मनश्चेन्न लग्नं गुरोरंघ्रिपद्मे
ततः किं ततः किं ततः किं ततः किम् ।।३।।

The knowledge of the four Vedas with their six auxiliaries may be on one's lips, one may be an expert in composing good prose and poetry;
But if one's mind is not fixed upon the lotus feet of the Guru, what is the use, what is the use, what is the use, and what is the use (of all those achievements)?

विदेशेषु मान्यः स्वदेशेषु धन्यः
सदाचारवृत्तेषु मत्तो न चान्यः ।
मनश्चेन्न लग्नं गुरोरंघ्रिपद्मे
ततः किं ततः किं ततः किं ततः किम् ।।४।।

One may be considered honorable in the regions abroad, rich in one's own land, and greatly revered in virtues and noble deeds;
But if one's mind is not fixed upon the lotus feet of the Guru, what is the use, what is the use, what is the use, and what is the use (of all those achievements)?

क्षमामण्डले भूपभूपालवृन्दैः
सदा सेवितं यस्य पादारविन्दम् ।
मनश्चेन्न लग्नं गुरोरंघ्रिपद्मे
ततः किं ततः किं ततः किं ततः किम् ।।५।।

One's lotus feet may be constantly served (with devotion) by the hosts of emperors and kings of the world as a result of greatness and scholarship;
But if one's mind is not fixed upon the lotus feet of the Guru, what is the use, what is the use, what is the use, and what is the use (of all those achievements)?

यशो मे गतं दिक्षु दानप्रतापा
जगद्वस्तु सर्वं करे यत्प्रसादात् ।
मनश्चेन्न लग्नं गुरोरंघ्रिपद्मे
ततः किं ततः किं ततः किं ततः किम् ।।६।।

One's fame may spread all over the world due to the performance of charitable acts; one may have all the objects (happiness) of the world in his hands (due to the grace of his compassionate Guru);
But if one's mind is not fixed upon the lotus feet of the Guru, what is the use, what is the use, what is the use, and what is the use (of all those achievements)?

न भोगे न योगे न वा वाजिराजौ
न कान्तामुखे नैव वित्तेषु चित्तम् ।
मनश्चेन्न लग्नं गुरोरंघ्रिपद्मे
ततः किं ततः किं ततः किं ततः किम् ।।७।।

One's mind may have turned away (through dispassion) from enjoyments, from attainments like Yogic concentration, possessions like horses alike, and the enchanting face of the beloved (in short, the entire wealth of the earth);
But if one's mind is not fixed upon the lotus feet of the Guru, what is the use, what is the use, what is the use, and what is the use (of all those achievements)?

अरण्ये न वा स्वस्य गेहे न कार्ये
न देहे मनो वर्तते मे त्वनर्घ्ये ।
मनश्चेन्न लग्नं गुरोरंघ्रिपद्मे
ततः किं ततः किं ततः किं ततः किम् ।।८।।

Neither in the forest, nor in one's own house, nor in what is to be accomplished, nor in the body, nor in what is invaluable does one's mind dwell;
But if one's mind is not fixed upon the lotus feet of the Guru, what is the use, what is the use, what is the use, and what is the use (of all those achievements)?

गुरोरष्टकं यः पठेत्पुण्यदेही
यतिर्भूपतिर्ब्रह्मचारी च गेही ।
लभेत् वांछितार्थं पदं ब्रह्मसंज्ञं
गुरोरुक्तवाक्ये मनो यस्य लग्नम् ।।

That virtuous person who reads this octet being devoted to his Guru - be he an ascetic, king, bachelor, or householder;
And if his mind is ever attached to the words of the Guru, he attains the desired goal, the state which is called Brahman.

।। इति श्री शङ्कराचार्यविरचितं गुर्वष्टकम् सम्पूर्णम् ।।

Thus ends the hymn Guru Ashtakam composed by Shri Shankaracharya.

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NOTE:
This is the original version of Guru Ashtakam. You may find that some texts do not match the words from the song. Know that, the texts written here is the correct and complete one.

Glory of a Guru:
According to the Vedas, Lord Vishnu imparted teachings to the sages in ancient times. Starting from the beginning, Lord Vishnu taught Lord Brahma, who in turn taught Sage Vyasa, who in turn taught Sage Shuka; a succession of Gurus and disciples has proceeded down through the ages through Shri Shankaracharya to the present. A Guru is absolutely necessary for every aspirant in the spiritual path. God is the goal, whereas Guru is the path.

All great ones had their teachers. All the sages, saints, prophets, world-teachers, incarnations, great men, however great they might have been, had their own Gurus. Shvetaketu learnt the nature of Truth from Uddalaka, Maitreyi from Yagnavalkya, Bhirgu from Varuna, Narada from Sanatkumara, Nachiketas from Yama, Indra from Prajapati; and several others humbly went to the wise ones, observed strict brahmacharya, practiced rigorous discipline and learnt the science of God from them. Even the incarnation of Lord himself, like Lord Krishna, sat at the feet of his Guru Sandeepani. Lord Rama had Guru Vasishtha, Lord Hanuman had Guru Surya (the Sun God). The Devas (celestial beings) have Brihaspati as their Guru, and even the greatest among the divine beings sat at the feet of Guru Dakshinamurti.

The scriptures are like a forest. There are ambiguous passages. There are passages that are apparently contradictory. There are passages that have esoteric meanings, diverse significance, and hidden explanations. There are cross-references. One is in need of a Guru or a preceptor who will explain to him the right meaning, who will remove doubts and ambiguities, and who will place before him the essence of the teachings.

"The holy name alone is sufficient to take one back to Godhead; however, to cultivate the mood of surrender, one needs a Guru" - Swami Bhakti Charu