The significance of Guru is sikhism is very high. He is held in esteem by almost all. 'Guru is God' says Mrs. Rajinder Kaur, a famous sikh Indian philosopher in her book 'God In sikhism',: I am posting two shabads of Guru Granth Sahib ji that are self speaking and would not require any explanation.Yes, for better appreciation of these it is always advisable to refer to teeks of Sahib Singh ji.
Shabad No.1 Ang 311
ਮਃ ੪ ॥
मः ४ ॥
Mėhlā 4.
Fourth Mehl:
ਸਤਸੰਗਤਿ ਮਹਿ ਹਰਿ ਉਸਤਤਿ ਹੈ ਸੰਗਿ ਸਾਧੂ ਮਿਲੇ ਪਿਆਰਿਆ ॥
In the Sat Sangat, the True Congregation, the Lord's Praises are sung. In the Saadh Sangat, the Company of the Holy, the Beloved Lord is met.
ਓਇ ਪੁਰਖ ਪ੍ਰਾਣੀ ਧੰਨਿ ਜਨ ਹਹਿ ਉਪਦੇਸੁ ਕਰਹਿ ਪਰਉਪਕਾਰਿਆ ॥
Blessed is that mortal being, who shares the Teachings for the good of others.
ਹਰਿ ਨਾਮੁ ਦ੍ਰਿੜਾਵਹਿ ਹਰਿ ਨਾਮੁ ਸੁਣਾਵਹਿ ਹਰਿ ਨਾਮੇ ਜਗੁ ਨਿਸਤਾਰਿਆ ॥
He implants the Name of the Lord, and he preaches the Name of the Lord; through the Name of the Lord, the world is saved.
ਗੁਰ ਵੇਖਣ ਕਉ ਸਭੁ ਕੋਈ ਲੋਚੈ ਨਵ ਖੰਡ ਜਗਤਿ ਨਮਸਕਾਰਿਆ ॥
Everyone longs to see the Guru; the world, and the nine continents, bow down to Him.
ਤੁਧੁ ਆਪੇ ਆਪੁ ਰਖਿਆ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਵਿਚਿ ਗੁਰੁ ਆਪੇ ਤੁਧੁ ਸਵਾਰਿਆ ॥
You Yourself have established the True Guru; You Yourself have adorned the Guru.
ਤੂ ਆਪੇ ਪੂਜਹਿ ਪੂਜ ਕਰਾਵਹਿ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਕਉ ਸਿਰਜਣਹਾਰਿਆ ॥
You Yourself worship and adore the True Guru; You inspire others to worship Him as well, O Creator Lord.
ਕੋਈ ਵਿਛੁੜਿ ਜਾਇ ਸਤਿਗੁਰੂ ਪਾਸਹੁ ਤਿਸੁ ਕਾਲਾ ਮੁਹੁ ਜਮਿ ਮਾਰਿਆ ॥
If someone separates himself from the True Guru, his face is blackened, and he is destroyed by the Messenger of Death.
ਤਿਸੁ ਅਗੈ ਪਿਛੈ ਢੋਈ ਨਾਹੀ ਗੁਰਸਿਖੀ ਮਨਿ ਵੀਚਾਰਿਆ ॥
He shall find no shelter, here or hereafter; the GurSikhs have realized this in their minds.
ਸਤਿਗੁਰੂ ਨੋ ਮਿਲੇ ਸੇਈ ਜਨ ਉਬਰੇ ਜਿਨ ਹਿਰਦੈ ਨਾਮੁ ਸਮਾਰਿਆ ॥
That humble being who meets the True Guru is saved; he cherishes the Naam, the Name of the Lord, in his heart.
ਜਨ ਨਾਨਕ ਕੇ ਗੁਰਸਿਖ ਪੁਤਹਹੁ ਹਰਿ ਜਪਿਅਹੁ ਹਰਿ ਨਿਸਤਾਰਿਆ ॥੨॥
Servant Nanak says: O GurSikhs, O my sons, meditate on the Lord; only the Lord shall save you. ||2|
[COLOR="Blue"[B]][COLOR="Blue"]Shabad no.2 Ang 312[/COLOR][/B][/COLOR]
ਮਃ ੪ ॥
मः ४ ॥
Mėhlā 4.
Fourth Mehl:
ਸਤਿਗੁਰੁ ਪੁਰਖੁ ਅਗੰਮੁ ਹੈ ਜਿਸੁ ਅੰਦਰਿ ਹਰਿ ਉਰਿ ਧਾਰਿਆ ॥
The True Guru, the Primal Being, is inaccessible; He has enshrined the Lord's Name within His heart.
ਸਤਿਗੁਰੂ ਨੋ ਅਪੜਿ ਕੋਇ ਨ ਸਕਈ ਜਿਸੁ ਵਲਿ ਸਿਰਜਣਹਾਰਿਆ ॥
No one can equal the True Guru; the Creator Lord is on His side.
ਸਤਿਗੁਰੂ ਕਾ ਖੜਗੁ ਸੰਜੋਉ ਹਰਿ ਭਗਤਿ ਹੈ ਜਿਤੁ ਕਾਲੁ ਕੰਟਕੁ ਮਾਰਿ ਵਿਡਾਰਿਆ ॥
Devotional worship of the Lord is the sword and armor of the True Guru; He has killed and cast out Death, the torturer.
ਸਤਿਗੁਰੂ ਕਾ ਰਖਣਹਾਰਾ ਹਰਿ ਆਪਿ ਹੈ ਸਤਿਗੁਰੂ ਕੈ ਪਿਛੈ ਹਰਿ ਸਭਿ ਉਬਾਰਿਆ ॥
The Lord Himself is the Protector of the True Guru. The Lord saves all those who follow in the footsteps of the True Guru.
ਜੋ ਮੰਦਾ ਚਿਤਵੈ ਪੂਰੇ ਸਤਿਗੁਰੂ ਕਾ ਸੋ ਆਪਿ ਉਪਾਵਣਹਾਰੈ ਮਾਰਿਆ ॥
One who thinks evil of the Perfect True Guru - the Creator Lord Himself destroys him.
ਏਹ ਗਲ ਹੋਵੈ ਹਰਿ ਦਰਗਹ ਸਚੇ ਕੀ ਜਨ ਨਾਨਕ ਅਗਮੁ ਵੀਚਾਰਿਆ ॥੨॥
These words will be confirmed as true in the Court of the Lord; servant Nanak reveals this mystery. ||2|
To occidental mind Guru may only be a preceptor/philosopher /Guide or teacher But in oriental circles including Hinduism the Importance of Guru is well recognized. I am quoting below a couplet that is very popular amongst my Hindu friends.
Guru Gobind Dono Khare kake Lago Paye
Balihari Gur Aapne jin Gobind diyo Milaye
Regards!