(Eight Prayers Glorifying the Spiritual Master)

Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura, who appeared in the latter half of the 17th Century, is a great spiritual master in the Krsna consciousness chain of gurus and disciples. He says that one should loudly chant the following eight prayers, with care and attention, during the brahma-muhurta, the auspicious time an hour and a half before sunrise when devotional practices are espcially potent. Anyone who thus chants these eight beautiful prayers glorifying the spiritual master will certainly get a chance to render direct service to Krsna, the Lord of Vrndavana, after the demise of his body.

1

samsara-davanala-lidha-loka-tranaya karunya-ghanaghanatvam
praptasya kalyana-gunarnavasya vande guroh sri-caranaravindam

samsara of material existence; dava-anala by the forest fire; lidha afflicted; loka the people; tranaya to deliver; karunya of mercy; ghanaghana-tvam the quality of a cloud; praptasya who has obtained; kalyana auspicious; guna of qualities; arnavasya who is an ocean; vande I offer obeisances; guroh of my spiritual master; sri auspicious; carana-aravindam unto the lotus feet.

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

mahaprabhoh kirtana-nrtya-gita-vaditra-madyan-manaso rasena
romanca-kampasru-taranga-bhajo vande guroh sri-caranaravindam

mahaprabhoh of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu; kirtana by chanting; nrtya dancing; gita singing; vaditra playing musical instruments; madyat gladdened; manasah whose mind; rasena due to the mellows of pure devotion; roma-anca standing of the hair; kampa quivering of the body, asru-taranga torrents of tears; bhajah who feels; vande I offer obeisances; guroh of my spiritual master; sri auspicious; carana-aravindam unto the lotus feet.

Chanting the holy name, dancing in ecstasy, singing, and playing musical instruments, the spiritual master is always gladdened by the sankirtana movement of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu. 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-vigraharadhana-nitya-nana-srngara-tan-mandira-marjanadau
yuktasya bhaktams ca niyunjato 'pi vande guroh sri-caranaravindam

sri-vigraha of the arca-vigraha (Deities), aradhana the worship; nitya always; nana with various; srngara clothing and ornaments; tat of the Lord; mandira of the temple; marjana-adau cleaning;yuktasya who is engaged; bhaktan his disciples; ca and; niyunjatah who engages; api also; vande I offer obeisances; guroh of my spiritual master; sri auspicious; carana-aravindam unto the lotus feet.

The spiritual master is always engaged in the temple worship of Sri Sri Radha and Krsna. 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

catur-vidha-sri-bhagavat-prasada-svadv-anna-trptan hari-bhakta-sanghan
krtvaiva trptim bhajatah sadaiva vande guroh sri-caranaravindam

catuh four; vidha kinds; sri holy, bhagavat-prasada which have been offered to Krsna; svadu palatable; anna by foods; trptan spiritually satisfied; hari of Krsna; bhakta-sanghan the devotees;krtva having made; eva thus; trptim satisfaction; bhajatah who feels; sada always; eva certainly; vande I offer obeisances; guroh of my spiritual master; sri auspicious; carana-aravindam unto the lotus feet.

The spiritual master is always offering Krsna 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-prasada, he is satisfied. I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual master.

5

sri-radhika-madhavayor apara-madhurya-lila guna-rupa-namnam
prati-ksanasvadana-lolupasya vande guroh sri-caranaravindam

sri-radhika of Srimati Radharani; madhavayoh of Lord Madhava (Krsna); apara unlimited; madhurya conjugal; lila pastimes; guna qualities; rupa forms; namnam of the holy names; prati-ksana at every moment; asvadana relishing; lolupasya who aspires after; vande I offer obeisances; guroh of my spiritual master; sri auspicious; carana-aravindam unto the lotus feet.

The spiritual master is always eager to hear and chant about the unlimited conjugal pastimes of Radhika and Madhava, 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

nikunja-yuno rati-keli-siddhyai ya yalibhir yuktir apeksaniya
tatrati-daksyad ati-vallabhasya vande guroh sri-caranaravindam

nikunja-yunah of Radha and Krsna; rati of conjugal love; keli of pastimes; siddhyai for the perfection; ya ya whatever; alibhih by the gopis; yuktih arrangements; apeksaniya desirable; tatra in that connection; ati-daksyat because of being very expert; ati-vallabhasya who is very dear; vande I offer obeisances; guroh of my spiritual master; sri auspicious; carana-aravindam unto the lotus feet.

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

7

saksad-dharitvena samasta-sastrair uktas tatha bhavyata eva sadbhih
kintu prabhor yah priya eva tasya vande guroh sri-caranaravindam

saksat directly; hari-tvena with the quality of Hari; samasta all; sastraih by scriptures; uktah acknowledged; tatha thus; bhavyate is considered; eva also; sadbhih by great saintly persons;kintu however; prabhoh to the Lord; yah who; priyah dear; eva certainly; tasya of him (the guru); vande I offer obeisances; guroh of my spiritual master; sri auspicious; carana-aravindam unto the lotus feet.

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 bona fide representative of Sri Hari [Krsna].

8

yasya prasadad bhagavat-prasado yasyaprasadan na gatih kuto 'pi
dhyayan stuvams tasya yasas tri-sandhyam vande guroh sri-caranaravindam

yasya of whom (the spiritual master); prasadat by the grace; bhagavat of Krsna; prasadah the mercy; yasya of whom; aprasadat without the grace; na not; gatih means of advancement; kutah api from anywhere; dhyayan meditating upon; stuvan praising; tasya of him (the spiritual master); yasah the glory; tri-sandhyam three times a day; vande I offer obeisances; guroh of my spiritual master; sri auspicious; carana-aravindam unto the lotus feet.

By the mercy of the spiritual master one receives the benediction of Krsna. 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.