This is my main confusion when it comes to ladies becoming “spiritual leaders” in it’s full sense. This is a clear example from Caitanya Caritamrita how one can be an instructing, but not initiating spiritual master, and the decision made by the shiksha-guru himself. By giving his association he greatly inspired Vallabha Bhatta, but when it came to initiation, he restrained.

CC Antya 7.149: In the association of Gadādhara Paṇḍita, his mind was converted, and he dedicated his mind to worshiping Kiśora-gopāla, Kṛṣṇa as a young boy.
CC Antya 7.150: Vallabha Bhaṭṭa wanted to be initiated by Gadādhara Paṇḍita, but Gadādhara Paṇḍita refused, saying, “The work of acting as a spiritual master is not possible for me.
CC Antya 7.151: “I am completely dependent. My Lord is Gauracandra, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. I cannot do anything independently, without His order.

Jahnava-Mata and other great vaisnavi-gurus were so perfect and exalted that they were not under the direct guidance of some other superior. Nityananda Prabhu was already not present in this world. And Jahnava-mata didn’t have her sons as her “guardians” or some other seniors. She manifested 4 armed form when she required to cover her head while doing laundry. Actually, all of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s associates manifested 4 armed forms when they were carrying the torches and playing musical instruments on harinama while protesting against Chand Kazi and making their way towards his residence. But that’s beside the point.

So, the fact is that Jahnava-mata at the time she was known as Acarya was independent from anyone, only dependant on the Lord.

Here Gadadhara Pandit, although perfectly capable and qualified to be a spiritual master, refuses the position because he doesn’t consider that he can do anything independently from Lord Caitanya.

So this is the main confusion.

Prabhupāda: Anything change means it is the domain of rascals, pandemonium. Just like in Manu-saṁhitā it is said that nāsyāṁ svatantratām arhati, women should not be given independence. Once said, that is fact. If you want to change, you suffer. That’s all. (Dec. 14, 1975, New Delhi)

We are not manufacturing any process or path, we are simply following in the footsteps. Up to now we have kept the Governing Body Commission as His Divine Grace instructed, we have accepted sincere sanyasis and senior vaisnavas as initiating gurus, who can instruct and guide any sincere student, vaisnava or vaisnavi.

But these new rules and regulations regarding the acceptance of “vaisnavi” diksa gurus… they maintain the fact that she has to be protected and dependent on someone, yet the very fact that she needs protection in this world means she can’t make independent decisions, hence… the argument presented by Gadadhara Pandita: “The work of acting as a spiritual master is not possible for me.  I am completely dependent. My Lord is Gauracandra, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. I cannot do anything independently, without His order.”

A pure vaisnava is so perfect that he is above any rules and regulations. For him it’s only “always remember Krishna and never forget Krishna”. My question is that if someone dares to claim that “she is so perfect that she is like that, above Manu-samhita, above anything”, and moreover, we need to institutionalize this fact!

Institutionalize the fact that the position which requires to be independent should be occupied by one who is meant to de always dependent.
Why?
Acāryavān puruṣo veda: one who is guided by the bona fide spiritual master knows everything as stated in the Vedas, which set forth the standard of infallible knowledge. As recommended in Bhagavad-gītā, ācāryopāsanam: one must approach the ācārya for real knowledge. Tad-vijñānārthaṁ sa gurum evābhigacchet: one must approach the ācārya, for then one will receive perfect knowledge. When guided by the spiritual master, one attains the ultimate goal of life. (ŚB 7.15.56 purport)
What is the point of saying that acaryas are following the Vedas, which set the standard of infallible knowledge, if we don’t accept the Vedas?
“This is due to their ignorance of the Vedic literature, which contains full knowledge confirmed by mature transcendental experience. Unfortunately, modern man is averse to receiving knowledge from the Vedas, Purāṇas and other scriptures.” Īśo 14

The confusion is that Srila Prabhupada never stated that “we are vaisnavas, we are above the Veda, we are so perfect that we don’t need all these Vedas, Puranas and other scriptures.” He introduced the broad spectrum of the Vedic culture, whether people acknowledge that fact or not.
“In this Age of Kali, practically everyone is a śūdra (kalau śūdra-sambhavāḥ), and finding anyone who is a brāhmaṇa, kṣatriya or vaiśya is very difficult. Although the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement is a movement of brāhmaṇas and Vaiṣṇavas, it is trying to reestablish the divine varṇāśrama institution, for without this division of society there cannot be peace and prosperity anywhere.” (ŚB 7.11.18-20p)
Are we trying to reestablish the divine division of society or are we trying to establish some new order?
“Kalau śūdra-sambhavaḥ: because the population of the modern world consists mostly of śūdras, the brahminical culture is now lost and is extremely difficult to reestablish in a proper way. Therefore Lord Caitanya has recommended the chanting of the holy name of the Lord, which will revive brahminical culture very easily.” (ŚB 7.2.11p)
If our entire work force and energy is not directed to chant the Holy Names of the Lord with such utmost perfection that it will “easily” revive the brahminical culture and varnasrama society… then something went terribly wrong.
Your servant,
Arati devi dasi

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