Where Confusion Lies

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.

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.

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!

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?

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.

Are we trying to reestablish the divine division of society or are we trying to establish some new order?

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