Pariprashnena — Q&A Archive

Do the matajis who do pujari seva in your temple do it in the dark or something?

lol!

deepak: could you be more specific?

By this, I would like to know, is it ok that matajis do pujari seva in the temples as per the scriptures and Srila Prabhupada?

I might be the last one who should comment on this but I would say;
Yes please, at least th'e0t much and even more if possible.

A specific question about this: can women do service to Srila Prabhupadas deity? I know some place that has been banned.

Really? Why would they be banned?

If they are banned from that what to speak of giving class or leading kirtan.

As far as I know, Prabhupad authorized women to do all kinds of services on the altar outside of India. In the Indian temples however, Prabhupad said that women should not go on the altar since it would be a little overwhelming for indians to see women on the altar.

About women serving Srila Prahbupads deity.....why not? If they are banned in the mood that Srila Prabhupad is a sannyasi....then what about gauranga and nityananda?

Gaura Nitai are worshiped in Their Navadvipa lila.

Being a girl, I certainly feel unfortunate that I wont be able to serve deities on the altar once I go to India :( Well, atleast I appreciate my current service so much more when I think about leaving the usa!
Does anyone know whether they let women serve on the altar behind closed curtains in India? Like, waking up the deities, cleaning, dressing them etc etc..

>Being a girl, I certainly feel unfortunate that I wont be able to serve deities on the altar once I go to India :( Well, atleast I appreciate my current service so much more when I think about leaving the usa!
Does anyone know whether they let women serve on the altar behind closed curtains in India? Like, waking up the deities, cleaning, dressing them etc etc..y

I dont think so, but there is a very nice way around it - you can perform manasa-puja, i.e. meditate on serving the deities in mind. I also heard on a number of occasions that manasa-puja is considered to be superior to external puja. Here is a nice link to more info about manasa-puja http://www.salagram.net/sstp-manasapuja.html

I heard that some of the famous matajis have painted, {in the past (?)} Radha Madhava in Mayapur and that also in recent times some of the revered SP lady disciples did some puja during the Panca Tattva instalation, is that so? (I wasnt there). I heard directly from some of the matajis that were engaged in different services while the abhisekas were taking place.

I have see matajis quite involved in the pujari dept in Mayapur. Kesavi Mataji... originally form Japan somewhat runs (design, saw, etc) the taylor shop for the deities there. She was full on, when I saw her last Nov...

So, I think there is plenty of opportunities for seva for matajis (and even sudras like me...) to do some seva.. anywhere really, Krishna fulfills after all....

Not to derail this thread, but I think that many matajis do a fantastic seva do their home deities... isnt? Why to focus only in temple seva... Remember how Mother Saci will serve Krishna Balarama at her home?

Last Kartik, when I was in Vrndavan, one of my Godsister dressed Sri Sri Yasoda-Damodar every day.

In Chowpatty ladies can dress the deities and the deity kitchen is ONLY for ladies :) (this is really special mercy) and they also make the garlands... what else could you ask for???

<in Chowpatty ladies can dress the deities and the deity kitchen is ONLY for ladies :) (this is really special mercy) and they also make the garlands... what else could you ask for???

PERFECT sol. :D Thanks.....you made my day!