The importance of an Acharya is stressed in religious literature. In fact, an Acharya is shown even more respect than God Himself, said Akkarakkani Srinidhi in a discourse. Vaduga Nambi was a disciple of Ramanuja. One day, when the processional deity of the Srirangam temple was taken through the streets of the town, Ramanuja called out to Vaduga Nambi. The Acharya wanted his disciple to have darshan of the deity. It was a boon that he wanted his disciple also to have. He acted as any good Acharya would, wanting a spiritual experience for his sishya. But Vaduga Nambi was an excellent sishya and therefore he did not pay heed to Ramanuja’s call! This may seem puzzling, for why would a good sishya not rush when his Acharya sent for him? But Vaduga Nambi had an explanation for his non-appearance upon Ramanuja’s calling out to him. He said that he was busy boiling milk for Ramanuja and, while Lord Ranganatha may be important to Ramanuja, as far as Vaduga Nambi was concerned, it was his own Acharya Ramanuja who was more important to him than Lord Ranganatha!
Lord Rama said that He liked Shatrugna the best among His brothers. The reason was that Shatrugna never even looked at Rama. Had he looked at Rama, he would have been distracted by the latter’s looks and would have forgotten to serve Bharata. For this reason, he avoided looking at Rama. Such devotion to Bharata won Rama’s affection for Shatrugna.
The Lord always looks favourably upon those who serve their Acharya with utmost devotion. This reverence is justified, because it is the Acharya who shows us the path that leads to the feet of the Supreme One. It is the guidance of the Acharya that leads us to moksha.