The concept of acarya-upasana

[Kulapavana]

The concept of acarya-upasana (Srila Prabhupada sometimes used the word acaryopasana) - is it based on Bhagavad Gita? The verse 4.2 used in this context goes as follows:

 

 

 

evam parampara-praptam

imam rajarsayo viduh

sa kaleneha mahata

yogo nastah parantapa

Translation

 

This supreme science was thus received through the chain of disciplic succession, and the saintly kings understood it in that way. But in course of time the succession was broken, and therefore the science as it is appears to be lost.

 

4.34

<TABLE class="Panel SearchResultsPanel" width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=Content>tad viddhi pranipatenapariprasnena sevayaupadeksyanti te jnanamjnaninas tattva-darshinah

"Just try to learn the truth by approaching a spiritual master. Inquire from him submissively and render service unto him. The self-realized souls can impart knowledge unto you because they have seen the truth."

</TD></TR><TR><TD> </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

 

The upasana (worship) is not really mentioned there. Any shastric quotes that directly use the term "acarya-upasana"?

[theist]

 

The concept of acarya-upasana (Srila Prabhupada sometimes used the word acaryopasana) - is it based on Bhagavad Gita?

 

Are you limiting the question to Bhagavad-gita?

[Kulapavana]

 

Are you limiting the question to Bhagavad-gita?

 

Not at all. Any and all general shastric quotes are welcome to illuminate this subject matter.

[theist]

I'll be interest myself to what people post.

[Kulapavana]

The most famous shastric reference to guru-upasana comes from Uttarkhand of Skanda Purana and is generally known as Guru Gita. Lord Shiva explains the glories of Sri Guru to Mother Parvati in 182 verses.

[theist]

Never read it. What's the gist? Got a link?

[theist]

You must be refering to the Guru Gita. Any Vaisnava translations out there?

[gHari]

SB 4.22.22p

This yuktatama indicates the topmost of all yogIs--the devotees, who can also be called yogezvara. In this verse, yogezvara-upAsanA means to render service to a pure devotee. Thus Narottama dAsa ThAkura says, chADiyA vaiSNava-sevA nistAra pAyeche kebA: without serving a pure devotee, one cannot advance in spiritual life.

 

The gopis speak to Krsna in Krsna Book 29

"Since You are the teacher of all religious principles, Your lotus feet have to be worshiped first. Accordingly, the zAstras state, AcArya-upAsanA: the worship of Your lotus feet is the first principle. Besides that, as stated in the Bhagavad-gItA, You are the only enjoyer, You are the only proprietor, and You are the only friend. As such, we have come to You, leaving aside all so-called friends, society and love, and now You have become our enjoyer. Let us be everlastingly enjoyed by You. Be our proprietor, for that is Your natural claim, and be our supreme friend, for You are naturally so. Let us thus embrace You as the supreme beloved."

 

 

Lecture

And what is the upAsanA? The first guru. Guru, agni, arka--means sun--and then God. Therefore you see in our Deity room there is picture of guru first of all. First of all your guru, then his guru, then his guru--at least four, five generation, because the spiritual knowledge is received through the paramparA. I have received from my guru; you are receiving from your guru; and my guru received from his guru; he received his guru. EvaM paramparA-prAptam imaM rAjarSayo viduH [bg. 4.2]. Adau gurvAzrayam. You cannot learn to become a perfect human being without accepting guru. Then you remain a rascal. Tad-vijJAnArthaM sa gurum evAbhigacchet [MU 1.2.12]. That is the Vedic injunction. If you want to learn that transcendental science, you must approach a guru. Guru principle is the same, not that your guru and my guru will be different. If he is actually guru, then there is no difference between my guru and your guru. Just like a medical man. You consult one medical man; I consult another. That does not mean the medical man is different. They are depending on the same medical science. So guru means the following the same principles. Evam paramparA-prAptam [bg. 4.2]. The first guru is KRSNa, the supreme guru. He is the guru of BrahmA even. BrahmA is the first creature of this universe. Tene brahma hRdA Adi-kavaye muhyanti yatra sUrayaH. So KRSNa is the original guru. Then KRSNa spoke to the sun-god. ImaM vivasvate yogaM proktavAn aham. So anyone, if we follow KRSNa, then we are actually guru. And if you do not follow KRSNa and want to become KRSNa, then you are rascal. This is the test. If you want to have a perfect guru, then you have to see whether he is speaking on behalf of KRSNa or on his own behalf. One who speaks on his own behalf, manufactures, he is not guru. He's a rascal. One who speaks on behalf of KRSNa, he is guru. Therefore guru is so worshiped.

 

 

Lecture

Therefore zAstra says, dharmasya tattvaM nihitaM guhAyAm. The truth is very confidential. So if you want to know that truth, mahAjano yena gataH sa panthAH [Cc. Madhya 17.186], you should have to follow the great AcAryas. Then you will understand. Therefore AcArya-upAsanA is essential. AcArya-upAsanA is very essential. In all the Vedic zAstras the injunction is that. Tad-vijJAnArthaM sa gurum evAbhigacchet, zrotriyaM brahma- niSTham [MU 1.2.12]. TasmAd gurum prapadyeta jijJAsuH zreya uttamam [sB 11.3.21]. Anyone who is inquisitive to understand higher truths, he must surrender to guru. TasmAd guruM prapadyeta, jijJAsuH zreya uttamam. One who is inquisitive, who is now inquiring about transcendental subject matter. Tad viddhi praNipAtena paripraznena sevayA [bg. 4.34]. So all the zAstras says, in our VaiSNava zAstra also, RUpa GosvAmI says, Adau gurv-Azrayam: "In the first beginning, you must take shelter of a bona fide guru."

 

 

PrabhupAda: Oh, yes. AcAryopAsanam. That is in the Bhagavad-gItA. AcAryopAsanam. It is not self-aggrandizement. The AcAryopAsanA goes to KRSNa directly. Therefore it is needed. Not that it is a pompous thing. AcAryopAsanA. KRSNa says. That is the way of knowledge. Yasya deve parA bhaktir yathA deve tathA gurau [sU 6.23].

 

 

Lecture

So nana-zAstra-vicaraNaika-nipunau. So we have to study the Vedic literature very carefully, following the footsteps of GosvAmIs. Not only chanting. This is also required, kRSNot-kIrtana-gAna. But this is meant, if you simply go on chanting without reading books, that is also good. Especially in this age, because nobody has got power to study books. Education is very less, so still, one who is able, they should consider all this. We have given in English translation. So many important books, you study, and chant this Hare KRSNa mantra like this, and that is the following the footsteps of GosvAmIs. AcAryopAsanA. We have to worship the AcAryas. That is recommended in the Bhagavad-gItA, for making advancement in spiritual life, AcAryopAsanA. So this is AcAryopAsanA, by reading their books, nana-zAstra-vicaraNaika-nipunau sad-dharma-samsthapakau. Why studying so many books? For the sake of establishing real religious life. Sad-dharma.

[theist]

 

SB 4.22.22p

This yuktatama indicates the topmost of all yogIs--the devotees, who can also be called yogezvara. In this verse, yogezvara-upAsanA means to render service to a pure devotee. Thus Narottama dAsa ThAkura says, chADiyA vaiSNava-sevA nistAra pAyeche kebA: without serving a pure devotee, one cannot advance in spiritual life.

 

And there we have it.

[Kulapavana]

SB 4.22.22p

This yuktatama indicates the topmost of all yogIs--the devotees, who can also be called yogezvara. In this verse, yogezvara-upAsanA means to render service to a pure devotee.

---------------

 

Hmmm... the verse quite clearly says:

 

"Attachment for the Supreme can be increased by practicing devotional service, inquiring about the Supreme Personality of Godhead, applying bhakti-yoga in life, worshiping the Yogeśvara, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and by hearing and chanting about the glories of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. These actions are pious in themselves."

 

yoga-īśvara — the Supreme Personality of Godhead; upāsanayā — by worship of Him;

[gHari]

http://vedabase.net/cc/antya/3/84/

 

http://vedabase.net/sb/11/29/48/

 

http://vedabase.net/sb/10/29/42/

 

http://vedabase.net/sb/10/85/32-33/

 

http://vedabase.net/sb/10/90/25/

 

yoga-īśvara-īśvaraḥ — the master of all masters of yoga; SB 10.15.49-50

yoga-īśvara-īśvaraḥ — the master of all masters of mystic power; SB 10.22.8

yoga-īśvara-īśvare — the supreme master of all masters of mystic power; SB 10.23.43-44

yoga-īśvara-īśvaraḥ — the Lord of all mystic controllers; SB 10.23.48-49

[halavapada]

acaryopasanam comes in Gita: 13.8

[gHari]

 

acaryopasanam comes in Gita: 13.8

Cool ......... http://vedabase.net/bg/13/8-12/en

[Kulapavana]

 

acaryopasanam comes in Gita: 13.8

 

ācārya-upāsanam — approaching a bona fide spiritual master

 

good find

[theist]

So now what does it mean to approach a spiritual master?

 

It must mean more than just sitting my body down in front of his body.

[gHari]

 

So now what does it mean to approach a spiritual master?

 

It must mean more than just sitting my body down in front of his body.

In a lecture segment above, Prabhupada asks "And what is the upasana?", and then answers.

[theist]

 

Lecture

So nana-zAstra-vicaraNaika-nipunau. So we have to study the Vedic literature very carefully, following the footsteps of GosvAmIs. Not only chanting. This is also required, kRSNot-kIrtana-gAna. But this is meant, if you simply go on chanting without reading books, that is also good. Especially in this age, because nobody has got power to study books. Education is very less, so still, one who is able, they should consider all this. We have given in English translation. So many important books, you study, and chant this Hare KRSNa mantra like this, and that is the following the footsteps of GosvAmIs. AcAryopAsanA. We have to worship the AcAryas. That is recommended in the Bhagavad-gItA, for making advancement in spiritual life, AcAryopAsanA. So this is AcAryopAsanA, by reading their books, nana-zAstra-vicaraNaika-nipunau sad-dharma-samsthapakau. Why studying so many books? For the sake of establishing real religious life. Sad-dharma.

 

 

Yes this is what I was getting at. No need to run around the world thinking one has to approach some acarya's body. One can approach acarya by approaching his books.