Sannyasa in Kali yuga

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>From Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi-lila 15.14

 

“My dear mother and father,” the Lord said, “it is very good that Visvarupa

has accepted the sannyasa order, for thus He has delivered both His father’s

family and His mother’s family.”

 

PURPORT: It is sometimes said that Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu disapproved of

the acceptance of the sannyasa order in this Kali-yuga because in the sastra

it is said:

 

asvamedham gavalambham sannyasam pala-paitrkam

devarena sutotpattin kalau panca vivarjayet

[Cc. Adi 17.164]

 

“In this Age of Kali, five acts are forbidden: the offering of a horse in

sacrifice, the offering of a cow in sacrifice, the acceptance of the order

of sannyasa, the offering of oblations of flesh to the forefathers, and a

man’s begetting children in his brother’s wife.” (Brahma-vaivarta Purana,

Krsna-janma-khanda 185.180)

 

Nevertheless, we see that Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu Himself accepted sannyasa

and approved of the sannyasa of His elder brother, Visvarupa. It is clearly

said here, bhala haila,——visvarupa sannyasa karila pitr-kula,

matr-kula,——dui uddharila. Therefore, should it be thought that Sri Caitanya

Mahaprabhu made statements that are contradictory? No, actually He did not.

It is recommended that one accept sannysa to dedicate his life for the

service of the Lord, and everyone must take that kind of sannyasa, for by

accepting such sannyasa one renders the best service to both his paternal

and maternal families. But one should not accept the sannyasa order of the

Mayavada school, which has practically no meaning. We find many Mayavadi

sannyasis simply loitering in the street thinking themselves Brahman or

Narayana and spending all day and night begging so they can fill their

hungry bellies. Mayavadi sannyasis have become so degraded that there is a

section of them who eat everything, just like hogs and dogs. It is such

degraded sannyasa that is prohibited in this age.