Gurvāṣṭakam Lyrics

(Prayers to Glorify the Spiritual Master)

Our Spiritual Master directly receives benediction from the Supreme Lord and pours that mercy unto souls that are burning in the forest fire-like realm of materialism to eradicate it, in the same way as rain-filled clouds pour water on a blazing forest fire that extinguishes the fire.  I pay my most humble obeisances unto that Spiritual Master.

The Spiritual Master always feels great joy participating in the Sankirtan movement of Lord Śrī Chaitanya Mahāprabhū by chanting the holy names of Lord Kṛṣṇa aloud, dancing in ecstasy, singing devotional songs and playing musical instruments.  While relishing such mellow within his mind, his hairs sometimes stand on end, his body quivers and tears flow from his eyes.  I pay my humble obeisance at the lotus feet of such a Spiritual Master.

The Spiritual Master regularly engages himself in worshipping the deity forms of Lord Śrī Śrī Rādhā Kṛṣṇa in many different ways, such as dressing Them in beautiful clothes and ornaments and cleaning Their temple.  He also engages his disciples in such worship.  I offer my respectful obeisance unto the lotus feet of such a Spiritual Master.

The Spiritual Master always feels satisfied upon seeing his devotees satiated by enjoying four kinds of delicious foodstuffs (i.e. licked, chewed, drunk, and sucked), which were first offered to the Lord.  I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a Spiritual Master.

The Spiritual Master is always eager to continuously relish the unlimited conjugal pastimes of Lord Śrī Śrī Rādhā and Mādhava, to sing Their names and meditate on Their forms and qualities.  I offer my respectful obeisance at the lotus feet of such a Spiritual Master.

The Gopīs assist in preparing different tasteful arrangements so the perfection of conjugal loving affairs of Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa in the groves of Śrī Vrindāban Dhām can be performed perfectly.  The Spiritual Master is expert in such subject matter, which is why he is very dear to Lord Kṛṣṇa.  I offer my respectful obeisance unto the lotus feet of such a Spiritual Master.

All the revealed scriptures state that the Spiritual Master is the direct human representative of the Supreme Lord, and all the Vedic sages and saintly authorities have accepted him as such.  Therefore the Spiritual Master is to be honored as much as the Supreme Lord Himself.  Regardless of this position, he is still the confidential servitor of the Lord.  I offer my respectful obeisance at the lotus feet of such a Spiritual Master.

By pleasing the Spiritual Master the Supreme Lord is pleased, but by displeasing the Spiritual Master there cannot be any solace for the soul anywhere.  Therefore, while meditating on him and praising his glories at least three times a day, I offer my respectful obeisance at the lotus feet of my Spiritual Master.