The Status of Diksha Guru & Siksha Gurus – Differences!
Siksha gurus instruct the devotees to know Krishna. Without Siksha gurus, the devotees can’t learn about Krishna..
Diksha Guru initiates the devotees in the dedicated and committed spiritual life.
Since both the above are important for the devotees, both the Siksha and Diksha gurus are important for every devotee.
(Is Chanting without initiation (diksha) offensive as 10th offense? READ HERE!)
Without learning from a siksha guru, a devotee can’t get interet to accept a diksha guru.
Therefore, First advice for a devotee/ disciple is that he should not differentiate between diksha and Siksha gurus.
Moreover, every devotee may learn from many guiding devotees! So, every devotee may have multiple siksha gurus.
However, he should not take diksha from more than one guru.
Because, a diksha guru takes the responsibility of taking his disciple to Krishna.
Diksha guru may also have to take further births so as to take us to Krishna.
In a certain cases, a siksha guru later becomes one’s diksha guru. However, it is not compulsory. Siksha and Diksha gurus can be different Vaishnavas.
Srila Prabhupada says in Sri Caitanya-caritamruta – Adi 1.35:
mantra-guru ära yata çikñä-guru-gaëa
täìhära caraëa äge kariye vandana
I first offer my respectful obeisances at the lotus feet of my initiating spiritual master and all my instructing spiritual masters.
PURPORT:
A devotee must have only one initiating spiritual master because in the scriptures acceptance of more than one is always forbidden. There is no limit however, to the number of instructing spiritual masters one may accept. Generally a spiritual master who constantly instructs a disciple in spiritual science becomes his initiating spiritual master later on.
(RITVIK INITIATION (DIKSHA) AND LIVING GURU INITIATION – DIFFERENCES! READ HERE!)
WHO IS SUPERIOR BETWEEN DIKSHA GURU AND SIKSHYA GURUS?
Even considering so is wrong and offensive.
Because, the initiating (diksha) and instructing (siksha) spiritual masters are equal
The guru who first initiates one with the mahä-mantra is to be known as the initiator, and the saints who give instructions for progressive advancement in Krishna consciousness are called instructing spiritual masters.
The initiating and instructing spiritual masters are equal and identical manifestations of Krishna, although they have different dealings.
Srila Prabhupada says in the Purport of Sri Caitanya-caritamruta – Adi 1.34:
siksha -guru-brnda krpa koriya apar
sadhake sikhan sadhaner anga-sar
But I consider the numerous instructing spiritual masters (siksha -gurus) to be very important, for they show unlimitedly more mercy by training the neophyte devotees in all the essential aspects of practical devotional service (sadhana-bhakti).
(TYPES OF GURUS (SPIRITUAL MASTERS) FROM THE SCRIPTURES! READ HERE!)
CAN BOOKS REPLACE THE NEED OF SIKSHA GURUS?
CAN YOU ADVANCE IN BHAKTI JUST BY READING BOOKS WITHOUT SIKSHA GURU?
No chance.
Even the author of that book becomes your siksha guru naturally, if he is a qualified vaishnava who comes in guru parampara.
Srila Prabhupada says in the Purport of Sri Caitanya-caritamruta – Antya 7.53:
“One should not proudly think that one can understand the transcendental loving service of the Lord simply by reading books… One must accept a Vaisnava guru (adau gurv-asrayam), and then by questions and answers one should gradually learn what pure devotional service to Krsna is. That is called the parampara system.”
That is why, I started this media to give opportunity for the devotees to raise their doubts and get them clarified.
Thus, a devotee should not commit offense by differentiating between diksha guru and siksha gurus.
Keep in mind, Srila Prabhupada is our eternal Siksha guru.
He has said that he is living in his books.
Hope you are now clear about the equal status of Diksha guru and siksha gurus.
(DOES A DIKSHA GURU OR SIKSHA GURU ACCEPT THE KARMA OF DISCIPLES? HOW? READ HERE!)