गुरु स्तोत्रम्
Guru Stotram
Deity
guru
Verses
12
Recitation
~4 min
Best Day
Thursday
The Guru Stotram is a compilation of the most foundational verses praising the spiritual teacher (Guru) in the Hindu tradition. The verses are drawn from the Guru Gita (a portion of the Skanda Purana, in dialogue between Shiva and Parvati), the Pratah-smarana (morning remembrance) tradition, and the Vedantic stuti tradition.
In Hindu thought, the Guru is not merely a teacher of information but the very channel through which liberating knowledge flows — the One who removes (ru) the darkness (gu) of ignorance. The verses identify the Guru with the supreme reality (Brahman), with the Trimurti (Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva), and with the inner Self.
These verses are recited daily before any spiritual study (svādhyāya), at the start of every yoga practice, and most especially on Guru Purnima (the full moon of Ashadha month, the day of Vyasa). They are also chanted at the moment of pranama (prostration) before one's teacher.
Shloka 1
Sanskrit (Devanagari)
अखण्डमण्डलाकारं व्याप्तं येन चराचरम् । तत्पदं दर्शितं येन तस्मै श्रीगुरवे नमः ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
akhaṇḍa-maṇḍalākāraṃ vyāptaṃ yena carācaram tat-padaṃ darśitaṃ yena tasmai śrī-gurave namaḥ
English meaning
By whom this whole circle — moving and unmoving — is pervaded as a single unbroken expanse, and by whom that very state has been revealed — salutations to that Sri Guru.
Shloka 2
Sanskrit (Devanagari)
अज्ञानतिमिरान्धस्य ज्ञानाञ्जनशलाकया । चक्षुरुन्मीलितं येन तस्मै श्रीगुरवे नमः ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
ajñāna-timirāndhasya jñānāñjana-śalākayā cakṣur-unmīlitaṃ yena tasmai śrī-gurave namaḥ
English meaning
For one blinded by the cataracts of ignorance, whose eyes have been opened by the salve of knowledge applied with the needle — salutations to that Sri Guru.
Shloka 3
Sanskrit (Devanagari)
गुरुर्ब्रह्मा गुरुर्विष्णुः गुरुर्देवो महेश्वरः । गुरुः साक्षात् परब्रह्म तस्मै श्रीगुरवे नमः ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
gurur-brahmā gurur-viṣṇuḥ gurur-devo maheśvaraḥ guruḥ sākṣāt para-brahma tasmai śrī-gurave namaḥ
English meaning
— The most-recited verse of all — The Guru is Brahma, the Guru is Vishnu, the Guru is the Lord Maheshvara — the Guru is verily the Supreme Brahman. Salutations to that Sri Guru.
Shloka 4
Sanskrit (Devanagari)
स्थावरं जङ्गमं व्याप्तं यत्किञ्चित्सचराचरम् । तत्पदं दर्शितं येन तस्मै श्रीगुरवे नमः ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
sthāvaraṃ jaṅgamaṃ vyāptaṃ yat-kiñcit sa-carācaram tat-padaṃ darśitaṃ yena tasmai śrī-gurave namaḥ
English meaning
By whom is pervaded all that moves and is still — every existing thing — and by whom that very state has been shown — salutations to that Sri Guru.
Shloka 5
Sanskrit (Devanagari)
चिन्मयं व्यापियत्सर्वं त्रैलोक्यं सचराचरम् । तत्पदं दर्शितं येन तस्मै श्रीगुरवे नमः ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
cinmayaṃ vyāpi-yat-sarvaṃ trai-lokyaṃ sa-carācaram tat-padaṃ darśitaṃ yena tasmai śrī-gurave namaḥ
English meaning
The pervasive Pure Consciousness in which the three worlds — moving and unmoving — abide, and by whom that very state has been revealed — salutations to that Sri Guru.
Shloka 6
Sanskrit (Devanagari)
सर्वश्रुतिशिरोरत्नविराजितपदाम्बुजः । वेदान्ताम्बुजसूर्योऽसौ तस्मै श्रीगुरवे नमः ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
sarva-śruti-śiro-ratna-virājita-padāmbujaḥ vedāntāmbuja-sūryo'sau tasmai śrī-gurave namaḥ
English meaning
Whose lotus feet shine like the crest-jewels at the head of all the Vedas, who is the sun unfolding the lotus of Vedanta — salutations to that Sri Guru.
Shloka 7
Sanskrit (Devanagari)
चैतन्यः शाश्वतः शान्तो व्योमातीतो निरञ्जनः । बिन्दुनादकलातीतस्तस्मै श्रीगुरवे नमः ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
caitanyaḥ śāśvataḥ śānto vyomātīto nirañjanaḥ bindu-nāda-kalātītas tasmai śrī-gurave namaḥ
English meaning
Pure Consciousness, eternal, peaceful, beyond space, untainted, beyond bindu, nāda, and kalā — salutations to that Sri Guru.
Shloka 8
Sanskrit (Devanagari)
ज्ञानशक्तिसमारूढः तत्त्वमालाविभूषितः । भुक्तिमुक्तिप्रदाता च तस्मै श्रीगुरवे नमः ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
jñāna-śakti-samārūḍhaḥ tattva-mālā-vibhūṣitaḥ bhukti-mukti-pradātā ca tasmai śrī-gurave namaḥ
English meaning
Mounted on the power of knowledge, adorned with the garland of the truth-principles, giver of both worldly enjoyment and final liberation — salutations to that Sri Guru.
Shloka 9
Sanskrit (Devanagari)
अनेकजन्मसम्प्राप्त कर्मबन्धविदाहिने । आत्मज्ञानप्रदानेन तस्मै श्रीगुरवे नमः ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
aneka-janma-samprāpta karma-bandha-vidāhine ātma-jñāna-pradānena tasmai śrī-gurave namaḥ
English meaning
To Him who burns the bondage of karma accumulated over many births — by the gift of Self-knowledge — salutations to that Sri Guru.
Shloka 10
Sanskrit (Devanagari)
त्वमेव माता च पिता त्वमेव त्वमेव बन्धुश्च सखा त्वमेव । त्वमेव विद्या द्रविणं त्वमेव त्वमेव सर्वं मम देवदेव ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
tvam-eva mātā ca pitā tvam-eva tvam-eva bandhuś ca sakhā tvam-eva tvam-eva vidyā draviṇaṃ tvam-eva tvam-eva sarvaṃ mama deva-deva
English meaning
You alone are mother, you alone are father. You alone are kinsman, you alone are friend. You alone are knowledge, you alone are wealth. You alone are everything to me — O God of gods.
Shloka 11
Sanskrit (Devanagari)
गुकारस्त्वन्धकारश्च रुकारस्तेज उच्यते । अज्ञानग्रासकं ब्रह्म गुरुरेव न संशयः ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
gu-kāras-tv-andhakāraś ca ru-kāras-teja ucyate ajñāna-grāsakaṃ brahma gurur-eva na saṃśayaḥ
English meaning
The syllable "gu" means darkness; the syllable "ru" means light. The Brahman who devours ignorance — that is verily the Guru. There is no doubt of it.
Shloka 12
Sanskrit (Devanagari)
॥ ध्यान-मूलं गुरोर्मूर्तिः ॥ ध्यानमूलं गुरोर्मूर्तिः पूजामूलं गुरोः पदम् । मन्त्रमूलं गुरोर्वाक्यं मोक्षमूलं गुरोः कृपा ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
|| dhyāna-mūlaṃ guror-mūrtiḥ || dhyāna-mūlaṃ guror-mūrtiḥ pūjā-mūlaṃ guroḥ padam mantra-mūlaṃ guror-vākyaṃ mokṣa-mūlaṃ guroḥ kṛpā
English meaning
The root of meditation is the form of the Guru; the root of worship is the feet of the Guru. The root of mantra is the word of the Guru; and the root of liberation is the grace of the Guru.
Sources verified against
When should I recite Guru Stotram?
Best days: Thursday. Best time: morning.
What language is this stotra in?
The original is in Sanskrit (or Awadhi for the Hanuman Chalisa). We provide it in Devanagari script, IAST transliteration for pronunciation, and English meaning for understanding.
How accurate is the text?
Each stotra is cross-validated against multiple published authoritative sources, listed on this page under "Sources verified against". If you spot any discrepancy from your tradition, please let us know.
How long does it take to recite?
Approximately 4 minutes at a steady, devotional pace.
