First appeared in www.scroll.in on July 18, 2015. Systems of philosophy that emerged from the Indian subcontinent influenced the arts of the region in many ways and over several centuries. Although these influences may have lost their original context and meaning, they have often been reinterpreted to suit changing times or to cater to specific interest groups in society. One such influence is related to the role of the guru in an individual’s search for knowledge, be that of