Satguru

Satguru or Sadguru means true guru. (Sanskrit सदगुरू sat=true), literally: true teacher. The title means that his students have faith that the guru can be trusted and will lead them to moksha, enlightenment or inner peace. It is based on a long line of Hindu philosophical understandings of the importance of knowledge and that the teacher, guru, is the sacred conduit to self-realization.

Ancient and traditional sources
The Kularnava Tantra (XIV/65) states,
 * "It is very rare to find a Satguru who can give Shaktipat and rare to find a disciple worthy of receiving it. One gets such a Guru only as a result of past meritorious actions."

In the Upanishads, five signs of satguru (true guru) are mentioned.


 * In the presence of the satguru; Knowledge flourishes (Gyana raksha); Sorrow diminishes (Dukha kshaya); Joy wells up without any reason (Sukha aavirbhava); Abundance dawns (Samriddhi); All talents manifest (Sarva samvardhan).

In one of Kabir's songs the satguru is described as the real Sadhu:

bhâi kôî satguru sant kahâwaî


 * Hs is the real Sadhu, who can reveal the form of the Formless to the vision of these eyes;
 * Who teaches the simple way of attaining Him, that is other than rites or ceremonies;
 * Who does not make you close the doors, and hold the breath, and renounce the world;
 * Who makes you perceive the Supreme Spirit wherever the mind attaches itself;
 * Who teaches you to be still in the midst of all your activities.
 * Ever immersed in bliss, having no fear in his mind, he keeps the spirit of union in the midst of all enjoyments.
 * The infinite dwelling of the Infinite Being is everywhere: in earth, water, sky, and air;
 * Firm as the thunderbolt, the seat of the seeker is established above the void.
 * He who is within is without: I see Him and none else.

According to Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami, a Hindu Satguru is always a sannyasin, an unmarried renunciate. However, the definition of Satguru elsewhere does not include this stricture and there are numerous counter-examples as well, for instance: "Tukaram, a Hindu Sadguru, is known to have had a family. The Qutub Moeinuddin Chisti also had children. The Sadguru Kabir had a son, Kamal, who was very devout."

Other usages

 * In Sikhism, Satguru is one of the many names for God.
 * In Surat Shabda Yoga, Satguru is the one who initiates followers into the path.
 * In Sant Mat and Advait Mat the living Satguru is considered the path to God-realization.

Analogous concepts

 * The Sufi concept of the Qutub (literally, pole, tower, lighthouse) could be viewed as analogous to the satguru. The Qutub is the shaykh who provides a focus for spiritual teachings . Other terms include Pir and Sarkar.
 * Jacques Vigne, in his book  Indian Wisdom, Modern Psychology and Christianity asserts that John the Baptist might be looked upon as someone very much like a satguru.