This auspicious mantra recited and chanted on Guru Purnima gets its origin from the Sanskrit word – Guru, which is made up of the two root words Gu meaning darkness and Ru meaning remover. Thus, guru stands for the teacher who is the remover of darkness and is the harbinger of enlightenment.
By reciting this mantra with sincere reverence, you will discover that the power that enlightens is all around you at all times. The mantra seeks the ability to see the guru in all names and forms, and even to acknowledge, love and serve the guru who you cannot see, who is beyond all visible forms. The guru is your own self, the inner guiding light.
To acknowledge that the guru is beyond name and form, beyond what we could imagine with the limited vision of the thinking mind, is to begin to open to the mystery of cosmic awareness.
English Translation:
Guru is the Creator (Brahma a.k.a. Generator);
Guru is the Preserver (Vishnu a.k.a. Operator);
GuruDevo is the Transformer (Shiva a.k.a. Destroyer).
Guru is the Absolute and Singular Lord himself i.e., G O D;
Salutations to that Sri Guru.
Significance:
Our creation is that Guru (Brahma – The Force of Creation);
The duration of our lives is that Guru (Vishnu – The Force of Preservation);
Our trials, tribulations, illnesses, calamities and the death of the body is that Guru (Devo Maheshwara – The Force of Destruction or Transformation).
There is a Guru nearby (Guru Sakshat) and a Guru that is beyond the beyond (Param Brahma). I make my offering (Tasmai) to the beautiful (Shri) remover of my darkness, my ignorance; (Guru) it is to you I bow and lay down my life (Namah).