Within Gaudiya Vaishnavism, the guru stands as an indispensable mediator between the devotee and Krishna, functioning as Krishna’s own representative and the living embodiment of the tradition. The guru is regarded as the transparent medium through whom divine grace, scriptural wisdom, and the living current of the disciplic succession (paramparā) flow. By interpreting texts such as the Bhagavad-gītā and Bhāgavata Purāṇa in line with the Gaudiya lineage, the guru makes the theology of Radha-Krishna devotion intelligible and practicable. In this way, the guru is not an independent object of worship but is revered as the servant of Krishna, honored because of the divine will and mercy expressed through that role.

A central function of the guru is initiation (dīkṣā), through which the disciple is formally admitted into the Gaudiya Vaishnava community and its paramparā. At initiation, the guru bestows sacred mantras, including the Hare Krishna mahā-mantra, and grants access to regulated devotional practice (sādhana-bhakti). This act is understood as a decisive spiritual turning point, connecting the disciple to the lineage descending from Caitanya Mahāprabhu and the great ācāryas. Alongside the dīkṣā-guru, there may be śikṣā-gurus who further instruct and refine the disciple’s understanding, provided their teachings remain harmonious with the established doctrine of the sampradāya.

The guru also serves as the primary guide in the actual cultivation of devotion, shaping both the outer discipline and the inner mood of the disciple. Instruction encompasses daily worship, chanting, ethical conduct, and the gradual cultivation of bhāva, the deep spiritual emotions characteristic of pure bhakti. In advanced contexts, the guru may guide the disciple’s understanding of their eternal spiritual identity (svarūpa) in relation to Radha-Krishna and offer direction in practices associated with rāgānugā-bhakti, where devotion becomes increasingly spontaneous and love-centered. Through such guidance, the guru helps remove ignorance and material attachments, steadily orienting the disciple toward śuddha-bhakti, pure devotional service.

Equally important is the guru’s role as a living exemplar of devotion. By embodying humility, detachment, and single-pointed love for Radha-Krishna, the guru provides a concrete model of what the scriptures describe in idealized form. The disciple learns not only from verbal instruction but also from observing the guru’s character, relationships, and unwavering dedication. This relationship is regarded as enduring beyond bodily existence, with the guru continuing to act as an intercessor and guide for the disciple’s spiritual progress. In Gaudiya Vaishnavism, authentic advancement is thus inseparable from surrender to and reverence for such a guru, who stands as the vital link between the finite heart and the infinite grace of Radha-Krishna.