So far, you have learned that the form of the Guru is not limited. The true form of a Guru is that which imparts knowledge through every moment and experience of life. We must not keep our mentality narrow and should accept that the Guru can manifest in any form—whether as a great saint, a deity, or even a simple living being that teaches us through everyday experiences.

Before beginning any Sadhana, you should adopt a Guru. It is not necessary that you accept Shiva as your Guru; according to your devotion and faith, you may accept any knowledgeable person or deity in Sadhana as your Guru. Ahead, we will understand in detail whom you can consider as your Guru in Sadhana and what their significance is:

Taking Shiva As Your Guru

Significance: There is a special reason for accepting Lord Shiva as Guru. Shiva is the supreme knower of vidyas. Since there are deep mysteries hidden in Sadhanas, considering Shiva as Guru helps the practitioner understand these secrets easily.

Chanting: If you are accepting Lord Shiva as your Guru, you should meditate upon Shiva in his Guru form and chant “oṃ namaḥ śivāya” 125,000 times, praying for success and guidance.

Taking Bhairava As Your Guru

Significance: Bhairava, especially Dakshinamurti Bhairava, is considered the first practitioner of Kali Sadhana. You can adopt any form of Bhairava as your Guru, or simply chant a general Bhairava mantra, which is highly suitable for any Sadhana. Through Bhairava, sadhana;s energy can be easily awakened.

Chanting: If you are accepting Bhairava as your Guru, meditate upon Bhairava in his Guru form and chant “oṃ bhairavāya namaḥ” or “oṃ hrīṃ bhairavāya namaḥ” 125,000 times, praying for success and guidance.

Taking Ganapati As Your Guru 

Significance: Lord Ganesh is worshipped as the remover of obstacles and the deity of wisdom. By receiving Ganesh’s blessings, the practitioner can overcome all hindrances in their Sadhana. Accepting Ganesh as Guru leads to joy, prosperity, and success in Sadhana.

Chanting: If you are accepting Lord Ganesh as your Guru, chant “oṃ gaṃ gaṇapataye namaḥ” 125,000 times and pray for success and guidance.

Taking Someone Else As Your Guru 

Significance: You can accept anyone else for whom you have trust, faith and devotion as your guru such as Maa Kali’s sadhaks may consider Shree Ramakrishna Paramhamsa as their guru and Bhagwati Tara’s sadhaks can consider Shree Vama Khepa as their guru, vice-versa. 

Chanting: If you are accepting someone as your Guru, chant “oṃ guruve namaḥ” 125,000 times and pray for success and guidance.

Meditating On Your Guru

After choosing a Guru, the practitioner should meditate on the Guru –

gurur brahmā gurur viṣṇur gurur devo maheśvaraḥ guruḥ sākṣāt paraṁ brahma tasmai śrī gurave namaḥ

It means, The Guru is Brahma, the Guru is Vishnu, the Guru is Maheshvara (Shiva). The Guru is verily the Supreme Brahman; salutations to that revered Guru.

Following meditation perform Japa of either the simple mantra of that deity or chant “oṃ gurave namaḥ”.

If you have chosen Shiva as Guru, chant “oṃ namaḥ śivāya”; if Bhairava, chant “oṃ bhairavāya namaḥ” or “oṃ hrīṃ bhairavāya namaḥ”; if Ganesh, chant “oṃ gaṃ gaṇapataye namaḥ”; if anyone else, chant “oṃ gurave namaḥ” meditating on your Guru.

Through this process, the practitioner’s mind becomes steady in complete surrender and faith towards the Guru, through which assistance and guidance are received from many mediums, and success in the Sadhana is ensured.

Choosing a Guru in Sadhana is a significant decision. Meditating upon Lord Shiva, Bhairava, Ganesh, or anyone else as your Guru leads to positive transformations in life and the attainment of deity’s divine energy. Success in Sadhana is achieved through devotion and unwavering faith in the Guru. Through Guru Sadhana, the experience of the Sadhana becomes profound and deeply peaceful.

Performing Guru Sadhana

Guru Mantra Sadhana for 11, 21, or 41 Days – Guru Mantra Sadhana is one of the most powerful and sacred spiritual practices to receive the blessings, guidance, and divine grace of one’s Guru. It is performed with deep devotion and unwavering discipline, following the ancient sadhana rules, to establish a strong spiritual connection with the Guru Tattva (the principle of the Guru) and to open the path to wisdom, protection, and spiritual elevation.

In this sadhana, the practitioner undertakes a vow (Sankalpa) to complete 1,25,000 mantra japa—which equals approximately 1,158 malas—within a period of 11, 21, or 41 days, depending on the chosen discipline. The intensity and duration of the practice are determined by the seeker’s capability, time, and inner readiness.

Purpose of the Sadhana

Guru Mantra Sadhana purifies the mind, strengthens faith, and invokes the Guru’s grace for removing obstacles in both spiritual and worldly life. The Guru is considered the embodiment of divine knowledge, and meditating upon the Guru’s name is a direct way to align with higher consciousness.

For more specific and in-depth knowledge on Guru Sadhana, read our book “Guru Sadhana” on Amazon.