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{{Short description|Religious teacher}}
{{Italic title}}
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'''''Satguru''''' ({{langx|sa|सत्गुरु}}), or '''''sadguru''''' ({{langx|sa|सद्गुरु}}), means a "true [[guru]]" in [[Sanskrit]]. The term is distinguished from other forms of gurus, such as musical instructors, scriptural teachers, parents, and so on. A ''satguru'' has some special characteristics that are not found in any other types of spiritual guru. ''Satguru'' is a title given specifically only to an enlightened ''[[rishi]]'' or ''[[Sant (religion)|sant]]'' whose life's purpose is to guide the initiated ''[[Guru-shishya tradition|shishya]]'' on the spiritual path, the summation of which is the realization of the [[Self (spirituality)|Self]] through realization of [[God]].{{cn|date=September 2022}}

== Hinduism ==
According to [[Sivaya Subramuniyaswami]], a Hindu ''satguru'' is always a ''[[sannyasa|sannyasin]]'', an unmarried renunciate,{{sfnp|Subramuniyaswami|2001|loc=[http://www.himalayanacademy.com/resources/books/lws/lws_glossary_S-Z.html glossary]}} but not all writers include this stricture.{{sfnp|Meher Baba|1955|pp=150,158,196, 291}} [[Tukaram]], a Hindu ''satguru'', is known to have had a family. Satguru Kabir had a son, Kamal, who was very devout.{{sfnp|Kalacuri|1986|p=92|loc=Footnote 1}}

The words ''sant'' and ''satguru'' were prominently used in the spiritual ideology of [[Kabir]] in the 15th century. Kabir says "''satpurush ko jansi, Tiska satguru naam''", meaning the one who has seen the supreme lord of truth (''[[satya]] purush'') is ''satguru''.<ref>[[Kabir]] Sagara</ref>{{full citation needed|date=September 2022}} Kabir wrote "''Devi dewal jagat mein, kotik poojey koye. Satguru ki [[Puja (Hinduism)|pooja]] kiye, sabb ki pooja hoye''",<ref>[[Kabir]] Sagara</ref>{{full citation needed|date=September 2022}} meaning that worship of ''satguru'' includes in it worship of all deities. In other words, ''satguru'' is the physical form of God (''sat [[purusha]]'').

In one of Kabir's songs the ''satguru'' is described as the real ''[[sadhu]]'':
{{Poem quote|
He 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.{{sfnp|Tagore|1915|loc=LVI, I. 68}}
}}

[[Vasishtha]], [[Rama]]'s guru, was the ''satguru'' in the [[Treta Yuga]].{{cn|date=September 2022}} [[Swami]] Shankar Purushottam Tirtha quoted the ''[[Yoga Vasistha]]'' regarding the "real preceptor" (''satguru''):

{{Blockquote|A real preceptor is one who can produce blissful sensation in the body of the disciple by their sight, touch, or instructions.{{sfnp|Tirtha|1992|p=27}}}}

In [[Sant Mat]] and [[Advait Mat]], the living ''satguru'' is considered the path to God-realization.{{sfnp|Lewis|1998|p=62}}

== Sikhism ==
In [[Sikh philosophy]], [[Nanak]], defines ''satguru'' as truth itself and not a physical entity. This truth emanates from reality and requires no blind faith. In the [[Japji Sahib]] he writes "''[[Ik Onkar|Ek onkar]], satguru prasad''", which means "there is one creator, [this knowledge I have learned] by the grace of God". The [[Sikism|Sikh]] (student) learns from reality as presented by the creator. Truth (''sat'') itself is the teacher (guru).

The recommendation says that the first and the foremost qualification of the ''satguru'' is that he must have known the True Lord ([[God in Sikhism|God]]) himself.<ref>[[Adi Granth]]: 286</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date= |title=Satguru |url=https://www.yogapedia.com/definition/4993/satguru}}</ref>

== Syncretic traditions ==
[[Meher Baba]] equated worship of the ''satguru'' with worship of God:
{{Blockquote|Consciously or unconsciously, directly or indirectly, each and every creature, each and every human being — in one form or the other — strives to assert individuality. But when eventually man consciously experiences that he is Infinite, Eternal and Indivisible, then he is fully conscious of his individuality as God, and as such experiences Infinite Knowledge, Infinite Power and Infinite Bliss. Thus Man becomes God, and is recognized as a [[Perfect Master (Meher Baba)|Perfect Master]], Satguru, or [[Qutb|Kutub]]. To worship this Man is to worship God.{{sfnp|Meher Baba|2000|pp=28–29}}}}

According to [[Dada Bhagwan]], a ''satguru'' must maintain [[Self-knowledge (Vedanta)|self-knowledge]]:
{{Blockquote|It is very difficult to define and identify someone as a satguru. In the language of the scriptures, whom can you call a satguru? Sat is the Atma (the Soul, the Self); so, whoever has attained the Soul, that guru is a satguru! Therefore, an 'Atmagnani (knower of the Soul, Self-realized) can be called a satguru, for he has experienced the Self. Not all gurus have Atma Gnan. So, the one who continuously remains as the eternal element - the Self - is a satguru! The Gnani Purush is a satguru.<ref name="Satguru">{{Cite web |title=Who Is a Satguru? |url=https://www.dadabhagwan.org/path-to-happiness/relationship/guru-disciple-relationship/who-is-a-satguru/}}</ref>{{better source needed|date=September 2022}}}}

== Satsang ==
A ''satsang'' is an audience with a ''satguru'' for religious instruction.{{sfnp|Taylor|2016|p=187}} The name ''satsang'' is a Sanskrit word that means "gathering together for the truth" or, more simply, "being with the truth". Truth is what is real, what exists.<ref>{{Cite web |title=About Satsang |url=https://endless-satsang.com/about-satsang |access-date=2021-03-04 |website=endless-satsang.com}}</ref>{{better source needed|date=September 2022}}

== See also ==
* [[List of Hindu gurus and sants]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

=== Works cited ===
{{Refbegin}}
* {{Cite book |title=Songs of Kabir |title-link=Songs of Kabir |publisher=The Macmillan Company |year=1915 |location=New York |last=Tagore |first=Rabindranath |author-link=Rabindranath Tagore}}
*  {{Cite book |last=Kalacuri |first=Bhau |title=Meher Prabhu: the biography of Avatar Meher Baba |year=1986 |publisher=Manifestation |location=North Myrtle Beach, SC}}
* {{Cite book |last=Lewis |first=James R. |title=Seeking the light: uncovering the truth about the Movement of Spiritual Inner Awareness and its founder John-Roger |publisher=Mandeville Press |year=1998 |isbn=0-914829-42-4 |location=Los Angeles, CA |oclc=46383119}}
* {{Cite book |last=Meher Baba |title=God Speaks |publisher=PUB Dodd Meade |year=1955 |edition=2nd |author-link=Meher Baba}}
* {{Cite book |last=Meher Baba |url=http://www.ambppct.org/meherbaba/Book_Files/POL.pdf |title=The Path of Love |publisher=Sheriar Foundation |year=2000 |isbn=1-880619-23-7 |location=North Myrtle Beach, SC |oclc=972708944 |author-link=Meher Baba |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927073028/http://www.ambppct.org/meherbaba/Book_Files/POL.pdf |archive-date=27 September 2011}}
* {{Cite book |last=Subramuniyaswami |first=Sivaya |title=Living with Siva: Hinduism's contemporary culture |publisher=Himalayan Academy |year=2001 |isbn=0-945497-98-9 |edition=2nd |location=India |oclc=49558385 |author-link=Sivaya Subramuniyaswami}}
* {{Cite book |last=Taylor |first=McComas |title=Seven Days of Nectar: Contemporary Oral Performance of the Bhāgavatapurāṇa |publisher=Oxford University Press |year=2016 |isbn=9780190611910 |location=Oxford |pages=187}}
* {{Cite book |last=Tirtha |first=Swami Shankar Purushottam |title=Yoga Vani: Instructions for the Attainment of Siddhayoga |publisher=Sat Yuga Press |year=1992 |location=New York |pages=27}}
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{{Hindudharma}}
{{Sant Mat}}
{{Sikhism}}

[[Category:Hindu philosophical concepts]]
[[Category:Indian philosophy]]