Give Proper Respect to All the Rūpānuga-ācāryas

In other words, this is the mantra for worshipping Vyäsa, who is the origin of Vyäsa-püjä. We first offer praëäma to Näräyaëa, who is Kåñëa Himself – näräyaëaà namaskåtya. Then, “naraà caiva”. Some say that in this connection naraà ca means Arjuna, and there is no harm in that1, but generally it means Nara-Näräyaëa Åñi here. Then, “devéà sarasvatéà” – Sarasvaté Devé. “Vyäsaà tato jayam udérayet” – and then to Çréla Vyäsadeva. By offering praëäma in this way, one can then read or explain Mahäbhärata, ÇrémadBhägavatam, Vedänta-sütra, and all the Puräëas. This mantra has been given in Çrémad-Bhägavatam, the Puräëas, Mahäbhärata and elsewhere.

Give Proper Respect To All the Rūpānuga-ācāryas

Today is guru-püjä. A disciple can observe this day in honour of any äcärya, but it is especially for those following the footsteps of Çréla Vyäsadeva. It is especially for those who are preaching the glories of Rädhä-Kåñëa and pure bhakti everywhere. On that guru’s birthday, he performs the püjä of Çréla Vyäsadeva, vyäsa-païcaka, kåñëa-païcaka, païca-tattva, äcärya-tattva, guru-paramparä-tattva, and so on. By worship of these seven païcakas, one worships his entire guru-paramparä, from top to bottom. By serving and performing püjä of Kåñëa, everything is completed – tasmin tuñöe jagat tuñöaù. Yet, we will have to give proper respect to all the äcäryas, especially the rüpänuga-äcäryas.

You are saying that today is my birthday; but I do not think it is my birthday. My birthday is on Gaura-pürëimä, the day my Gurudeva gave me transcendental birth. Still, you tell me, and

1. It is stated in Çrémad-Bhägavatam (4.1.59): “That Nara-Näräyaëa Åñi, who is a partial expansion of Kåñëa, has now appeared in the dynasties of Yadu and Kuru, in the forms of Kåñëa and Arjuna respectively, to mitigate the burden of the world.”