Introduction to Guru-Tattva Prakāśikā – Questions and Answers on the Guru Principle

Let me offer my respectful obeisances thousands and thousands of times unto the lotus feet of my hari-nāma and dīkṣā-guru, Śrīla A.C. Bhaktivedānta Swami Prabhupāda, my sannyāsa–mantra–guru, Śrīla Bhakti Rakṣaka Śrīdhara Deva Gosvāmī Mahārāja, and my ugra-narasiṁha-mantra-guru, Śrīla Bhakti Pramoda Purī Mahārāja.

The divine grace flows down through the chain of disciplic succession from Lord Kṛṣṇa to Brahmā, Nārada, Vyāsa, Madhvācārya, Mādhavendra Purī, Īśvara Purī, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī, Rūpa-Raghunātha and Sanātana Gosvāmī, Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura, Śrīla Gaura Kiśora Dāsa Bābājī, Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura Prabhupāda, to Śrīla A.C. Bhaktivedānta Swami Prabhupāda, Śrīla Bhakti Rakṣaka Śrīdhara Deva Gosvāmī Mahārāja and Śrīla Bhakti Pramoda Purī Mahārāja, and this flow continues through some of my contemporaries, namely Śrīpāda Bhakti Gaurava Narasiṅgha Mahārāja and Śrīpāda Bhakti Mādhurya Vana Mahārāja, who have personally and inspirationally guided me in my journey to the lotus feet of our ultimate guru, Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī.

This book is a compilation of various topics on the subject matter of guru-tattva, presented through the personal explanations of Śrīpāda Bhakti Gaurava Narasiṅgha Mahārāja. Throughout his spiritual journey, he sought guidance from self-realised ācāryas, of which Śrīla Prabhupāda, Śrīla Śrīdhara Mahārāja, and Śrīla Purī Mahārāja were most prominent in his progressive development and his assuming the role of a guide in its most refined and ultimate manifestation.

Swami Narasiṅgha shares insights into various aspects of guru-tattva that he personally experienced and clarified for those who sought his guidance. Many of these revelations are fundamental to the gradual development of a genuine relationship between a bona fide guru and a sincere disciple.

As we have personally witnessed ourselves over the past fifty-​three years, many, many problems concerning guru-​tattva have arisen and are not being addressed satisfactorily in the modern Vaiṣṇava culture. These problems, if not admitted and addressed, will lead to a complete distortion and breakdown of the healthy and wholesome guru-disciple relationship. The modern mindset that quantity as opposed to quality, or form over substance, will outweigh any adverse effects is a fallacy. The present system is in need of proper adjustment.

In this book Swami Narasiṅgha presents an avalanche of topics and situations that require our attention. For most devotees, these subjects remain unclear and undealt with, thus allowing misconceptions to spread throughout the Vaiṣṇava world.

We earnestly pray that the Vaiṣṇava community takes notice of the salient points presented herein with a non-prejudicial heart, and makes proper adjustments so that present and future generations of gurus and disciples will be able to sincerely establish healthy, happy and affectionate relationships.

Swami Bhakti Kiśora Araṇya

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