“The father and the spiritual master are on the same platform because a spiritual master is the second father. The higher classes are called dvija, twice-born. Whenever there is a question of birth, there must be a father. The first birth is made possible by the actual father, and the second birth is made possible by the spiritual master.” (Shrila Prabhupada, Shrimad Bhagavatam, 3.24.13 Purport)