shrotriya | श्रोत्रिय

Shrotriya (Devanagari: श्रोत्रिय; ISO 15919: śrotriya) refers to one who possesses a thorough theoretical knowledge of the scriptures.

Qualifications of a Guru While being Shrotriya is a fundamental condition for a spiritual teacher, knowledge alone is insufficient. One should not settle for a Guru who is merely learned in the texts. A true Guru must fulfill two additional, and even more critical, conditions:

• Teaching Ability: They must be able to explain spiritual concepts in a manner that the disciple can truly understand.
• Brahmnishtha: They must be God-realized (having practical experience of the Truth).

Further Reading and Reference

• Related Concepts: Guru, Bhagavadprapti
• Reference: Guru Mantra - The Guru and the Disciple, Ch. 1