Why initiation (diksha) is necessary if Harinam itself is powerful?
ACTUAL QUESTION:
Hare Krishna prabhu Ji. I always thought that by reading bhagavad Gita ji and bhagavatam and chanting Hare Krishna Mala I can get krishna love. But in Shastra I read that without guru we can’t reach to God. Is it true. now I am feeling that I have to take Nam diksha from iskcon to increase my devotional practice. For taking diksha, use of onion garlic is prohibited or not. Am I eligible for diksha or should I continue devotional practice without taking guru?
REPLY:
This question usually arises because, we expect a FORMAL DIKSHA CEREMONY in all cases. In those days, such a system of giving Diksha in front of fire was not followed in all cases. There were many exemptions that will be given in the middle of this reply.
Diksha Yagna is the official and formal ceremony to recognize and record that you have accepted a guru and have taken certain resolutions in front of him.
(Will accepting a Guru alone elevate a devotee to attain perfection? READ HERE!)
Without such ceremonies, if a guru says to a sadhaka that he has accepted him as his disciple, that itself is enough.
In older days there were different diksha systems like “Bhagavati-diksa”. If a guru accepts a disciple orally, it was diksha. Of course, Diksha ceremonies were also there.
Everyone of us already have a guru because we have learnt about Krishna and devotional practices through a devotee who is our siksha guru.
However, we accept a diksha guru (i) to make our dedication strong and (ii) to commit ourselves in devotional practices witnessed in front of our diksha guru and fire.
How such commitment comes after accepting a diksha guru? Let us see some examples:
When we join a school, thate school takes the responsibility for our success in our material education. The students too resolve to study well. They get direct motivation from the teachers. So, success rate will be more.
(Why should the devotees and gurus be affected by Pandemic like Covid-19? READ HERE!)
When we join a GYM, the Gym takes the responsibility to reduce our weight by certain kilograms. The customer too resolves to follow the weight loss tips of the Gym.
When one gets married in a ceremony in front of hundreds of relatives and friends, he takes that marriage and spouse seriously. If he just takes a girl and start a life, there are chances for weak relationship between them because the bond wll be casual without the fear for a group of people and society.
Thus, success in all our efforts involves a commitment from both the giver and receiver.
Similarly, in a ‘guru-disciple system’, such commitment becomes necessary.
The guru commits to elevate the disciple and the disciple too commits to the guru that he will follow all the instructions given by his guru.
Therefore, Guru’s INITIATION (Diksha) is required to develop such a strong commitment in devotion from both the sides.
(WHAT IF A DISCIPLE IS UNABLE TO SURRENDER TO GURU? READ HERE!)
If we do not promise to someone and keep the promise ourselves, we do not have a strong will power to follow our promises.
For example, if you decide yourself to quit smoking, you may fail again and again.
But, if you declare to atleast five people that you are quitting smoking, this sharing of promise will pull you back whenever you like to smoke. The guilt will be more.
Same applies when we promise to our guru in a fire yagna to follow regulative principles, follow 16 rounds of chanting daily, follow fasting, etc.
Our commitment to our promises given to our guru in front of fire and deity will act as a catalyst to keep us out of sinful acts.
Therefore, we need a diksha guru to increase our commitment in devotional practices.
Another benefit of accepting a guru is, we will grow in devotion fast. Because, the devotional/ spiritual support of our guru and his guru parampara (lineage) will always protect us as a shield and hence we will grow in devotion fast.
(How to repent for not following the Vows given to Guru? READ HERE!)
Since the guru takes the responsibility for our elevation, he will always be following and guiding us. This will speed up our devotional development.
Therefore, accepting diksha and entering in to a spiritual commitment with our guru will be favourable to our spiritual growth.
Some devotees fear to accept guru because they fear to commit to a guru to follow all the devotional practices. But, the fact is, without commitment, we can’t get Krishna.
Therefore, a guru will be our best asset in our devotional life.
Now, let us see the types of Diksha.
IS JUST GETTING A MANTHRA CALLED INITIATION (DIKSHA)?
No.
(I have more attachment with Guru than Krishna. What to do? READ HERE!)
Initiation (diksha) is not completed by just getting the mantra from the guru. Only if the disciple follows the guru and his instructions and realize himself and the Lord, the Diksha completes.
Therefore, please do not stick only with the ceremonies and rituals. Practice what the Guru instructed.
TWO TYPES OF INITIATION (DIKSHA):
There are two kinds of diksa (initiation) : 1. Anusthaniki and 2. Vidvat-rudhi.
(1) Anusthaniki : The external formality of a fire yajna and the giving of initiation (diksha) (gayatri) mantras.
(2) Vidvat-rudhi : An internal initiation wherein the disciple completely gives his heart at his guru’s lotus feet, knowing that his guru will make him qualified to serve the Lord.
The second stage of initiation (diksha) is also allowed in devotional life. It involves total dedication from the disciple. But, the first formal initiation motivates us more powerfully.
DIKSHA WITHOUT FORMAL CEREMONIES – EXAMPLES
(1) BRAHMA’S INITIATION:
Brahma received kama-gayatri initiation by hearing the sound of Sri Krsna’s flute itself. There were no ceremonies.
Therefore, initiation (diksha) is the starting of a process of realisation.
(What are the types of Diksha / initiation? Is Diksha in Dream valid? READ HERE!)
(2) SRI SUKADEVA GOSVAMI’s INITIATION:
Actually Sri Vyasa dev was the Guru of his son Sri Sukadeva Gosvami.
Sri Sukadeva Gosvami is said to have undergone NO “Formal initiation (diksha) Samskara” from Vyasa dev , but, he received the essence of Bhagavatam from Vyasa Dev and passed it along to Pariksit Maharaja, Suta Goswami and others who were not his direct diksa disciples.
Because, Sri Sukadeva Gosvami was purer soul than his father Sri Vyasadev Himself . The following incident proves that:
When Vyasadeva was walking following his son, Srila Sukadeva Gosvami, they came upon some maid women bathing in a pond, Sukadeva Gosvami was also naked, yet the maidens did not cover themselves when he passed by.
However, they did cover themselves when the fully-clad Vyasadeva approached.
(I don’t have the association of devotees. Can’t I chant and love Krishna? READ HERE!)
Astonished at the apparently inconsistent behavior of the young girls, Vyasadeva asked them to explain.
“Your son is purified of all material contamination,” they said, “so when he looks at us he makes no distinction between male and female. But as a householder, you do make such distinctions. Therefore, while we feel no shame before your son, we must cover ourselves before you.”
Thus, if one is pure, he has already initiated.
(3) PARIKSHIT MAHARAJA’s INITIATION:
Sri Sukadeva Gosvami did not give any ‘formal initiation (diksha)’ to Maharaja Parikshit.
Parikshit Maharaj came to the forest and surrendered to Sri Sukadeva Gosvami and heard Srimad Bhagavatham from him.
(SHAKTIPAD or SHAKTIPADA – COMPLETE DETAILS INCLUDING TYPES, EXAMPLES IN SCRIPTURES, RULES, ETC! READ HERE!)
However, Parikshit Maharaja received the service of the gopis, and he became attached to that service through Sri Sukadeva gosvami.
Maharaja Pariksit told his mother Uttara: “You are my mother, but now I am dying, and at this last moment I am giving you this instruction. Don’t see Krishna as your father-in-law. What should you think? He is your beloved, as He was the beloved of the gopis. Krishna is also your beloved and He is also my beloved. Always keep this in your mind.”
This statement shows that Maharaja Pariksit was connected with Krishna through Sukadeva Gosvami. Therefore, Sukadeva Gosvami is actually his diksa guru, though there were no formal ceremonies.
NOTE:
There is another version of a story that states that King Janaka was the initiating guru for Sri Sukhadeva Gosvami.
This story can be found soon in our site HERE.
CONCLUSION:
Of course, Lord’s names themselves are powerful to bring the love of Krishna. However, when we get the manthra from a guru, the manthra comes with two additional benefits :
(1) Guru takes responsibility for our devotional growth and getting Krishna. He will be with us till we go back to Krishna’s kingdom;
(2) We get more commitment when we accept a guru.
This ensures our liberation from this material world and takes us back to Krishna.
Therefore, it is advisable to accept a guru and commit ourselves in devotion through him.
Though we can accept a guru even by our heart, we may not have sufficient commitment. If we accept formal and official initiation (diksha) when such ceremonies are formally arranged, it will give us more commitment to follow our resolutions given to guru.
This commitment coupled with the blessings of our guru will definitely bring the love of Krishna.
Remember, even Krishna and Rama had Gurus when they descended to the earth. This shows how important a guru is in our life.
(Who gives us God realization – Guru or God? READ HERE!)