Ismaili.NET - Heritage F.I.E.L.D.

The guru is composed of two Hindi words, gu (darkness) and ru (light), and thus, guru means one who provides light in darkness. The tradition of guru has been quite strong in Indo-Pakistan subcontinent. It does not mean merely a teacher, but also a religious guide to his disciples. In the Indian tradition of the Ismailis, the word guru has different meanings according to the context in which it is used. First, guru stands for the Imam. Secondly, it stands for the Pir.