Gurutalpaga

(“going to the guru’s bed”) In the dharma
literature, which outlined rules for religious duty and appropriate behavior,
Gurutalpaga was one of the four great
crimes that made one an outcast from
society. This particular offense was committed by having sexual relations with
the wife of one’s guru or religious
teacher. Since the disciple is considered
a member of the guru’s family and must
treat the guru with reverence and loyalty,
this was obviously a serious breach of
trust. Since these disciples are adolescent men and many of their gurus may
have had wives much younger than
themselves, such proximity could have
easily generated serious temptation and
required a strict prohibition to maintain
appropriate relationships. The gravity of
this offense can be seen by the penances
prescribed for its expiation (prayashchitta). According to the dharma literature, the offender could either tear off
his genitals, or embrace the red-hot statue of a woman while lying on a red-hot
iron bed. In either case it was expected
that this expiation would result in his
death, although the texts always note
that death blots out the offense.