Women in Mayapur:
Correction

by Madhusudani Radha Devi Dasi

There appears to have been some confusion about the reason why Malati Prabhu was not able to give class in Mayapur this year. The actual reason was apparently scheduling problems, rather than sex discrimination. CHAKRA regrets the error. (See "Discrimination against Women in Mayapur.")

The policy of the local management with regard to women's giving class in Mayapur has been stated by Dayaram Prabhu as follows:

"For the following reasons Mayapur administration is opposed to the idea of Matajis giving formal Bhagavatam classes in public places.

1. It is a Gaudiya Vaishnava tradition that male-bodied souls give formal Bhagavatam classes and not women-bodied ones. And Sridham Mayapur is a seat of Gaudiya Vaisnavism steeped in that tradition.

2. This will create problems in our preaching as we will be seen as acting against the well-established traditions and culture of the place. It will be used by Gaudiya maths to propagate that we are uncultured and act against the well-established norms of preaching Mahaprabhu's teachings.

3. It is not proper for people in the renounced order to hear from women. As it is very clearly illustrated by Mahaprabhu by his personal example and instruction ( "Darur Prakri hare munerapi manah": Even the wooden form of women can disturb mind of even a great muni). And we would have had a scene with many sannyasis hearing the class given by a woman-bodied Vaishnava."

For another point of view, here is a quote from Harikesa Maharaja's book On Social Issues (page 280):

"In 1973 in Mayapur, Srila Prabhupada and one of his Godbrothers were sitting on a vyasasana together. The Godbrother had brought his whole math, and Srila Prabhupada asked one of the ladies, Saradiya-devi dasi, to please give a lecture. Everyone was shocked: "A woman giving a lecture?" In Mayapur, that was unheard of. But she gave a good lecture and Srila Prabhupada was appreciative. . . . "

CHAKRA 17-May-98