Question
Why “GURU” is equal to “supreme GODS”?
Answer
Why is Guru equal to Brahma, Vishnu and Maheshvara
This is because Guru is God Himself come in Human form. The Guru is the guide who knows the way to take the jiva to the top, which is re-union with God.
Sri Swami Sivananda says in 'Guru Tattva':
The Guru is God Himself manifesting in a personal form to guide the aspirant. Grace of God takes the form of Guru. To see the Guru is to see God. The Guru is united with God. He inspires devotion in others. His presence purifies all.
Why is He equal to Brahma, Vishnu and Maheshvara?
Advaitically speaking, the Guru has realized His true self. He has realized His true nature as Satchidananda or God. Thus verily He is God Himself come to help the jiva to this same realization.
Dualistically, He is equal to God, because it is God who sends the Guru to the aspirant. Thus He is a representative of God Himself.
Sri Paramhansa Yogananda Swami says that:
When a devotee prays intensely to God to know truth, God sends him a true guru to guide him. This divine grace comes to the devotee when he demonstrates his desire for liberation by sincere constancy in supplication to God.
Thus it is evident that Guru comes to guide the seeker, He is sent by God (Brahma, Vishnu and Maheshvara) to guide Him. Thus in essence, he is equal to them.
What is the exact meaning of this Shloka?
Swamiji and also moonstar2001 have given some good possible translations of this Shloka, here is another one
Guru is the source (brahma), the sustenance (vishnu) and end (mahesvara) of My existence. I surrender to My Guru.
Why Guru is special in Hinduism?
You want to go to Mount Kailash to see Maheshvara. But you do not know the way. You have to traverse through multiple forests and traps. It is filled with dangers of samsara. How to get there?
Now suppose you meet a guide, who has already been to Kailash, and He agrees to take you to Kailash. Then you would be able to easily get there isn't it. There is no need to worry, for the guide has already been there before! This is the importance of Guru.
Sri Swami Sivananda says in 'Guru Tattva' by Sri Swami Sivananda:
For a beginner in the spiritual path, a Guru is necessary. To light a candle, you need a burning candled Even so, an illumined soul alone can enlighten another soul.
In other words following Guru and His teachings is the greatest of all Yogas. It is the easiest of all paths.
Sri Swami Sivananda says in 'Guru Tattva':
Guru-Bhakti Yoga is a Yoga by itself.
Yoga of Guru-Bhakti is the real safe Yoga which can be practised without any fear.
Grace of Guru is the end or goal of Guru-Bhakti Yoga.
Who is the real Guru?
In reality, there is no Guru, other than God Himself. As swamiji has said, this Shloka can also be translated in the reverse, that Brahma, Vishnu, Mahehvara, they are the only Guru.
Sri Ramakrishna Paramhansa says Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna = that Satchidananda is the only Guru.
Satchidananda alone is the Guru. If a man in the form of a guru awakens spiritual consciousness in you, then know for certain that it is God the Absolute who has assumed that human form for your sake. The guru is like a companion who leads you by the hand. After the realization of God, one loses the distinction between the guru and the disciple. ‘That creates a very difficult situation; there the guru and the disciple do not see each other.
So in other words, there is no difference between God and Guru. From the disciple's point of view, Guru is God Himself. Because it is through Him that one reaches God.
From the point of view of the Guru, the Guru is merely an instrument. It is God who is doing the teaching. The Guru has no ego whatsoever that He is the 'teacher' of any kind. he simply serves God. It is really God, Satchidananda who transforms and liberates the individual. All the best!!
Note: “The question: Why ‘GURU’ is equal to ‘supreme GODS’?” is licensed by Stack Exchange Inc (https://hinduism.stackexchange.com/); user contributions licensed under CC BY-SA.