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1. Derived from the Sanskrit root for ‘heavy,’ ‘mighty,’ guru denotes an outstanding religious personality and teacher—originally one's natural → father, who undertook the religious education of his son, taught him parts of the Veda (→ Hinduism), and arranged his → rites of passage ( saṃskāra). Soon, however, religious specialists undertook these duties as ācārya (‘teacher’) gurus, who instructed the sons of the upper three → castes ( varṇa) in the Vedic literature, in religious and socially (ethically) correct comportment, as well as in profane subjects. Through fulfillment of the d…

The word ‘disciple’ is derived from discipulus (Lat., ‘pupil,’ from discere, ‘learn’), a word occurring in the Latin Bible. It designates certain followers of Jesus, especially the Apostles. At the same time, the term points to the age difference between the teacher and his pupils. Those pupils are designated ‘disciples’ who “depend on a personality to whom they ascribe extraordinary characteristics as his or her charismatic gift.”1 They submit to the authority of the teacher ( Master/Pupil). Master and disciples usually live closely together, either ‘on the r…

Concept 1. A person (who may be invested with a priestly function, but who often stands in competition with the latter) becomes a master (Lat., magister, ‘director,’ ‘teacher,’ ‘leader’), in the sense of a religious teacher, (1) in the context of a determinate religious tradition, (2) for one or more other persons ( pupils), (3) when the latter ascribe him a religious authority and an adequate preparation for teaching and (4) the person in question accepts the role or already professes it. “The relationship of master to pupil is deemed to obtain w…