Lord Krishna is portrayed both as a God and a Guru in the Bhagavad Gita. As a God, he is eternal and the creator of all worlds. As a Guru, he incarnates from time to time to reestablish dharma when it has become obscured. The document analyzes verses describing Lord Krishna's supreme but unmanifest nature as well as verses where he teaches the yoga of self-realization, establishing him as both the eternal Absolute and as a divine preceptor who guides souls to liberation. While some view him as solely God, the author believes Krishna regarded himself foremost as a Guru who reveals the supreme truth to help humanity live in harmony. Either view of Krish

1. Was Lord Kṛiṣṇa personification of a GOD or a GURU?
(Intuitive understanding from HIS own nectar of wisdom – Bhagavad Gita)
1
Bhagavad Gita is a sacred text which brings out eternal reality of immortality of soul
(individual – includes each one of us as unique entity) and dwells on rituals (Karma
yoga, Jñ̃a᷈na Yoga, Abhya᷈sa Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, etc.) to experience what Lord Kṛiṣṇa says
is true. It brings out qualifications of a person who can experience to reach salvation.
The Supreme Being brings about creation through the help of His Prakriti (Nature)
endowed with threefold qualities. The highest of the three qualities is Sattwa. It is pure.
It brings about happiness, wisdom, and illumination. The second quality of Rajas gives
rise to passion manifested by intense attachment and greed. It causes sorrow and
suffering. The third, termed Tamas is the worst of all. It arises due to ignorance and
results in darkness, lethargy and delusion. Most of us are born Sattwa predominant and
thus possess all qualifications prescribed therein.
Experiencing immortality within us, to the extent I can make out from the experience of
autonomous on-going spiritual processes within me, is within our reach - grace (our
inner effulgence) permitting. Bhagavad Gita or any other sacred book of other religions
will help us to experience this. Experiencing immortality means, extinction of faculty of
thinking (dissolution of manifest world) within individual entity, bringing peace to mind
by crossing limitations of the body, shedding all fear. This experience will culminate into
union with Supreme Consciousness (what we call GOD), if not in this birth, at least in the
next birth.
But what is it that is keeping us away from studying these sacred texts? It is
personification of Gods and the confusion (and tension) created by ownership of
respective religions, who claim these texts vying superiority of respective religions over
others. I am not aware of other texts (I have no aversion either) but there are
references to other sacred texts by commentators of Bhagavad Gita and YOGA masters
pointing similarities. Bhagavad Gita captured my attention purely by circumstances
prevailing in my personal life and I have come to definite conclusion that these sacred
texts are about body, mind and soul and are so subtle and sublime truths about our
(Divine) existence that they are beyond all religious and geographical barriers. IMO
majority of humanity hold this view across the globe, whose primary wish is to see this
world to live in harmony and peace.
In my view, Lord Kṛiṣṇa never claimed himself to be GOD and HE declared that HE has
taken birth in transcendental reality above HIS inferior material NATURE (Divine
perceptions within all of us) to remove darkness about real TRUTH about our existence,
at a time much needed by humanity. In reality, HE is our आ द गु (premier preceptor).
There are quite a few in this world who have achieved HIS higher state (as human) by
hard penance - साधन – with precepts coming from disciple succession (as HE put it –
some call GURU succession – गु पर पर).

2. Was Lord Kṛiṣṇa personification of a GOD or a GURU?
(Intuitive understanding from HIS own nectar of wisdom – Bhagavad Gita)
2
Let us briefly analyze these aspects from few verses of Bhagavad Gita. First about
Absolute:
1. न वेवाहं जातु नासं न वं ने मे जना धपाः ।
न चैव न भ व यामः सव वयमतः परम् ॥०२-१२॥
Certainly, never at any time did I not exist, nor you, nor all those kings and certainly
never shall we cease to exist in the future (Bhagavad Gita 02.12).
Unquote
This verse clearly points to Sanatana - a Sanskrit word that denotes that which is अना द
(beginning-less), अन'त (endless) and does not cease to be, that which is eternal and
everlasting.
‘I’, ‘you’, and ‘all those kings’ refer to entities of principle of धम( (from धृ), meaning to
hold together, to sustain. Its approximate meaning is "Natural Law," or those principles
of reality which are inherent in the very nature and design of Universe (as I understood
from Reference 3 given at the end and also from personal experience).
The following three verses refer to Supreme Lord’s inferior Prakriti - NATURE (Divine
perceptions with in all of us) and HIS all-encompassing higher Prakriti.
1. भू+मरापोऽनलो वायुः खं मनो बु1रेव च।
अहंकार इतीयं मे +भ'ना 5कृ 6तर7धा॥०७-०४॥
Earth, water, fire, air, ether, mind, intellect and egoism - thus is My Nature divided
eightfold (Bhagavad Gita 07.04).
2. अपरेय+मत: व'यां 5कृ 6तं व 1 मे पराम्।
जीवभूतां महाबाहो ययेदं धाय(ते जगत्॥०७-०५॥
This is the inferior Prakriti, O Mighty-armed (Arjuna)! Know thou as different from it
My higher Prakriti (Nature), the very life-element by which this world is upheld
(Bhagavad Gita 07.05).
3. एत=ोनी6न भूतता6न सवा(णी युपधारय।
अहं कृ :न:य जगतः 5भवः 5लय:तथा॥०७-०६॥
Be aware that everything living are manifested by these two energies of Mine; I am
the creator, the sustainer and destroyer of all the worlds (Bhagavad Gita 07.06)
Now let us switch to verses which refer to Lord Kṛiṣṇa as incarnate and आ द गु (premier
preceptor).
1. Aीभगवानुवाच
इमं वव:वते योगं 5ोBवानहमCययम् ।
वव:वा'मनवे 5ाह मनुDरEवाकवेऽFवीत् ॥०४-०१॥
Blessed Lord said: I taught this imperishable Yoga to Vivasvan (Sun God); he told it
to Manu; Manu proclaimed it to Ikshvaku (Bhagavad Gita 04.01).
2. एवं पर परा5ाG+ममं राजष(यो वदुः ।
स कालेनेह महता योगो न7ः पर'तप ॥०४-०२॥
This, handed down thus in regular succession, the royal sages knew. This Yoga, by a
long lapse of time, has been lost here, O Parantapa (burner of foes)! (Bhagavad Gita
04.02)
Commentary by Swami Sivananda: The royal sages were kings who at the same time
possessed divine knowledge. They learnt this Yoga.

3. Was Lord Kṛiṣṇa personification of a GOD or a GURU?
(Intuitive understanding from HIS own nectar of wisdom – Bhagavad Gita)
3
3. स एवायं मया तेऽ= योगः 5ोBः पुरातनः ।
भBो+स मे सखा चे6त रह:यं IेतदुJमम् ॥०५-०३॥
That same ancient Yoga has been today taught to thee by Me, for, thou art My
devotee and friend; it is the supreme secret (Bhagavad Gita 04.03).
Commentary by Swami Sivananda: This ancient Yoga consists of profound and subtle
teachings. Hence it is the supreme secret which the Lord reveals to Arjuna.
4. अजु(न उवाच
अपरं भवतो ज'म परं ज'म वव:वतः ।
कथमेतM वजानीयां वमादौ 5ोBवा6न6त ॥०४-०४॥
Later on was Thy birth, and prior to it was the birth of Vivasvan (the Sun); how am I
to understand that Thou didst teach this Yoga in the beginning? (Bhagavad Gita
04.04)
5. Aीभगवानुवाच
बहू6न मे Cयतीता6न ज'मा6न तव चाजु(न ।
ता'यहं वेद सवा(Oण न वं वे थ पर'तप ॥०४-०५॥
The Blessed Lord said: Many births of Mine have passed, as well as of thine, O
Arjuna! I know them all but thou knowest not, O Parantapa! (Bhagavad Gita 04.05)
6. अजोऽ प स'नCयया मा भूतानामीPरो प सन् ।
5कृ 6तं :वाम धQाय स भवा या ममायया ॥०४-०६॥
Though I am unborn and of imperishable nature, and though I am the Lord of all
beings, yet, ruling over My own Nature, I am born by My own Maya (Bhagavad Gita
04.06).
7. यदा यदा ह धम(:य Rला6नभ(व6त भारत ।
अSयु थानमधम(:य तदा मानं सृजा यहम् ॥०४-०७॥
Whenever there is a decline of righteousness, O Arjuna, and rise of unrighteousness,
then I manifest Myself! (Bhagavad Gita 04.07)
Commentary by Swami Sivananda: That which elevates a man and helps him to
reach the goal of life and attain knowledge is Dharma (righteousness); that which
drags him into worldliness is unrighteousness. That which helps a man to attain
liberation is Dharma; that which makes him irreligious is Adharma or
unrighteousness.
8. पDरTाणाय साधूनां वनाशाय च दु कृ ताम् ।
धम(सं:थापनाथा(य : भवा+म युगे युगे ॥०४-०८॥
For the protection of the good, for the destruction of the wicked, and for the
establishment of righteousness, I am born in every age (Bhagavad Gita 04.08).
Unquote
Verse 6 above clearly states that Lord Kṛiṣṇa is born at higher transcendental NATURE as
human which is achievable by sages or YOGIS by hard penance. Verses 1 to 3 confirm
that HE was आ द गु (premier preceptor). Verse 7 needs further clarifications regarding
the meaning of Rला6नर्. I am of opinion that explanation of Madhvacharya is more
appropriate which I quote below:
Quote (Courtesy: Bhagavad-gita.org)
The word Rला6नर् does not mean decline as is often translated but Rला6नर् means obscure.
If dharma meaning eternal righteous is perennial principle, then it must be devoid of any
modification of decline. It must exist eternally in pristine purity. What happens is that
dharma becomes obscure to the masses due to material influences on the mind, agitated
by the effects of sense gratification in the onslaught of Maya or illusion. When such times

4. Was Lord Kṛiṣṇa personification of a GOD or a GURU?
(Intuitive understanding from HIS own nectar of wisdom – Bhagavad Gita)
4
arise the purpose of human existence becomes distorted and consequently the activities
of human become more and more degenerated and humans become degraded. At this
time the dharma of humans is said to be Rला6नर् or obscured.
Unquote
A GURU - preceptor knowledgeable about TRUTH is therefore required to establish
Dharma.
Guru removes darkness by opening ‘eye of intuition’ within us – something already
present in all of us (it is not expressing now). Indian scriptures rightly say, “If we have
to choose GURU or Absolute to salute, it is GURU first”. It is also difficult to imagine a
formless God to stimulate us. GURU must be a spontaneous process within us. No other
advice from outside persons will help. Our ‘EGO’ must bend.
Some hymns for GURU
अXान6त+मरा'ध:य XानाYजनशालाकया ।
चZु 'मी+लतं येन त:मै Aीगुरवे नमः ॥३॥
(Salutations to the Guru) Who Removes the Darkness of Ignorance from our Blind
(Inner) Eyes by applying the Collyrium of the Light of Knowledge, By Whom our (Inner)
Eyes are Opened; Salutations to that Guru.
न गुरोर धकं त[वं न गुरोर धकं तपः ।
त[वXानात् परं नाि:त त:मै Aीगुरवे नमः ॥११॥
(Salutations to the Guru) Neither is there any Reality Beyond the Guru, nor is there any
Austerity Higher than the Guru, there is no Knowledge of Truth beyond what comes
From the Guru; Salutations to that Guru.
म'नाथः Aीजग'नाथो म]ु ः Aीजग]ु ः ।
मदा मा सव(भूता मा त:मै Aीगुरवे नमः ॥१२॥
(Salutations to the Guru) My Lord is the Lord of the Universe, My Guru is the Guru of the
Universe, my Self is the Self of All Beings; Salutations to that Guru.
Concluding prayer
पूण(मदः पूण(+मदं पूणा(त् पूण(मुद^यते ।
पूण(:य पूण(मादाय पूण(मेवाव+श यते ॥
That (pure consciousness) is full (perfect); this (the manifest universe of matter; of
names and forms being Maya) is full. This fullness has been projected from that fullness.
When this fullness merges in that fullness, all that remains is fullness.
Om Shanti! Shanti!! Shanti!!!
- Peace invocation -Isa Upanishad
Notes:
All translations of verses are by Swami Sivananda - reference 1 below.
The transliterated versions of verses in Sanskrit from reference 1 are put in Devanagari
and cross checked with Reference 2.

5. Was Lord Kṛiṣṇa personification of a GOD or a GURU?
(Intuitive understanding from HIS own nectar of wisdom – Bhagavad Gita)
5
Reference 1: http://www.dlshq.org/download/bgita.pdf
Reference 2: http://www.bhagavad-gita.org/
Reference 3: http://veda.wikidot.com/sanatana-dharma
Reference 4: http://www.stephen-knapp.com/sanatana_dharma.htm
Reference 5: http://greenmesg.org/mantras_slokas/sri_gurudeva-guru_stotram.php
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