guru as a representative form of the arca vigraha

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Home Base: Sri Mayapur Candrodaya Mandir, Navadwip Dhama, Nadia, WB, INDIA

Camp: Narasimha Caturdasi (Appearance) Festival, ISKCON Sri Mayapur, India

 

> Dear Srila Acaryapada,

> PAMHO. AGTSA &SP.

> I was thinking for long time about how to practicaly understand the

> position of the guru as the extended form of the Paramatma. I got a

> understanding that like the Deity form is directly the Lord who accepts

> our service, so also the guru is a kind of all merciful form of the Lord

> as his representative to exept the service from even the most fallen and

> so is also a kind of extended representative of the arca vigraha. I am

> hopeful that I didn't make some mistake

> in my expression and that this will cause some misunderstanding.

> But is to meditate also in this way about the guru a speculation?

> YHS

> Damana Krsna das Brahmacari

 

According to scripture one is to see not only the spiritual master as a

representative of the SPG (Supreme Personality of Godhead), but even

advanced and senior Godbrothers as like the SPG. In 7th Canto SB it is

described that Prahlad's glories were such that he treat see his senior

Godbrothers as representatives of SPG.

 

The Spiritual Master isn't the SPG, but as a mercy representative or

external manifestation he is able to give Lord Sri Krishna's mercy to his

disciples. In CC it is specifically mentioned that Lord Sri Krishna gives

mercy to His devotees through the Spiritual Master. Therefore the Spiritual

Master is respected as having the Quality of the SPG: "Samasta sastrai...

Haritvena". "Hari is the SPG and "Haritva" means in sanskrit "of the quality

of Hari". So although a Spiritual Master or even a senior Godbrother are

not the SPG since they have that quality of mercy of the SPG they are

respected like we respect the SPG.

 

I hope this is clear.

 

I hope that this finds you in good health.

 

Your ever well wisher,

 

Jayapataka Swami