Guru mandatory for Gayatri worship

Question: Is Guru mandatory for Gayatri worship?

Ans:

Gayatri is also known as Guru -Mantra i.e. to achieve a higher level of spiritual accomplishment, one needs an experienced Guru as a spiritual guide and protector. Let us draw an analogy from other fields. Some fields of learning require only books, whereas for others like music, crafts, etc. direct help of an expert is needed. Similarly, though the daily rituals of Gayatri worship are quite simple, for higher levels of achievement when the worshipper, (depending upon his own personal spiritual status acquired through previous births) faces several ups and downs, an experienced Guru is needed just as a doctor is required during treatment of a disease. Thus, though one can take up Gayatri worship without a Guru , initiation by a proper experienced Guru is advisable. An accomplished Guru (who had acquired spiritual mastery under the guidance of his own Guru ) is necessary for receiving instruction and direction for accelerating one’s spiritual growth. The spiritual evolution of the soul is a prolonged process continuing through countless cycles of births and deaths. Sought in a hurry, an inexperienced person posing as Guru may do more harm than good to the disciple.