Vaisnava appearance

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Hare Krishna Maharaja, ___o_

 

> I need some reference material on Vaisnava dress, activities etc.

>

> It is actually important to an argument I am preparing in an important

> discussion with an influential preacher. His idea is that in the west we

> have to conform to western mores of living. This will bring us

> respectability.

>

> Please help. I would like to contrast this in a proper perspective.

>

> I recall hearing often in my early days that Srila Prabhupada or

> Mahaprabhu said "A Vaisnava is one who when seen by others reminds them of

> Krsna". Is there any reference of this or something similar ? Any other

> ideas or quotes?

 

"The simple definition of Vaisnava is given by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu: a

person who immediately reminds one of the Supreme Personality of Godhead,

Krsna, is a Vaisnava." (SB 4.21.37p.)

 

"The next important items are as follows: (1) One should decorate the body

with tilaka, which is the sign of the Vaisnavas. (The idea is that as soon

as a person sees these marks on the body of the Vaisnava, he will

immediately remember Krsna. Lord Caitanya said that a Vaisnava is he who,

when seen, reminds one of Krsna. Therefore, it is essential that a Vaisnava

mark his body with tilaka to remind others of Krsna.) (NoD 6: How to

Discharge Devotional Service)

 

> Anxiously awaiting some scholarly help and advice.

 

This may not be very scholarly, just a few hints I use to answer this type

of queries:

 

- One who suggests "to conform to western mores of living" shows a complete

lack of understanding of both material spiritual reality. (Even the

religionists don't understand the purpose of this world, as I heard recently

from a Christian theologian. He was actually a deist. Many of them are very

secularized and materialistic, thinking religion to be a product of social

development). Instead of emulating the liberated state he actually

encourages to adhere to the life in prison of this world. Should a free

person while visiting a prison start to behave like a prisoner? No, rather

the prisoners should learn how to adjust to the outside life. Yet at the

beginning the difference is very big so there can be some adjustments to

bridge the gap and they should be decided on by an acarya. This was done by

Bhaktivinode Thakur, Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati and Srila Prabhupada.

 

- As for these adjustments one has to distinguish between things of nitya

and anitya nature. Nitya is e.g. language - we can't drop Sanskrit and use

only English or other local languages. There is an evidence that Sanskrit

is more then meets an ear, so to say. Chanting should be done primarily with

traditional instruments, although others are not forbidden. Tilak is an

important Vaishnava sign. Dhoti/sari also belongs to the eternal world

although SP allowed to distribute in karmi clothes in the West. For eating

we can use local foods but in sync with our rules.

 

- In SPL there is an occasion when SP met Swami Nikhilananda who urged him

to adopt Western clothes and habits. SP said he will teach Westerners Vedic

ways instead:

 

Srila Prabhupada wore a coat Dr. Mishra had given him, but he never gave up

wearing his dhoti, despite the cold, windy walks. Swami Nikhilananda of the

Ramakrishna Mission had advised Prabhupada that if he wanted to stay in the

West he should abandon his traditional Indian dress and strict

vegetarianism. Meat-eating and liquor, as well as pants and coat, were

almost a necessity in this climate, he had said. Before Prabhupada had left

India, one of his Godbrothers had demonstrated to him how he should eat in

the West with a knife and fork. But Prabhupada never considered taking on

Western ways. His advisors cautioned him not to remain an alien but to get

into the spirit of American life, even if it meant breaking vows he had held

in India; almost all Indian immigrants compromised their old ways. But

Prabhupada's idea was different, and he could not be budged. The others may

have had to compromise, he thought, but they had come to beg technological

knowledge from the West. “I have not come to beg something," he said, “but

to give something." (SPL 15: “It Will Not Be Possible to Assist You")

 

Prabhupada: The Ramakrishna Mission man came to see me. He said that “You

dress like American. Otherwise, nobody will take you as important.”

Acyutananda: Nikhilananda... (Morning Walk -- February 20, 1976, Mayapura)

 

Prabhupada: Ramakrishna Mission, in the beginning they asked me, “You be in

coat and pant.” Otherwise nobody will hear me.

Gargamuni: Ramakrishna suggested Prabhupada use coats and pants.

Prabhupada: Their sannyasis, they dress in coat-tie.

Brahmananda: Swami Nikhilananda. (Arrival of Devotees -- February 24, 1977,

Mayapura)

 

- SP already made many adjustments for the West in this way - simpler

Ekadasi standard (in comparison with Hari Bhakti Vilasa), less rounds (64 >

16), men and women under one roof though in separated quarters, etc. - and

was sometimes criticized for this by smartas.

 

 

Hope this helps.

 

Your servant, bh. Jan

 

www.veda.harekrsna.cz (Bhakti-yoga Vedic Encyclopedia Vedic Library)