In my dream, I saw devotees were gathered for the morning class on the Srimad Bhagavatam at my local ISKCON temple.
The speaker was speaking on the subject of men and women. “A husband should be so enlightened that he should become the spiritual master of his wife in order to enlighten her in the advancement of Krishna consciousness”, he said.
“Generally stri, or women, are less intelligent than men, therefore if the husband is intelligent enough, the woman gets the opportunity for spiritual enlightenment”, he continued. [1]
In this connection, said the speaker, there is the story in the ninth canto of the Srimad Bhagavatam wherein goddess Parvati, the wife of Lord Shiva, cursed Raja Chitraketu for having made fun – jokingly – of Lord Shiva. King Chitraketu and Lord Shiva had been jokingly criticizing each other about each other’s attachments.
However, said the speaker, goddess Parvati could not grasp the joking nature of this interchange.
The speaker cleared his throat and spoke further: “Lord Shiva tried to convince his wife, goddess Parvati, that her cursing of Raja Chitraketu was not very sensible.
Here is a difference between male and female that exists even in the higher statuses of life, in fact, even between Lord Shiva and his wife.”
The speaker, pointing his finger, continued: “Lord Siva could understand Chitraketu very nicely, but Parvati could not. Thus even in the higher statuses of life there is a difference between the understanding of a male and a female.” [2]
The devotee audience began to fidget uncomfortably and whisper to each other as the speaker continued, “Now being instructed like this, Parvati became ashamed for cursing Chitraketu to become a demon.”
“So if she had not been so instructed ” said the speaker ” being a woman, Parvati though such an exalted person, would not have immediately recognized her error.”
Suddenly the temple President got to his feet and interrupted the speaker “Prabhu, I do not think you are speaking correctly. We have… our GBC has just authorized female diksha gurus… therefore your denigration of women in the Bhagavatam class is unwelcome.”
The speaker, who was a sannyasi from India, answered, “This is from the Bhagavatam regarding Parvati. And in modern science…it has been found that a woman does not have more than thirty six ounces of brain substance, whereas in men it has been found that they has got up to sixty four ounces.”
The speaker paused, and said, “Now this is modern science. Therefore, generally, women are less intelligent then men. You cannot find any big scientist, any big philosopher, any big mathematician who are women. That is not seen.”
The speaker now glanced at the women’s section of the audience who were hearing his lecture, “Although in your country you (women) want equal status with men – so-called freedom – but by nature you are less intelligent, so what can be done? That is natural position. But if some woman artificially tries to become man or master, that is suffering. That is suffering.” [3]
The temple president interrupted the speaker and said: “This is dangerous and unacceptable” objecting to what had just be said.
The Bhagavatam speaker looked him in the eyes, and continued to speak, saying: “It can be clearly said that the understanding of a woman is ALWAYS INFERIOR to the understanding of the man.”
Then the temple president held up his palms as if to say, “stop: we cannot allow you to speak like this here!”.
The speaker finishing despite the remonstration, said: “In the Western countries there is now agitation to the effect that man and woman should be considered equal, but from this verse it to be understood that woman is ALWAYS less intelligent than man. ” [4]
The temple President then spoke forcefully: “Prabhu, I am afraid this is the decision of the GBC and you are in violation of their decision. You will have to leave the Vyasasana and you will not be allowed to speak in this temple again”!
The speaker rose solemnly and stepped down from the seat of Vyasadeva. Slowly he made his way to the temple door and exited. I jumped up and followed him. Outside I bowed at his feet. Then I stood and asked him: ” Your Divine Grace, Srila Prabhupada, what course of action should we take now?
In a very deep, grave voice, he responded: “Lord Krishna says , no one can ever be more dear to Me than those who preach to the devotees. Do you know this verse? ” [5]
“Yes ” I said with a choked voice ” I know that verse Srila Prabhupada.”
“Jaya” he said, and suddenly he was gone and then I awoke. Immediately I remembered how forcefully Srila Prabhupada had spoken.
While in my dream, Srila Prabhupada was speaking so clearly on the philosophy, but it is more like a nightmare to think of where Srila Prabhupada’s ISKCON is heading due to it’s leaders adopting female diksha gurus, in order to satisfy the gender equality movement!
Footnotes
1. From Srila Prabhupada’s purport to Srimad Bhagavatam 3.24.5
2. From Srila Prabhupada’s purport to Srimad Bhagavatam 6.17.34-35
3 From Srila Prabhupada’s lecture on Srimad Bhagavatam 1.3.21 at Los Angeles on September 26, 1972
4. From Srila Prabhupada’s purport to Srimad Bhagavatam 6.17.34-35
5. Bhagavad-gita 18.69