The guru-shishya relationship originated in the Upanishadic period and is still celebrated today, thousands of year later, as one of the unique traditions in Hinduism. Guru is one who liberates the disciple from his base instincts and the cycle of births and deaths. He is the role model in developing faith in God, shashtras and ritual. the spiritually enlightened guru is the gateway to self-realization and God-realization. Guru pujan is a ritual in which the disciple offers his admiration and reverence to the guru, and seeks his blessings.