Is it possible for a woman to be a guru in the line of disciplic succession?

[krsna]

Prof. O’Connell: Is it possible, Swamiji, for a woman to be a guru in the line of disciplic succession?

 

Prabhupada: Yes. Jahnava devi was—Nityananda’s wife. She became. If she is able to go to the highest perfection of life, why it is not possible to become guru? But, not so many. Actually one who has attained the perfection, she can become guru. But man or woman, unless one has attained the perfection....

 

Yei krsna-tattva-vetta sei guru haya [Cc. Madhya 8.128]. The qualification of guru is that he must be fully cognizant of the science of Krsna. Then he or she can become guru. Yei krsna-tattva-vetta, sei guru haya. [break]

 

In our material world, is it any prohibition that woman cannot become professor? If she is qualified, she can become professor. What is the wrong there? She must be qualified. That is the position. So similarly, if the woman understands Krsna consciousness perfectly, she can become guru.

[krsna]

Female Diksa Guruship

 

BY SITA DEVI DASI

 

— The recent nomination to the GBC for a woman diksa-guru has raised some serious concerns. It is felt that adopting this proposal will affect women's ability to follow the basic principles of stri-dharma. A woman learns how to perform her duty nicely by seeing other sadhvis practically engaged and by imbibing their chaste attitude. A woman who initiates disciples, however, will undoubtedly have to compromise her foremost occupational service to her husband and children. This in turn will affect others because a guru teachers by example as well as precept. (Bhagavad-gita 3.21)

 

The objection here is not towards women teaching others about Krsna consciousness. Prabhupada requested all of us to become guru in that sense.

 

Here is an example of such a general instruction:

 

So I request you follow the Caitanya Mahaprabhu's instruction that you also, you become a guru at your home. It is not that you have to make a gigantic show of becoming guru. The father has to become guru, the mother has to become guru. Actually, in the sastra it is said one should not become father, one should not become mother if he does not become a guru to his children. Na mocayed yah samupeta-mrtyum. If a person is unable to save his child from the clutches of birth and death, he should not become a father.

 

Sri Vyasa-puja Hyderabad, August 19, 1976

 

However with regards to women specifically becoming diksa-guru, Prabhupada states:

 

"Actually, Dhruva Maharaja's mother, Suniti, was his patha-pradarsaka-guru.

 

Patha-pradarsaka-guru means "the guru, or the spiritual master, who shows the way." Such a guru is sometimes called siksa-guru. Although Narada Muni was his diksa-guru (initiating spiritual master), Suniti, his mother, was the first who gave him instruction on how to achieve the favor of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. It is the duty of the siksa-guru or diksa-guru to instruct the disciple in the right way, and it depends on the disciple to execute the process. According to sastric injunctions, there is no difference between siksa-guru and diksa-guru, and generally the siksa-guru later on becomes the diksa-guru. Suniti, however, being a woman, and specifically his mother, could not become Dhruva Maharaja's diksa-guru."

Srimad Bhagavatam 4.12.32 Purport

 

There is no gender based restriction for a man to initiate others or to initiate his own son. But Suniti was restricted from being Dhruva Maharaja's diksa-guru because:

 

1. she was a woman and;

 

2. she was his mother

 

It was not just a matter of a woman not being allowed to initiate her son as some suggest. Another consideration is with regards to second or brahminical initiation: how can a woman award a thread to a boy/man when she herself has none?

 

When asked in an interview about the possibility of a woman becoming a guru, Srila Prabhupada gave the example of Jahnava Devi, Lord Nityananda's divine eternal consort but his answer was not a direct order for his women disciples to take up the role of diksa-guru!

 

It is noteworthy that Jahnava Devi is not considered a branch of Lord Nityananda's tree although she gave initiation to Virabhadra Gosani, the first branch. Could this be because Jahnava Devi's disciples were considered disciples of Lord Nityananda? (CC Adi lila Chapter 11)

 

Even Jahnava Devi, although above the norms of this material world, did not ignore principles of etiquette and male prerogative. According to historical accounts, she did not perform the abhiseka at the first Gaura Purnima celebration but requested Srinivasacarya to do so. She did not join the associates of Lord Caitanya and Lord Nityananda on the podium nor did she lead the kirtans. She chose to cook for Their Lordships and offer the preparations to the Deities. Only after the male devotees had been served did she honour prasadam. It is also known that Jahnava Devi gave class from behind a curtain, therefore demonstrating supreme shyness.

 

Because the introduction of formal female guruship in ISKCON contradicts Prabhupada's instructions, it would have grave social and spiritual ramifications. It is therefore hoped the GBC will vote against it.