Akhanda Guru Tattva

The undivided (Akhanda) guru-tattva manifests in three aspects, namely caitya-guru, dīkṣā-guru, and śikṣā-guru respectively. Caitya-guru is the Supersoul within the heart of the living entity. Dīkṣā-guru and śikṣā-guru are the two kinds of gurus appearing externally as pure devotees of the Supreme Lord. The dīkṣā and śikṣā-gurus are considered equal manifestations of Kṛṣṇa because they manifest to take the disciple back to Godhead. The individuality of the dīkṣā and śikṣā–gurus exists as Vaiṣṇavas but in purpose they are one – they are equal manifestations of Kṛṣṇa and therefore, they are said to be ‘one’.

The position of the bona-fide guru in Kṛṣṇa consciousness is realized by a bona fide disciple in stages according to the disciple’s subjective achievement. First the disciple may realize the guru to be the representative of Kṛṣṇa. The next higher stage is that the disciple realizes that the guru is a manifestation of Baladeva Prabhu or Śrī Nityānanda Prabhu. Baladeva-tattva is the energy of the Supreme Lord that manifests the pastimes or līlās of the Lord. Baladeva Prabhu manifests directly as Śrī Nityānanda Prabhu to canvas the conditioned living entities to become engaged in the Lord’s transcendental service. Canvassing on behalf of the Supreme Lord is the work of Śrī Gurudeva and therefore he is recognized as the manifestation of Baladeva Prabhu or Śrī Nityānanda Prabhu.

Baladeva Prabhu, or Śrī Nityānanda Prabhu, is the ultimate guru principle (guru-tattva) for all devotees in dāsya, sakhya, and vātsalya-rasa in both kṛṣṇa-līlā and gaura-līlā. According to the disciple’s advancement in rasa–tattva the disciple will realize that Śrī Gurudeva is a leader of a particular group of eternal servitors of the Supreme Lord.

The next higher realization of the disciple is that the guru is the leader among the mādhurya-rasa section as one of the maidservants (either sakhī or mañjarī) of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī. Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī is the highest figure in the mādhurya-rasa section for She is the only one who knows how to satisfy the transcendental senses of Śrī Kṛṣṇa. When this understanding develops in the heart of a bone fide disciple he soon realizes that Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī Herself has directly taken the position of Śrī Gurudeva. The highest concept of guru-tattva revealed by Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī and similar eternal servants of Śrī Caitanya Mahaprabhu was that Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī is the ultimate guru. Rādhārāṇī is the master of loving exchanges – even Śrī Kṛṣṇa is Her beloved student in such matters. Therefore, in the last stage of realization in Kṛṣṇa consciousness the disciple realizes Śrī Gurudeva to be a direct manifestation of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī.