Why should we worship our Guru similar to Krishna?
(Part of the series “Duties of a disciple to his Guru”; with Quotes from different acharyas)
Why should we worship our Guru similar to Krishna? Simple. A guru is as good as Krishna Himself.
Srila Prabhupada, Vrindavan, October 5, 1976, Srimad-Bhagavatam (1.7.45-46):
Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura said, ‘saksad-dharitvena samasta-sastrair uktas tatha bhavyata eva sadbhih’. Acarya, guru, is as good as God. Saksad-dharitvena. Acarya should be respected as Krishna. Therefore ‘acaryam mam vijaniyan nävamanyeta karhicit’ [SB – 11.17.27]. If somebody foolishly thinks that “They are worshiping a man. He’s like me, and he has taken the seat, and he’s taking worship, respect, from disciples.” Sometimes they question like that. But they do not know that how äcärya should be respected. Acarya should be respected “saksad dharitvena”, just like God. It is not exaggeration. It is according to the sästra. And acarya also accepts all these respectful obeisances to carry to the Supreme Personality of Godhead.”
(Is the Mercy of Guru and Krishna only for selected devotees? READ HERE!)
Though the spiritual masters have material body, they have been empowered by Krishna to elevate the struggling and fallen people. Remember, you can’t preach and guide others in Krishna Consciousness SUCCESSFULLY unless you are empowered/ blessed by Krishna.
For example, Srila Prabhupada spread Harinam throughout the world in JUST 11 YEARS during the last stages of his life. He too had material body, but, he had been empowered by Krishna. That is why, he could spread Krishna worldwide within 11 years and with poor health after repeated heart attacks. This is not an ordinary thing.
Krishna Himself requests us to respect His devotees as if we respect Krishna. Why? Because, the devotees have the power to bind even Krishna through their love. In this way, Krishna is very happy to be bound by His devotees.
(Are women Priests, Sanyasis and Gurus allowed in Sanathana Dharma? READ HERE!)
Why should we worship Guru? Because, the guru gives you Krishna Himself. Krishna is the topmost person. If a guru can give even the topmost person to others, how can we consider that guru? That is why, Krishna Himself considers such devotees who spread His glories as the dearest persons to Him.
Upanishads and many vedic scriptures say like this:
“The syllable gu means darkness, the syllable ru, means who dispels darkness.
Because of the power to dispel darkness, the guru is thus named.”
— Advayataraka Upanishad, Verse 16
A guru (spiritual teacher or siksha guru or diksha guru) is someone more than a teacher, traditionally a reverential figure to the student who shares experiential knowledge as much as literal knowledge, an exemplar in life, an inspirational source and who helps in the spiritual evolution of a student.”
(How to select, serve and please guru? READ HERE!)
A guru (spiritual teacher) is regarded as the metaphysical father of his students and is ranked higher than biological parents. They were expected to teach everything they knew to the students.
Vedic scriptures unanimously say “Gururbrahma Gururvishnu Gururdevo Mahesvara” (Guru is Brahma, Guru is Vishnu, Guru is Mahesvara).
So, the devotees of Lord including the gurus are great. Devotees means, SELFLESS and TOTALLY SURRENDERED DEVOTEES. They have no other business except satisfying Krishna.
So, Krishna will be very happy if you respect His devotees.
Honour the vaishnavas as you honour Krishna! How to find out true vaishnavas and gurus?
(Can a devotee take diksha (Initiation) from two gurus? READ HERE!)
They will not say that they are god or they are beyond god or they are significant persons. They will follow all the disciplinary rules. They will have a bonafide tradition or a sampradhaya behind them. They will always project themselves as if they are the servant of servant of servant of Lord Krishna. They will show this in action. They will be so simple and mentally well renounced.
You can trust such vaishnavas and entrust your spiritual advancement to him. Krishna too will approve that.
Sri Chandrasekarendra Sarasvati Sankaracharya of Kanchi kamakoti Mutt has said that approaching the god may be difficult to you, but, approaching a guru is easy for you and he will give you the god Himself.
Srila Raghunatha dasa Gosvami confirms that this is the real position of a bona fide spiritual master and says that one should always think of the spiritual master in terms of his intimate relationship with Mukunda (Sri Krishna).
In his prayers to the spiritual master, Srila Visvanatha Chakravarthy Thakura confirms that all the revealed scriptures accept the spiritual master to be identical with the Personality of Godhead because he is a very dear and confidential servant of the Lord.
In all the ancient literatures of devotional service and in the more recent songs of Srila Narottama dasa Thakura, Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura and other unalloyed Vaishnavas, the spiritual master is always considered either one of the confidential associates of Srimati Radharani or a manifested representation of Srila Nityananda Prabhu.
Srila Prabhupada says in his Purport to Srimad-Bhägavatam 4.8.44:
“The supreme spiritual master is Krishna, who is therefore known as Caitya-guru. This refers to the Supersoul, who is sitting in everyone’s heart. He helps from within as stated in Bhagavad Gita and He sends the spiritual master, who helps from without. The spiritual master is the external manifestation of the caitya-guru, or the spiritual master sitting in everyone’s heart.”
Sri Caitanya-caritamruta Antya 4.192-193:
At the time of initiation, when a devotee fully surrenders unto the service of the Lord, Krishna accepts him to be as good as Himself.
Now, tell me, why should we worship our Guru similar to Krishna.
(Surrender to Krishna and Surrender to Guru – which is important? A detailed analysis! READ HERE!)