AS GOOD AS GOD As Good as God The Guru in Gau ya Vaiavism Måns Broo ÅBO 2003 ÅBO AKADEMIS FÖRLAG ÅBO AKADEMI UNIVERSITY PRESS CIP Cataloguing in Publication Broo, Måns As good as God : the guru in Gau ya Vaiavism / Måns Broo. Åbo : Åbo Akademi University Press, 2003. Diss.: Åbo Akademi University. ISBN 951-765-132-5 ISBN 951-765-132-5 ISBN 951-765-133-3 (digital) Gummerus Kirjapaino Oy Saarijärvi 2003 T A B LE OF CON TEN T S Acknowledgements. vii A note on transCription and pronounciation. ix Abbreviations. x I INTRODU C TIO N A N D B ACK G R O UND . 1 1. Introduction. 1 1.1 Purpose of the study. 1 1.2 Theory and methods. 2 1.2.1 Charisma. 4 1.2.2 Canon. 7 1.2.3 A hierarChy of understandings. 10 1.2.4 Textual criticism. 13 1.2.5 ConduCting interviews. 14 1.2.6 Participant observation. 17 1.3 SourCes. 20 1.3.1 Written sourCes. 20 1.3.2 Interviews. 27 1.3.3 Field studies. 27 1.3.4Hagiographies. 27 1.3.5 Other sourCes. 28 1.4Overview of the thesis. 28 1.5 SelF-positioning. 29 1.6 Ethical considerations. 31 2. Overview of Gau ya Vaiavism. 33 2.1 General charaCteristics. 33 2.2 History of the sapradya. 40 2.2.1 Caitanya and his contemporaries. 40 2.2.2 Later developments. 45 2.3 Institutions. 53 i 2.3.1 Sapradya. 53 2.3.2 Early desCriptions oF Caitanyas sapradya. 55 2.3.3 Vasa and Parivra. 60 2.3.4Classes of Gau ya Vaiavas. 65 2.3.5 Modern groups. 67 II T H E GURU DOCTRINE OF GAU YA VA I ±¦AVIS M . 71 3. General characteristics of the guru. 73 3.1 The guru within Hinduism. 73 3.2 The ontological position of the guru. 76 3.3 The neCessity of having a guru. 83 3.3.1 Guide. 83 3.3.2 Giver of eligibility. 86 3.3.3 Mandated by sCripture. 87 3.3.4Saviour. 88 3.3.5 PraCtice Ka. 91 3.3.6 DependenCe on Kas graCe. 92 3.3.7 Exceptions. 93 3.4 Types of gurus. 95 3.5 Defining the guru. 102 4. Qualifications of the guru. 104 4.1 Personal qualifications. 104 4.1.1 Primary qualifications. 104 4.1.2 SeCondary qualifications. 110 4.1.3 Vednta Deika. 114 4.2 Institutional qualifications. 115 4.3 Standard of modern gurus. 119 4.4Qualifications of the disciple. 121 ii 5. Finding and leaving a guru. 127 5.1 Finding a guru. 127 5.1.1 The classic way. 127 5.1.2 Predestination. 131 5.1.3 Social reasons. 132 5.2 RejeCting the guru. 133 5.2.1 The viewpoint of the sCriptures. 133 5.2.2 The example of ®ymnanda. 141 5.2.3 Modern explanations. 147 6. Initiation. 151 6.1 Initiation in the sCriptures. 151 6.1.1 Hari-bhakti-vilsa. 151 6.1.2 Sdhana-d pik. 157 6.2 Initiation today. 161 6.2.1 First and seCond initiation. 162 6.2.2 Siddha initiation. 164 6.2.3 Vea initiation. 167 6.2.4Sannysa initiation. 169 6.3 Initiation mantras. 172 6.4 Rules for initiated disciples. 174 6.4.1 General rules. 174 6.4.2 Rules for bbjis and sannysins. 177 6.4.3 Breaking the rules. 179 III R O LES OF T H E GURU. 181 7. Parent. 183 7.1 The head of a spiritual family. 183 7.2 Accepting fatherly duties. 186 8. Feudal lord. 189 8.1 Royal rituals. 190 iii 8.1.1 ConseCration. 190 8.1.2 Appointing subordinate vassals. 191 8.2 SuCCession. 193 8.2.1 Hereditary suCCession. 194 8.2.2 SuCCession by appointment. 197 8.2.3 Appointing oneselF. 199 8.2.4Abdicating. 200 8.3 Acting as a feudal lord. 202 8.3.1 Using regalia. 202 8.3.2 Excerting power. 203 9. Teacher. 209 9.1 Imparting the mantra. 210 9.2 Non-verbal teaChing. 212 9.2.1 Personal example. 212 9.2.2 Mystical transmission of knowledge. 214 9.3 Verbal teaChing. 215 9.3.1 Public readings. 216 9.3.2 Private instruCtion. 217 10. Preserver of tradition. 219 10.1 Preserving the heritage. 220 10.1.1 Customs. ..