TYPES OF GURUS (SPIRITUAL MASTERS) FROM THE SCRIPTURES!
There are different types of Gurus:
PRIMARY CLASSIFICATION OF GURUS
There are three major classifications of gurus:
(ii) SIKSHA GURU:
One who teaches you about Lord and scriptures;
(iii) DIKSHA GURU:
One who officially initiates the disciples into their lineage by accepting the disciples and takes the responsibility for their elevation.
(TYPES OF DIKSHA (INITIATION) – COMPLETE DETAILS! READ HERE!)
SECONDARY CLASSIFICATION
(These classifications are based on the scriptures like Guru Gita)
(1) PRERAK GURU:
One who inspires the seeker’s mind with an initiation.
(2) SUCHAKA GURU:
The Suchaka Guru is one who is an expert in atleast one external worldly science. Eg: Science, arts, etc. and who suggests (Informs) the types of spiritual practice and initiation.
(3) VACHAKA GURU (DIKSHA GURU):
The Guru who instructs the duties according to the different castes and orders (Varna and Ashram).
(4) DARSHAK GURU:
One who shows/ Guides explaining the advantages and disadvantages of spiritual practice and initiation.
(Who gives us God realization – Guru or God? READ HERE!)
(5) BODHAKA GURU:
The guru who initiates one into the spirituality by giving a Diksha Mantra. He is superior to the Vachaka and Suchaka types.
(6) NISHIDDHA GURU:
The Guru who initiates one into the lower types of prohibitted Vidyas, like Mohana, Marana, Vashya etc.
(7) VIHITA GURU:
The Guru who shows the path leading to Vairagya (dispassion) by explaning the miseries of this material world and clearing all doubts, is known as the Vihita Guru.
(8) KARANAKYA GURU:
The Guru who initiates the disciple into sanyasa and who is the remover of the disease of this mundane world by giving sanyasa.
(INITIATION (DIKSHA) VOWS & CHALLENGES IN FOLLOWING THEM! READ HERE!)
(9) KAMYA GURU:
This makes one engage oneself in Good MATERIAL deeds to secure happiness in both the worlds.
(10) PARAM GURU:
He, who is expert in total removal of all types of doubts, and who removes the fear of birth and death, is Param Guru, the Supreme Guru.
GLORIES OF PARAM GURU
One gets such a Supreme Guru as a result of merits acquired in many births.
After getting such a Guru, the disciple never falls prey to bonds to Samsara, he is liberated forever.
(How to take Diksha (Initiation) and become a disciple of a guru (spiritual master) in ISKCON? READ HERE!)
O Parvati, there are in the world thus many kinds of Gurus, of all these, one should by all means and efforts, serve the Param Guru.
Lord Siva says to Parvati:
“If God is angry, the Guru saves you; but if the Guru is angry, even God cannot save you. Therefore, with every effort, take refuge in the Guru.”
Guru is that much powerful.
The importance of Guru in one’s spiritual awakening and growth has been unanimously accepted by most of the sampradhayas and devotional paths.
Hope you are clear about the Types of Gurus.
(Is initiation (diksha) compulsory to get the love of Krishna? READ HERE!)