Women in Mayapur
A letter from Ed Yazijian
After reading the article "Discrimination
Against Women in Mayapur" and the "correction"
following it, I became disappointed when I read the reasons that were given for denying
women the opportunity to give Bhagavatam classes by Dayaram Prabhu. First of all, it is not
a Gaudiya Vaishnava tradition that only "male-bodied souls" give
Bhagavatam classes. The Gaudiya Math and ISKCON are not the whole of Gaudiya Vaishnava
society but rather a miniscule minority. Whether you agree with other Vaishnavas in the
Gaudiya tradition or not, to think one's particular organization is the only existing one
is arrogant.
There are plenty of examples of women doing the pujari work at temples, leading kirtanas,
and giving Bhagavatam classes publicly throughout the history of Gaudiya Vaishnavism. The
wife of Nityananda Prabhu, Jahnava devi not only gave classes but also initiated many
disciples. Krishnapriya devi and her sister Vishnupriya, worshipped Raghunath das
Goswami's beloved Giridhari (the Govardhan sila that Mahaprabhu gave him) after his
passing. Krishnapriya also gave Bhagavatam class in Vrindaban and was respected by Jiva
Goswami as well as other Vaishnavas there. Of course, there were complaints and
controversy stirred up about her giving class among vairagis, but they never amounted to
anything (see Bhakti Ratnakar by Narahari Chakravarti). Advaita Acharya's
wife Sita was an initiating guru and there are still countless women acting as gurus in
the Gaudiya Vaishnava tradition today. Barring women from leading devotional activities in
public is more of a social construct than a tradition connected with Vaishnavism.
Since when has anyone in ISKCON cared a bit for what the Gaudiya Math thinks about
policies instituted in ISKCON? I find it really odd that after fastidiously ignoring the
opinions of anyone in the Gaudiya Math for all these years, all of a sudden Dayaram Prabhu
is afraid of what they might think about a woman participating in a Krishna consciousness
activity in a public place. Wouldn't it be a bit more productive to worry about what
people might think about the disrespect we show to other Vaishnavas and residents of the
holy Dhama? The arrogance we Western devotees have shown towards the residents of Mayapur
and Vrindaban over the years has not gone unnoticed, believe me! In my humble opinion,
letting qualified women give Bhagavatam class could only help preaching in India. By
barring women from doing any sort of activity we waste a great source of talent,
intelligence, and devotion.
Thank you,
Ed Yazijian
CHAKRA 21-May-98 |