Acharya

In Indian religions and society, an acharya (Sanskrit: आचार्य, IAST: ācārya; Pali: ācariya) is a religious teacher in Hinduism and Buddhism and a spiritual guide to Hindus and Buddhists.

According to the Dharma Shastras, acharya is the one who imparts knowledge of the entire Veda to a student and performs upanayana sanskar.

[4] According to Manusmriti, the individual who, having initiated a pupil, teaches him the Veda along with the ritualistic and esoteric treatises—him they call, ‘Ācārya,’ ‘Preceptor’—(140)[6] Other authors' definitions:[6] In Buddhism, an ācārya (Pali: ācariya) is a senior teacher or master.

In Vajrayana Buddhism, tantric masters are known as vajrācāryas (Tibetan: dorje lopön; Jp.

Bhaṭṭārakas, who head institutions, are technically junior monks, and thus permitted to stay in the same place.