Śrī Guru Praṇāma – Obeisances To The spiritual Master

Śrī Guru Praṇāma

Obeisances To The spiritual Master

oṁ ajñāna-timirāndhasya jñānāñjana-śalākayā
cakṣur unmīlitaṁ yena tasmai śrī-gurave namaḥ

I offer my respectful obeisances unto my spiritual master, who has opened my eyes, blinded by the darkness of ignorance, with the torchlight of knowledge.

Śrīla Prabhupāda Praṇati:

nāma oṁ viṣṇu-pādāya kṛṣṇa-preṣṭhāya bhū-tale
śrīmate bhaktivedānta-svāmin iti nāmine

I offer my respectful obeisances unto His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda, who is very dear to Lord Kṛṣṇa, having taken shelter at His lotus feet.

namas te sārasvate deve gaura-vāṇī-pracāriṇe
nirviśeṣa-śūnyavādi-pāścātya-deśa-tāriṇe

Our respectful obeisances are unto you, O spiritual master, servant of Sarasvatī Gosvāmī. You are kindly preaching the message of Lord Caitanyadeva and delivering the Western countries, which are filled with impersonalism and voidism.

Śrī Śrī Gurv-aṣṭaka:

1.
samsara-davanala-lidha-loka-
trāṇāya karunya-ghanaghanatwam
prāptasya kalyāṇa-guṇārṇavasya
vande guroḥ sri-charanaravindam

The spiritual master is receiving benediction from the ocean of mercy. Just as a cloud pours water on a forest fire to extinguish it, so the spiritual master delivers the materially afflicted world by extinguishing the blazing fire of material existence. I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual master, who is an ocean of auspicious qualities.

2.
mahapraboh kirtana-nritya-gita-
vāditra-mādyan-manaso rasena
romancha-kampashru-taranga-bhajo
vande guroḥ sri-charanaravindam

Chanting the holy name, dancing in ecstasy, singing, and playing musical instruments, the spiritual master is always gladdened by the saṅkīrtana movement of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Because he is relishing the mellows of pure devotion within his mind, sometimes his hair stands on end, he feels quivering in his body, and tears flow from his eyes like waves. I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual master.

3.
sri- vigrahārādhana-nitya-nānā
shringaira-tan-mandira-marjanadau
yuktasya bhaktamsh cha niyuñjato pi
vande guroḥ sri-charanaravindam

The spiritual master is always engaged in the temple worship of Śrī Śrī Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa. He also engages his disciples in such worship. They dress the Deities in beautiful clothes and ornaments, clean Their temple, and perform other similar worship of the Lord. I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual master.

4.
chatur-vidha-sri-bhagavat-prasada-
swadv-anna-triptan hari-bhakta-saṅghān
kritwaiva triptim bhajataḥ sadaiva
vande guroḥ sri-charanaravindam

The spiritual master is always offering Kṛṣṇa four kinds of delicious food [analyzed as that which is licked, chewed, drunk, and sucked]. When the spiritual master sees that the devotees are satisfied by eating bhagavat-prasāda, he is satisfied. I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual master.

5.
śrī-rādhikā-mādhavayor apara-
mādhurya-līlā-guṇa-rūpa-nāmnām
prati-kshanaswadana-lolupasya
vande guroḥ sri-charanaravindam

The spiritual master is always eager to hear and chant about the unlimited conjugal pastimes of Rādhikā and Mādhava, and Their qualities, names, and forms. The spiritual master aspires to relish these at every moment. I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual master.

6.
nikuñja-yūno rati-keli-siddhyai
ya yālibhir yuktir apekshaniya
tatrati-dakshyad ati-vallabhasya
vande guroḥ sri-charanaravindam

The spiritual master is very dear, because he is expert in assisting the gopīs, who at different times make different tasteful arrangements for the perfection of Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa’s conjugal loving affairs within the groves of Vṛndāvana. I offer my most humble obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual master.

7.
sakshad-dharitvena samasta-shastrair
uktas tathā bhāvyata eva sadbhihi
kintu prabhor yaḥ priya eva tasya
vande guroḥ sri-charanaravindam

The spiritual master is to be honored as much as the Supreme Lord, because he is the most confidential servitor of the Lord. This is acknowledged in all revealed scriptures and followed by all authorities. Therefore I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual master, who is a bonafide representative of Śrī Hari [Kṛṣṇa].

8.
yasya prasādād bhagavat-prasādo
yasyāprasādān na gatiḥ kuto ‘pi
dhyāyan stuvaṁs tasya yashas trisandhyam
vande guroḥ sri-charanaravindam

By the mercy of the spiritual master one receives the benediction of Kṛṣṇa. Without the grace of the spiritual master, one cannot make any advancement. Therefore, I should always remember and praise the spiritual master. At least three times a day I should offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of my spiritual master.

Therefore, we offer our sincere obeisances to Śrīla Prabhupāda who delivers us the mercy of Supreme Personality of Godhead, Śrī Kṛṣṇa. We request Śrīla Prabhupāda to shower his blessings upon us fallen souls and bestow his mercy to make the mission of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu successful all over the world.

We also seek the blessings of Pañca Tattva and Śrī Kṛṣṇa himself to help spreading Kṛṣṇaconsciousness.

śrī-kṛṣṇa-caitanya prabhu nityānanda
śrī-advaita gadādhara
śrīvāsādi-gaura-bhakta-vṛnda

I offer my obeisances to Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya, Prabhu Nityānanda, Śrī Advaita, Gadādhara, Śrīvāsa and all others in the line of devotion.

Hare Kṛṣṇa Hare Krnsa Krnsa Kṛṣṇa Hare Hare
Hare Rāma Hare Rāma Rāma Rāma Hare Hare

Chant Hare Kṛṣṇa and be happy!