In the Western Esotericism and the Science of Religion, Pierre Riffard, the author, makes a distinction between 'esoteric etymologies' and 'scientific etymologies' presenting as an example the etymology of 'guru', in which the former is presented as ru ('to push away') and gu ('darkness'), and the latter as 'guru' as 'heavy'.

Reender Kranenborg a Dutch religious scholar, dismisses the etymology based on the Upanishads, the Guru GР”В«tР”Рѓ, the Sikh scriptures, the writings of Krishnamurti, and other scholar's opinions such as those of John Grimes, Thomas Murray, and others, by stating that the etymology of darkness and light has nothing to do with word guru and describes it is as 'people's etymology'. Advayataraka Upanishad 14-18, verse 5)Р”Р„ similar interpretation describes the guru as the one that 'removes the darkness of ignorance' is based on the Guru GР”В«tР”Рѓ (literally 'song of the spiritual teacher'), a spiritual text describing a dialogue between Р•С™iva and his consort PР”РѓrvatР”В« on the nature of the guru and the guru/disciple relationship.

The syllable gu means shadows The syllable ru, he who disperses them, Because of the power to disperse darkness the guru is thus named. In some texts it is described that the syllables gu ( Р°В¤вЂ”Р°ТђРѓ) and ru ( Р°В¤В°Р°ТђвЂљ) stand for darkness and light, respectively. Р”Р„ notable esoteric etymology or interpretation of the term 'guru' is based on a metaphorical interplay between darkness and light, in which the Guru is seen as the dispeller of darkness. The adjective meaning 'heavy, weighty' is used in the sense of 'heavy with knowledge', 'heavy with spiritual wisdom', 'heavy with spiritual weight', 'heavy with the good qualities of scriptures and realization', 'heavy with a wealth of knowledge'. The word holds a special place in Hinduism, signifying both the sacred place of knowledge ( jnana) and the imparter of knowledge. , cognate to Hindi bari, Greek barus, Latin gravis, all four likewise related to 'heaviness'. The word is attested from the Rigveda as an adjective meaning 'heavy', its opposite being laghu 'light'. The word guru means 'teacher' in Sanskrit, as well as in other languages derived from Sanskrit, such as Hindi, Marathi, Bengali and Gujarati. 6 Views of 'Guru' from a Western culture perspective.In a further metaphorical extension, guru is used to refer to a person who has authority because of his or her perceived knowledge or skills in a domain of expertise.

In Western usage, the original meaning of guru has been extended to cover anyone who acquires followers, though not necessarily in an established school of philosophy or religion. In contemporary India, 'guru' is widely used within the general meaning of 'teacher'. Indeed, in many Indian languages such as Hindi, the occidental Thursday is called either Brihaspativaar or Guruvaar ( vaar meaning day of the week). In Vedic astrology, Guru or Brihaspati is believed to exert teaching influences. 'Guru' also refers in Sanskrit to Brihaspati, a Hindu figure analogous to the Roman planet/god Jupiter.

The importance of finding a true guru is described in the scriptures and teachings of religions in which a guru plays a role. Based on a long traditional line of philosophical understanding as to the importance of knowledge, the guru is seen in these religions as a sacred conduit, or a way to self-realization. ), is a teacher in Hinduism, Buddhism, and Sikhism, as well as in many new religious movements.

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