Category:Describing a Spiritual Master
Theme Analysis
This category compiles Śrīla Prabhupāda's profound explanations on the identity, position, and qualifications of the guru. The quotes emphasize that a bona fide spiritual master is non-different from Kṛṣṇa as His authorized representative (sākṣād-dharitvena), must strictly hear from the disciplic succession (śrotriyaṁ brahma-niṣṭham), and possesses the supreme spiritual potency to deliver conditioned souls from the darkness of ignorance. The text also highlights exalted historical examples like Nārada Muni, Śukadeva Gosvāmī, and Maitreya.
- The Lord's Representative: All Vedic literatures declare that the bona fide spiritual master must be honored equally with the Supreme Personality of Godhead because he perfectly represents the Lord.
- Strict Qualifications: A genuine guru is strictly situated in the science of Kṛṣṇa, having heard perfectly from the authorized disciplic succession without concoction.
- Transformative Mercy: The spiritual master lifts the conditioned living entities from the darkest ignorance, empowering even the most unqualified to speak and act wonderfully in devotional service.
- Exalted Examples: Great sages and historical authorities like Maitreya, Śukadeva Gosvāmī, and Nārada Muni are described as perfect examples of empowered spiritual masters who selflessly travel to deliver the universe.
- Explore the synthesized essence of this category in this Vanipedia article: Describing a Spiritual Master - The Representative of Krsna.
Pages in category "Describing a Spiritual Master"
The following 28 pages are in this category, out of 28 total.
I
- In all scriptures it is described that guru is as good as Bhagavan. Means he knows from the right source. Therefore he may be - not may be exactly, but as good - saksad-dharitvena
- In this material world, every living entity is covered by the darkness of ignorance. Therefore the Vedas enjoin that one should approach the Supreme Lord through the spiritual master, who is described and offered prayers in the Gautamiya-tantra
- In this verse (SB 3.24.17) the activities and bodily features of Kapila Muni are very nicely described
- It is to be noted that sometimes in revealed scriptures Lord Siva is described as being nondifferent from the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The point is that Lord Siva and Lord Visnu are so intimately connected that there is no difference in opinion
L
- Lord Siva is described in the Brahma-samhita (BS 5.38): Govinda, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, assumes the form of Lord Siva for the special purpose of material transactions. I (Brahma) offer my obeisances at Lord Govinda's lotus feet
- Lord Siva is described in the Brahma-samhita (BS 5.38): Milk changes into yogurt when mixed with a yogurt culture, but actually yogurt is constitutionally nothing but milk
S
- Spiritual master is described as good as God in all scriptures, and all advanced spiritualists accept this. But he is the most confidential servant of God
- Sri Sukadeva Gosvami, who is described herein (SB 1.19.26) as the son of Vyasadeva, was by his knowledge more experienced than all the sages present there, although he was only sixteen years old
- Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura writes in his Anubhasya - Near the Mudagacha station is a village known as Saligrama in which King Krsnadasa arranged for the marriage of Sri Nityananda Prabhu, as described in the Bhakti-ratnakara - Twelfth Wave
- Srila Raghunatha dasa Gosvami was the instructing spiritual master of Krsnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami and has therefore been described as sri-guru
- Srila Srinivasa Acarya describes in his prayers to the six Gosvamis that they were all highly learned scholars, not only in Sanskrit but also in foreign languages such as Persian and Arabic
- Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura says: saksad-dharitvena samasta-sastrair uktas tatha bhavyata eva sadbhih. The spiritual master is described in every scripture as the representative of the Supreme Personality of Godhead
- Sukadeva Gosvami continued: My dear King (Pariksit), Lord Nrsimhadeva resides in the tract of land known as Hari-varsa. In the Seventh Canto of SB, I shall describe to you how Prahlada Maharaja caused the Lord to assume the form of Nrsimhadeva
T
- The characteristics of Rupa Gosvami have thus been described in various places by the poet Kavi-karnapura. An account has also been given of how Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu bestowed His causeless mercy upon Srila Rupa Gosvami and Srila Sanatana Gosvami
- The great sage Maitreya Muni is described here (SB 3.5.17) as bhagavan because he surpassed all ordinary human beings in learning and experience. Thus his selection of the greatest welfare service for the world is considered authoritative
- The great sage Narada travels everywhere. He goes to the demons and the demigods and is equally respected. He is consequently described herein (SB 4.31.3) as surasuredya, worshiped both by demons and by demigods
- The Manu-samhita (2.140) explains the duties of an acarya, describing that a bona fide spiritual master accepts charge of disciples, teaches them the Vedic knowledge with all its intricacies, and gives them their second birth
- The spiritual master's mercy is described, mukham karoti vacalam. Mukham means dumb, one who cannot speak. He becomes a great lecturer or speaker
W
- What did they (Nalakuvara and Manigriva) do that was so abominable that even Narada, the great sage, became angry at them? Kindly describe this to me (King Pariksit) - SB 10.10.1
- When they (Nityananda Prabhu, Jagadananda Prabhu, Damodara Pandita & Mukunda dasa) went to Remuna, to the temple of Gopinatha, He (Caitanya) described Madhavendra Puri's installation of the Gopala Deity as well as Gopinatha’s stealing condensed milk
- Who is bona fide spiritual master? That is also described, srotriyam brahma-nistham: "One who has heard from his spiritual master." This is... Spiritual master becomes by disciplic succession