Accepting Garlands from Women

Picture source: “Srila PRABHUPADA VANDE HAM | Hare Krishna KIRTAN | Maha Mantra | RARE Videos” (YouTube video)

Accepting Garlands from Women by Śrīla Svāmī Mahārāja

As can be seen in the image above—or as many of you may already know—Śrīla Svāmī Mahārāja accepted garlands from women. This practice stands in clear contrast to the example set by Śrīman Mahāprabhu Himself. On numerous occasions, Mahāprabhu demonstrated extremely strict conduct with regard to women.

On one such occasion, Mahāprabhu heard someone singing Gīta-govinda. Overcome with ecstatic emotion and unaware of the singer’s identity, He rushed forward to embrace the singer. Govinda, Mahāprabhu’s personal sevaka, immediately perceived what was about to happen and ran after Him. Catching Mahāprabhu in his arms, Govinda exclaimed, “It is a woman singing!” Mahāprabhu stopped at once and then said, “Oh! Govinda today you have saved my life, I was almost going to die by touching the woman.”

From Śrīla Shyām Dās Bābā Mahārāja we learn of one incident:

“Once in Śrī Dhāma Māyāpura at Śrī Caitanya Maṭha library Śrīla Prabhupāda was there doing some vāṇī-sevā, suddenly he started shouting— “Nobody here! Nobody here!” Śrīla Gurudeva (who then was known as Praṇavānanda Brahmacārī) Bhakti Pramoda Purī Gosvāmī Mahārāja heard his voice and started running towards the library to help Prabhupāda if needed. But he discovered that nothing happened, only because the eldest daughter of Śrīla Saccidānanda Bhakti Vinoda Ṭhākura, who was then around 65 years old lady, came to meet with him (Śrīla Prabhupāda) alone—which is strictly prohibited for a sannyāsi ācārya. All the complete teachings of Śrīmān Mahāprabhu were found in the jīvana-līlā of Śrīla Prabhupāda Bhakti Siddhānta Sarasvatī Gosvāmī Ṭhākura in applied form which is really very very rare.”

Today, it is not uncommon for a sannyāsī to accept garlands from women, to allow women to massage him or wash his feet, and even to embrace girls. Such behaviour is regarded by the foolish public as a blessing; yet we feel deep shame at what has become of the Sārasvata Gauḍīya line.