Only a Brahmana can take sannyasa

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"COM: (Bhakta) Oleg Demtchenko (Nikolaev - RU)" wrote:

 

> [Text 2635712 from COM]

>

> Mother Hare Krishna wrote:

>

> > Srila Bhaktisiddhanta's varna determination of his disciple was

> >fully validated when that disciple went on to become ISKCON's

> >founder-acarya and established over 100 temples all over the world.

>

> Pardon me, but establishment of many temples doesn't determine

> the varna of a founder. Usually many temples in India were

> founded by kings or wealthy vaisyas. So your point doesn't

> sound logical.

>

> Also, "preaching is brahminical" is incorrect logical

> statement. More correct is to say "preaching should be

> brahminical", but if someone is preaching something, it

> doesn't authomatically means than he is a brahmana.

>

> Hope this finds you in good health,

> Oleg

>

>

 

If you are maintaining that Srila Prabhupada was not a brahmana and was not a

man, then I must admit that you are correct -- from the transcendental

perspective. However, from the external perspective, I think we can agree that

Srila Prabhupada was a man, and was certainly a brahmana -- because unless one

is a brahmana, he cannot be offered the order of sannyasa.

 

So perhaps I should have reworded my statement to read:

 

 

Mother Hare Krishna wrote:

 

> Srila Bhaktisiddhanta's varna determination of his disciple was

>fully validated when that disciple went on to become ISKCON's

>founder-acarya and established over 100 temples all over the world

 

-- as a sannyasi.

 

********************************

 

Here are some of Srila Prabhupada's statements confirming the fact that only a

brahmana can be offered sannyasa:

 

********************************

 

Unless one becomes a brahmana, one cannot take sannyasa.

 

============ REF. SB 6.5.36

 

Although it is a fact that unless one is a brahmana he cannot become a

sannyasi, it is not a valid principle that an unqualified man who is born in a

brahmana family is a brahmana whereas a brahminically qualified person born in

a non-brahmana family cannot be accepted. The Krsna consciousness movement

strictly follows the injunctions of Srimad-Bhagavatam, avoiding misleading

heresy and manufactured conclusions.

 

============ REF. Adi 7.67

 

According to the Vedic injunctions, only a brahmana may be offered sannyasa.

 

============ REF. Adi 17.266

 

 

So brahmacari, grhastha, then not to stuck up with the family affairs up to the

end of death. No. At a certain stage, after fifty years, he must give up. That

is called vanaprastha. And then, after being trained up in vanaprastha very

nicely, he takes sannyasa. This is brahmana's..., four asrama. And for the

ksatriya, up to vanaprastha. Up to vanaprastha. Just like Maharaja Yudhisthira

and all the brothers, they left home, but the wife was there. That is called

vanaprastha. They did not take sannyasa. Ksatriya. Up to vanaprastha. Vaisyas.

No vanaprastha, no sannyasa. Up to grhastha. Brahmacari... Brahmacari is

compulsory for the dvija. Because there is the training. And for the sudra

there is no brahmacari. Only grhastha, married. Otherwise, life will be very

irregular. So in this way varnasrama. So there are duties.

 

============ REF. Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.5.32 -- Vrndavana, August 13, 1974

 

Varna means brahmana, ksatriya, vaisya, sudra. Catur-varnyam maya srstam

guna-karma-vibhagasah [bg. 4.13]. Guna, not everyone is qualified in the same

way. Therefore you... The acarya will pick up that "They are meant for becoming

brahmanas. They are meant for ksatriyas." Or for coming from ksatriya family,

or the brahmana family... So first of all, these varnas, then asrama. The

brahmana, one who is qualified as a brahmana, he has to observe the four

asramas, a brahmana: the brahmacari-asrama, the grhastha-asrama, the

vanaprastha-asrama and sannyasa-asrama. The ksatriya, they'll have to observe

three asramas: brahmacari, grhastha and vanaprastha. And the vaisyas, two

asramas: brahmacari and grhastha. And sudra, only one asrama, only grhastha. A

sudra is never offered sannyasa. A... Only the brahmana is offered.

 

============ REF. Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.8.41 -- Mayapura, October 21, 1974

 

 

Prabhupada: That is the normal rules and regulation, that especially brahmana,

he must go through the four asramas, first of all become brahmacari, then

grhastha, then vanaprastha, then take sannyasa. This is for the brahmanas. And

for the ksatriyas, brahmacari, grhastha, and vanaprastha. And for the vaisyas,

brahmacari, grhastha. And for the sudras, only grhastha.

 

============ REF. Srimad-Bhagavatam 7.6.1 -- Madras, January 2, 1976

 

 

Unless they take to Krsna consciousness, they'll not be saved. The varnasrama

college has to be established immediately. Everywhere, wherever we have got our

center, a varnasrama college should be established to train four divisions: one

class, brahmana; one class, ksatriya; one class, vaisya; and one class, sudra.

But everyone will be elevated to the spiritual platform by the spiritual

activities which we have prescribed. There is no inconvenience, even for the

sudras.

Passerby: Jayo!

Prabhupada: Hare Krsna.

Bhagavan: Are sudras supposed to take sannyasa also?

Prabhupada: No, why?

Bhagavan: Sudras…

Prabhupada: Those who are sudras, they should not be allowed to take sannyasa.

Only those who are qualified brahmanas, they'll be allowed to take sannyasa.

Bhagavan: Ksatriyas used to take sannyasa too?

Prabhupada: Ksatriyas… Some of them. Not all.

Guru dasa: Yudhisthira Maharaja?

Prabhupada: Eh?

Guru dasa: Yudhisthira Maharaja.

Prabhupada: They did not take sannyasa, but they left home. There is no need of

accepting sannyasa. One has to perform the devotional activities. That is real

thing. Simply by changing dress, one does not improve. Unless he takes to the,

seriously, principles of devotional service. But in the Kali-yuga, they'll

think, "Because I have changed my dress, I have become a big sannyasi." You

see? "Because I have got a sacred thread, now I am a brahmana." No. There must

be regular training.

 

============VRNDAVANA, MARCH 12, 1974 — VARNASRAMA WALK

 

 

your servant,

 

Hare Krsna dasi