Guru Puja & Worship of Guru – Importance!
(Part of the series “Duties of a Disciple to his Guru)
TO JUMP TO PART-2, CLICK HERE
Always keep in mind: Guru Puja & Worship of Guru is more important than the worship of Krishna because Guru gives Krishna Himself to a disciple!
Formal Worship of ISKCON Gurus – Recommendations
The following are the Recommendations of ISKCON GBC about Worship of Gurus:
(1) After chanting the pranama mantra of their diksha guru, all grand-disciples and future generations should chant at least the first of Srila Prabhupada’s pranama mantras while offering obeisances as a means of respecting the Founder-Acarya.
(Importance of GBC in ISKCON & Status of an authorized guru! READ HERE!)
(2) While performing arati in the temple or at temple-related functions, a pujari may keep a small picture of his or her diksha guru on the arati tray or table instead of on the altar, provided the diksha guru is an ISKCON-approved guru in good standing. The picture of the diksha guru should be smaller in size than the picture of Srila Prabhupada on the altar and it shall be removed after the arati.
(3) The disciples of ISKCON gurus other than Srila Prabhupada may offer guru-püja to their gurus outside the temple room. The temple should provide facility for these disciples’ worship.
(4) No one in ISKCON will be addressed publicly with the honorific title “His Divine Grace” nor be addressed either publicly or privately by the honorifics ending in “-pada” or “-deva”. Disciples may address their ISKCON diksha or Siksha gurus as “Gurudeva” or “Guru-Maharaja”.
(5) Events welcoming Vaisnavas, including those serving as gurus, to ISKCON temples should be modest. For example, offering of a sitting place, offering of prasadam and something to drink, presentation of a garland, and performance of kirtana.
(6) In order to focus more fully on Srila Prabhupäda and every devotee’s special relationship with him, an ISKCON Siksha or diksha guru may accept public guru-puja (arati and/or foot bathing) in person once a year on ISKCON property on his or her Vyasa Puja. This celebration may be held in the temple room. ISKCON members conducting Vyasa-puja ceremonies for ISKCON gurus shall observe them in a modest way, significantly less elaborate than Srila Prabhupada’s Vyasa-puja. In general, devotees shall observe these Vyasa-puja celebrations in their own locales. In ISKCON, Vyasa-puja books may be published only for Srila Prabhupada.
(7) It is generally considered a violation of Vaisnava etiquette for disciples to request the spiritual master’s godbrothers/godsisters to write an offering for, offer praise during, or participate in the Vyasa-puja ceremony for their spiritual master.
(8) ISKCON members shall celebrate Srila Prabhupada’s Vyasa-puja (& Tirobhava) ceremony as the preeminent Vyasa-puja (&Tirobhäva) ceremony in ISKCON.
(9) All ISKCON members are requested to write an annual Vyasa-puja offering to Srila Prabhupada.
(Who can accept disciples? Qualifications of a bonafide Guru! READ HERE!)
IMPORTANCE OF GURU PUJA – REFERENCES
(1) Sri Sri Guru Astaka – Verse 7:
The spiritual master is honored as much as the Supreme Lord because he is the most confidential servitor of the Lord.
(2) Padma Purana, Caitanya-caritamrta, Madhya 11.31:
“[Lord Siva told the goddess Durga:] ‘My dear Devi, although the Vedas recommend worship of demigods, the worship of Lord Visnu is topmost. However, above the worship of Lord Visnu is the rendering of service to Vaisnavas, who are related to Lord Visnu.’
(3) Adi Purana, Caitanya-caritamrta, Madhya 11.28:
“[Lord Krsna told Arjuna:] ‘Those who are My direct devotees are actually not My devotees, but those who are the devotees of My servant are factually My devotees.’
(4) Arrival Address — New York, July 9, 1976:
So this guru-püjä which we are doing, it is not self aggrandizement; it is real teaching. You sing daily, what is that? Guru-mukha-padma-vakya ara na kariya aikya . Bas, this is translation. I tell you frankly, whatever little success is there in this Krishna consciousness movement, I simply believed what was spoken by my Guru Maharaja. You also continue that. Then every success will come.
(Selecting a Guru in ISKCON – Steps & Procedures involved! READ HERE!)
ISKCON LAWS ON GURU PUJA & PRANAMA MANTRAS
(PART-2)
Every disciple or the devotees aspiring for guru should know these details about Guru Puja & Worship of Guru to remain a good disciple. This is my humble request that the devotees should learn all these chapters and only then should take initiation from a bonafide guru. Let us continue to read those details on Guru Puja & Worship of Guru:
7.2.1:
After chanting the pranama mantra of their diksha guru, all grand-disciples and future generations should chant at least the first of Srila Prabhupada’s pranama mantras while offering obeisances as a means of respecting the Founder-Acarya.
6.4.8.3a:
While performing arati in the temple or at temple-related functions, a pujari may keep a small picture of his or her diksha guru on the arati tray or table instead of on the altar, provided the diksha guru is an ISKCON-approved guru in good standing. The picture of the diksha guru should be smaller in size than the picture of Srila Prabhupada on the altar and it shall be removed after the arati.
6.4.8.1.1:
The disciples of ISKCON gurus other than Srila Prabhupada may offer guru-puja to their gurus outside the temple room. The temple should provide facility for these disciples’ worship.
6.4.8:
No one in ISKCON will be addressed publicly with the honorific title “His Divine Grace” nor be addressed either publicly or privately by the honorifics ending in “-pada” or “-deva”. Disciples may address their ISKCON diksha or siksha gurus as “Gurudeva” or “Guru-Maharaja”.
6.4.8.2:
Events welcoming Vaisnavas, including those serving as gurus, to ISKCON temples should be modest. For example, offering of a sitting place, offering of prasadam and something to drink, presentation of a garland, and performance of kirtana.
(Importance of Guru (Spiritual master) in a devotee’s Spiritual Life! READ HERE!)
6.4.8.1: VYASA PUJA:
In order to focus more fully on Srila Prabhupada and every devotee’s special relationship with him, an ISKCON Siksha or diksha guru may accept public guru-puja (arati and/or foot bathing) in person once a year on ISKCON property on his or her Vyasa puja. This celebration may be held in the temple room. ISKCON members conducting Vyasa puja ceremonies for ISKCON gurus shall observe them in a modest way, significantly less elaborate than Srila Prabhupada’s Vyasa puja. In general, devotees shall observe these Vyasa puja celebrations in their own locales. In ISKCON, Vyasa puja books may be published only for Srila Prabhupada.
Note
It generally considered a violation of Vaisnava etiquette for disciples to request the spiritual master’s godbrothers/godsisters to write an offering for, offer praise during, or participate in the Vyasa puja ceremony for their spiritual master.
6.4.8:
ISKCON members shall celebrate Srila Prabhupada’s Vyasa puja (&Tirobhava) ceremony as the pre-eminent Vyasa-puja (&Tirobhava) ceremony in ISKCON. All ISKCON members are requested to write an annual Vyasa puja offering to Srila Prabhupada.
Letter to: Jadurani — New Vrindaban 4 September, 1972:
There is no difference between me and my picture. Therefore we should honor and keep pictures in that spirit. If we throw pictures this way and that way, that is offense. The name and picture are as good as the person in spiritual world.
Letter to: Bali-mardana — Tokyo 25 August, 1970:
The ripened fruit is received hand to hand through disciplic succession and anyone who does this work in disciplic succession from Srila Vyasadeva is considered as representative of Vyasadeva and as such the bona fide Spiritual Master’s Appearance Day is worshiped as Vyasa Puja. The exalted seat on which the Spiritual Master sits is also called Vyasasana.
(Testing a Guru & Disciple before accepting each other! A-Z details! READ HERE!)
Sri Vyasapuja — New Vrindaban, September 2, 1972:
So this Vyasa Puja means one day in a year, on the birthday of the spiritual master, because he is representative of Vyasa, he is delivering the same knowledge which has come down by disciplic succession without any change, he is offered the respect. This is called Vyasa Puja.
And the spiritual master receives all honor, all contribution, on behalf of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, not for his person. Just like in our country when there was British rule, there was a viceroy, a king’s representative. So naturally, when viceroy used to go to some meeting, many people used to present valuable jewels, valuable, because just to honor him.
But the law was that not a single of the jewels or contribution the viceroy could touch. It was going to the royal treasury. The viceroy could accept on behalf of the king all contribution, but itgoes to the king. Similarly, this day, Vyasa Puja day, whatever honor, contribution and feelings is being offered to the spiritual master, it is… Again, as we have received the knowledge from upwards, similarly, this respect also goes from downward to the upward. This is the process.
So as the spiritual master is teacher of the student, he has to teach the disciple how to send back his respect and contribution to God. This is called Vyasa Puja.
Homage to Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, Bombay, February 1935:
Herein lies the secret of Sri Vyasa Puja. When we meditate on the transcendental pastimes of the Absolute Godhead, we are proud to feel that we are His eternal servitors, and we become jubilant and dance with joy. All glory to my divine master, for it is he who has out of his unceasing flow of mercy stirred up within us such a movement of eternal existence. Let us bow down at his lotus feet.
(Guru Puja & Worship of Guru / Vyasa Puja concluded)
(Initiation Oaths (Vows) given to Guru & Effects of Violating them! READ HERE!)