[PADA: Right, why are the ISKCON GBC members proposing to "vote in" women gurus, when their "men gurus" are in a constant tailspin of controversy and scandals?]
What Will Happen when Woman becomes Diksha Guru? BY: ADITI SINHA
The mother is the first guru! She teaches the child how to do almost everything, when the child -- all humans are born in ignorance -- cannot eat, defecate, converse, understand, etc. Does this mean that women should be formal diksha gurus? If so, why is that NOT the Vedic / Vaishnava tradition? The answer is clear: there are varying duties for the various members of society, in the varnashram concept of society. Srila Prabhupada propagated that society be based on varnashram. ISKCON too is a society.
My Views:- Hari-bhakti-vilasa (11.708) quotes from the Visnu Purana (3.12.30) regarding how a grhastha should work in this world: yosito navamanyeta/ na casam visvased budhah/ na caiversur bhavet tasu/ nadhikuryat kadacana : "A wise man should never insult women, nor should he trust them. He should never become jealous of women, nor should he ever appoint them.
Woman should not become diksha guru. Since Lord Caitanya's time no lady became diksa guru ..and that time also very few woman, only 5 in the Gaudiya line. That time was different. This should not be happen ... this is not prescribed duty for woman. It is not in our sastra and culture. Woman's place is in the home .... they should be protected. It will not look good if a woman will become diksha guru and preach all over the world. Women should not be formal diksha gurus. A pure devotee woman never wants to go all over the world, she is happy with making prasadam for devotees, serving them, dressing Radha Krishna Deities... plucking flowers and tulsi and after that offering those flower and tulsi to Krishna. She distributes books and preaches her family and friends and those who she wants to preach to.
What Will Happen when Woman becomes Diksha Guru? BY: ADITI SINHA
The mother is the first guru! She teaches the child how to do almost everything, when the child -- all humans are born in ignorance -- cannot eat, defecate, converse, understand, etc. Does this mean that women should be formal diksha gurus? If so, why is that NOT the Vedic / Vaishnava tradition? The answer is clear: there are varying duties for the various members of society, in the varnashram concept of society. Srila Prabhupada propagated that society be based on varnashram. ISKCON too is a society.
My Views:- Hari-bhakti-vilasa (11.708) quotes from the Visnu Purana (3.12.30) regarding how a grhastha should work in this world: yosito navamanyeta/ na casam visvased budhah/ na caiversur bhavet tasu/ nadhikuryat kadacana : "A wise man should never insult women, nor should he trust them. He should never become jealous of women, nor should he ever appoint them.
Woman should not become diksha guru. Since Lord Caitanya's time no lady became diksa guru ..and that time also very few woman, only 5 in the Gaudiya line. That time was different. This should not be happen ... this is not prescribed duty for woman. It is not in our sastra and culture. Woman's place is in the home .... they should be protected. It will not look good if a woman will become diksha guru and preach all over the world. Women should not be formal diksha gurus. A pure devotee woman never wants to go all over the world, she is happy with making prasadam for devotees, serving them, dressing Radha Krishna Deities... plucking flowers and tulsi and after that offering those flower and tulsi to Krishna. She distributes books and preaches her family and friends and those who she wants to preach to.
[PD: Correct, the main "women gurus" we see now are people like Mother Amma and others, not in the tradition vaishnavas. Of course if most of the MALE gurus they ALREADY certified tended to be debauchee men, what judgement does their group have?]
A real devotee woman never wants to leave her family, she always serves her family to think that Krishna gave her the opportunity to serve her husband and child . She thinks that this is work given by Krishna.... because Krishna gave this opportunity to ladies to become mother. Like in our home, mother always takes care of our needs in the home and our father goes outside to earn money for the family... so the same woman should do, bhakti in home and temple and only man should become diksha guru and preach all over the world.
If a lady wants to leave grahstha asrama and wants to become diksha guru then that woman is in maya ... this is for popularity. In the old days, only man used to go for work and woman never used to go ... but gone are those days. Now we see working woman who go for work ... but those ladies who are housewives, they maintain their family better than working woman and their children, and also get good sanskar. And their married life is better than working woman. Where both man and woman go for work most cases are divorce cases, or their child will be in bad association ..most of the cases I have seen ..... So what will happen when woman will become diksha guru? This should not be done.
[PD: Right, more society calamity, is that what we need?]
When a girls is born protected by father, when she is married she is protected by her husband and then woman is protected by her son..... So, authority jago … wake up… this responsibility is very huge. Don't ruin other peoples life. I think this is what is going to happen in the Kali yuga...... Krishna please save us ....chant Hare Krishna and jaldi chalo .... go back to godhead. I am not offending anyone, this is truth which I heard and told .... sorry if I hurt anyone.
[PD: Right, keep the programs simple and do not make all these concoctions, bravo!]
"Actually, Dhruva Maharaja's mother, Suniti, was his patha-pradarsaka-guru. Patha-pradarsaka-guru means "the guru, or the spiritual master, who shows the way." Such a guru is sometimes called siksa-guru. Although Narada Muni was his diksa-guru (initiating spiritual master), Suniti, his mother, was the first who gave him instruction on how to achieve the favor of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. It is the duty of the siksa-guru or diksa-guru to instruct the disciple in the right way, and it depends on the disciple to execute the process. According to sastric injunctions, there is no difference between siksa-guru and diksa-guru,and generally the siksa-guru later on becomes the diksa-guru. Suniti, however, being a woman, and specifically his mother, could not become Dhruva Maharaja's diksa-guru." (Bhag. 4.12.32 purport)
"In the Manu-smrti it is stated that a woman should not be given independence, but should be given protection by her father, husband and elderly sons. In all circumstances a woman should remain dependent upon some guardian.Presently women are given full independence like men, but actually we can see that such independent women are no happier than those women who are placed under guardians. If people follow the injunctions given by the great sages, srutis and smrtis, they can actually be happy in both this life and the next. Unfortunately rascals are manufacturing so many ways and means to be happy. Everyone is inventing so many methods. Consequently human society has lost the standard ways of life, both materially and spiritually, and as a result people are bewildered, and there is no peace or happiness in the world. Although they are trying to solve the problems of human society in the United Nations, they are still baffled. Because they do not follow the liberated instructions of the Vedas, they are unhappy." (Bhag. 4.18.3 purport)
Nowadays, female goes into the office and man and woman work together....and most of the cases people who are already married, they do extra affair .....so this is the result of that change. What will happen when woman will become diksha guru? Now we have seen many ISKCON leaders fall down, like Prabhavishnu, ...this is not a good idea to make a lady diksha guru, no no no please no.
[PD: No no no please no. Hee hee, yes, as soon as the GBC gets another brain fart, everyone is going, no, no, no, no! Oh my God no!]
Western ladies remarry again and again, so this also should not be done .....A lady should be one man woman.... this is according to our culture. I think there is no difference between prostitute and those ladies who remarry again and again. According to shastra, when a lady does sex with 3 different men she is considered as prostitute.
A real devotee woman never wants to leave her family, she always serves her family to think that Krishna gave her the opportunity to serve her husband and child . She thinks that this is work given by Krishna.... because Krishna gave this opportunity to ladies to become mother. Like in our home, mother always takes care of our needs in the home and our father goes outside to earn money for the family... so the same woman should do, bhakti in home and temple and only man should become diksha guru and preach all over the world.
If a lady wants to leave grahstha asrama and wants to become diksha guru then that woman is in maya ... this is for popularity. In the old days, only man used to go for work and woman never used to go ... but gone are those days. Now we see working woman who go for work ... but those ladies who are housewives, they maintain their family better than working woman and their children, and also get good sanskar. And their married life is better than working woman. Where both man and woman go for work most cases are divorce cases, or their child will be in bad association ..most of the cases I have seen ..... So what will happen when woman will become diksha guru? This should not be done.
[PD: Right, more society calamity, is that what we need?]
When a girls is born protected by father, when she is married she is protected by her husband and then woman is protected by her son..... So, authority jago … wake up… this responsibility is very huge. Don't ruin other peoples life. I think this is what is going to happen in the Kali yuga...... Krishna please save us ....chant Hare Krishna and jaldi chalo .... go back to godhead. I am not offending anyone, this is truth which I heard and told .... sorry if I hurt anyone.
[PD: Right, keep the programs simple and do not make all these concoctions, bravo!]
"Actually, Dhruva Maharaja's mother, Suniti, was his patha-pradarsaka-guru. Patha-pradarsaka-guru means "the guru, or the spiritual master, who shows the way." Such a guru is sometimes called siksa-guru. Although Narada Muni was his diksa-guru (initiating spiritual master), Suniti, his mother, was the first who gave him instruction on how to achieve the favor of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. It is the duty of the siksa-guru or diksa-guru to instruct the disciple in the right way, and it depends on the disciple to execute the process. According to sastric injunctions, there is no difference between siksa-guru and diksa-guru,and generally the siksa-guru later on becomes the diksa-guru. Suniti, however, being a woman, and specifically his mother, could not become Dhruva Maharaja's diksa-guru." (Bhag. 4.12.32 purport)
"In the Manu-smrti it is stated that a woman should not be given independence, but should be given protection by her father, husband and elderly sons. In all circumstances a woman should remain dependent upon some guardian.Presently women are given full independence like men, but actually we can see that such independent women are no happier than those women who are placed under guardians. If people follow the injunctions given by the great sages, srutis and smrtis, they can actually be happy in both this life and the next. Unfortunately rascals are manufacturing so many ways and means to be happy. Everyone is inventing so many methods. Consequently human society has lost the standard ways of life, both materially and spiritually, and as a result people are bewildered, and there is no peace or happiness in the world. Although they are trying to solve the problems of human society in the United Nations, they are still baffled. Because they do not follow the liberated instructions of the Vedas, they are unhappy." (Bhag. 4.18.3 purport)
Nowadays, female goes into the office and man and woman work together....and most of the cases people who are already married, they do extra affair .....so this is the result of that change. What will happen when woman will become diksha guru? Now we have seen many ISKCON leaders fall down, like Prabhavishnu, ...this is not a good idea to make a lady diksha guru, no no no please no.
[PD: No no no please no. Hee hee, yes, as soon as the GBC gets another brain fart, everyone is going, no, no, no, no! Oh my God no!]
Western ladies remarry again and again, so this also should not be done .....A lady should be one man woman.... this is according to our culture. I think there is no difference between prostitute and those ladies who remarry again and again. According to shastra, when a lady does sex with 3 different men she is considered as prostitute.
[PD: Same would apply for the man, men who marry many times are also prostitutes by this standard. Of course some of our devotee men have been married half dozen times, this is another societal disaster process.]
Once someone told me this world is according to 2 rajya: Ram rajya and Ravan Rajya. In Ram Raj a lady marries with only one Man, for Man same condition. In Ravan Rajya they marry so many persons.....so Europe, America and Australia are based on Ravan Rajya. See today their condition… they are finished. They remarry again and again. Nowadays in India also people give Divorce and remarry again ........ so this should not be done anywhere.
"A faithful wife is supposed to cooperate with her husband in fulfilling all material desires so that he can then become comfortable and execute spiritual activities for the perfection of life. If, however, the husband is progressive in spiritual advancement, the wife undoubtedly shares in his activities, and thus both the wife and the husband profit in spiritual perfection. It is essential, therefore, that girls as well as boys be trained to discharge spiritual duties so that at the time of cooperation both will be benefited. The training of the boy is brahmacarya, and the training of the girl is chastity." (Srimad Bhagavatam 3.14.17 purport)
"It is the duty of a faithful and chaste wife to help her husband in every respect, especially when the husband is engaged in Kṛṣṇa consciousness." (Srimad Bhagavatam 3.23.5 purport)
"Females are not meant for the renounced order of life; they should be faithful to their good husbands, for if a husband is competent for liberation, his wife will also achieve liberation with him. As stated in the śāstra, the results of a husband's pious activities are shared by his wife. Therefore a woman's duty is to be very chaste and faithful to her husband. Then without separate endeavor she will share in all the profit the husband earns." (Srimad Bhagavatam 6.6.1 purport)
"The relationship between husband and wife is firmly established when the wife is faithful and the husband sincere. Then even if the wife, being weaker, is unable to execute devotional service with her husband, if she is chaste and sincere she shares half of her husband's activities." (Srimad Bhagavatam 6.19.18 purport)
"A chaste woman must dress nicely and decorate herself with golden ornaments for the pleasure of her husband. Always wearing clean and attractive garments, she should sweep and clean the household with water and other liquids so that the entire house is always pure and clean. She should collect the household paraphernalia and keep the house always aromatic with incense and flowers and must be ready to execute the desires of her husband. Being modest and truthful, controlling her senses, and speaking in sweet words, a chaste woman should engage in the service of her husband with love, according to time and circumstances." (Srimad Bhagavatam 7.11.26-27)
"A chaste woman should not be greedy, but satisfied in all circumstances. She must be very expert in handling household affairs and should be fully conversant with religious principles. She should speak pleasingly and truthfully and should be very careful and always clean and pure. Thus a chaste woman should engage with affection in the service of a husband who is not fallen." (Srimad Bhagavatam 7.11.28)
"Although the duties of a woman are different from those of a man, a chaste woman is not meant to serve a fallen husband. If her husband is fallen, it is recommended that she give up his association. Giving up the association of her husband does not mean, however, that a woman should marry again and thus indulge in prostitution." (Srimad Bhagavatam 7.11.28 purport)
"If a chaste woman unfortunately marries a husband who is fallen, she should live separately from him. Similarly, a husband can separate himself from a woman who is not chaste according to the description of the śāstra. The conclusion is that a husband should be a pure Vaiṣṇava and that a woman should be a chaste wife with all the symptoms described in this regard." (Srimad Bhagavatam 7.11.28 purport)
"A chaste woman will never accept any man other than her husband, even if there be someone equally as handsome and qualified." (Srimad Bhagavatam 9.3.16 purport)
"A wife is always trained to be chaste and faithful to her husband, for this helps her achieve deliverance from any abominable material condition." (Srimad Bhagavatam 9.20.22 purport)
So please, woman become one man woman, and don't try to become diksha guru. This is not our job. This is very big responsibility. A woman who serve her husband and family, she is liberated already. Always remember Krishna, He is the real husband of all jivas. When Krishna is most handsome there is nothing is material man ....Krishna will never leave ...and normal jiva will leave you.
[PD: Very wise woman here!]
Historical Examples of Female Gaudiya Diksa-gurus. Sita Thakurani—The wife of Advaita Prabhu. According to the Prema-vilasa (vilasa 24) of Nityananda Dasa, Sita Thakurani gave diksa (krsna-mantra) to her two servants, Nandini and Jangali. The vaikuntha-svarupas of Nandini and Jangali are the well-known gatekeepers Jaya and Vijaya (Gaura-ganoddesa-dipika text 89). Their disciple-ship to Sitadevi, along with other interesting facts, is corroborated in the well-known and respected compilation namedGaudiya-vaisnava abhidhana and in the Sita-caritra by Lokanatha Dasa.
Jahnava Thakurani – The wife of Nityananda Prabhu. Jahnava Thakurani became one of the greatest leaders of our tradition in its second generation. Virabhadra and Ramacandra, the sons (biological and adopted respectively) of Nityananda Prabhu, were two of the most famous among her initiated disciples.
"Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura writes in his Anubhasya, ‘Virabhadra Gosani was the direct son of Srila Nityananda Prabhu and a disciple of Jahnava Devi.'" (Caitanya-caritamrtaAdi-lila 11.8 purport)
"Yadunandana Acarya's wife, Laksmi, was a very humble and submissive lady. She had two beautiful daughters named Srimati and Narayani. By the arrangement of Sri Isvari (Jahnava Devi), these two girls became the fortunate wives of Viracandra Prabhu. On the day of the wedding, Yadunandana took initiation from Viracandra, and Sri Jahnava happily accepted Srimati and Narayani as her disciples." (Bhakti-ratnakara, Ch. 13)
She is also confirmed as a diksa-guru both in the Gaudiya-vaisnava abhidhana (pg. 1246-47) and in the Prema-vilasa of Nityananda Dasa (vilasas 15 & 20).
Hemalata Thakurani – The eldest daughter of Srinivasa Acarya. Hemalata Thakurani, a contemporary of Jahnava, was one of the prominent leaders of the tradition at her time. Among her disciples, Yadunandana, the author of Karnananda, is particularly well-known (see Karnananda, Ch.2 &3] and the introduction [pg 12] to Krsna-karnamrta by Sambidananda Das Ph.D). She also had a wayward disciple named Rupa Kaviraja. (seeGaudiya-vaisnava abhidhana pg. 1422)
"Now the disciples of Sri Hemalata shall be described. Sri Suvala Chandra Thakura, and his nephew Sri Gokula Chakravarti were her disciples. Sri Radhavallava Thakura from Mandala village, Sri Vallavadasa of the Gosvami family, and Yadunandana Vaidya dasa of Malihati village were all disciples of Sri Isvari. Kanurama Chakravarti and his two servants Darpanayana and Candi, Ramacarana, Madhu Miswas, and Radha Kanta Vaidya were other disciples of Hemalata. Jagadisa Kaviraja and his follower, who was the brother of Radhavallabh Kaviraja were initiated by Hemalata." (Karnananda, Ch.2, last paragraph)
"One day my spiritual master, Sri Hemalata, revealed the glories of Ramacandra to me." "I shall describe another episode which I heard from my guru, Sri Isvari Hemalata." (Karnananda, Ch.3)
Gauranga-priya Devi – The second wife and disciple of Srinivasa Acarya (Gaudiya-vaisnava abhidhana pg. 1224) She was from a Cakravarti brahmana family, her father being Raghunatha Cakravarti, a resident of West Gopalapura. She initiated a number of disciples, one being Gurucarana Dasa, who wrote a book at her behest called Premamrta which is based on thePrema-vilasa (Gaudiya-vaisnava abhidhana pg. 1203).
"Srinivasa Acarya's first wife, Srimati Isvari Thakurani, was a highly devotional lady. Gauranga-priya, his second wife, also possessed exalted devotional qualities. In due course of time many persons became disciples of Srinivasa Acarya and his wives."( Karnananda, Ch.2)
Gangamata Gosvamini – A disciple of Haridasa Pandita Gosvami, the sevaite of Govindaji mentioned in Sri Caitanya-caritamrta. Among others, King Mukundadeva of Jagannatha Puri and a number of Lord Jagannatha's sevaites received diksafrom her. She was also an eloquent speaker and explained Srimad-Bhagavatam to large audiences. Gangamata Gosvamini's case is further confirmation that a woman can be a guru in a bona fide Gaudiya Vaisnava line. At least up to her point in the line, the line was bona fide because her guru is confirmed by Srila Krsnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami in the Caitanya-caritamrta (Adi 8.60). Her acceptance of disciples is confirmed in Gaudiya-vaisnava abhidhana (pgs. 1197-98) and by the present day mahanta, Balarama Das Gosvami, at the Gangamata Gosvamini Matha in Puri.
After Ganga Mata Goswamini that floated on the Ganga in Puri there has not been any bona fide female diksa gurus in our Gaudiya line....
Once someone told me this world is according to 2 rajya: Ram rajya and Ravan Rajya. In Ram Raj a lady marries with only one Man, for Man same condition. In Ravan Rajya they marry so many persons.....so Europe, America and Australia are based on Ravan Rajya. See today their condition… they are finished. They remarry again and again. Nowadays in India also people give Divorce and remarry again ........ so this should not be done anywhere.
"A faithful wife is supposed to cooperate with her husband in fulfilling all material desires so that he can then become comfortable and execute spiritual activities for the perfection of life. If, however, the husband is progressive in spiritual advancement, the wife undoubtedly shares in his activities, and thus both the wife and the husband profit in spiritual perfection. It is essential, therefore, that girls as well as boys be trained to discharge spiritual duties so that at the time of cooperation both will be benefited. The training of the boy is brahmacarya, and the training of the girl is chastity." (Srimad Bhagavatam 3.14.17 purport)
"It is the duty of a faithful and chaste wife to help her husband in every respect, especially when the husband is engaged in Kṛṣṇa consciousness." (Srimad Bhagavatam 3.23.5 purport)
"Females are not meant for the renounced order of life; they should be faithful to their good husbands, for if a husband is competent for liberation, his wife will also achieve liberation with him. As stated in the śāstra, the results of a husband's pious activities are shared by his wife. Therefore a woman's duty is to be very chaste and faithful to her husband. Then without separate endeavor she will share in all the profit the husband earns." (Srimad Bhagavatam 6.6.1 purport)
"The relationship between husband and wife is firmly established when the wife is faithful and the husband sincere. Then even if the wife, being weaker, is unable to execute devotional service with her husband, if she is chaste and sincere she shares half of her husband's activities." (Srimad Bhagavatam 6.19.18 purport)
"A chaste woman must dress nicely and decorate herself with golden ornaments for the pleasure of her husband. Always wearing clean and attractive garments, she should sweep and clean the household with water and other liquids so that the entire house is always pure and clean. She should collect the household paraphernalia and keep the house always aromatic with incense and flowers and must be ready to execute the desires of her husband. Being modest and truthful, controlling her senses, and speaking in sweet words, a chaste woman should engage in the service of her husband with love, according to time and circumstances." (Srimad Bhagavatam 7.11.26-27)
"A chaste woman should not be greedy, but satisfied in all circumstances. She must be very expert in handling household affairs and should be fully conversant with religious principles. She should speak pleasingly and truthfully and should be very careful and always clean and pure. Thus a chaste woman should engage with affection in the service of a husband who is not fallen." (Srimad Bhagavatam 7.11.28)
"Although the duties of a woman are different from those of a man, a chaste woman is not meant to serve a fallen husband. If her husband is fallen, it is recommended that she give up his association. Giving up the association of her husband does not mean, however, that a woman should marry again and thus indulge in prostitution." (Srimad Bhagavatam 7.11.28 purport)
"If a chaste woman unfortunately marries a husband who is fallen, she should live separately from him. Similarly, a husband can separate himself from a woman who is not chaste according to the description of the śāstra. The conclusion is that a husband should be a pure Vaiṣṇava and that a woman should be a chaste wife with all the symptoms described in this regard." (Srimad Bhagavatam 7.11.28 purport)
"A chaste woman will never accept any man other than her husband, even if there be someone equally as handsome and qualified." (Srimad Bhagavatam 9.3.16 purport)
"A wife is always trained to be chaste and faithful to her husband, for this helps her achieve deliverance from any abominable material condition." (Srimad Bhagavatam 9.20.22 purport)
So please, woman become one man woman, and don't try to become diksha guru. This is not our job. This is very big responsibility. A woman who serve her husband and family, she is liberated already. Always remember Krishna, He is the real husband of all jivas. When Krishna is most handsome there is nothing is material man ....Krishna will never leave ...and normal jiva will leave you.
[PD: Very wise woman here!]
Historical Examples of Female Gaudiya Diksa-gurus. Sita Thakurani—The wife of Advaita Prabhu. According to the Prema-vilasa (vilasa 24) of Nityananda Dasa, Sita Thakurani gave diksa (krsna-mantra) to her two servants, Nandini and Jangali. The vaikuntha-svarupas of Nandini and Jangali are the well-known gatekeepers Jaya and Vijaya (Gaura-ganoddesa-dipika text 89). Their disciple-ship to Sitadevi, along with other interesting facts, is corroborated in the well-known and respected compilation namedGaudiya-vaisnava abhidhana and in the Sita-caritra by Lokanatha Dasa.
Jahnava Thakurani – The wife of Nityananda Prabhu. Jahnava Thakurani became one of the greatest leaders of our tradition in its second generation. Virabhadra and Ramacandra, the sons (biological and adopted respectively) of Nityananda Prabhu, were two of the most famous among her initiated disciples.
"Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura writes in his Anubhasya, ‘Virabhadra Gosani was the direct son of Srila Nityananda Prabhu and a disciple of Jahnava Devi.'" (Caitanya-caritamrtaAdi-lila 11.8 purport)
"Yadunandana Acarya's wife, Laksmi, was a very humble and submissive lady. She had two beautiful daughters named Srimati and Narayani. By the arrangement of Sri Isvari (Jahnava Devi), these two girls became the fortunate wives of Viracandra Prabhu. On the day of the wedding, Yadunandana took initiation from Viracandra, and Sri Jahnava happily accepted Srimati and Narayani as her disciples." (Bhakti-ratnakara, Ch. 13)
She is also confirmed as a diksa-guru both in the Gaudiya-vaisnava abhidhana (pg. 1246-47) and in the Prema-vilasa of Nityananda Dasa (vilasas 15 & 20).
Hemalata Thakurani – The eldest daughter of Srinivasa Acarya. Hemalata Thakurani, a contemporary of Jahnava, was one of the prominent leaders of the tradition at her time. Among her disciples, Yadunandana, the author of Karnananda, is particularly well-known (see Karnananda, Ch.2 &3] and the introduction [pg 12] to Krsna-karnamrta by Sambidananda Das Ph.D). She also had a wayward disciple named Rupa Kaviraja. (seeGaudiya-vaisnava abhidhana pg. 1422)
"Now the disciples of Sri Hemalata shall be described. Sri Suvala Chandra Thakura, and his nephew Sri Gokula Chakravarti were her disciples. Sri Radhavallava Thakura from Mandala village, Sri Vallavadasa of the Gosvami family, and Yadunandana Vaidya dasa of Malihati village were all disciples of Sri Isvari. Kanurama Chakravarti and his two servants Darpanayana and Candi, Ramacarana, Madhu Miswas, and Radha Kanta Vaidya were other disciples of Hemalata. Jagadisa Kaviraja and his follower, who was the brother of Radhavallabh Kaviraja were initiated by Hemalata." (Karnananda, Ch.2, last paragraph)
"One day my spiritual master, Sri Hemalata, revealed the glories of Ramacandra to me." "I shall describe another episode which I heard from my guru, Sri Isvari Hemalata." (Karnananda, Ch.3)
Gauranga-priya Devi – The second wife and disciple of Srinivasa Acarya (Gaudiya-vaisnava abhidhana pg. 1224) She was from a Cakravarti brahmana family, her father being Raghunatha Cakravarti, a resident of West Gopalapura. She initiated a number of disciples, one being Gurucarana Dasa, who wrote a book at her behest called Premamrta which is based on thePrema-vilasa (Gaudiya-vaisnava abhidhana pg. 1203).
"Srinivasa Acarya's first wife, Srimati Isvari Thakurani, was a highly devotional lady. Gauranga-priya, his second wife, also possessed exalted devotional qualities. In due course of time many persons became disciples of Srinivasa Acarya and his wives."( Karnananda, Ch.2)
Gangamata Gosvamini – A disciple of Haridasa Pandita Gosvami, the sevaite of Govindaji mentioned in Sri Caitanya-caritamrta. Among others, King Mukundadeva of Jagannatha Puri and a number of Lord Jagannatha's sevaites received diksafrom her. She was also an eloquent speaker and explained Srimad-Bhagavatam to large audiences. Gangamata Gosvamini's case is further confirmation that a woman can be a guru in a bona fide Gaudiya Vaisnava line. At least up to her point in the line, the line was bona fide because her guru is confirmed by Srila Krsnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami in the Caitanya-caritamrta (Adi 8.60). Her acceptance of disciples is confirmed in Gaudiya-vaisnava abhidhana (pgs. 1197-98) and by the present day mahanta, Balarama Das Gosvami, at the Gangamata Gosvamini Matha in Puri.
After Ganga Mata Goswamini that floated on the Ganga in Puri there has not been any bona fide female diksa gurus in our Gaudiya line....
[PD: Right, and of course since the GBC is making debauchees into gurus, this has no connection to any of these great woman devotees who are bona fide.]
But now no woman should copy these personalities ............
[PD: Excellent, imitation of the pure devotees is not for us neophytes!]
Govinda Dasi, Srila Prabhupada's first lady disciples said:- However, I do believe in "initiating" slugs, lizards, spiders, roaches and other such creatures, but that is on the order of my spiritual master Srila Prabhupada....
The fact is, Srila Prabhupada never appointed one single female temple president or GBC, and that says it all.....what to speak of being a diksa guru. If this will happen, then it is to the insult of Srila Prabhupada. So if you really love and respect Srila Prabhupada, then please don't let this happen ....
[PD: Excellent, imitation of the pure devotees is not for us neophytes!]
Govinda Dasi, Srila Prabhupada's first lady disciples said:- However, I do believe in "initiating" slugs, lizards, spiders, roaches and other such creatures, but that is on the order of my spiritual master Srila Prabhupada....
The fact is, Srila Prabhupada never appointed one single female temple president or GBC, and that says it all.....what to speak of being a diksa guru. If this will happen, then it is to the insult of Srila Prabhupada. So if you really love and respect Srila Prabhupada, then please don't let this happen ....
Hare Krishna Krishna's servant, Aditi Sinha
That is amazing how you managed to totally uncover the subject which you have selected for this precise blog entry. By the way did you use some similar blog articles as a source of information to complete the whole picture that you have provided in your blog article?
ReplyDeleteKrsna consciousness is about becoming conscious of Sri Krsna, the Supreme Absolute Truth, not about all kinds of relative varna ashrama circumstances, all kinds of safety and gain positions. That's for worldy ksatryas.
ReplyDeleteFirst come to the brahma bhuta level, then you're actually free your self. And then you can contribute, sponteneously. Al this conditional "guru worship" is typically something for rulers, bossy people.
I would suggest, go beyond SP. He himself once said; I do what I like to do. That is what a mature vaisnava of course does do ...