July 20, 2022
The guru may be a deity (like Prajapati or the Creator in The Chandogya Upanishad), rarely one's own husband (like Yajnavalkya in The Brhadaranyaka Upanishad dialogues between Uddalaka and Svetaketu).
The story of Satykama Jabala emphasizes that the guru may even be "other than human agencies". Satyakama was devoted to the truth and had rendered great and devoted service to his guru by attending his cows. He is later instructed by a cow, by fire, etc.
The instruction may also take many forms; the disciple may question and the groom may answer, as in the case of the Kathopanishad. The guru may indicate the truth and then prod the disciple to meditate and discover the truth for himself as in The Taittiriya Upanishad. Though the usual form is one of dialogue or monological instruction, there are instances in The Brjadaranyaka Upanishad where the truth is revealed in a debate form.