Giving Brahma Gayatri Mantra to Matajis by Srila Svami Maharaja

Giving Brahma Gāyatrī Mantra to Mātājīs by Śrīla Svāmī Mahārāja

Why mātājīs cannot have the right to chant Brahma Gāyatrī?

Answer by Bābā Śrī Shyām Dās:

“Daṇḍavat praṇam to you all, with an expectation to get all your causeless mercy. Excuse me, I am not responsible for any siddhānta spoken or written by me, because all coming through guru-paramparā via Śrīla Bhakti Siddhānta Sarasvatī Gosvāmī Ṭhākura Prabhupāda. What organization doing what, I have no connection with that, because I fully depend upon Śrīla Prabhupāda. I heard from Gurupādapadma the reason for why usually mātājīs are not getting Brahma Gāyatrī. When they become sick (period), then they have no right to chant Brahma Gāyatrī, because Brahma Gāyatrī going to connect us (bonded souls) with that aprākṛta-jagat to eradicate our material connection with this material world. So anyhow without maintaining purity she (Brahma Gāyatrī) cannot give any perfect result. Also those who are dirty material man (by nature śūdra) they also have no right to chant Brahma Gāyatrī. To chant Brahma Gāyatrī perfectly one should have the minimum quality of a brahmin, and at the same time I would like to say that Brahma Gāyatrī can help us to attain the perfection of a brahmin. In that case what to speak about the aprākṛta śuddha-bhāva of a pure Vaiṣṇava.

From Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam we can see the following śloka where it is clearly written that those strias (women), śūdras (low caste born) even those who are fallen brahmin (dvija-bandhus) etc. all they have no right in Veda.

strī-śūdra-dvijabandhūnāṁ

trayī na śruti-gocarā

karma-śreyasi mūḍhānāṁ

śreya evaṁ bhaved iha

iti bhāratam ākhyānaṁ

kṛpayā muninā kṛtam

(ŚB 1.4.25)

“Those stris, śūdras and fallen dvijas—they have no right to go through Veda, or also they have no right in any special ritualistic activities like yajña etc. so out of compassion, the great sage (Śrī Vyāsa Deva) thought it wise that this would enable them to achieve the ultimate goal of life. Thus, he compiled the great historical narration called the Mahābhārata for women, śūdras or for those who are having affinity for karma and also for those fallen brahmins.”

The final conclusion of Gauḍīya siddhānta given below:

ārādhyo bhagavān vrajeśa-tanayas tad-dhāma vṛṇdāvanaṁ

ramyā kācid upāsanā vraja-vadhū-vargeṇā yā kalpitā

śrīmad-bhāgavataṁ pramāṇam amalaṁ premā pum-artho mahān

śrī-caitanya-mahāprabhor matam idaṁ tatrādaro naḥ paraḥ

The Supreme Lord (Bhagavān), the son of the King of Vraja (i.e. Kṛṣṇa), and His divine abode Vrindāvanam are worthy of worship. A very beautiful form of worship is imagined (kalpitā) after the example of the Vraja gopīs (“vraja-vadhū-varga”) in their strength (vīrya). The Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is pure (amalam), the greatest ancient text (purāṇa), and pure love is the supreme goal of a person’s life (prema pumartho mahān). According to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s opinion (matam), this reverence (tatra ādara) is unsurpassed (na paraḥ).

The śloka itself giving answer to your question, I mean, why mātājīs are not allowed to receive Brahma Gāyatrī. Remember that Brahma Gāyatrī is a part of Ṛg Veda presented by Viśvāmitra Muni in front of us by the desire of the supreme personality of Godhead because Veda is itself self-manifesting Aprākṛta Vastu. Veda only can manifest own svarūpa in front of some qualified ṛṣis, not that Veda written by some ṛṣi. If they (strī, śūdra, dvija-bandhu etc.) have no right in Veda, then, Brahma Gāyatrī being a part of Veda, automatically they cannot get any right in Brahma Gāyatrī also. So what doubt can be there in it? What wrong in it! Which society doing what illegal activity I am less interested about that, because they cannot be counted even as Gauḍīya devotees.”

Not only did Śrīla Svāmī Mahārāja give the Brahmā Gāyatrī mantra to mātājīs, but also, possibly due to lack of time and his busy schedule, he was initiating disciples by mail—sending the mantras (including the Brahma Gāyatrī mantra) in written form and attaching a recording (!) on a tape for the disciples to listen to through earphones. In at least one recorded instance, Śrīla Svāmī Mahārāja instructed that the Brahma Gāyatrī mantra be heard from a woman:

“Even though you have had no gayatri mantra, still you are more than brahmana. I am enclosing herewith your sacred thread, duly chanted on by me. Gayatri mantra is as follows:

[TAKEN OUT]

Ask your wife to chant this mantra and you hear it and if possible hold a fire ceremony as you have seen during your marriage and get this sacred thread on your body. Saradia, or any twice-initiated devotee, may perform the ceremony.”

(710404 - Letter to Vaikunthanatha and Saradia written from Bombay)

Women should not receive Brahma Gāyatrī mantra in the first place, what to speak of giving it to others.

Gaura Hari Haribol!