Remembering Srila Prabhupada Tells a Story About Wearing Vaisnava

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Prabhupada Tells a Story About Wearing Vaisnava Tilaka

 

 

There was once a factory in India where all the

workers were Hindus and mostly Vaisnavas. The

Vaisnavas had freedom, therefore, to wear their

Vaisnava tilaka to work, and they also displayed other

Vaisnava paraphernalia. After some time, however, the

factory went to new management and the new proprietor

was a Muslim.

 

On taking over the business, the Muslim owner

declared that he would no longer allow the workers to

come to work wearing Vaisnava tilaka. Most of the

workers obeyed, and on the given date announced by the

owner, they appeared at the factory without their

tilaka. One employee, however, thought that he would

take his chances and depend on Krsna, so he went to

work wearing very clear, white Vaisnava tilaka. After

seeing all the workers assembled, the new Muslim

proprietor said, "This one devotee who has worn

Vaisnava tilaka is very courageous. He may be

permitted to continue wearing the tilaka to work, but

all others are forbidden to wear it any more."

 

 

In this way, Prabhupada encouraged the devotees to not

unnecessarily abandon the markings of a Vaisnava.

Where situations forbid it, Prabhupada said that it

was not absolutely necessary to wear tilaka, although

a devotee should at least put water tilaka on his body

in the morning and consecrate his body with the names

of Visnu.

 

But if the paraphernalia is permitted, then a devotee

should not unnecessarily do away with the dress or

beads of a Vaisnava.

 

Satsvarupa dasa Goswami - This story has obvious

modern-day application. In 1966 Srila Prabhupada was

pleased when Rupanuga and Satsvarupa persisted in

wearing Vaisnava tilaka to their jobs with the New

York City Department of Welfare. Bhaktivinoda Thakura

also desired that one day the high court judges may

wear Vaisnava tilaka, and this would be a symbol of

the successful influence of Krsna consciousness in the

world.

 

 

Even in job situations where wearing tilaka is not

permissible, a devotee should try in different ways to

remember Krsna while at work. The story told by

Prabhupada about the man who insisted on wearing

tilaka to his job may remain an inspiration to all

devotees who go to places of employment controlled by

the karmis. Somehow or other, we must remain devotees.

 

 

- From the Prabhupada Nectar by HH Satsvarupa dasa

Goswami Maharaj

 

 

 

 

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