One of the more disturbing occurrences around the swamis and godmen is the attitude of followers to believe that their guru is watching their every move and intervening in their day today affairs constantly.
Due to ignorance, even a rogue with a few of followers can be called an Avatara/Gnani/god all in the past centuries and is still prevailing in the modern world. Many of the self-declared god men are able to make their own cult and busy amassing wealth and indulging in all types immortal activities behind the screen.
When scriptures itself declare that:-
Yajurved says:
Translation 3.
"They are enveloped in darkness, in other words, are steeped in ignorance and sunk in the greatest depths of misery who worship the uncreated, eternal prakrti -- the material cause of the world -- in place of the All-pervading God, But those who worship visible things born of the prakrti, such as the earth, trees, bodies (human and the like) in place of God are enveloped in still greater darkness, in other words, they are extremely foolish, fall into an awful hell of pain and sorrow, and suffer terribly for a long time."
[Yajur Veda 40:9.]
So, Yajur Veda clearly indicates that:-
Those who worship visible things born of the prakrti, bodies (human and the like) in place of God are enveloped in still greater darkness, in other words, they are extremely foolish, fall into an awful hell of pain and sorrow, and suffer terribly for a long time."
Thus glorifying and worshiping gurus and god men and avatars are extremely foolish and it will lead on to greater ignorance. But they are lots of add-ons by priest-crafts for their convince to fool people into greater darkness.
When Katha Upanishad and Mundaka Upanishad declare:-
This Ataman cannot be attained by the study of the Vedas, or by intelligence, or by much hearing of sacred books. It is attained by him alone whom It chooses. To such a one Ataman reveals Its own form. [Katha Upanishad Ch-II -23-P-20]
Mundaka Upanishad :-
This Ataman cannot be attained through study of the Vedas, nor through intelligence, nor through much learning. He who chooses Ataman—by him alone is Ataman attained. It is Ataman that reveals to the seeker Its true nature. [ 3 –page-70 Mundaka Upanishad Upanishads by Nikilanada]
If the self which is Ataman/soul cannot be attained by the study of the Vedas, or by intelligence, or by much hearing of sacred books, then why indulge in all these things which are not the means for achieving the human goal.
In Isa Upanishad says: [M-10] Vidya and Avidya both are hindrances to Self-knowledge, but Vidya is even worse than Avidya. The word Vidya is used here in a special sense; here it means worshipping gods and goddesses. By worshipping gods and goddesses you will go after death to the world of gods and goddesses. But will that help you? The time you spend there is wasted, because if you were not there you could have spent that time moving forward towards Self-knowledge, which is your goal. In the world of gods and goddesses you cannot do that, and thus you go deeper and deeper into darkness.
Mundaka Upanishad: The rituals and the sacrifices described in the Vedas deal with lower knowledge. The sages ignored these rituals and went in search of higher knowledge. ... Such rituals are unsafe rafts for crossing The sea of samsara, of birth and death. Doomed to shipwreck are those who try to cross The sea of samsara on these poor rafts. Ignorant of their own ignorance, yet wise In their own esteem, these deluded men Proud of their vain learning go round and round Like the blind led by the blind.
[Upanishads Nikhilananda]
Fools dwelling in darkness, but thinking themselves wise and erudite, go round and round, by various tortuous paths, like the blind led by the blind. [Ch II-5 P-14].
When the self –knowledge is the goal of every human being and worshiping god and goddesses are hindrance to self-knowledge and they are not the means to self-knowledge then why indulge in it. Why follow the god men who are based on the scriptural authority and religious ideologies.
That is why Raman Mahrshi says: [page 111/112- practical guide to know your self]:-
Q: D: Is it not necessary to study the Vedas or at least Prastnatraya[Bagvad gita.Dasoponishad and Brahma Sutra all with commentaries] to ensure firm realization?
A: Bhagvan: - No. Do you need all that to see yourself? All that is intellectual wealth, useful in explain doubts and difficulties if others rise them if you yourself encounter them in course of thinking. But to attain realization, all that is not necessary. You want fresh water to drink, but you do not require all the water of the river Ganges to quench your quest.
Buddha rejected idea of god, religion and scriptures and got enlightenment. He must have studied and verified the facts before rejecting them. It further proves that there is no need to indulge in religion, god glorification and scriptural studies in pursuit of truth.
J. Krishnamurthy with all his theosophical grooming rejected every aspect of the priest craft. There is necessary for the people who are searching truth have to realize the fact that, the ultimate truth lies beyond scriptures, all the theories and religion and concept of god and yoga.
Swami Virjanand :- Hinduism is the world's oldest dogma. "Is it possible that any moral man can tolerate the supremely disgusting and insufferable stuff to be found, for instance, in the Linga Purana? The feats of the Linga, though heroic (!) indeed, are a record of shame and a tale of utter indecency and obscenity. Do such books teach religion? If the reply be in the affirmative, then I say that they teach religions which can only debase the people."
Looking to all these facts, the seekers of truth must avoid falling in the trap of these con god men and gurus and pundits’. The truth is beyond physical existence and there is no need for a guru in pursuit of truth. Gurus are needed only in religion and yoga not in pursuit of truth. For those who are not yet ready and receptive to self-knowledge the religion and yoga are recommended.
