Authorized acaryas

Expressions researched:
"authorized acaryas" |"authorized acarya" |"acaryas authorized" |"authoritative acaryas" |"no authorized Vaisnava acarya"

BG Chapters 7 - 12

One can simply hear the chanting of the glories of the Lord or can attend philosophical lectures on transcendental knowledge given by authorized ācāryas

BG 9.2, Purport: The process of devotional service is a very happy one (susukham). Why? Devotional service consists of sravanam kirtanam visnoh [SB 7.5.23], so one can simply hear the chanting of the glories of the Lord or can attend philosophical lectures on transcendental knowledge given by authorized acaryas. Simply by sitting, one can learn; then one can eat the remnants of the food offered to God, nice palatable dishes. In every state devotional service is joyful. One can execute devotional service even in the most poverty-stricken condition.

SB Canto 1

The authorized ācāryas, who know the science perfectly, install such temples of the Lord under regulative principles just to offer facilities to the common man

SB 1.11.24, Purport: The material senses cannot perceive the spiritual nature of the Lord, and therefore the Lord accepts the arca-vigraha, which is apparently made of material elements like earth, wood and stone but actually there is no material contamination. The Lord being kaivalya (one alone), there is no matter in Him. He is one without a second, and therefore the Almighty Lord can appear in any form without being contaminated by the material conception. Therefore, festivities in the temple of the Lord, as held generally, are like festivals performed during the manifestive days of the Lord of Dvaraka, about five thousand years ago. The authorized acaryas, who know the science perfectly, install such temples of the Lord under regulative principles just to offer facilities to the common man, but persons who are less intelligent, without being conversant with the science, mistake this great attempt to be idol worship and poke their nose into that to which they have no access. Therefore, the ladies or men who observe festivals in the temples of the Lord just to have a look at the transcendental form are a thousand times more glorious than those who are nonbelievers in the transcendental form of the Lord.

SB Canto 2

The third offense is to neglect the orders of the authorized ācāryas or spiritual master

SB 2.1.11, Purport: Any nomenclature which is meant for the Supreme Lord is as holy as the others because they are all meant for the Lord. Such holy names are as powerful as the Lord, and there is no bar for anyone in any part of the creation to chant and glorify the Lord by the particular name of the Lord as it is locally understood. They are all auspicious, and one should not distinguish such names of the Lord as material commodities. The third offense is to neglect the orders of the authorized acaryas or spiritual masters.

There is no authorized Vaiṣṇava ācārya who may think of the Lord and himself as one

SB 2.4.21, Purport: The Lord reserves the right of not being exposed to such mental speculators. And because they cannot enter into network stem of the lotus stem of the Lord, all material speculators differ in conclusions, and at the end they make a useless compromise by saying, "as many conclusions, as many ways," according to one's own inclination. (yathā-rucam). But the Lord is not like a shopkeeper trying to please all sorts of customers in the mental speculator exchange. The Lord is what He is, the Absolute Personality of Godhead, and He demands absolute surrender unto Him only. The pure devotee, however, by following the ways of previous ācāryas, or authorities, can see the Supreme Lord through the transparent medium of a bona fide spiritual master (anupaśyanti). The pure devotee never tries to see the Lord by mental speculation, but by following in the footsteps of the ācāryas (mahājano yena gataḥ sa panthāḥ [Cc. Madhya 17.186]). Therefore there is no difference of conclusions amongst the Vaiṣṇava ācāryas regarding the Lord and the devotees. Lord Caitanya asserts that the living entity (jīva) is eternally the servitor of the Lord and that he is simultaneously one with and different from the Lord. This tattva of Lord Caitanya's is shared by all four sampradāyas of the Vaiṣṇava school (all accepting eternal servitude to the Lord even after salvation), and there is no authorized Vaiṣṇava ācārya who may think of the Lord and himself as one.

SB Canto 5

We are not actually aware of Your transcendental form, but we can simply offer our respectful obeisances again and again, as instructed by the Vedic literatures and authorized ācāryas

SB 5.3.4-5, Purport: The priests began to offer prayers to the Lord, saying: O most worshipable one, we are simply Your servants. Although You are full in Yourself, please, out of Your causeless mercy, accept a little service from us, Your eternal servants. We are not actually aware of Your transcendental form, but we can simply offer our respectful obeisances again and again, as instructed by the Vedic literatures and authorized acaryas. Materialistic living entities are very much attracted to the modes of material nature, and therefore they are never perfect, but You are above the jurisdiction of all material conceptions. Your name, form and qualities are all transcendental and beyond the conception of experimental knowledge. Indeed, who can conceive of You? In the material world we can perceive only material names and qualities. We have no other power than to offer our respectful obeisances and prayers unto You, the transcendental person. The chanting of Your auspicious transcendental qualities will wipe out the sins of all mankind. That is the most auspicious activity for us, and we can thus partially understand Your supernatural position.

SB Canto 7

We need not follow anyone who is not an authorized ācārya

SB 7.7.22, Purport: This has all been properly analyzed in sankhya-yoga by the great acaryas, especially by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krsna, in His incarnation as Devahuti-putra Kapila. This is indicated here by the word acaryaih. We need not follow anyone who is not an authorized acarya. Acaryavan puruso veda: one can understand the truth fully when he has taken shelter of an expert acarya.

CC Madhya-lila

The statements of authorized ācāryas who understand the Supreme Personality of Godhead are proof

CC Madhya 6.80, Translation: The disciples of Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya retaliated, "By what evidence do you conclude that Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is the Supreme Lord?" Gopinatha Acarya replied, The statements of authorized acaryas who understand the Supreme Personality of Godhead are proof.

Sri Isopanisad

The Lord's worshipable form (arcā-vigraha), which is installed in temples by authorized ācāryas who have realized the Lord in terms of Mantra Seven, is nondifferent from the original form of the Lord

Sri Isopanisad, text 8, Purport: The Lord's worshipable form (arca-vigraha), which is installed in temples by authorized acaryas who have realized the Lord in terms of Mantra Seven, is nondifferent from the original form of the Lord. The Lord's original form is that of Sri Krsna, and Sri Krsna expands Himself into an unlimited number of forms, such as Baladeva, Rama, Nrsimha and Varaha. All of these forms are one and the same Personality of Godhead. Similarly, the arca-vigraha worshiped in temples is also an expanded form of the Lord. By worshiping the arca-vigraha, one can at once approach the Lord, who accepts the service of a devotee by His omnipotent energy.

In this way they pass as spiritual masters and devotees of God. Such violators of religious principles have no respect for the authoritative ācāryas, the holy teachers in the strict disciplic succession

Sri Isopanisad, text 12, Purport: The Lord states that as soon as one reaches Him by devotional service -- which is the one and only way to approach the Personality of Godhead -- one attains complete freedom from the bondage of birth and death. In other words, the path of salvation from the material clutches fully depends on the principles of knowledge and detachment gained from serving the Lord. The pseudo religionists have neither knowledge nor detachment from material affairs, for most of them want to live in the golden shackles of material bondage under the shadow of philanthropic activities disguised as religious principles. By a false display of religious sentiments, they present a show of devotional service while indulging in all sorts of immoral activities. In this way they pass as spiritual masters and devotees of God. Such violators of religious principles have no respect for the authoritative acaryas, the holy teachers in the strict disciplic succession. They ignore the Vedic injunction acaryopasana -- "One must worship the acarya" -- and Krsna's statement in the Bhagavad-gita (4.2) evam parampara-praptam, "This supreme science of God is received through the disciplic succession." Instead, to mislead the people in general they themselves become so-called acaryas, but they do not even follow the principles of the acaryas.

Srimad-Bhagavatam Lectures

The Bhagavad-gītā should be understood by the line of disciplic succession of authorized ācāryas

Lecture on SB 1.2.5 -- Visakhapatnam, February 20, 1972, At Ladies Club: The Bhagavad-gita should be read very widely, and should be understood very widely. That is the only source of auspicity for the human society. But don't misrepresent it. It has become a fashion now to misrepresent, comment on Bhagavad-gita according to one's whims. That is very dangerous. That is very dangerous. Bhagavad-gita should be read, should be understood as prescribed in the Bhagavad-gita. Krsna says, in the Fourth Chapter, evam parampara-praptam imam rajarsayo viduh [Bg. 4.2]. The Bhagavad-gita should be understood by the line of disciplic succession of authorized acaryas. Fortunately, in your South India all the great acaryas appeared-Sankaracarya, Ramanujacarya, Madhvacarya, Visnu Svami, all of them. So you are very fortunate, and the acarya commentary is also there. Ramanujacarya commentary is there, Madhvacarya commentary is there. So you take advantage and read them very nicely. That is our request, Krsna consciousness. And try to understand Krsna.

We are discussing the instruction of Prahlāda Mahārāja because he happens to be one of the stalwart ācāryas. And the names of such ācāryas, authorized ācāryas, are also mentioned in the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Lecture on SB 7.6.1 -- New York, April 9, 1969: So Prahlada Maharaja, a great devotee, he's in the line of disciplic succession. He's considered one of the great acaryas. An authority, acarya. And who is acarya? Acarya means one who knows the intricacies of Vedic knowledge and he personally behaves in terms of that knowledge and teaches his disciple in terms of that knowledge. Acarya means the person whose behavior is to be followed. Not that as we follow somebody according to our taste. Not like that. That acarya comes in the standard disciplic succession. So acarya. So this Prahlada Maharaja, we are discussing the instruction of Prahlada Maharaja because he happens to be one of the stalwart acaryas. And the names of such acaryas, authorized acaryas, are also mentioned in the Srimad-Bhagavatam.

Sri Caitanya-caritamrta Lectures

They are coming by disciplic succession. Śaṅkarācārya, Rāmānujācārya, Madhvācārya, Viṣṇu Svāmī, Lord Caitanya—there are so many authorized ācāryas

Lecture on CC CC Madhya-lila 20.137-146 -- Bombay, February 24, 1971: So Krsna's name is there, God's name is there, God's address is there, and how to reach God, the process is there. Then why you'll not utilize this? What is the reason? Why you say, "Can you show me God? Is there any God?" Why do you say like this? What is the reason? Everything, information, is there, and still you say, "Can you show me God? Who is God? There is no God. God is dead." Why do you talk like that? If you say that "How we can understand that Krsna is the Supreme Lord?" then you have to approach authorities. Just like if you want to purchase some diamonds, you cannot understand whether it is diamond, but you go to a jeweler and he'll say yes or no. "Yes, it is real." So you have to go to the authorities. Who are the authorities? At least, in our country. Not only in... All countries. So our authorities, the whole Vedic civilization is going on under the authorities of acaryas. They are coming by disciplic succession. Sankaracarya, Ramanujacarya, Madhvacarya, Visnu Svami, Lord Caitanya -- there are so many authorized acaryas. The sastra is there, the authoritative statement is there, and the activities are there. Then what reason you have got not to believe that Krsna is not God? What reason you have got? Here is God. And those who are devotees of Krsna, actually see their life, how they are advanced in God consciousness, or Krsna consciousness.

Suppose I am a fool number one. That doesn't matter. I may be fool, but if I follow the previous authorized ācāryas, then I am all right

Lecture on CC CC Madhya-lila 20.353-354 -- New York, December 26, 1966: The process is that if... Vedic process is if something is mentioned in the Vedas, and it is accepted by the previous acaryas, then it is accepted. I have nothing to bother. That's all. This is the proce..., the simple process. Suppose I am a fool number one. That doesn't matter. I may be fool, but if I follow the previous authorized acaryas, then I am all right. Just like a child, he may be a child, innocent child, but if he catches the hand of his father, then he's all right. He can walk. He can cross the street. This is the Vedic process. Vedic process, research, oh, there is no research in Vedic process. What research, nonsense, you'll do? What sense you have got? You shall research about God? The frog philosophy? There is no research. Research, that is not accepted in Vedic philosophy. You have to accept the authority. That's all.

Initiation Lectures

Because I am not born in a brāhmaṇa family, it does not mean I am not brāhmaṇa. I am recognized by authorized ācārya in the line of disciplic succession of Nārada

Brahmana Initiation Lecture -- New Vrindaban, May 25, 1969:: Real strength is chanting Hare Krsna. So of course, people may not think you otherwise, that you are not brahmana, you are not purified. Therefore this ceremony is there, the thread ceremony here, that "Yes, we are properly... According to scriptural rules and regulations, we have become brahmana. There is no question of... Because I am not born in a brahmana family, it does not mean I am not brahmana. I am recognized by authorized acarya in the line of disciplic succession of Narada." Narada has given this definition in the Srimad-Bhagavatam while instructing Maharaja Yudhisthira about the four..., eight divisions, varna and asrama.

General Lectures

What is the cause of this chunk?" they cannot reply. So find out the cause, and you'll find that... If I cannot find, then we have to follow, we have to follow the authorized ācāryas

Lecture -- Seattle, October 4, 1968:: Everything has a source of generation. Everything. That is intelligence. Don't say... Just like in modern science says that "There was a chunk and there was creation -- perhaps." That is also "perhaps," you see. So this kind of knowledge is useless. You must find out. If I ask the scientist, "What is the cause of this chunk?" they cannot reply. So find out the cause, and you'll find that... If I cannot find, then we have to follow... Mahajano yena gatah sa panthah [Cc. Madhya 17.186], we have to follow the authorized acaryas. If you be Christian, just follow Jesus Christ. He says, "There is God." Then you accept there is God. He says that "God created this. He said that 'Let there be creation,' and there was creation." So we accept this, "Yes. God created." Here also in the Bhagavad-gita God says, Krsna says, aham sarvasya prabhavo [Bg. 10.8], "I am the origin." So God is the origin of creation. Sarva-karana-karanam: [Bs. 5.1] He is the cause of all causes.

Because unless one explains Vedānta-sūtra, he'll not be accepted as an authorized ācārya

Sunday Feast Lecture -- Los Angeles, May 21, 1972:: All the acaryas, those who are controlling Vedic civilization, like Sankaracarya, Madhvacarya, Ramanujacarya, they have all written their commentaries on the Vedanta-sutra. Because unless one explains Vedanta-sutra, he'll not be accepted as an authorized acarya. He's not... Not that anyone can become acarya. He must give explanation of the Vedanta-sutra, prasthana-traya. There is system.

1947 to 1965 Correspondence

The whole world is looking for it and it will be a credit for the Indians generally and he Bengalis specially if they can give the message to the suffering humanity in the right direction as chalked out by the authorized Acaryas

Letter to Mr. Banerjee -- Bombay 28 July, 1958: Respectable gentlemen specially the Bengali community may come forward first so that others will automatically follow the suit. The modern set of human civilization is an anachronism and Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's message only can adjust the things all over the world. It is not blind conviction but actually this a fact which can be judged if people will make an analysis of the mercy bestowed by Lord Caitanya. The whole world is looking for it and it will be a credit for the Indians generally and he Bengalis specially if they can give the message to the suffering humanity in the right direction as chalked out by the authorized Acaryas.

No body can claim to become a bona fide Acarya if he has not strictly followed the footprints of the previous Acaryas authorized

Letter to Jugalkishore Birla -- Bombay 26 August, 1958: I hope you will not misunderstand the position of the Acarya who is so important a figure in the matter of learning the transcendental science. The Acarya is the direct representative of the Personality of Godhead. And no body can claim to become a bona fide Acarya if he has not strictly followed the footprints of the previous Acaryas authorized in the matter. The whole thing has been disturbed in the set of Sanatana Dharma only by violating this principle of following the Acarya. So far the Bhagavad-gita is concerned every one, let him be a very great scholar in the mundane sense, must be in confirmed position along with the mode of understanding of Sri Arjuna. That is the crucial point of testing an Acarya false or real Sri Arjuna is the first man to understand Geeta and the mode of his understanding is clearly defined in the Bhagavad-gita. So there is no difficulty in testing an Acarya whether he is false or bona fide.