Category:Worshiping a Spiritual Master
Theme Analysis
Śrīla Prabhupāda elaborates on the vital principle of ācāryopāsanam—worshiping the spiritual master. He explains that the bona fide spiritual master is the authorized representative of Vyāsadeva and the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Kṛṣṇa. Because the guru transparently delivers pure transcendental knowledge and rescues the disciple from the darkness of ignorance, he is honored and worshiped on the exact same level as God (sākṣād-dharitvena). However, Śrīla Prabhupāda clarifies a crucial distinction: while the disciple worships the guru as God, the true guru never claims to be God, remaining always the humble servant. Ultimately, without worshiping and satisfying the spiritual master, no spiritual advancement is possible.
- The Representative of Kṛṣṇa: All authorized scriptures declare that the bona fide spiritual master is the external manifestation of the Supreme Lord, and therefore he must be worshiped exactly as one worships Kṛṣṇa.
- The Light of Knowledge: The spiritual master is worshiped because he opens the disciple's eyes with the torchlight of transcendental knowledge, freeing them from the blind ignorance of material existence.
- The True Position of the Guru: Although the disciple offers absolute reverence to the spiritual master as God, the genuine guru never accepts that he is God; rather, he always maintains the position of a humble servant.
- The Observance of Vyāsa-pūjā: Because the spiritual master strictly follows and delivers the teachings of the original guru, Śrīla Vyāsadeva, the observance of his appearance day is respectfully celebrated as Vyāsa-pūjā.
- Explore the synthesized essence of this category in this Vanipedia article: Worshiping a Spiritual Master as the Representative of Kṛṣṇa.
Pages in category "Worshiping a Spiritual Master"
The following 60 pages are in this category, out of 60 total.
A
- A Vaisnava acarya's body is never burned. It is entombed. They worship the body. But that is spiritual body
- Acarya should be always worshiped. Even if you, by ABCD, you have become more learned than the acarya... That is not possible, but if you foolishly think like that, still, you should not exhibit your foolishness, that you know more than the acarya
- According to our system, when you observe the birthday anniversary of spiritual master it is called Vyasa-puja. Actually the worship is going to Vyasadeva, and his representative is accepting the puja
- According to Vedic sastra, guru is worshiped like God. This is . . . just like my disciples, they have given this seat and . . . almost equally with God's seat. That is injunction. Yasya prasadad bhagavat-prasadah
- Actual worship of the Spiritual Master will be done by all of my disciples on the fifth day of September, just one day after Janmastami
- After being worshiped by Advaita Acarya, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu would take the dish containing flowers and tulasi and, with whatever paraphernalia remained, worship Advaita Acarya
- All the sastras describe the guru as being on an equal basis with Krsna, for he is the representative of Krsna. Therefore he is worshiped as Krsna
- All these honors (of worship) are offered to him (a spiritual master) because he strictly follows the brahminical principles and teaches these principles to his disciples
- Although materialistic persons know that material happiness is nothing but another side of suffering, they want it, and to get it very quickly they worship Lord Siva
- 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
- Austerity of the body consists in worship of the Supreme Lord, the brahmanas, the spiritual master, and superiors like the father and mother, and in cleanliness, simplicity, celibacy and nonviolence
G
- Gaudiya Vaisnavas worship Srila Gurudeva (the spiritual master) in the light of his being the servitor of the Personality of Godhead
- Guru does not accept, although he is worshiped like Krsna, he never accepts that "I am Krsna." That is our parampara system. Sisya has to accept guru as Krsna, but guru will never accept that he is Krsna. This is our relationship
- Guru is worshiped because he is delivering the right thing - no nonsense. That is guru
- Guru should be worshiped as God, but guru will never claim that he is God. That is not guru. Guru will always claim that he is servant of God
H
- Here (in SB 3.28.2) it is recommended that one should seek out a bona fide spiritual master and surrender unto him (arcanam), for by inquiring from and worshiping him one can learn spiritual activities
- Here is the picture of your spiritual master. So you worship this picture. You know that, "This is my spiritual master's picture." Similarly, if somebody disregards this picture, you will not tolerate. Similarly, Krsna's Deity and Krsna not different
I
- I (Vyasadeva) have, under strict disciplinary vows, unpretentiously worshiped the Vedas, the spiritual master and the altar of sacrifice
- In the Bhagavad-gita it is stated, "If you want to make progress in knowledge, then you have to follow." Acaryopasanam: "You have to worship acarya." Acaryopasanam
- In the Caitanya-bhagavata, Antya-khanda, Chapter Five, it is said that Uddharana Datta was an extremely elevated and liberal Vaisnava. He was born with the right to worship Nityananda Prabhu
- In the fourth vilasa (HBV) are descriptions of samskara, the reformatory method; tilaka, the application of twelve tilakas on twelve places of the body; mudra, marks on the body; mala, chanting with beads; and guru-puja, worship of the spiritual master
- It is good news that you have now got a house and are remodeling it for the Temple. You may immediately arrange an alter for worship of Guru-Gauranga and that will be very suitable for the present
- It is recommended in authoritative scriptures the spiritual master be worshiped as the S P of God because of being His very confidential servitor, it is accepted by great authorities that the spiritual master is the external manifestation of Krsna
N
- No one can understand the import of the Vedas without having undergone a strict disciplinary vow and disciplic succession. The Vedas, spiritual masters and sacrificial fire must be worshiped by the desiring candidate
- Now you have got Gaura Nitai Deities, so you can go ahead and get Prabhupada and Bhaktisiddhanta Deities immediately. Guru and Gauranga worship is standard for all our temples
O
- O Indra, your enemies, the demons, were extremely weak because of their disrespect toward Sukracarya, but since they have now worshiped Sukracarya with great devotion, they have again become powerful
- One cannot get the benefit of milk by drinking yogurt. Similarly, one cannot get salvation by worshiping Lord Siva. If one wants salvation, one must worship Lord Visnu. This is confirmed in the Bhagavad-gita - BG 9.4
- One should execute his prescribed duties to the best of his ability and avoid duties not allotted to him. One should be satisfied with as much gain as he achieves by the grace of the Lord, and one should worship the lotus feet of a spiritual master
- One should perform his daily spiritual duties and then, with great attention, offer worship to the Deity of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and also to the altar, the sun, water, fire and the spiritual master
P
- Prahlada Maharaja is not protesting, "Why you are killing my father?" No. He's seeing. So why Prahlada Maharaja is worshiped? Why he has become a mahajana, authority
- Pseudo religionists ignore the Vedic injunction acaryopasana - "One must worship the acarya" - and Krsna's statement in the Bhagavad-gita (4.2) evam parampara-praptam, "This supreme science of God is received through the disciplic succession"
S
- Sastra says, Vedanta says, sastra-caksusah. Pasyanti jnana-caksusah (BG 15.9) in the Bhagavad-gita. Pasyanti jnana-caksusa: eyes should be enlightened by knowledge. That is real eyes. These blunt eyes is not eyes. Therefore guru is worshiped
- Since Vyasadeva is the original guru (spiritual master) of all who follow the Vedic principles, worship of the spiritual master is called Vyasa-puja
- So to worship guru means because he gives us superior knowledge. Not this knowledge - how to eat, how to sleep, how to have sex life and defend
- Southern Mathura, presently known as Madurai, is situated on the banks of the Bhagai River. This place of pilgrimage is specifically meant for the devotees of Lord Siva; therefore it is called Saiva-ksetra, that is, the place where Lord Siva is worshiped
- Spiritual Master is an agent of Krishna. But either He is assistant to the gopis or assistant to the cowherds boys, He is on the level of Krishna. That is the verdict of all scriptures. Krishna is worshipable God & the Spiritual Master is worshipper God
T
- The austerity of the body consists in this: worship of the Supreme Lord, the brahmanas, the spiritual master, and superiors like the father and mother. Cleanliness, simplicity, celibacy and nonviolence are also austerities of the body. BG 17.14 - 1972
- The bona fide spiritual master is called Vyasa because he is a representative of Vyasa. Worshiping the birthday of such a spiritual master is called Vyasa-puja
- The bona fide spiritual master who accepts disciples from all over the world is also worshiped all over the world because of his qualities. Lokanam asau pujyo yatha harih: the people of the world worship him just as they worship the SPG
- The brahmacari should rise early in the morning and worship guru, agni, fire, surya, and in the morning there should be class, and on the order of the guru, they should assemble and begin reading Vedic literature, chandamsi
- The gopis also worshiped Lord Siva in Vrndavana, and the lord is still staying there as Gopisvara. The gopis, however, prayed that Lord Siva bless them by giving them Lord Krsna as their husband
- The great sage Maitreya continued: Being thus worshiped by Maharaja Prthu, the four Kumaras, who were masters of devotional service, became very pleased. Indeed, they appeared in the sky and praised the character of the King, and everyone observed them
- 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 Lord says that one must worship the acarya, who is the representative of the Supreme Personality of Godhead (acaryam mam vijaniyat (SB 11.17.27)). One should definitely understand this
- The mantra to Ganapati is not bona fide. That is another nonsense. Your (Upendra - disciple of Prabhupada) worship of Guru-Gauranga and Nrsimhadeva is very nice. Please make it as attractive and gorgeous as possible though simple
- The spiritual master is worshiped as one who delivers the disciple from the mire of ignorance with the light of the torch of knowledge
- There is an English word: "If you love me, love my dog." So the spiritual master is dog-God. He's dog of God, therefore he's dog-God. He's to be worshiped. He's the pet dog of God. Therefore if you love the dog, you love God
- This initiation process is acaryopasanam, beginning of worshiping the spiritual master
- This is a very great opportunity (satisfy guru by service), for the guru is the confidential servant of Krsna. The guru never claims that he is Krsna, although he is worshiped as Krsna: saksad dharitvena samasta-sastrair uktas tatha bhavyata eva sadbhih
V
- Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura has advised that the spiritual master acting on the Supreme Lord's behalf must be worshiped as being as good as the Supreme Lord
- Vyasadeva is not Mayavadi. He is Vaisnava. We belong to Vyasadeva's sampradaya, Brahma-sampradaya. Therefore we worship our spiritual master as Vyasadeva's representative, vyasa-puja
W
- When Uddhava had been sufficiently honored and worshiped by the pure devotees of Vrndavana, he returned to Mathura and to his master, Krsna
- Why guru should be worshiped? Saksad-dharitvena samasta (Sri Gurv-astaka 7) - because he has no cheating propensity. That is guru
- Worship of the acarya is recommended. The acaryas and gosvamis are always absorbed in thought of the well-being of the general public, especially their spiritual well-being. Spiritual wellbeing is automatically followed by material well-being