Pariprashnena — Q&A Archive

Hare Krishna Nancy,

thanks for your kind words. Much has been written about this. Check a sample at

http://www.veda.harekrsna.cz/library/Women.zip

A Srila Prabhupadas audio on the matter (check from minute 5)
http://thepiratebay.org/tor/4146684

Hare Krsna !
First, i am sorry that my computer would not let me listen to Srila Prabhupadas audio, Mishra prabhu.
Dear Nancy, there is a necessary separation of males and females in temple life. In general, women did not lead kirtan in large gatherings. But many of us have lead kirtan in certain circumstances and many godsisters have made kirtan and bhajan recordings. Indeed, [i think - if memory serves] Srila Prabhupada recommended that men not hear women singing, in general.
One quite famous recording, of godsister Yamuna d.d. Prabhu, was and probably still is, played each morning in the temples for the greeting of the Dieties. She is singing one or two verses from the Brahma Samhita [ govindam adi purusam...] (my transliteration is possibly not accurate, so i will carry that no further <s> ) . Srila Prabhupada was asked by a male disciple about this, because he and the other men "hearing a womans voice." Srila Prabhupada discounted this as not applicable, and the recording continued/s to be played all over the world when the Lords curtains opened after Their morning bathing and dressing.
There have been many interpretations, varying applications and numerous confusions about the interactions between dasas and dasis in temple life, including Grhasta life. One thing is certain... genuine Vaishnava humility and respect, and reviving our Krsna consciousness will result in our overcoming individual and collective attractions and aversions as we attempt to make it out of the material world, by the grace of the Lord.
i hope this has been of some small help, Nancy !

bpdd:

the conversation is:
Interview Chicago 1975-07-09 Television--Actual Womans Liberation

and you can get it in the album "Interviews" with the rest here too:
http://www.iskconmedia.com/deluxe-prabhupada-lectures/ISKCON_Media_Lectures_Pack/Albums.html

which we are uploading in a couple days or so.

muc0u257 tar ity eva u347 abdena yu257 m ca sambhasate narah
su257 mu257 tr-tulyu257 satyena dharmah su257 ksu299 satu257 m api

If a man addresses someone as '93mother'94, dharma has witnessed that statement. In truth, she is the same as his mother. '97 Brahma-vaivarta Puru257 na 1.10.50.

sri-krsno jagatu257 m tu257 to jagan-mu257 tu257 ca ru257 dhiku257
pituh sad-guno mu257 tu257 vandyu257 pu363 jyu257 garu299 yasu299

Sri Krishna is the father of the world and Radhika is the mother. The mother is one hundred times more worshipful and higher in point of respect due than the father. '97 Nu257 rada Pa'f1caru257 tra 2.6-7.

dau347 a caiva pitrn mu257 tu257 sarvu257 m vu257 prthivu299 m api
gauravenu257 bhibhavati nu257 sti mu257 tr-samo guruh
mu257 tu257 garu299 yasu299 yac ca tenaitu257 m manyate janah

One'92s mother is equal to ten fathers, or even to the whole earth. There is no senior person equal to the mother. Indeed, she is above all others in terms of the reverence and respect due to her. It is for this reason that people offer so much respect to their mother. '97 Mahu257 bharata anusu257 sana-parva 105.15-16

nu257 sti vedu257 t param u347 u257 stram nu257 sti mu257 tr-samo guruh
na dharmu257 t paramo lu257 bhas tapo nu257 nau347 anu257 t param

There is no u347 u257 stra superior to the Vedas; there is no guru equal to one'92s mother; there is no acquisition superior to that of virtue; and there is no penance superior to fasting.'94 '97 Mahu257 bharata anusu257 sana-parva 106.65

tyajanto patitu257 n bandhu363 n dandyu257 n uttama-su257 hasam
pitu257 hi patitah ku257 mam na tu mu257 tu257 kadu257 cana

Anyone who rejects their kinsmen for being fallen shall be punished with uttama-su257 hasa (the highest monetary fine). Only the father may be considered fallen, never the mother. '97 Nu257 rada Puru257 na 1.14.18

Thank you for your informations :) I appreciate!
Haribol!

I know a couple devotees that go often to the New Dwaraka Temple in Los Angeles and from what i know [i could be wrong.. my memory doesnt always serve me well] but i think the women are up stairs in the morning and the men are downstairs and that is why the women are not on the webcam. So the women and men are separated in the morning. I have not lived in the temple so I do not know anything for sure. hope that helps a bit =]
Hare Krsna!

I dont know why ISKON is this way. My Guru loves the singing of the women and many times women lead bhajans, but not kirtan and they do not go on the morning walks either. Women also teach class and take part in competions to see who can explain preaching points best. Last time two women tied for the lead while the prabus were last :P
Guru says that women are his beloved daughters, where men are his sons and as father it is natural for him (Gurudeva) to love his daughters more, as a mother tends to love her sons more =)