In Chapter 7 of Prabhup\u0101da Vijaya, 'G\u0101yatr\u012b-Mantra for Women' Narasi\u1e45gha Mah\u0101r\u0101ja de\u00adfends \u015ar\u012bla Prabhup\u0101da\u2019s controversial decision with nu\u00admerous scriptural and historical references.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>
Question: <\/strong>We find that throughout the bona-fide parampar\u0101s<\/em> in India the brahma-g\u0101yatr\u012b<\/em> is not given to women, yet your spiritual master (\u015ar\u012bla A.C. Bhaktived\u0101nta Swami Prabhup\u0101da) has done so. Why?<\/p>\nNarasi<\/strong>\u1e45<\/strong>gha Mah<\/strong>\u0101<\/strong>r<\/strong>\u0101<\/strong>ja: <\/strong>It is true that our Guru Mah\u0101r\u0101ja gave brahma-g\u0101yatr\u012b<\/em> to women, but that is not unprecedented, nor is it unauthorised. In the \u015b\u0101stra<\/em> we find that women and \u015b\u016bdras<\/em> are generally never offered mantra-d\u012bk\u1e63\u0101<\/em> (brahma-g\u0101yatr\u012b<\/em>). These two classes are of the same type and they are generally consid\u00adered by the followers of the Vedic tradition as unfit to receive mantra<\/em> and to perform all the duties that one performs after receiving mantra-d\u012bk\u1e63\u0101<\/em> such as studying the \u015b\u0101stra<\/em>, y\u0101ga<\/em> and yaj\u00f1a<\/em>. Nonetheless, we find that \u012a\u015bvara Pur\u012b, the spiritual master of \u015ar\u012b Caitanya Mah\u0101prabhu, accepted Govinda D\u0101sa (a \u015b\u016bdra<\/em>) as his disciple by offering him the appropriate mantras<\/em>. Govinda D\u0101sa was a \u015b\u016bdra<\/em> by birth and thus he was ineligible for d\u012bk\u1e63\u0101<\/em>, yet \u012a\u015bvara Pur\u012b accepted him. Later on, S\u0101rvabhauma Bha\u1e6d\u1e6d\u0101c\u0101rya doubted the authority of such a standard and he inquired from Mah\u0101\u00adprabhu. The Lord replied by saying:<\/p>\nprabhu kahe \u2013 \u012b\u015bvara haya parama svatantra<\/em>
\n\u012b\u015bvarera k\u1e5bp\u0101 nahe veda-paratantra<\/em><\/p>\n\u201cThe Lord said, \u2018Both the Supreme Lord and \u012a\u015bvara Pur\u012b are fully independent. The mercy of the Lord and \u012a\u015bvara Pur\u012b are not subject to any Vedic rules and regulations.\u2019\u201d (Cc. Madhya-l\u012bl\u0101<\/em> 10.137)<\/p>\n\u015ar\u012bla Prabhup\u0101da was also like \u012a\u015bvara Pur\u012b \u2013 he was an ocean of mercy (k\u1e5bp\u0101-sindhu<\/em>). Particularly he has been recognised by learned and self-realised Vai\u1e63\u1e47avas as \u015bakty\u0101ve\u015ba<\/em> \u2013 the manifest potency of \u015ar\u012b Nity\u0101nanda Avadh\u016bta. \u015ar\u012b Nity\u0101nanda Avadh\u016bta is the person\u00adified mercy of \u015ar\u012b Caitanya Mah\u0101prabhu and He was empowered to spread K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a consciousness. Thus, \u015ar\u012bla Prabhup\u0101da accepted women as disciples as generously as he accepted men.<\/p>\nNity\u0101nanda Avadh\u016bta is directly \u015ar\u012b Baladeva Prabhu, by whose potency the pastimes of the Supreme Lord \u015ar\u012b K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a become manifest. Without being invested with the potency of \u015ar\u012b Baladeva Prabhu (\u015ar\u012b Nity\u0101nanda Avadh\u016bta), no one can become an agent of the Supreme Lord in the matter of spreading K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a consciousness all over the world.<\/p>\n
So our first consideration is from that standpoint \u2013 \u015ar\u012bla Prabhup\u0101da and his mercy are non-different from that of the Supreme. Therefore, we happily accept his decisions, even when the so-called \u2018Vedic followers\u2019 question them.<\/p>\n
But who is a true \u2018Vedic follower\u2019? That is not so difficult to understand. One who has realised the purport of the Vedas<\/em> is a true \u2018Vedic follower\u2019 \u2013 not simply those persons who adhere to the numerous rules and regulations found in the \u015b\u0101stra<\/em>. Such persons are generally known as smartas<\/em>, but such smartas<\/em> are usually lacking in their realisation in regards to the ultimate goal of life.<\/p>\nOne may regard the activities of an empowered agent of the Supreme Lord as independent and thus conclude that even his so-called unauthorised activities are to be accepted. But if we look closely in the Vedas<\/em>, Pur\u0101\u1e47as<\/em>, etc. we will certainly find philosophical and practical support for his activities, because the \u0101c\u0101rya<\/em> does not act whimsically.<\/p>\nThe brahma-g\u0101yatr\u012b<\/em> is Vedic by nature and we find many examples of women in the Vedic literature chanting Vedic man\u00adtras<\/em> such as Sarm\u0101, Indr\u0101\u1e47\u012b, Lop\u0101mudr\u0101 and Ap\u0101l\u0101, to name but a few. Furthermore, in the \u1e5ag Veda<\/em> there are many mantras<\/em> whose seers were women. In his commentary to the Mah\u0101bh\u0101rata<\/em>, \u015ar\u012b Madhv\u0101c\u0101rya explains how Draupad\u012b was a scholar of the Vedas<\/em>:<\/p>\nved\u0101 apyuttamastr\u012bbhi\u1e25 k\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47\u0101dy\u0101bhiriv\u0101khil\u0101\u1e25<\/em><\/p>\n\u201cThe best of women should follow Draupad\u012b and study the Vedas<\/em>.\u201d (Mah\u0101bh\u0101rata T\u0101tparya Nir\u1e47aya<\/em> 29.33)<\/p>\nThe regular chanting of the brahma-g\u0101yatr\u012b<\/em> three times daily by the duly initiated is called sandhy\u0101-vandana<\/em>. We find in the Sundara-kha\u1e47\u1e0da<\/em> of the R\u0101m\u0101ya\u1e47a<\/em> that Hanum\u0101n was waiting for Mother S\u012bt\u0101 to perform her sandhy\u0101-vandana<\/em>. Hanum\u0101n says:<\/p>\nsandhy\u0101 k\u0101la man\u0101\u1e25 \u015by\u0101m\u0101 dhruvam e\u1e63yati j\u0101nak\u012b<\/em>
\nnad\u012bm ca im\u0101m \u015biva jal\u0101m sandhy\u0101 arthe vara var\u1e47in\u012b<\/em><\/p>\n\u201cKnowing that this is the time for sandhy\u0101<\/em>, the ever-youthful J\u0101nak\u012b (S\u012bt\u0101) who has the best of complexions, will certainly come to this river with auspicious water in order to perform the sandhy\u0101<\/em> rites.\u201d (R\u0101m\u0101ya\u1e47a, Sundara-kha\u1e47\u1e0da<\/em>, 14.49)<\/p>\nAll types of bodily-consciousness, whether they are based on gender, race, or caste, are impediments to spiritual progress. One who wants to advance in K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a consciousness must become free from such lower planes of identification. On the spiritual plat\u00adform there is no difference between one j\u012bv\u0101tm\u0101<\/em> and another. All are actually prak\u1e5bti, <\/em>or feminine, in the eyes of God.<\/p>\nIt is sometimes said that among the conditioned souls, the mind and heart of a man is hard, whereas the mind and heart of a woman is soft. In the Gau\u1e0d\u012bya Ma\u1e6dha I have heard it stated many times that the brahma-g\u0101yatr\u012b<\/em> denotes puru\u1e63a-bh\u0101va<\/em> and when chanted by a man, his mind and heart softens; but if chanted by a woman, the effect will be just the opposite. If this were true there is still no objection to our Guru Mah\u0101r\u0101ja having given brahma-g\u0101yatr\u012b<\/em> to western women, because in the west we do not find such subtle difference between men and women. In fact, the thinking and feeling of men and women in the west are so identical that we find women desiring the position of sanny\u0101sa<\/em> and even guru.<\/p>\nThere are many circumstances that prevail in the west that are basically unheard of in India. Our \u015ar\u012bla Prabhup\u0101da was empow\u00adered to spread K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a consciousness throughout the world, in spite of the vast cultural differences between east and west, and he took liberties in doing so. One should judge a thing by the result (phalena paric\u012byate<\/em>). Many swamis are now coming from India to the west for preaching, and some are even preaching K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a con\u00adsciousness. However, I have not seen any of these swamis who have fully understood the magnitude and depth of the mission of \u015ar\u012bla Prabhup\u0101da. I do not say that this is their fault \u2013 the fault falls on the heads of \u015ar\u012bla Prabhup\u0101da\u2019s disciples and followers who have not actually lived up to his standard. Thus his greatness and authenticity are now in question.<\/p>\nSince the disappearance of \u015ar\u012bla Prabhup\u0101da many unau\u00adthorised \u2018disciples\u2019 have introduced degraded standards and apa-siddh\u0101nta<\/em> into his movement \u2013 such things are often being propagated in his name (\u2018Prabhup\u0101da said,\u2019 \u2018Prabhup\u0101da wanted\u2019 etc.). Seeing this situation, even the orthodox sections of our own samprad\u0101ya<\/em> often draw their conclusions far below the actual dignity and achievements of our Guru Mah\u0101r\u0101ja. It is indeed lam\u00adentable, but it is our fault \u2013 not theirs.<\/p>\nThe duty of a disciple is to live up to the standards set by the previous \u0101c\u0101ryas<\/em>. The measure of the greatness of the spiritual master will be, in many cases, measured by the standard of his dis\u00adciples. In this way \u015ar\u012bla Prabhup\u0101da used to stress that his disciples must rise to the standard, otherwise it would be he who would be criticised. Indeed, in this regard, there is much to be desired…<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"In Chapter 7 of Prabhup\u0101da Vijaya, ‘G\u0101yatr\u012b-Mantra for Women’ Narasi\u1e45gha Mah\u0101r\u0101ja de\u00adfends \u015ar\u012bla Prabhup\u0101da\u2019s controversial decision with nu\u00admerous scriptural and historical references.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":5580,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"content-type":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[207],"tags":[206,208],"krishna_talk_article":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rupanugabhajanashram.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5612"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rupanugabhajanashram.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rupanugabhajanashram.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rupanugabhajanashram.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rupanugabhajanashram.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5612"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.rupanugabhajanashram.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5612\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rupanugabhajanashram.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5580"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rupanugabhajanashram.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5612"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rupanugabhajanashram.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5612"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rupanugabhajanashram.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5612"},{"taxonomy":"krishna_talk_article","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rupanugabhajanashram.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/krishna_talk_article?post=5612"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}