puja

Brahmanandam parama sukhadam kevalam jnanamurtim

dvandvaateetam gagana sadrusam tatvamasyadi lakshyam

ekam nityam vimalam achalam sarvadhee sakshi buutam

bhaavaateetam triguna rahitam sadgurum tam namaami.

The universe of bliss, supreme happiness, pure unending knowing

Beyond the dualities, like the infinite space, the sole aspiration of all seeking

The one, eternal, pure, unmoving, the witness in all

Beyond states, beyond the three qualities, I bow down to that true guru.

The Advaita Guru Parampara Sloka:

Sada Shiva samarambham

Shankaracharya madhyamam

Asmat aacharya paryantham

Vande guru paramparam

Thus, starting from the Great Lord Shiva, through Shankaracharya and my acharya, I praise the lineage of gurus.

Bahya Puja – A welcoming ritual and outer worship to the guru

Om hreem etat padyam — shree gurave namaha
(water to the Master’s feet – washing his feet)

Om hreem esha arghyaha — shree gurave namaha
(conch with water & flower – offering sacred grass)

Om hreem idam achamaneeyam — shree gurave namaha
(water – offering water to rinse mouth)

Om hreem idam snaneeyam — shree gurave namaha
(kamandalu & bell –offering for ceremonial bath)

Om hreem idam vastram — shree gurave namaha
(cloth & water – offering clothing)

Om hreem esha gandhaha — shree gurave namaha
(kumkum & sandalwood – offering it to the master)

Om hreem idam sacchandana pushpam — shree gurave namaha
(flower & sandalwood – offering our desires)

Om hreem idam sacchandana bilva patram — shree gurave namaha
(bilva or water – cooling the deity, symbol of 3 eyes of Shiva)

Om hreem esha dhoopaha — shree gurave namaha
(incense & bell – offering our potential, symbol for fleeting life)

Om hreem esha deepaha — shree gurave namaha
(lamp & bell – glorify masters feet with light)

Om hreem idam sopakarana naivedyam — shree gurave namaha
(food & water – offering food to the Master)

Om hreem idam panartodakam — shree gurave namaha
(water – offering drinking water to the Master)

Om hreem idam punarachamaneeyam — shree gurave namaha
(water – offering water to rinse Master’s mouth)

Arti – fire worship and praise of Shiva

Karpūragauraṁ karuṇāvatāraṁ

Saṁsārasāram bhujagendrahāram

Sadāvasantaṁ hṛdayāravinde

Bhavaṁ bhavānī sahitaṁ namāmi

The one who is as pure as a camphor

The personification of compassion

The one who is the essence of the world

The one with the serpent king as his garland

Always residing in the lotus-like heart

To the Lord accompanied by the Goddess, I bow.

The Offering of Flowers or Guru Stotram with five verses from the Guru Gita, a vedic text.

Gurur Brahma Gurur Vishnu

Gurur Devo Maheshvara

Gurur Sakshat Parabrahma

Tasmai Shree Gurave Namaha

The Guru is the creator, sustainer and destroyer.

He is the limitless one.

I bow down to that Guru


Akhanda Mandalakaram

Vyaptam Yena Characharam

Tat Padam Darshitam Yena

Tasmai Shri Gurave Namaha

I prostrate to the Sadguru by whom the whole world, comprising of unbroken consciousness, is pervaded and filled through and through in every moving and unmoving object. Sublime salutations to the Guru who is established in That and who has awakened me to its realisation.


Agnyana Timirandhasya

Jnanjana Shalaakayaa

Chakshuru Unmeelitam Yenam

Tasmai Shri Gurave Namaha

The Guru can save us from the pangs of ignorance (darkness) by applying to us the balm of knowledge or awareness of the Supreme, I bow down to that Guru .


Aneka janma samprāpta

Karma bandha vidāhine

Atma jñāna pradānena

Tasmai śrī gurave namaḥ

Salutations to that glorious Guru who gives Self-knowledge and burns up the accumulated
karma of many births.



Manātho sri jaganātho

Madguru Shri Jagadguru

Mamatma Sarvabhutatma

Tasmai Shri Gurave Namaha

My Lord is the Lord of the Universe. My Guru is the Guru of the whole world. My Self is the Self of all beings, therefore I prostrate to my Guru who has shown me this.

Ishvaro gururatmeti

Murti bheda vibhagine

Vyomavad vyapta dehaya

Dakshinamurtaye namah

Salutations to Dakshinamurti (a form of Shiva), the primordial Guru. Although distinctly embodied as God, the Guru and the Self, he pervades everything like the sky.