Satguru (Sanskrit: सत्गुरु), or Sadguru (Sanskrit: सद्गुरु), means the ’true guru’ in Sanskrit
The word ‘Satguru’ signifies three things- Sat+Gu+Ru - Sat means truth; Gu means darkness and Ru means Light
Thus Satguru means a divine personage who removes the darkness of ignorance and gives Divine Light to human beings
However, the term is distinguished from other forms of gurus, such as musical instructors, scriptural teachers, parents, and so on
Satguru is a title given specifically only to an enlightened rishi or saint whose life’s purpose is to guide the initiated shishya on the spiritual path, the summation of which is the realization of the Self through realization of God
Technically, A satguru has some special characteristics that are not found in any other types of spiritual guru
The words sant and satguru were prominently used in the spiritual ideology of Kabir in the 15th century
Kabir says Satpurush Ko Jansi, Tiska Satguru Naam, meaning the one who has seen the supreme lord of truth- Satya Purush is satguru
Devi dewal jagat mein, kotik poojey koye
Satguru ki pooja kiye, sabb ki pooja hoye
Kabir says that worship of satguru includes in it worship of all deities
In other words, satguru is the physical form of God (Sat Pursh)
In Sikh philosophy, Nanak, defines satguru as truth itself and not a physical entity
This truth emanates from reality and requires no blind faith
In the Japji Sahib he writes Ek onkar, satguru prasad (There is one creator, this knowledge I have learnt from reality)
The Sikh (student) learns from reality as presented by the creator
Truth (sat) itself is the teacher (guru)
“There is no one greater in the three worlds than the guru
It is He who grants divine knowledge and should be worshipped with supreme devotion
" - Atharva Veda, Yoga-Sikha Upanishad 5
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