The spiritual master delivers souls from illusion and is supremely dear to Kṛṣṇa, making him non-different from God.Listen — Srila Prabhupada Uvaca
Ravi: ...Kṛṣṇa. So how are we to understand the name of the spiritual master? In kīrtana when we chant the name of the spiritual master, is that as spiritually potent? Prabhupāda: Answer. Lokanātha: You have to understand the position of Vaiṣṇava. Vaiṣṇava's position is far, far greater than the demigods'.
Demigods, they shower flowers on the Vaiṣṇavas. So they are very exalted personalities, especially the spiritual master. There's no comparison of the spiritual master with any entity in the universe or brahmāṇḍa. As Prabhupāda's purport has said many places: "The spiritual master is the external manifestation of the Supersoul, Paramātmā, within your heart." So Paramātmā is Kṣīrodakaśāyī Viṣṇu, and He becomes manifest before you in form of a guru, or spiritual master.
So you cannot compare a spiritual master, or guru, with any other... Prabhupāda: No, his question is why the demigods... Just like Lord Brahmā, he is the original spiritual master. So why the demigods should not be equal to the spiritual master? That is his question.
Is it not? Ravi: Yes. Lokanātha: They are not equal to the spiritual master. Prabhupāda: Why? That is his question. Lokanātha: As you are explaining in your scriptures that spiritual master is Paramātmā externally manifested, but not in case of other demigods. Prabhupāda: Why the spiritual master is given so exalted position than the demigods? That should be the answer.
Demigods, they are also Vaiṣṇava, mostly. Lokanātha: They are not pure devotees. You said they... Prabhupāda: They are also devotees. Lokanātha: But their devotion is mixed devotion. Prabhupāda: No. Just like Lord Brahmā. We belong to the brahmā-sampradāya.
Brahmā is the original spiritual master after Kṛṣṇa. Brahmā, then Nārada, then Vyāsadeva—like that. So all of them are gurus, ācāryas. So why spiritual master is honored as good as the Supreme Lord?
Sākṣād-dharitvena samasta-śāstraiḥ. Why? That should be his question: Why spiritual master is given the supreme post than all others? Sākṣād-dharitvena—as good as God.