HG Pran Gauranga Das
om ajnana-timirandhasya jnananjana salakaya
caksur unmilitam yena tasmai sri gurave namah
“I was born in the darkest ignorance, and my spiritual master opened my eyes with the torch of knowledge. I offer my respectful obeisances unto him.”
nama om visnu-padaya krsna-presthaya bhu-tale
srimate romapada-svamin iti namine
“I offer my respectful obeisances unto His Divine Grace Romapada Swami, who is very dear to Lord Krishna, having taken shelter at His lotus feet.”
In Srimad Bhagavatam -11.7.27, Krsna states:
acaryam mam vijaniyan
navamanyeta karhicit
na martya-buddhyasuyeta
sarva-deva-mayo guruh
“One should know the acarya as Myself and never disrespect him in any way. One should not envy him, thinking him an ordinary man, for he is the representative of all the demigods”.
There are many beautiful points in this verse. Lord Krsna is describing to Uddhava the position of an acarya. He mentions that acarya is non-different from Him. Spiritual master is an external manifestation of the Supersoul. The conditioned souls who have forgotten their relationship with the Lord are being reminded of that relationship with the Lord by the acarya. He is more merciful than the Lord, for he takes all kinds of risks in order to rescue the lost souls. Lord recognises such selfless service of an acarya and considers him as non-different from Him.
Lord further states that one should never disrespect an acarya. Considering a spiritual master as an ordinary human being is an offence. Externally spiritual master may look like an ordinary human being, and one may consider him as ordinary however in this verse Krsna warns against such understanding. Even Lord considers an acarya as not ordinary then how one can consider him otherwise?
Conditioned souls have a tendency to consider spiritual things as material or ordinary. Like in chanting of the holy name, when one chants offensively, chanting appears to be completely tasteless and sort of a ritual or burden. The reason being one has not properly understood the importance of it and hence unable to take maximum benefit. Similarly, when one has not understood the glories of the spiritual master, one may consider him to be like another ordinary person who is influenced by desires and hatred. One should therefore guard against such tendencies. Srila Prabhupada states in his Srimad-Bhagavatam lecture given on 6.1.28-29 (Philadelphia, July 13, 1975)- “…Familiarity breeds contempt. That is not good. Similarly… Because by the mercy of acarya, by the mercy of guru, you will get Krsna. You sing that, Krsna -prapti jaha hoite…”
Spiritual master has the capacity to deliver Krsna (who is not ordinary) to a conditioned soul. One must hear and discuss the glories of the spiritual master regularly so that one’s regard for him is never diminished rather one’s faith and regard for him should always increase. As stated in Sri Gurvastakam by Srila Visvanath Cakravarti Thakur “dhyayan stuvams tasya yasas tri-sandhyam…” One must at least three times a day meditate on the glories of the spiritual master. Such injunctions in the scriptures are meant for enforcing this fact again and again so that one may not fall in trap of considering the spiritual master as ordinary human being.
Our Guru Maharaja, Srila Romapada Swami, is an embodiment of compassion and selfless service. His dedication to the mission of Srila Prabhupada in rescuing the fallen souls is unparalleled. He is our role model in devotional service. Understanding about pure devotional service from scriptures will remain incomplete unless one comes across such a person who is a living example of pure devotional service. Somehow by some inexplicable mercy our paths have crossed his. We all have witnessed Guru Maharaja’s love for pure devotional service. His love for the holy name and Srimad-Bhagavatam is so deep and pure. And his caring nature is so heart touching.
Guru Maharaja does not like to take any respect and honour, however, today he is mercifully allowing us to glorify and worship him for our benefit. This is such a wonderful opportunity. Today is that blessed day where all the disciples again recommit to serving their beloved guru who has saved and touched their lives so deeply. Today is the day to express our feelings of gratitude for our spiritual master who has rescued us from the dark well of material existence. Let us all come together and worship the pure representative of Krsna with all our hearts and action.