This work on the Guru Tradition is a translation of the Sage of Kanchi's discourses on Guru -tattva contained in the second, third, fourth and fifth volumes of the Tamil Daivattin Kural("Voice of God" or "Voice of Divinity") published by Vanati Patippakam, Madras. This book is an excellent translation of the lectures on Guru-tattva-the concept of the Educator-delivered in Tamil by Pujyasri Chandrasekharendra Sarasvati Svami, Acharya of the Kanchi Kamakoti Pitha, popularly known as "Peryival", during the long sojourn of the Acharya in the metropolita city of Madras and its suburbs between October 1957 and about the end of the year 1959. The translation into English has been done by R. G. K. , formerly assistant editor of the Illustrated Weekly of India. The translation of the speeches on the Guru-tattva printed in this volume is elegant. It is so simple as can be easily understood. The Gurudeva's discourses on the concept of the Guru covered in this work encompasses the entire ambit of preceptors and teachers from the sage-gurus, the preceptors and teachers from the sage-gurus, the preceptors of gurukulas of the distant past and adhyapakas of pathasalas down to the college professors and schoolteachers of the present time. The patient reader will not fail to note the wide gulf separating the value-based, devoted, disciplined and systematic study that prevailed in olden times - with the consequent attainment by the student of good and perfect knowledge for its own sake-and the educational set-up of today which is devoid of any affectionate or intimate contact between teacher and taught and which for its aim the securing of degrees-deservedly or otherwise-as passports to mere material prosperity with the resulting decay in human values and the rise of problems like indiscipline in our educational institutions.About the AuthorPujyasri Chandrasekharendra Sarasvati Svami was installed as the 68th Sankaracharya of Kanchi Kamakoti Pitha in 1907,when he was hardly 13 years old.His life spanned the greater part of the century and during the period of social and political ferment he was one of the guiding lights.He was a divine incarnation-indeed he was the greatest spiritual luminary of the times-and his mission of restoring the Vedic religion to it s old glory was no less significant than that of Adi Sankara. The master of masters was like a lambent light who rekindled the spirit of the nation and brought about a renaissance in many spheres like religion and culture.He was the voice of eternal india and he taught mankind,groping in the dark despite all the strides taken in science and technology,how to journey towards a higher destiny,how to win the highest of freedoms,the freedom of Atma-svarajya. His compassion was as boundless as his jnana.The memory of his gentle face can never be erased from the hearts and those who had seen him will cherish it always as well as the hand that conveyed his blessings.