Daily Devotion - Jan 16, 2026 (English)- Devotion to Guru Alone
There are two philosophies mentioned in the Vedas and the scriptures: either you consider God and Guru to be the same and practice devotion to both equally, or, if you practice devotion to the Guru alone, you can still attain the ultimate goal. However, one cannot practice devotion to God alone; this is done only until one finds a Guru. If you do not have a Guru, then you pray to God to help you meet a genuine saint.
Saints have generally placed greater emphasis on devotion to both God and the Guru. In some traditions, there is devotion to the Guru alone, but such traditions are few.
The benefit of devotion to both God and Guru is that, if you commit any transgression due to material intellect, you cannot abandon refuge in God; over time, you will also surrender to Guru. Hence, you practice devotion to both God and Guru to support your refuge in God, and also because the mind is easily attracted to God's divine and nectarine pastimes.
The only difference between God and Guru is that God performs creation, pervades it, and maintains a record of the karmas of the souls. A saint does not perform these functions. Additionally, God bestows upon the saints all the divine powers, bliss, and knowledge that He Himself possesses. However, the Guru imparts philosophical knowledge to you, purifies your heart, and bestows divine bliss upon you. Hence, you can attain your goal by practicing devotion to the Guru alone.
Recommended books by Jagadguru Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj related to this topic:
