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EDITORIAL  About the AuthorOther Stories by this Author Sridhar Maharaja Prophesy: Lady Acharyas BY BRAHMA DAS  EDITORIAL, Jun 7 (VNN) — The question of female gurus in contemporary Gaudiya Vaisnavism was recently approached by Rama Keshava dasa in his editorial, "Women Gurus? Why Not?". During a darshan in the early 1980's Srila Sridhar Maharaja addressed the issue of women acharyas. It happened when he was asked to respond to the points of a position paper written by one of the foremost female disciples of A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. When Srila Sridhar Maharaja was told that a woman wrote what he was about to comment on, he temporarily put aside the issues presented in the paper and said prophetically: "In the future the question will arise whether there can be a lady acharya in the ISKCON. In my opinion whoever is qualified should be accepted as acharya." Then he mentioned three lady acharyas, Jahnava devi, Sita Thakurani, and Ganga Mata Goswamini but added that women acharyas can be counted on the fingers of one hand. I was present when this discussion took place. At that time I took Srila Sridhar Maharaja's comments on lady acharyas as a prophecy. I now see that prophesy becoming fulfilled, as the question of women acharyas is now being discussed all over the internet including both on VNN and Chakra. Sridhar Maharaja said the "question of lady acharya will arise" and "whoever is qualified should be accepted as acharya". Srila Sridhar Maharaja talks about the qualifications of acharya and the difference between guru and acharya in this passage from Sri Guru and His Grace. "Guru and acarya are the same but generally it may be said that an acarya does more extensive work. And also the acarya must have extensive knowledge of the scriptures, whereas the guru may not have expressly deep knowledge of scripture, but may have real knowledge of their purport. He may not be able to quote scripture extensively, but feels the meaning of the scriptures. He may be a guru. But an acarya is one who preaches widely and is able to extensively quote scriptural evidence" This passage together with his words on lady acharyas show us that Sridhar Maharaja is encouraging us to accept a woman as acharya if she is qualified by realization and has extensive knowledge of the scriptures. But what about his comment that "lady acharyas can be counted on the fingers of one hand"? We know that in Indian culture souls in a women's body are considered to have taken a lower birth and consequently receive less respect then men and that there were restrictions on both the material and spiritual education of women in ancient Indian society. It is also important to note that in all ancient cultures women were not encouraged to learn the scriptures and according to Srila Sridhar Maharaja an acharya is one who has comprehensive knowledge of scripture. In Indian culture women were and still are at a disadvantage in regard to being accepted or even considered for the position of acharya. Therefore it is no wonder that only a few overwhelmingly great women like the three lady acharyas mentioned, were able to rise far enough above the social prejudice to be recognized by everyone in the tradition as acharyas. It should also be pointed out that acharya is a post or position assumed by an inspired devotee at a heightened stage of realization. Srila Sridhar Maharaja says: The degree of devotion to Krsna will take us to the point of thinking, "I am nothing, I am the lowest of the low . " But when the inspiration to act as guru will flow, the necessity to teach will come to us through the order of Krsna: "You have to do it." In that case, Krsna wants to do it. It is His flow. Caitanya Mahaprabhu says, "Sanatana, Krsna's grace is flowing through me to you; it is passing through me, but I don't understand all these words." I feel something like that. I am carrying out my acarya's order. Being so low, still I have accepted this duty as I have been ordered by my acarya to do. With this necessity within, one may do the work of an acarya. (Sri Guru and His Grace) In another place Srila Sridhar Maharaja said that one should not rush to become acharya if there are more qualified devotees initiating but he also said it is possible that there may be devotees posted under an acharya who are of even greater realization than the acharya,just as the scriptures tell us that the wife may often be more spiritually advanced than her husband even though her husband may have the stronger social position. Today's culture is much different then pre-modern Indian culture. In western culture women are fully educated and are considered equal to men in all academic fields. Modern cultural norms are much different then those of even 30 years ago what to speak of ancient times when women were prohibited from equally interacting in society with men in any way In rebuttal to these points sometimes devotees' point out that in his book Srila Sridhar Maharaja mentions the line of Jahnava devi in a light that does not seem completely favorable. They say this passage coupled with his comment "counted on the fingers of one hand" show that Srila Sridhar Maharaja was questioning the validity of accepting female gurus in Gaudiya Vaisnavism. "We have to follow the spirit; otherwise after Jahnava devi, the wife of Lord Nityananda, up to Vipina Goswami, from whom Bhaktivinode Thakura took initiation, there are so many unknown lady gurus. Through them, the mantra came to Vipina Goswami, and from him Bhaktivinode Thakura received the mantra. We accept Bhaktivinode Thakura, but should we count all those ladies in our disciplic succession? What was their realization?" (Sri Guru and His Grace) This passage is not about the validity of lady gurus or acharyas. It is already known that there have been qualified lady acharyas in Gaudiya Vaisnavism and here Sridhar Maharaja is talking about the formal line of diksa descending from one of them. Srila Bhaktisiddhanta questioned the realization and substance of Krishna Consciousness found in the formal or family lines. There is a formal line from Jahnava devi that contains a number of women, just as there is a formal line of family acharyas from Adwaita and others. We are concerned with the realization not the formality. In this passage Srila Sridhar Maharaja is questioning the realization of some members of the formal line from Jahnava devi, the line that Bhaktivinode Thakur was connected to. Srila Sridhar Maharaja is also making the point that the seed of realization is in the mantra coming down from Jahnava devi to Bhaktivinode which even though might be passed through persons of less then perfect realization can still fructify into love of God. This is Srila Sridhar Maharaja's reply to those who preach that it is absolutely essential that one receive the mantra directly from a perfectly realized diksa guru in order to attain the goal of chanting. In all, Srila Sridhar Maharaja's prophetic words on the subject tell us to expect that women will some day take the position of acharya and that we should be prepared to accept women who are qualified by devotion and learned in sastra as acharyas. In contemporary Gaudiya Vaisnavism these women would also have to be powerful enough to overcome all remaining prejudice against the idea of women acharyas. I believe that such women will someday step forward and assume the position of acharyas and that their steps forward will be important ones for our society. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu says: yare dekha, tare kaha 'krsna'-upadesa amara ajnaya guru hana tara ei desa "Whomever you find, talk with him only about Krsna." We have no other engagement. Whomever you find, any soul you come across, try to save him from this desert of mortality. I command you. Don't be afraid; take the position of guru, the giver, and give it to everyone. Then, Mahaprabhu says: kabhu na vadhibe tomara visaya-taranga punarapi ei thani pabe mora sanga "And in this transaction, you will find my backing. If you obey my command for distribution to one and all, then you will find that I am there, backing you in this work." (Sri Guru and His Grace) I hope to live long enough to see a number of inspiring women become acharyas and to see the Krishna consciousness movement become accepted and appreciated by all broadminded members of contemporary society. brahmadasa@yahoo.com Information on obtaining the book Sri Guru and His Grace can be found at http://www.swami.org/merchant.mv About the Author Other Stories by this AuthorRelated VNN StoriesContact VNN about this storySend this story to a friend
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