Women In Society–A Television Interview With Srila Prabhupada
A man and woman unites, and the woman becomes pregnant, and the husband goes away. Then the poor woman is embarrassed with the child. She has to beg from the government. So do you think it is very nice thing? The Vedic idea is that woman should be married to a man and the man should take charge of the woman and the children independently so that they do not become a burden to the government or to the public.
Television Interview
July 9, 1975, Chicago
Woman reporter: When you came to Chicago last week you said you were going to tell us some of the solutions to our problems in this country. Can you tell me what some of those solutions are?
Prabhupada: Solution not only of your country or our country, it is the solution for the whole human society. I told that as there are different divisions in the same body, the head, the arms, the belly, and the leg… Although the body is one, but there are different parts for different function. Then the body is going nicely. The head is the most important part of the body. So if the head is not in order, then, in spite of presentation of other parts of the body, hands, leg, the body is useless. Just like a madman. Madman, this brain is not in order. Therefore despite the presentation of the hands, legs, and other things, it is useless. Similarly, the human society should be divided into four classes according to quality. Not everyone is on the same level. So for, even for material purposes there must be four divisions: first-class, second-class, third-class, fourth-class, means… The definition of the first-class, find out. This is the definition of the first-class man.
Nitai:
samo damas tapah saucam
ksantir arjavam eva ca
jnanam vijnanam astikyam
brahma-karma svabhava-jam
“Peacefulness, self-control, austerity, purity, tolerance, honesty, wisdom, knowledge, and religiousness–these are the qualities by which the brahmanas work.”
Prabhupada: This is first-class man. Then second-class man?
Nitai:
sauryam tejo dhrtir daksyam
yuddhe capy apalayanam
danam isvara-bhavas ca
ksatram karma svabhava-jam
“Heroism, power, determination, resourcefulness, courage in battle, generosity, and leadership are the qualities of work for the ksatriyas.”
Prabhupada: This is second-class. And then third-class?
Nitai:
krsi-go-raksya-vanijyam
vaisya-karma svabhava-jam
paricaryatmakam karma
sudrasyapi svabhava-jam
Prabhupada: That is fourth-class. First of all, third-class.
Nitai: Third-class: “Farming, cattle raising and business are the qualities of work for the vaisyas,…”
Prabhupada: Not cattle raising, cow protection.
Nitai: Cow protection.
Prabhupada: Yes. Farming and cow protection and trade, this is meant for the third-class division. And worker, fourth-class. These divisions must be there. Then the society will go on very nicely. Exactly the same example, that if the different parts of the body–the brain, the arms, the belly and the legs–all are in order, the bodily function will go on very nicely. This is natural.
Woman reporter: Where do women fit into these four classes?
Prabhupada: That I already explained. Women’s position is subordinate to man. So if the man is first-class, the woman is first-class. If the man is second-class, the woman is second-class. If the man is third-class, the woman is third-class. In this… Because woman is meant for assisting man, so the woman becomes suitable according to the man, her husband.
Woman reporter: Would you say that women are inferior to men?
Prabhupada: Yes.
Woman reporter: Why?
Prabhupada: By physiological condition. Just like you are. Your bodily features are different from the man’s features. You cannot deny it. So according to the bodily features, the psychological condition and everything is there. How you can deny it?
Woman reporter: Do you think that I am inferior to you?
Prabhupada: It is not the question of inferior or superior. Different. Now you take one inferior or superior. That is your calculation. But the bodily features are different. That is material. But spiritually, they are all one. Materially… Just like your bodily feature and a man’s bodily feature is different. Now, so far question of inferior, superior, that is your calculation. But we say that by nature, a woman and man is different.
Woman reporter: What does this mean as far as whether women can do the same things that men can do, or whether women can lead people?
Prabhupada: Well, women can bear children, but the man cannot. Is it possible to bear children? A man can become pregnant? Is it possible?
Woman reporter: No.
Prabhupada: Physically… Therefore there are so many things which is possible in man and which is not possible in woman, by nature. How you can say that they are of the same nature?
Woman reporter: I’m not saying they’re the same. What can…
Prabhupada: Then if you not saying that, then they are different in their physiological condition. So now this physiological condition, you may calculate, “This is better, this is better.” That is your calculation. Our calculation is the man and woman are different in their physiological condition.
Woman reporter: But you say women are subordinate to men.
Prabhupada: Yes, that is also natural. Because when the husband and wife are there or the father and daughter is there, so the daughter is subordinate to the father and the wife is subordinate to the husband.
Woman reporter: What happens when women are not subordinate to men?
Prabhupada: Then there is disruption. There is disruption, social disruption. If the woman does not become subordinate to man, then there is social disruption. Therefore, in the western countries there are so many divorce cases because the woman does not agree to become subordinate to man. That is the cause.
Woman reporter: What advice do you have to women who do not want to be subordinate to men?
Prabhupada: It is not my advice, but it is the advice of the Vedic knowledge that woman should be chaste and faithful to man.
Woman reporter: What should we do in the United States? We’re trying to make women equal with men.
Prabhupada: I am not trying. You are already not equal with the man because in so many respects, your functions are different and man’s functions are different. Why do you say artificially they are equal? As I told you that the husband and wife–the wife has to become pregnant, not the husband. How you can change this, both the husband and wife will be pregnant? Is it possible? Is it possible?
Woman reporter: No, it is not.
Prabhupada: Then by nature one has to function differently from the other.
Woman reporter: But why does this mean…?
Prabhupada: So how you can change?
Woman reporter: Why does this mean that women have to be subordinate?
Prabhupada: Yes.
Woman reporter: Just because they bear children and men can’t?
Prabhupada: Well, by nature… No, as soon as you get children, you require support from the husband. Otherwise you are in difficulty.
Woman reporter: Many women have children and have no support from husbands. They have no husband.
Prabhupada: Then they have to take support from others. You cannot deny that. The government is giving you support. But the government is embarrassed. If the husband supports the wife and children, the government is relieved of so much welfare contribution. So that is a problem.
Woman reporter: What happens when women support men?
Prabhupada: First of all try to understand that you depend. The… After man and woman unite, there is children, and the man goes away, and you are embarrassed. The woman is embarrassed. Why? Why this is, is made possible? A man and woman unites, and the woman becomes pregnant, and the husband goes away. Then the poor woman is embarrassed with the child. She has to beg from the government. So do you think it is very nice thing? The Vedic idea is that woman should be married to a man and the man should take charge of the woman and the children independently so that they do not become a burden to the government or to the public.
Woman reporter: Do you think the social unrest…
Prabhupada: I am thinking like this. You give me the answer. Simply you go on questioning. I question you, do you think this burden to the government or the public is good?
Woman reporter: I don’t understand what you’re saying.
Nitai: Do you think that the burden caused when the husband goes away from the wife, that burden to the government is good?
Woman reporter: No.
Prabhupada: So that has happened. Because the woman does not agree to be subordinate–she wants equal freedom–so the husband goes away and the woman is embarrassed with the children. And it becomes a burden to the government.
Woman reporter: Is there anything wrong when the woman works?
Prabhupada: There are so many things wrong. But first thing is the wife, the woman, the wife of somebody, and the child born by somebody, they should become burden to the government or to the public. First of all answer this thing. Why she should become burden to the government? What is your answer? Do you think, from social point of view, this position of woman and the fatherless children are very nice thing? No.
Woman reporter: What I’m trying to say is that… This may happen to some women. I’m talking about women who are not…
Prabhupada: Not… These are the general cases. You cannot say, “some.” I see in America mostly the woman…
Woman reporter: Oh, then what you’re saying is not all women should be subordinate to all men.
Prabhupada: No, man should be subordinate to the man, woman, so that the man can take charge of the woman. Then that woman is not a problem to the public.
Woman reporter: Is it true for all woman and all men?
Prabhupada: Yes, that is the nature. You take even in the dogs. The dogs they also take care of their children. The tigers, they take care of the children. So in the human society, if the woman is made pregnant and the man goes away and she is embarrassed, she has to beg from the government, that is not a very good situation.
Woman reporter: What about women who do not have children?
Prabhupada: Well, that is also another unnatural thing. Sometimes they use contraceptives.
They kill children, abortion. That is also not very good. These are all sinful activities. These are sinful activities, to kill child in the womb. And take shelter of abortion. These are all sinful activities. One has to suffer for that.
Woman reporter: Is the social unrest in this country caused because…
Prabhupada: Because of these things. They do not know that.
Woman reporter: And if women were subordinate to men, it would solve all of our problems?
Prabhupada: Yes. Man wants that woman should be subordinate, faithful to him. Then he is ready to take charge. The man’s mentality, woman’s mentality different. So if the woman agrees to remain faithful and subordinate to man, then the family life will be peaceful.
Woman reporter: Thank you. It’s late.
TV Cameraman: Any more questions?
Woman reporter: Yes. I’ll ask the same questions again, do not answer.
Prabhupada: Hmm?
Nitai: She’s going to ask the same questions, but no need to answer. They’re just going to photograph her. This is for on TV they will show her asking the questions. (break)
Woman reporter: What will you do in Philadelphia?
Prabhupada: The same thing. I have got my temple there. I stay there, and I teach people according to my philosophy.
Woman reporter: Is Philadelphia your last stop in…
Prabhupada: No, no, I travel all over United States. Then I will go to Europe. Then I will go to Africa. I have got my touring program for 4 months. (break)
Woman reporter: There’s one more question I’m going to ask. Is that tea? Is that tea that you’re drinking?
Prabhupada: No, we don’t drink tea. We don’t drink tea, don’t drink liquor. We don’t smoke. This is our process, no illicit sex, no meat eating, no intoxication, no gambling. Unless one is married, there is no sex. And unless one is going to beget child, there is no sex. Not for pleasure. This is our regulative principle.
Woman reporter: You have different schools for men and women, is that correct?
Prabhupada: Yes. Man is regulated to become a first-class man, and woman is regulated to become very chaste and faithful wife.
Woman reporter: There is one more question.
Prabhupada: Then the life will be very successful. And marriage, compulsory. Marriage, compulsory.
Woman reporter: Everyone should marry?
Prabhupada: Yes. Every woman, at least, should be married. Therefore, according to Vedic conception, polygamy is allowed.
Woman reporter: Is allowed?
Prabhupada: Yes. Because every woman must be married. But every man may not be married. Therefore man has to accept more than one wife.
Woman reporter: There is one question I have for you. You say that a woman’s brain is smaller than a man’s.
Prabhupada: Woman?
Nitai: Woman’s brain is smaller than a man’s brain.
Prabhupada: Yes, that is a fact. In the history there is no woman who is a big philosopher, a big mathematician, big scientist, big educationist. We don’t find. They were all men.
Woman reporter: What about women who are leaders of countries such as your own country?
Prabhupada: Well, according to Vedic conception woman is never offered leadership. But experience has shown that woman’s leadership has not been successful.
Woman reporter: Do you think Mrs. Gandhi’s leadership has not been successful?
Prabhupada: Well, there is already trouble. There are many big, big men, they do not agree with her and she has taken emergency steps. So on the whole, the country is in trouble.
Woman reporter: What about Mrs. Meir, president of Israel?
Prabhupada: I do not say of any particular woman, but according to Vedic civilization, we have never seen in the history that woman has become a leader.
Woman reporter: Women have been leaders.
Prabhupada: They were not selected. The leader–formerly it was monarchy–the monarchs were selected by the advisory board of the first-class men. So they never selected any woman to become the leader of the society.
Woman reporter: What about women who are elected by the people?
Prabhupada: Well, people election… Just like you elected Nixon and then you wanted him to come down. So this kind of election has no value. Sometimes you elect and sometimes you pull down. So what is the value of this election?
Woman reporter: So a leader should not be elected.
Prabhupada: Elected, but not by this general public. They have no intelligence. They sometimes elect a wrong man, and again they try to drag him down. So what is the use of such election? Because that election is not sober, not mature. If the election was mature and sober, then there was no need of dragging him down again.
Woman reporter: We have talked to scientists who say that the size of the brain has nothing to do with intelligence. Do you believe that?
Prabhupada: I think that the scientists do not think like that. They keep the brain of a particular scientist to study.
They keep the heart of a particular noble man. Why they try to study the heart and the brain if there is no difference?
Nitai: Sometimes they keep the brain of a great scientist to study because they think that he is so intelligent, there must be something we can learn from studying the brain. So if they are thinking like that, then there also must be a difference between a woman’s brain and a man’s brain.
Woman reporter: What they say is that there is difference, but it has nothing to do with the size.
Nitai: Then why do they keep great scientists’ brain to study?
Woman reporter: They keep many people’s brains to study.
Nitai: Especially great scientists, that they want to see what has made this man so intelligent.
Woman reporter: That’s not necessarily true.
Prabhupada: Then why they study the brain? What is the purpose of studying brain unless there is difference? You study different brains. Unless you feel that there is difference between this brain and that brain, why do you study. What is the meaning of study?
Woman reporter: To find differences among men. It’s not necessarily differences between men and woman.
Prabhupada: I don’t say man or woman. But I say you study different brains–why? Unless you think there is some difference?
Woman reporter: There is difference.
Prabhupada: Yes. So if there is difference, then what is the harm if there is difference between man and woman’s brain?
Woman reporter: They say there isn’t.
Prabhupada: They say, but the fact we have to study. As soon as you study the construction of different brain, then you must know that there is difference, different activities.
Woman reporter: In other words, you do not believe this, what they say.
Prabhupada: Then why do you study different brain?
Woman reporter: I don’t study them. I’m just telling you what the scientists say.
Prabhupada: So scientists, the psychologist… As I was a student of psychology and our professor, a big man, Dr. W. S. Urquhart, he said that “By studying the brains of man and woman, we have found the highest brain substance found in man, sixty-four ounce by weight.” You may deny. This is the statement of a big psychologist. You can shake your head, but this is the scientific words by big psychologist. You can note down his name, Dr. W.S. Urquhart, professor of psychology in the Scottish Churches College in 1918-20.
Woman reporter: Oh, dear, no wonder. 1918-1920, that means… O.K. I see now what you’re thinking about. That was many, many years ago.
Prabhupada: So can you give any proof since then that the woman’s… In 1920… She does not take it?
Nitai: She does not take it. Somehow they think that the brain is no longer small. If it was small, then, it is not small today.
Prabhupada: But where is the proof…
Woman reporter: You do not believe that there has been advancement of science since 1920?
Nitai: Well, if the brain has been ascertained as being half the size then why should it change by now? Should it change?
Woman reporter: Well, do you think that the Romans weren’t as tall as men are today?
Nitai: No, but the… But then, within fifty years there is not going to be any change in the brain.
Woman reporter: Not in the 1900’s. Why do you use the technology that you use? You didn’t have cars in those days, this television. Things have changed since 1920.
Prabhupada: So what change has become? Can you give any evidence that woman is more powerful in brain than the man during these years? Can you give any evidence?
Woman reporter: No, what I’m saying is that…
Prabhupada: Now, can you give any evidence that woman has become more powerful than the man during these fifty years?
Woman reporter: Yes.
Prabhupada: What is that? Give me some tacit example.
Woman reporter: That she and I wouldn’t be here if women weren’t more powerful than they were fifty years ago.
Harikesa: Now they are talking louder. (laughter)
Woman reporter: Than you. Thank you. (woman leaves)
Harikesa: The scientists have the theory that the brain, the intelligence is measured by creases in the brain, creases, not by size.
Prabhupada: Not size, but what is the proof that the brain of woman has increased? Where is the proof?
Harikesa: They think because the ego has increased, the brain has also increased.
Prabhupada: Oh, that’s nice. (laughter) That’s nice. (laughing) So to become angry means defeat. If two persons are in argument the man, the one party, he becomes angry, that means he is defeated. Why one should become angry? It is the argument, logic. They should continue. And to become angry and to go away, that means defeat.
Harikesa: They become upset because they cannot dominate you.
Prabhupada: No, it is not the question of domination; it is the question of logic. If you do not agree to logic, then no argument can make progress.
Uttamasloka: Srila Prabhupada, if one does not agree to logic, does that mean that they are under the influence of tamo-guna?
Prabhupada: That means he is animal.
Guest: Under the influence of who?
Uttamasloka: Tamo-guna.
Harikesa: It’s the mode of ignorance.
Guest: Who?
Harikesa: The mode of ignorance.
Prabhupada: Logic is meant for learned man, and uneducated man, they want to force, “Yes, you must do it.” With point of revolver, “You must do it.” And educated man, they argue on logic. That is the difference. (break) …queens of Krsna, they are giving statement as maidservant of Krsna. You have read that portion? When there was talk between Kunti and queens of Krsna, the queens presented themself as maidservant of Krsna.
Harikesa: The men have become the servants of the women.
Prabhupada: Hmm?
Harikesa: Women’s liberation has become successful because man is now the servant of woman.
Prabhupada: It is not successful. That I was pointing out. It has caused the disaster because the whole women become dependent on the welfare gift of the government, and the government has to raise tax heavily for this purpose. The tax is given by the general public, but it is going for one individual person, and I have heard that government is embarrassed. They are now making enquiry about the welfare gifts.
Nitai: There’s many scandals there.
Prabhupada: There are now so many scandals. So these are the problems. Why? The man leaves the woman uncared for.
Brahmananda: One statistic has come that there are more people in this country receiving welfare than there are those who are employed in jobs outside of government. That means the government is actually spending for more people than… (break)
Prabhupada: Is not that a problem to the government?
Nitai: A huge problem.
Harikesa: Taxes are very high. Everyone is complaining about taxes being too high.
Prabhupada: Problem is already there and if they think it is not problem, then what can be said? By nature’s way, if the husband takes care of the wife and children, this problem is solved immediately. But the man takes advantage. He goes away after making the woman pregnant. And the woman is embarrassed and the government is embarrassed.
Harikesa: And the child grows up to be a criminal.
Prabhupada: Yes. Hippies. That is another problem. So they are not far-seeing. The immediate benefit they want. What will be the effect? That is animal civilization. Animal cannot see what will be the future. Therefore we have to take advice from Krsna. One who knows past, present, and future. Everything is there. We are spreading this knowledge, that “Take your council from Krsna. Then you’ll be happy.” That is our program.
Satsvarupa: Srila Prabhupada, if we speak these things on television and the newspapers and people become angry, if all the people become angry like she does, is it still good propaganda for us?
Prabhupada: No, then we chant Hare Krsna. We don’t make disturbance. But in the Bhagavad-gita everything is discussed, this varna-sankara and the first-class man, second-class man. If we have to push on Krsna consciousness movement, then we have to discuss. But if they do not like, better chant Hare Krsna and don’t discuss anything. But these things are discussed. If you are not agreeable to hear from Bhagavad-gita, then let us chant together Hare Krsna. That’s all. But these things are discussed in the Bhagavad-gita about varna-sankara. If the population, varna-sankara, is increased, then it becomes hell. So if you want to increase the hellish person, then don’t discuss. But if you think it is a problem, then discuss.
Satsvarupa: As a brahmana, we have to be truthful. When in Hong Kong they asked you what you thought of Guru Maharaji, you said you could not help yourself.
Prabhupada: Yes. I said that he is a great cheat. What can I say? And it has been proved now. (laughter) I said in my book, Easy Journey to Other…, that this moon excursion is childish, and it has been proved now. Now they don’t talk about the moon excursion because they are failure. So ten years ago or more than that, I said that it is only childish. (end)
HDG A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
About the Author
HDG A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada Founded the Hare Krishna Movement in 1966 in New York. In only 11 years he spread the movement all over the world. He wrote more than 80 books including Bhagavad-gita As It Is, Srimad-Bhagavatam, Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Sri Isopanisad. Prabhupada's books constitute a complete library of Vedic philosophy, religion, literature and culture.
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Hare Krishna!
Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
One thing needs to be clarified here. The article’s purpose here is not to develop hatred against women. The purpose is just to acknowledge the differences materially, and at the same time also realize that there is no difference in the spiritual platform.
After this press conference with Srila Prabhupada happened, Srila Prabhupada also clarifies this:
Brahmānanda: Actually, they are just feeling frustrated because it is a fact that woman has been exploited by the men. So now they want to counteract this.
Prabhupāda: No, we don’t say that woman should be exploited by men. We say the man should be responsible and give protection to woman.
Brahmānanda: But they feel so angry from the exploitation that they cannot accept that actually a man could protect them.
Prabhupāda: That is bad experience. But the ideal is different. Ideal is that man must be first-class and he must be responsible to take care of the woman, and she should be given all protection, all necessities. That is the duty of man. Just like father takes the charge of his daughter, similarly, husband should take charge of the woman. And similarly, elderly sons also took charge of the woman. The father never exploits the daughter. He gives all protection. That is the duty of the husband also. When she is grown up, she cannot remain under the protection of father. She is given, therefore, to a suitable boy to take charge. But the charge is the same, to give protection, all comforts. And because there is no first-class man to take charge of the woman, they are declaring independence. All the men are doing that. They keep girlfriend, make her pregnant, and go away, goes away.
Brahmānanda: In that sense we can say that the women are inferior, but the men also, they are not first-class.
Prabhupāda: That we also said, that there is no first-class men. So if there is first-class man, then whole question is solved.
Jagadīśa: The men are behaving just like dogs.
Prabhupāda: Yes.
You can read the full conversation here. But this conversation has to be read patiently, with an open mind:
https://prabhupadabooks.com/conversations/1975/jul/after_press_conference/chicago/july/09/1975
Some people misused Srila Prabhupada’s quotes and exploited women, but those people are actually demons in the guise of disciples, though they may claim to be Prabhupada’s disciples.
Women have destroyed my this life and they will destroy my after life also.women will send all males except great narendra Modi to hell. Women are doors to hell. Women are the cause of all miseries.
government has given unlimited cotas to women for which all women are mother durgas and all men are either pet lions(gentlemen) and mahisasurs(criminals).even great narendra modiji also have to eat slap from women as blessings.even Donald trump himself is being insulted by pornstars and a girl of 18 years.there have been case on lord ram in court.but naked,half naked cfnm,femmdom dominatrix mother goddesses are above law.
hats off srila prabhupadji.perhaps you was the only man in the 20th century.you defeated an woman feminist by logic.rest all so called men are pet lions of mother durgas(cfnm,femdom dominatrix mother goddesses)
“Tutto sta in fieri” “nothing is permanent” “do not personalize” “it is not me” be aware on the teaching, continually, try.
Hari bol
As I remember I am reading this conversation thrice! Its awesome!!!
That was an interesting read. The reporter was apparently American? I am female. I do believe all people should be treated with the same dignity, and paid the same for the same job according to their experience. I have never been a Women’s Liber… but I see people all the same (men and women), spiritually. Physically, we are very different. Not just men and women but as individuals. Since the dawn of womens lib…men have become different. I believe one should not be subordinate to the other – except for instances where one is more experienced or more “fit” for the situation. I have seen men who were brilliant raising kids and working; and women, who were terrible. I have seen Women working supporting families and raising kids (this situation is a problem – I have been in it)… I see a need for two (whether same sex or not) people raising children. Lastly, I have seen Women go to work, Men stay home and all was well. Personally, I would rather my mate chop wood than myself (but I have had to do it); and my mate wants nothing to do with the kitchen… (but he has had to do it)… So we should compliment and supplement each other and recognize when to be subordinate. Historically, in America the men became chauvinistic and brutal to the women – thus, Women’s Rights arose! But as all thing American – it has gone a bit far….
love and peace be with you
respectfully,
Michelle
Yes,
Today’s world and the way men and women see themselves and the way they relate with the opposite sex is very confused and mixed up indeed.
As you say men and women are completely different. And men and women are designed for different things. They have different roles to play in the society and in the family. The only way we are going to have a successful world with people working cooperatively and living happy family lives is if women and men rediscover the actual roles of women and men and fulfill them appropriately.
From the material point of view men are stronger and more intelligent than women and women need the protection of a man. So the Vedic system is that all women need to be married and they have to be submissive servants of their husbands. That is of course the way it was in the West even up to the 60’s. That is the way it has always been except for the past 50 years or so. And that is the proper way. The man is in charge and the woman serves her husband and supports her husband in every way.
From the material point of view a woman is not equal to a man, she is not qualified in the same way as a man. She is qualified in different ways to a man. So if the society is going to progress at all the women and the men are going to have to rediscover their correct roles. Men have to be strong and protect and provide for their wives and the women have to be chaste and submissive to their husbands and serve them faithfully.
In this way actually the husbands will become so completely dedicated to their wives and the will actually do anything for such a surrendered and submissive wife. So by this surrender to their husbands the wives actually conquer their husbands and the love of the husbands for their wives will increase so much.
Of course these ideas seem very strange to today’s women but you have to realize that these ideas were accepted all over the world prior to the 1960’s. Something very wrong happened at this time with the ‘womens liberation’ movement. And that needs to be reversed. Women should not be liberated. They should be always protected. In their childhood they need to be protected by their fathers, then before they reach puberty the father should hand over the daughter to a suitably qualified husband and then he will be responsible to protect her. And in her old age the women needs to be protected by her grown sons. So at no stage in her life is the woman ever independent. She is always dependent. First on her father, then on her husband, and finally on her grown up sons…
This is the way and we need to get back to that way.
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
Sir I agree with you and srila prabhupada. I still have doubts. It would be fortunate if you answer my questions.
1. Men in our country, especially our generation, aren’t going to gurukul at all, instead they are all watching porn and play video games and adult games. Srila prabhupada says to not marry such fallen men. If the guy is good but become like bhramin ajamila after marriage then where should a woman go? We are dependent on them, if men disrupt family life in this manner, lot of them being porn addicts, what should such women do? Even in india, westernisation is a curse. British have burnt our scriptures and finished the gurukul system. Men are not even eligible to be called men anymore. Fine you don’t behave like a husband but at least be a good father. What should women do in such a case?
2. Nowadays, women have to do jobs but in india even in our generation, my friends say that they will leave their jobs as soon as they have to start a family life. Girls who are into smoking, drinking etc, they would always come and pass off comments like you are a weakling. How can you let a man dominate you?
The situation for girls like us is becoming depressing day by day. This is not feminism sir. They are trying to enslave feminity and masculinity, both. Please tell what to say things to such women? In my eyes, my mother is my role model, the way she has brought us up. It’s not easy. What is wrong if a woman wants to leave her job to raise kids?? Please tell us what to say to such women?
I hope you reply and consider answering it sir.
Koti koti pranam!!
Hare Krishna Sheetal
Yes. The situation with men is really caused by the fall-down of the women since the 1960s. Prior to then, even in the West, things were OK with men and women. But now there is a war against men in every way. Women are agitated to be against men by lesbian leaders of the feminists…
So the problem is caused by women, not men.
So the solution is to rectify the women and the men will fall into line.
So women need to become chaste and submissive servants of their husbands.
Any man will respect and love and become totally dedicated to a chaste and submissive wife. But they can’t find such women any more, so you can not blame them for being addicted to porn, etc.
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So the problem is with the women, the women need to be rectified and then the men will become OK.
We need to reverse all this feminism and women rights movement that has been going on for that past 60 years. It is this that has totally destroyed the social structure of the world and turned everything into hell for everyone, both men and women.
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
Sir,
I can’t understand what you are saying.
Srila prabhupada said that if in a society, as soon as the male class falls, woman-class will also fall.
I dont know about being a servant but we give 7 vows to each other in the marriage to ensure the spiritual progress and one of the duties is to help the man on his spiritual path. I am talking about the vedic marriage sir.
My question is, women will be all what veda describe but men have to be superior also otherwise how will a woman stay with a man who cant become the head of the house. Srila prabhupada said that the man has to be better than the woman.
The only bad people I see in the west are the demoniac people and not men or women. MAN or WOMAN, they are just bodies.I dont know about west sir since I am an indian. I dont even understand what western women view men as, they are kind of complicated views.
What to do about INDIA sir? I dont think that men or women should be blamed, I blame nobody but the invaders, 100 years ago, things like rape were unheard of. elders blame the westerne ducation system. I agree with that. See I am not interested in blaming any gender because its the soul that matters. How should we start the gurukul system again? The way I see it, I can never trust a man as my husband who is addicted to such bad things. Forget about surrender or love, this is how girls in this country think. There has been no real feminism in this country but men are still getting addicted to porn and all the wrong stuff. Women are getting raped and nobody is protecting us. How are women to be blamed for these thing??? Men arent even following the vedic culture. If they wont follow then you cant really fully have a fulfilling marriage where the woman also attends to help you. The way I have understood is that Lord krishna initiate the marriage system so that the husband and wife help each other with spiritual progress. This is something ”modern people” in our country will laugh at.
Please explain.
Hare Krishna Sheetal
Yes. Kali-yuga is a very difficult time. And Yes. India was particularly destroyed by the British. India was also invaded by the Muslims before, but they did not destroy the Indian culture. But British understood that they could not rule the Indians unless they destroyed the Vedic culture. Which they were able to do very successfully.
So it is very difficult position now. Indian ladies are following the western ideas and so are Indian men. So everything in India now is hopelessly destroyed as far as the social system and as far as the idea of morality. It is all lost now in India as well as all over the world.
So we have to become Krishna conscious ourselves by chanting at least 16 rounds of the Hare Krishna mantra every day, strictly following the four regulative principles [no illicit sex, no meat eating, no gambling and no intoxication] and by reading Srila Prabhupada’s books at least 1-2 hours a day. In that way we will gradually become Krishna conscious and Krishna and Srila Prabhupada will guide us and we will be able to understand how to ‘make the best use of a bad bargain.’
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
I couldn’t reply to your latest comment as reply link wasn’t available there so I am replying from this comment of yours….
Prabhu I definitely agree with you….They have successfully destroyed….But they still haven’t been able to destroy our belief in ram and krishna.
I have seen this “intellectual” problems with so-called educated urban class in our country. However, in rural areas, people know nothing more than krishna and ram. In indian villages, we worship the land where god ram and his eternal consort sita walked.
In braj belt, our belief in krishna is very deep that so many invaders couldn’t make us forget krishna even though they have destroyed our so many vishnu and shiva temples. Recently, khalistan terrorists, said india should be broken cuz it is all based on bhramanism and bhraman iCal culture is given priority.
I don’t understand why do all terrorists have problems with our bhramins and why do they have so much hatred and jealousy towards. They hate our vishnu and tey call us kafirs or occultists or something negative.
Point is, rural areas in our country which still form the majority, u speak concepts like divorce, atheism….They won’t understand but if u say to them about krishna or ram or shiva or the tridev….They will understand….I just want to revive the vedic culture….It is still there but these so called educated class of our country are all mudhas, just like srilanka prabhu pada said.
Don’t you think we should all come together, do some vedic revolution and get these practises of krishna consciousness for the rural people. If they will be educated. It will be a success. In our country, urban people don’t really have much power. Unfortunately, goons have been wreaking havoc on our cultural belief regarding lord krishna and the dharma he taught to arjun. I just feel so frustrated, I want to do something about this. Traditional vedic practises are still followed in villages except for haryana. It’s everywhere in our country. Can we ask krishna to help us in spreading krishna consciousness there….In rural areas???
Obviously we have to get ourselves fixed first , in devotion. This is a possibility though, right?
Hare Krishna Sheetal
Yes. India is punya-bhumi, the land of pious activities, and this is the natural tendency of the people born in India, to worship Krishna. That is what India is for. Spiritual activities. So it has been spoiled since the British time. Muslim invaders are not so much of a threat, because they are primitive and while they come and create havoc and break the temples, kill people, etc, no one who has even the slightest realization of Krishna consciousness will ever dream of becoming like them or joining them. So while the Muslims may pose a physical danger, there is no danger that any intelligent person will want to follow them or join them. However the British / American invasion of India is different. They are preaching that Indian culture, the Vedas, it is all primitive, and we [the British and Americans] are the advanced culture. And a huge percentage of the Indians have fallen for this. Particularly in the big cities, not so much, as you say, in the villages.
But look out for the future. Currently USA is trying to invade India. They have become sick of China. China have been faithfully serving America for many years now, but now they want more pay, and Chinese government now wants to keep some of the profits of all the the things they make from USA, and USA do not like it. They want servants who will work for them for nothing. And China don’t want this any more. So USA want to do in India what they did in China, turn it into one huge factory producing gadgets to sell in USA…
I think this will be a total failure, as Indians will never work like the Chinese do for the Americans. But still America is trying very hard to conquer India like this at the moment. And that will mean, like they did in China, moving the villagers into huge dirty congested cities, so they can work in factories… The most hellish life.
Of course it is possible to spread Krishna consciousness in India, Krishna consciousness is very natural for the Indians. But there is the problem of yad yad acharati sresthas, ‘Whatever a great man does common men follow.’ So the problem is the ‘great men’, the political leaders in India for example, are stressing economic development, not spiritual life. And so many intelligent Indians, who should be being trained as brahmanas and becoming spiritual leaders and teachers of the people, instead are learning computer programming or working in call centers. So many in India see earning a lot of money as being the most important thing. And so many are hankering after living in America, Australia, etc….
So we have to try, but you know Srila Prabhupada also tried in India, he started League of Devotees in Jahnsi, but although he worked very hard and preached so much in India, he was thinking he would preach in India, get some devotees and then go to the Western countries, with his devotees, and preach. But he was only able to convince one person, Acharya Pravaka, to join him. Otherwise there was no one he could convince in India. So after this experience he went to USA and was very successful there.
So generally Indians are not interested and have been contaminated by the ideas of Sankaracharya, Ramakrishna, etc. The impersonal ideas. And once one has heard the preaching of the Mayavadis it is very difficult for him to become Krishna conscious.
And now what has happened is these materialistic Indians, who really have no interest in spiritual life, have spread all over the world, and have taken over practically every ISKCON temple and turned it in to an Indian social club. Someone said ISKCON temples are like internet dating sites for Indians. And that is basically all they are now unfortunately. When Indians take over temples in the foreign countries they drive all the local people out and make it 100% Indian. So that destroys Prabhupada’s mission. Because he wants to spread Krishna consciousness all over the world. But the Indians who are traveling all over the world now are not traveling for becoming Krishna conscious, they are traveling to make money, and they want the ISKCON temples to be available as dating sites so they can get their children married to other Indian’s, etc.
So it is, overall, a great disaster, and Indians have done a great deal and deserve quite a bit of the blame for destroying Prabhupada’s worldwide preaching movement.
So currently, worldwide, the situation is miserable for Krishna consciousness. But it can all change, if we simply read Prabhupada’s books and actually surrender to him by following the instructions he gives us as we read his books. If we are sincere and actually chant at least 16 rounds of the Hare Krishna mantra every day, strictly follow the four regulative principles and read Prabhupada’s books at least 1-2 hours a day, and pray to Srila Prabhupada and Krishna that they please engage us in their service, then Srila Prabhupada from his books and Krishna from within our hearts will guide us in such a way that we can become pure devotees ourselves and will let us know what they want us to do to help revive Prabhupada’s Hare Krishna movement all over the world…
So it is a big challenge and a seemingly hopeless, impossible task at the moment. But for Krishna anything is possible. Nothing is impossible. So you are correct of course. The first point is we have to become pure devotees ourselves. That is Lord Caitanya’s instruction, first perfect your own life and then preach. Actually only a pure devotee can preach. Anyone can learn the philosophy from Bhagavad-gita and go out and say to people, “You’re not the body, you’re a spirit soul. Chant Hare Krishna…” But if he is not pure himself, then his words, although they may be correct, will have no substantial effect.
We have to become pure and then preach, but we can distribute Prabhupada’s books and convince people to take and read Prabhupada’s books, thus enabling Srila Prabhupada to preach to them, and that is the best way we can advance in Krishna consciousness ourselves, by pleasing Srila Prabhupada, and best way to please Srila Prabhupada is by distributing his books and convincing others to read them and reading them ourselves also of course.
So don’t worry so much about how it is possible that the world will become Krishna conscious, but let us try to become pure devotees of Krishna ourselves and try to distribute Prabhupada’s books to others, and somehow, by Krishna’s and Prabhupada’s mercy in the end everything will come out successful.
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
Hare Krishna!
Prior to the 1960s, there was a system very much prevalent in India called “dowry”,i.e., the woman’s family should give some money to the man before getting married. As far as I’ve heard, it is said that the family of the man would not treat the wife nicely, if the family of the woman fails to give sufficient money as a dowry to the bridegroom. Sometimes the bridegroom’s family would even kill the bride later on due to not giving them sufficient money. So, probably this is what is agitating the feminists even today, and that’s why they are not submissive to their husbands. What do you think of this Madhudvisa Prabhu?
(P.S: Even today this system of dowry is still prevalent to a lesser extent in some parts of India)
No. It is natural for a woman to be submissive to her husband but today the education is all wrong. That is the problem. This western feminist idea. Yes. Every system in India has become corrupt including the dowry system. Everything is totally destroyed there. Original idea is OK, family of woman is giving women to husband for protection and gives some money, etc, to help support her. But everything becomes corrupted in Kali-yuga and the only answer is Lord Caitanya’s Sankirtan movement of chanting:
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare
This is the way forward now, it is very difficult, practically impossible, to revive these old Vedic systems now.
Hare Krishna Madhudvisa Prabhu!
Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
I understand that men and women are equal spiritually, but materially the differences have to be acknowledged, for the proper function of the society.
So, I have doubts on the following points:
1) To prove that women and men are equal materially, people cite examples of women such as Marie Curie, Rosalind Franklin, etc. So they say that these women are intelligent than men.
2)There is also another problem now. It is about women’s clothing. It has become a fashion today for the women to wear mini dresses. But when we say that the women should be properly clothed, we are immediately labelled as “misogynist”. They also say things like “Patriarchy is the cause of sexualization of women, not clothing”.
I become dumbstruck when I hear such arguments.
So please throw some light on these topics, Prabhu.
Today generally speaking social media, the television, the newspapers, they are all full of insane illogical nonsense. So the general public, being constantly bombarded by all this insanity, naturally they also become insane.
So really there is no use trying to convince them logically on these points because they are insane, illogical. They can not appreciate logic and truth…
So the best thing is to get them to hear the chanting of the Hare Krishna mantra, feed them Krishna Prasadam and convince them to read Srila Prabhupada’s books. This is the only way to cure their material insanity.
Renal Mataji you’ve given an excellent explanation! Hari Bol! It is really extremely sad to see your average typical Hindu girl making a mockery of our religion by their sheer arrogance and ignorance. I think it has become natural to us Indians to imbibe all the bad qualities of the West, they have so many good qualities but we never look at those!
I am in my early twenties myself and I see the kind of “self independent” girls around me and wonder how they’ll ever stay with a husband! Lol
Sorry to say this but Shruti has set a prime example here of the low levels to which an average Hindu woman has stooped to! The problem starts with the parents, they don’t teach their children right from wrong and don’t bother to see what their children are turning out to be. our whole Vedic system is skewed! That too she even mentioned about the media, that’s another big headache! Take these soap operas for example, majority of them spread family disputes and disharmony. Then these reality shows, big Boss or whatever it’s called had brought a porn star Sunny something (who earns a living by showing herself nude and having sex with men and women and seamlessly publicizing it) and now the media is idolising her, is this maturity?! No! The media is highly immature and besides raking up nonsense news to raise t personified!heir TRP s, they try to imply and impregnate factoids into the minds of the masses. This is truly Kalyug
[…] 9, 1975, Chicago) If you are interested in reading a copy of the full interview, please visit here: https://krishna.org/women-in-society-a-television-interview-with-srila-prabhupada/ What an amazing reply. Srila Prabhupada answered her sarcastic question with a completely serious […]
i agree 100%with prabhpad and madhudvisa
this was needed in my life.
this so amazing.
my friend from india send to me this than I cant stop read this.
I will appreciate this so much for real.
ys maha sankarshana das.
women in those days were chaste and respected men.wives will not sit in front husbands,they will not talk in front husbands…..so ancient vedic society was a well respected one……we can know the greatness of vedic society through marco polo and the works of the barbaric muslims.but women nowdays are attracted toward the animalistic and lowly western civilization, until many of them convert into christianity ….some of them are questioning the vedic laws and in some cases are creating websites and blogs, insulting the vedic civilization..women nowdays are asking for equality in many fields which is very wrong and against Eswara the greatest…not only in occupations but also in dirty jobs such as drinking in pubs,dancing naked in pubs and wearing bikinis in the public…..women nowdays consider being filthy whores and prostitutes openly will make them respected and equal to men….actually women must know one thing, Eswara created man first,women are inferior to men and that women are to equal to men…
Damn you people! This is the most narrow way of looking at women. I am surprised you have the guts to publish this shit on your website.
Shame on you.
Women were never inferior to men, nor will they be. There is no requirement on women to be subordinate to men. Equality, too, is ruled out – with men like you around. Let’s see if you have the courage to keep this comment on your website. Please don’t forget that women have access to media as well.
Hare Krishna Shruthi
This idea of men and women is only material. It is only the body. We are actually the spirit soul within the body and the spirit soul is not male or female. So you are in a women’s body now but your next body may be a man’s body. So you are not a man or a women.
However because we are within a particular type of body our consciousness is covered by that body and while we are in the bodily concept of life we identify with that body and act according to the conditioning the body imposes on us.
So the way the consciousness is covered by a woman’s body and the way the consciousness is covered by a man’s body is different. You can not make it the same, man and woman, even though there is no difference on the spiritual platform, there is a difference on the material platform.
Woman is naturally submissive to man. That is the way the bodies are constructed. The man is the active partner and he enjoys in that way and the women is the submissive partner and she enjoys in that way. This is a biological fact that you can not deny.
So for society to go on nicely and for everyone to be as happy as it is possible to be happy in the material world this reality has to be accepted and the women will enjoy by being submissive to the men. Actually in this way the women control the men. That is the subtle thing here. This is the psychology. A man becomes so attached and so much in love with a women who is submissive to him, a woman who serves him nicely, that he will do anything at all for that woman. So actually by becoming submissive to her partner the man becomes completely captivated by her and will do anything at all she wants him to do.
So this is not very good for the man from the spiritual point of view, but this is how the material world works. If the women act in their natural position and become chaste and loyal and dedicated to their husbands and serve them very nicely their husbands will be so much in love with them and so dedicated to them and will do anything at all for them.
But, psychologically, a man can not tolerate being bossed around by a women and he will not fall in love with such a women and he will not be happy with such a women and the women also will not be happy with him.
This “women’s liberation” has made everyone unhappy. The men are unhappy because the women have become nasty. Not submissive, independent, not interested in serving the husband or the family, nasty. So the men are thinking, “Why work so hard for such a nasty woman?” And the women are not satisfied and are lusting after other men, thinking that the other men will be able to satisfy them more than their husband is doing. And the men get so frustrated with these women so they are turning gay… Thinking, “Why bother with these nasty women…”
It is one big nasty mess. And it has all been created because of this so-called “woman’s liberation.” This has completely destroyed the whole social structure and now everyone is miserable, no one is happy.
Woman have to be subservient to men. And as I have explained this actually empowers the women. Otherwise the whole social system will be destroyed. And today women are not subservient to men, so the whole social system has been destroyed… The women have not been liberated, they have not been empowered–they have been disempowered and trapped in a situation where they can find no man who will love them, no man who will care for them, no man who will protect them and no man who will provide for them…
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
I disagree with Shruti. I think you have highly misunderstood Hinduism. As a highly educated, modern woman, I have studied a lot of the scriptures. I have researhed the Hinduism beliefs in depth. I can tell you that like many people and many websites on “the hinduism view on women”, you have also misunderstood the Hindu teachings.
Firstly, the point is that we are the soul not the body, i.e. we are only a woman in this birth.
Yes, while we are in a woman’s body, we should behave as a woman. This involves following the Dharma (duties) that a woman should perform in Society. i.e. being a good daughter, wife, mother,etc. Everyone has a role to play in Society. Even men have to follow their duties, i.e. to be a good son, husband, father.
Being subordinate to men does NOT mean that we are disadvantaged, nor is it derogatory or disrespectful. We, as women, have the vital role of shaping tomorrow’s citizens. i.e. we have the important role of bringing up our children to be the new Society tomorrow. Men, are left to do the day-to-day things such as ensuring financial security etc. This does not mean women are tied to the kitchen sinks; we are allowed to work, have a career, etc but the point is that this is all secondary to our main role of raising our children well. I am not saying that all we should do is raise children;my point is that we have such important roles as a woman that we should be proud to remain as woman in society and be the best in what we do.
As for the subordanancy to men,I think people get too hung up on this. We, as women, should be subordinate to the men in our lives (i.e. father, elders, husband) in that we respect them, listen to them, look after them and try not to disobey them. This is our duty (Dharma). This does NOT mean that we tolerate abuse (physical, emotional or otherwise) from them, nor does it mean that we obey something that we feel is wrong (e.g. breaking the law, going against your religion,etc). But, you cannot say that you will not cook for our husband because you feel it is wrong. That is wrong of you as a woman; you would be in breach of your Dharma. However, you can expect your husband to help you if needed. Hinduism is about you working with your husband to get through life together and progress spiritually as well as materially. You both have different roles but ultimately the husband is dominant. It is not that women are slaves and we should not tolerate being treated as such. Srila Prabhupada is not meaning this at all. This interview is a little out of context if it is read alone. You need to read it along with his other books and teachings to really understand what he is trying to say.
I hope this explains things better. For all Hindu women’s sake, please do read and study about true Hinduism before you make such harsh and very rude comments about it’s teachings. I always take it very personally and am very offended when people misinterpret such a wonderful religion. Women are so respected in Hinduism but unfortunately people just do not make the effort to understand it properly. Most of the rules in Hinduism are there to actually protect us rather than bound and gag us!! Being kept subordinate to a man means that he is responsible for your welfare, to ensure you are safe, happy and secure materially, financially and physically. You in turn ensure that you are helping him secure his spirituality by guiding him on the path of religion. By trying to be independent of men, many women unfortunately get themselves in trouble and ultimately end up losing respect from Society. It is a sad situation.
Oh finally, I have come across a woman who has the same views as that of mine.
Its difficult to make westernised indian women understand this, they start looking at you as a person who is a man in disguise of woman and must be squashed like an insect, immediately.
If I say that I would like to leave the job for my kid, lets be practical, my husband cant nurture the kid, okay?! he cant breastfeed the kid, no other woman can do it. We have more biological responsibility than men have. If I say this, I will be tagged as a woman with patriarchical mindset who is a submissive, meek and dependant on men……….BY FEMINISTS. I am just against this idea of menism and feminism and all sorts of isms. Why cant we just be on krishna path, altogether???
OH these rascals, whether they be born in a man’s body or that of a woman, it doesnt matter, they always want to separate things, make boundaries and come up with all sorts of idiotic activist theories. This is going shit. I sometimes really tell LORD KRISHNA that let a world war 3 happen. They will get killed and I will. I have no problem in getting killed if its for the greater benefit of the human society, thats what my parents have always taught me. This is also what we call as DHARMA. Look at the sabarimala temple issue now. Oh god, this is getting worse for women like me to live. SAY SOMETHING ABOUT FOLLOWING THE DUTIES OF A WOMAN ACCORDING TO VEDA AND YOU WILL BE BLASPHEMEID NO MATTER WHAT!!!