About this reading
A traditional prayer saluting the teacher through the imagery of Brahma, Vishnu and Maheshvara. The Trimurti artwork helps explain these references.
This is a prayer collection. The explanations below are concise reading aids, rather than a complete word-by-word translation. Recitation traditions can differ.
Original text and meaning
1. Guru Brahma prayer
गुरुर्ब्रह्मा गुरुर्विष्णुर्गुरुर्देवो महेश्वरः ।
गुरुः साक्षात्परं ब्रह्म तस्मै श्रीगुरवे नमः ॥
Roman reading: gururbrahmā gururviṣṇurgururdevo maheśvaraḥ .
guruḥ sākṣātparaṃ brahma tasmai śrīgurave namaḥ .
Meaning: The prayer honours the guru through the forms of Brahma, Vishnu, Maheshvara and the supreme Brahman, and offers a salutation to that teacher.
Reading and repetition
- Read the text slowly and understand its meaning first. You may begin with one name or one prayer.
- Sit comfortably and repeat at a natural pace. Clear, attentive reading matters more than a count; no number is prescribed for every reader.
- Roman text is a reading aid. It does not encode Vedic pitch accents or replace instruction in your recitation tradition. Follow appropriate guidance for a formal ritual.
- The accompanying artwork is a symbolic devotional depiction. Use it to connect the name being read with its subject.
Text reference
Consult the Sanskrit text reference
The collection uses selected names and short traditional texts. The explanations and reading guidance above were written for this collection.
