Tantric Derivation of the Word Guru

kulaarNavatantra, saptadasha ullasaH
(translation by Freedom Cole, 2007)
[Every sound/letter has a meaning in traditional tantra]

gushabdastvandhakaaraH syat rashabdastannishodhakaH.

andhakaaranirodhatvaat gurarityamidhiiyate..7..

The sound ‘gu’ is darkness

(andha- blind, kaara- doer, or that which makes us blind),

And the sound ‘ra’ is the purifier which corrects,

The one that can restrain (nirodha) darkness is known as the guru.

gakaaraH siddhidaH prokto paapasya daahakaH.

ukaaro viSNurityuktastrtayaatmaa guraH paraH..8..

The letter ‘ga’ gives perfection (siddhi),

While letter ‘ra’ burns sin,The letter ‘u’ is Visnu;

The soul that has all three is the supreme guru.

gakaaro GYaanasampattii rephastatra prakaashakaH.

ukaaraH shivataadaatmyaM gururityabhidhiiyate..9..

The letter ‘ga’ give the attainment of knowledge,

The letter ‘ra’ is illuminating,The letter ‘u’ is the same as Shiva;

This is why he is called the Guru.

guhyaagamaatmatattvaadhanaddhanaM bodhanaadapi.

rudraadidevarupatvaad gururityabhidhiyate..10..

He brings understanding to the secret (guhya) texts (agama)

And reveals the essence of the of the soul to the blind,

His form is the original lord Rudra,

And so he is called the Guru.