Sri Visnupriya-palli

[Guest guest]

Mother Sita wrote:

 

> The following is from Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Maharaja's biography,

> "Prabhupada Saraswati Thakur" pgs. 32-33, from a lecture given on Sept.

> 21, 1925. As we have previously presented references from His Divine Grace

> AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada on this topic, it is hoped we

> won't be accused of "jumping over", but rather this reference below shows

> that HDGACBSP's support for women's asramas was in parampara:

>

> "Our maths are being built at many places, and many sannyasis,

> vanaprasthas, grhasthas, and brahmacaris are living there all the time and

> receiving the opportunity to learn spiritual conduct. But we have been

> trying for a long time also give the mothers (women) the opportunity for

> devotional service. Of course, those who have the facility and opportunity

> for devotional service in their own homes do not need a separate

> residence. But very often we hear that many of them get impeded in their

> devotional service due to bad association. It will be very beneficial for

> them if we can build Sri Visnupriya-palli ("palli" means "neighborhood")

> in Sridham Mayapura near the residence of Sriman Mahaprabhu, and if they

> can live there separately from their families and render devotional

> service. They actually belong to the group of Sri Visnupriya Devi (the

> wife of Sriman Mahaprabhu, who was left behind in Navadwip when He took

> sannyasa). Therefore it is proper for them to live in the house of Sriman

> Mahaprabhu and to serve Him under the shelter of Sri Visnupriya Devi.

> There should not be any bad association or mundane male association for

> them there. Only a few devotees like Isan (the old devotee servant who

> took care of Sri Sachidevi and Sri Visnupriya Devi after Sriman Mahaprabhu

> left) would stay at a distance and take care of them. It is necessary to

> have such an exemplary neighborhood so that the mothers (women) can read

> scripture every day, discuss devotional topics with each other, and have

> ista-gosthi about devotional topics, so they can give up all luxury and

> live an exemplary, saintly life and always chant the holy name and take

> care of the ingredients of Sriman Mahaprabhu's service and serve him in

> every way. -- Saraswati Jayasri, p. 339)

 

Most beautiful & relevant quote from Srila Bhaktisiddhanta. Thanks for

posting it.

 

> Yes, I agree. That's a nice arrangement. But as far as women managing on

> their own, and not as their husbands' assistants, that is meant for widows

> who are living a life of renunciation. It would be inappropriate for a

> woman on her won to be managing temples other than one which is

> exclusively for women or one where her husband is managing.

 

Ofcourse there can be some rare exceptions to this rule like in our

parampara we see Jahnava Devi, Hemalata Thakurani, Gangamata Goswami taking

on the role of acaryas and gurus who had many male disciples.

 

So we can conclude from the above quote that in general women who like to do

some leadership service should take shelter of Visnupriya Thakurani and as

instructed by Srila Prabhupada & Srila Bhaktisiddhanta start a women ashrama

where they can get the opportunity to manage & lead other women. And if

among these women leaders who are leading a highly pure life in the women

ashrama there are some mothers who by their activities prove themselves very

advanced & elevated in KC, then they may be accepted as guru especially for

other mothers and even for men if they become very highly advanced or

self-effulgent as Prabhupada puts it. Women (especially single women)

managing themselves without any help of men is such a great idea because it

greatly reduces the pressure off the temple authorities & resident

brahmacaries in the temple who may also be involved the management.

 

Also one of the reason why Srila Prabhupada said that single unamrried women

in the temple is very risky maybe because it builds up a kind of

psychological impression in the minds of the brhmacaries who see the same

women day after day in the temple programs and ultimately the brahmacari may

feel like talking & interacting with them because they are single &

unmarried. And in the end the temple may end up loosing the services of a

brahmacari who now wants to become a grhasta. That is why it is risky.

Srila Prabhupada told HH Giriraja Swami that your duty as a manager in

Bombay is to see that all the brahmacaries remain brahmacaries and all

ladies get married.

 

Those women who are assisting their husbands in managerial activities in

ISKCON temples should limit the assistance to their husbands and not

interact with other men especially the brahmacaries & sannyasis in the name

of assisting in the management. I have seen that sometimes the wife of the

president takes a dominating role in making management decisions and

directly interacts with the temple brahmacaries. The sincere brahmacaries

leave because of this and those brahmacaries who want to associate with

women in the garb of wearing saffron have a great time.

 

I am open for comments.

 

Your servant,

Nayana-ranjana das