13 Female Gurus in
ISKCON’s Guru Parampara mentioned in Bhagavad-gita “As It Is”
Hare Krishna.
Good News for both sides: Pro-FDG as well as anti-FDG. From the Guru Parampara mentioned in the Bhagavad-gita “As It Is.”
65% Gurus are Females in their spiritual identities
At a careful analysis of the Guru Parampara as given in the Bhagavad-gita “As It Is” of His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, it is found that 65% of gurus of the disciplic line that starts from Madhavendra Puri and ends at A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada are Females in their spiritual identities. This is good news for the supporters of Female Diksa-gurus in ISKCON.
100% Gurus are Males in their Material Incarnations
This careful analysis also reveals that all the gurus who were females in their spiritual identities, nonetheless, took a male form when they descended in the material world to preach and become Gurus. Hence, there is no Female Guru in the list. This is a good news for those who oppose Female Diksa-gurus in ISKCON.
Please see the analysis in the tables below:
Guru’s
Name |
Spiritual
Identity |
Gender
(Spiritual)
|
Gender
(Incarnation)
|
21.
Īśvara Purī, |
Unknown
|
Unknown
|
Male
|
Nityananda
|
Lord
Balarama |
Male
|
Male
|
Advaita
|
Sadashiva
/ Mahavishnu |
Male
|
Male
|
22.
Lord Caitanya |
Krsna
|
Male
|
Male
|
23.
Rūpa |
Rupa
Manjari |
Female
|
Male
|
Svarupa
|
Visakha-devi
or Lalita Sakhi |
Female
|
Male
|
Sanatana
|
Lavanga
Manjari |
Female
|
Male
|
24.
Raghunātha |
Raga
Manjari |
Female
|
Male
|
Raghunatha Das
|
Rasa
or Rati or Tulasi Manjari |
Female
|
Male
|
Jiva
|
Vilasa
Manjari |
Female
|
Male
|
25.
Kṛṣṇadāsa |
Kasturi
Manjari |
Female
|
Male
|
26.
Narottama |
Champaka
Manjari |
Female
|
Male
|
27.
Viśvanātha |
Vinoda-Vallari
Manjari |
Female
|
Male
|
28.
Jagannātha |
Rasika
Manjari |
Female
|
Male
|
Baladeva
|
Gopinath
Acharya or Brahma |
Male
|
Male
|
29.
Bhaktivinoda |
Kamala
Manjari |
Female
|
Male
|
30.
Gaurakiśora |
Guna
Manjari |
Female
|
Male
|
31.
Bhaktisiddhānta |
Nayanamani
Manjari |
Female
|
Male
|
32.
Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda |
Unknown
|
Male
|
Summary Study of the Above Table:
Total no. of Gurus
starting from Madhavendra Puri |
20
|
Gender in Spiritual Identity
|
|
Male
|
04 (20%)
|
Female
|
13 (65%)
|
Unknown
|
03 (15%)
|
Gender in
Material Incarnation |
|
Male
|
20 (100%)
|
Female
|
00 (0%)
|
Unknown
|
00 (0%)
|
It is noticeable and worth considering, what stopped these liberated nitya-siddha personalities (whose eternal constitutional gender is female) from descending to this world in a female form? Probably because they were to take the position of Gurus which, in the material world, is not the constitutional position of the female form but the male form.
Below is a comprehensive list of different personalities in Mahaprabhu’s lila with their spiritual identities (svarupas). One may notice something there also.
Gaura Lila
|
Krishna Lila
|
Gender (Spiritual)
|
Gender (Incarnation)
|
Gender Change
|
|
1.
|
Sri Caitanya
Mahaprabhu |
Syamasundara, Sri Krishna
|
Male
|
Male
|
Same
|
2.
|
Sacimata
|
Yasodamayi
|
Female
|
Female
|
Same
|
3.
|
Jagannatha Misra
|
Nanda Maharaja
|
Male
|
Male
|
Same
|
4.
|
Laksmipriya
|
Janaki & Rukmini
|
Female
|
Female
|
Same
|
5.
|
Vishnupriya
|
Bhu Devi
|
Female
|
Female
|
Same
|
6.
|
Nityananda Rama
|
Lord Balarama
|
Male
|
Male
|
Same
|
7.
|
Hadai Pandita
|
Vasudeva
|
Male
|
Male
|
Same
|
8.
|
Padmavati
|
Rohini
|
Female
|
Female
|
Same
|
9.
|
Jahnava Mata
|
Ananga Manjari
|
Female
|
Female
|
Same
|
10
|
Vasudha
|
Varuni Devi
|
Female
|
Female
|
Same
|
11
|
Biracandra
|
Kshirodakashayi Vishnu
|
Male
|
Male
|
Same
|
12
|
Ganga Devi
|
Ganga Mayi
|
Female
|
Female
|
Same
|
13
|
Advaita Prabhu
|
Sadashiva / Mahavishnu
|
Male
|
Male
|
Same
|
14
|
Sita Devi
|
Yogamaya
|
Female
|
Female
|
Same
|
15
|
Gadadhara Pandita
|
Srimati Radharani
|
Female
|
Male
|
Changed to Male
|
16
|
Srivasa Thakura
|
Narada Muni
|
Male
|
Male
|
Same
|
17
|
Malini Devi
|
Ambika Devi
|
Female
|
Female
|
Same
|
18
|
Pundarika Vidyanidhi
|
Vrishabhanu Maharaja
|
Male
|
Male
|
Same
|
19
|
Mukunda Dasa
|
Vrinda Devi
|
Female
|
Male
|
Changed to Male
|
20
|
Saranga Thakura
|
Nandimukhi
|
Female
|
Male
|
Changed to Male
|
21
|
Govinda Acarya
|
Paurnamasi
|
Female
|
Male
|
Changed to Male
|
22
|
Svarupa Damodara
|
Lalita Sakhi
|
Female
|
Male
|
Changed to Male
|
23
|
Raya Ramananda
|
Visakha Sakhi
|
Female
|
Male
|
Changed to Male
|
24
|
Govindanandana Thakura
|
Citra Sakhi
|
Female
|
Male
|
Changed to Male
|
25
|
Ramananda Vasu
|
Indulekha Sakhi
|
Female
|
Male
|
Changed to Male
|
26
|
Sivananda Sena
|
Campakalata Sakhi
|
Female
|
Male
|
Changed to Male
|
27
|
Vakresvara Pandita
|
Tungavidya Sakhi
|
Female
|
Male
|
Changed to Male
|
28
|
Govinda Ghosa
|
Rangadevi Sakhi
|
Female
|
Male
|
Changed to Male
|
29
|
Vasudeva Ghosa
|
Sudevi Sakhi
|
Female
|
Male
|
Changed to Male
|
30
|
Raghava Pandita
|
Dhanistha Sakhi
|
Female
|
Male
|
Changed to Male
|
31
|
Rupa Gosvami
|
Rupa Manjari
|
Female
|
Male
|
Changed to Male
|
32
|
Raghunatha Dasa Gosvami
|
Rati Manjari
|
Female
|
Male
|
Changed to Male
|
33
|
Sanatana Gosvami
|
Lavanga Manjari
|
Female
|
Male
|
Changed to Male
|
34
|
Jiva Gosvami
|
Vilasa Manjari
|
Female
|
Male
|
Changed to Male
|
35
|
Raghunatha Bhatta Gosvami
|
Rasa Manjari
|
Female
|
Male
|
Changed to Male
|
36
|
Gopal Bhatta Gosvami
|
Guna Manjari
|
Female
|
Male
|
Changed to Male
|
37
|
Lokanatha Gosvami
|
Manjulali Manjari
|
Female
|
Male
|
Changed to Male
|
38
|
Krishnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami
|
Kasturi Manjari
|
Female
|
Male
|
Changed to Male
|
39
|
Ramacandra Puri
|
Jatila Gopi
|
Female
|
Male
|
Changed to Male
|
40
|
Kholavecha Sridhara
|
Madhumangala Sakha
|
Male
|
Male
|
Same
|
41
|
Narahari Sarkara
|
Madhumati Sakhi
|
Female
|
Male
|
Changed to Male
|
42
|
Gauridasa Pandita
|
Subala Sakha
|
Male
|
Male
|
Same
|
43
|
Abhirama Thakura
|
Sridama Sakha
|
Male
|
Male
|
Same
|
44
|
Sikhi Mahiti
|
Ragalekha Sakhi
|
Female
|
Male
|
Changed to Male
|
45
|
Madhavi Mahiti
|
Kalakeli Sakhi
|
Female
|
Female
|
Same
|
46
|
Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya
|
Brihaspati Maharaja
|
Male
|
Male
|
Same
|
47
|
Paramananda Puri
|
Uddhava Mahasaya
|
Male
|
Male
|
Same
|
48
|
Keshava Bharati
|
Akrura / Sandipani Muni
|
Male
|
Male
|
Same
|
49
|
Jagai & Madhai
|
Jaya & Vijaya
|
Male
|
Male
|
Same
|
50
|
Gopinatha Acharya
|
Caturmukha Brahma
|
Male
|
Male
|
Same
|
51
|
Haridasa Thakura
|
Prahlada / Brahma
|
Male
|
Male
|
Same
|
52
|
Nilambara Cakravarti
|
Garga Acharya
|
Male
|
Male
|
Same
|
53
|
Devananda Pandita
|
Bhaguri Rishi
|
Male
|
Male
|
Same
|
54
|
Gangadasa
|
Durvasa Muni
|
Male
|
Male
|
Same
|
55
|
Vrindavana Dasa Thakura
|
Vedavyasa
|
Male
|
Male
|
Same
|
56
|
Vallabha Bhatta
|
Sukadeva Gosvami
|
Male
|
Male
|
Same
|
57
|
Madhavendra Puri
|
Unknown
|
Male
|
||
58
|
Isvara Puri
|
Unknown
|
Male
|
||
59
|
Narottama Dasa Thakura
|
Champaka Manjari
|
Female
|
Male
|
Changed to Male
|
60
|
Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura
|
Vinoda-Vallari Manjari
|
Female
|
Male
|
Changed to Male
|
61
|
Jagannatha Dasa Babaji
|
Rasika Manjari
|
Female
|
Male
|
Changed to Male
|
62
|
Bhaktivinoda Thakura
|
Kamala Manjari
|
Female
|
Male
|
Changed to Male
|
63
|
Gaurakishora Dasa Babaji
|
Guna Manjari
|
Female
|
Male
|
Changed to Male
|
64
|
Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati
|
Nayana-Mani Manjari
|
Female
|
Male
|
Changed to Male
|
65
|
A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
|
Unknown
|
Unknown
|
Male
|
Summary study of the above Table:
No.
of Female Personalities of Spiritual World descended in Preaching pastimes of Lord Caitanya |
40
|
Changed Female Forms to Male Forms
|
30
(75%) |
Kept
Female Forms intact |
10
(25%) |
Changed
Male Forms to Female Forms |
00
(NONE) |
Conclusion:
When Krishna descended to this world, female forms descended as is, without change. But in Gaura Lila, the majority of them descended changing their forms to Male forms. This may be because Lord Caitanya specifically came (external reason) to this world for preaching. In this world, Male form is fit for preaching and doesn’t go against the Vedic Culture designed by Lord Krishna to uplift fallen souls in mass if they preach by going out. However, if a female form has to preach, then going out, becoming leader, taking positions, etc. directly confronts with their prescribed behavioral norms specifically given by Lord Krishna for all female forms in the material world to follow. So if female form starts preaching then they transgress their acarana (behavioral norms) wihtout which preaching is useless. Achara (right behavior) and pracara (preaching) should go together; otherwise foolish conditioned souls tend to imitate and create havoc. This issue is discussed thoroughlt by Lord Krishna in Bhagavad-gita 3.17-25, where he says that even He Himself follows the Behavioral Norms set by Vedic Culture (designed by Himself) when He descends to the material world.
Thus, even if some ISKCON devotees in the female form are nitya-siddha, they still need to follow this practice of not accepting the position of gurus following in the footsteps of majority of the nitya-siddhas described above.
Thus, even if some ISKCON devotees in the female form are nitya-siddha, they still need to follow this practice of not accepting the position of gurus following in the footsteps of majority of the nitya-siddhas described above.
This type of conclusion is funny . This is not about gender discrimination or transgender or transsexuality. You should not decide on auch basis . Being in a manjari bhava or swaroop is a different things and appointing a female diksha guru is a different theory and it’s not for kaliyug. . . Only the chance can be taken is a FEMALE DIKSHA GURU CAN INITIATE ONLY FEMALE DISCIPLES. . . Don’t make our parampara and Iskcon society. Into any recreational club membership types. Hare Krishna …
In discussion with various devotees we encounter the argument that spiritually the jivatma is female in relationship to Krsna though he may possess a male spiritual form…the argument arising from this fact is that birth of the atma in a female form must therefore be closer to our spiritual identity.
The reality is that the material form which we inhabit is due to our karma and in no way relates to our eternal sva-bhava. To assume otherwise is an error made by kanistha adhikaris.
The female identity or nature of the spirit soul in relationship to the eternal adi-purusa, Lord Krsna is a 100% spiritual consideration. It is a grave error to think these material bodies are a direct reflection of spiritual rasa.
In this material world there is a hierarchy of birth determined by the jiva’s development under the control of material nature in the form of the three modes of material nature.
To lack the intelligence to understand this is not a sign of advancement but a sign of foolishness.
-Mayesa dasa ACBSP