गुरुर्ब्रह्मा गुरुर्विष्णुः गुरुर्देवो महेश्वरः ।

गुरुः साक्षात् परब्रह्म तस्मै श्री गुरवे नमः ॥

gururbrahmā gururviṣṇuḥ gururdevo maheśvaraḥ .

guruḥ sākṣāt parabrahma tasmai śrī gurave namaḥ.

The guru is Brahmā, the guru is Vişņu, the guru is Maheśvara (Śiva), the guru is the self-revealing limitless Brahman. Salutations to that revered guru.

This is the Guru Mantra or Guru Maha Mantra. The true meaning of Guru is “one who dispels darkness of ignorance”. “Gu” means “darkness of ignorance” and “Ru” means “one who removes”. 

Word by Word meaning of Guru Brahma Shloka

Guru: Dispeller of Darkness; Gu=Darkness, Ru=Remover

Brahma: Creator; of Self-Knowlege, making us realize the Godliness in us.

Vishnu: Preserver; Preserving such Self-Knowledge.

Deva: God.

Maheshwara: Destroyer; Of Ignorance.

Saakshaat: Self/Himself.

ParaBrahma: The Supreme Power, Lord; Consciousness, Self.

Tasmai: To him/To such.

Sri: Holy, splendorous.

Namaha: Salutations.

As Bhagavan Ramana Maharshi said: The Guru is the Self. The Guru is both ‘external’ and ‘internal’. From the ‘exterior’ he gives a push to the mind to turn inward; from the ‘interior’ He pulls the mind towards the Self and helps in the quieting of the mind. That is Guru’s grace. There is no difference between God, Guru and the Self. 

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- Swami Paropakarananda