Category:A Woman Can Become a Guru
Theme Analysis
Śrīla Prabhupāda addresses the question of whether a woman can become a spiritual master by referring to the universal principle established by Lord Caitanya: yei kṛṣṇa-tattva-vettā sei guru haya—anyone who knows the science of Kṛṣṇa can become a guru. The essential qualification is spiritual perfection and full cognizance of the science of Kṛṣṇa, not the material body. While noting that historically it is a "special case" for a woman to become an ācārya (giving the example of Jāhnavā-devī), Śrīla Prabhupāda affirms that if a woman attains the highest perfection, it is possible. He explicitly encourages all his disciples—"men, women, boys and girls"—to become spiritual masters by strictly following the instructions of the disciplic succession. However, he cautions against "immature attempts," emphasizing that one must be fully trained and authorized before taking up this serious responsibility.
- The Real Qualification: Being a guru depends on knowing the science of Kṛṣṇa (kṛṣṇa-tattva), not on gender.
- Historical Precedent: Jāhnavā-devī, the wife of Lord Nityānanda, became an ācārya, showing it is possible.
- Universal Mandate: Śrīla Prabhupāda wants all his disciples, including women, to become qualified gurus.
- Maturity vs. Imitation: Becoming a guru requires maturity and strict adherence; it cannot be an imitation.
- Family Dynamic: While the husband is typically the guru for the wife, a wife can act as guru if she leads her husband to Kṛṣṇa consciousness.
- Explore the synthesized essence of this category in this Vanipedia article: A Woman Can Become a Guru.
Pages in category "A Woman Can Become a Guru"
The following 27 pages are in this category, out of 27 total.
A
- Actually one who has attained the perfection, she can become guru. But man or woman, unless one has attained the perfection.... Yei krsna-tattva-vetta sei guru haya. The qualification of guru is that he must be fully cognizant of the science of Krsna
- All of our students will have to become guru, but they are not qualified. This is the difficulty
- All of them will take over. These students, who are initiated from me, all of them will act as I am doing
- As we have understood by the parampara system from my Guru Maharaja, so any of my students who will understand, he will keep it running on. This is the process
E
- Every one of us, those who have come to this Krsna consciousness movement, expected to preach in the future and to become a spiritual master also in the future. But first of all you must spiritualize yourself; otherwise it is useless
- Every one of you become guru and deliver the residents of your neighborhood. Ei desa. Wherever you are living, just deliver them. Become their guru
- Every student is expected to become Acarya
- Every student is expected to become Acarya. Acarya means one who knows the scriptural injunctions and follows them practically in life, and teaches them to his disciples
- Everyone will become guru when he is expert disciple, but why this immature attempt? Guru is not a thing, imitation. When one is mature, he becomes guru automatically
I
- I am also obliged to them (my students) because they are helping me in this missionary work. At the same time, I shall request them all to become spiritual master. Every one of you should be spiritual master next
- I hope that all of you, men, women, boys and girls, become spiritual master and follow this principle. Spiritual master - simply, sincerely, follow the principles and speak to the general public
- I shall choose some guru. I shall say, "Now you become acarya. You become authorized." I am waiting for that. You become all acarya. I retire completely. But the training must be complete
- I want that all of my spiritual sons and daughters will inherit this title of Bhaktivedanta, so that the family transcendental diploma will continue through the generations
- I wish that in my absence all my disciples become the bona fide spiritual master to spread Krishna Consciousness throughout the whole world
- If they see You just once, even women, children, old men, meat-eaters and members of the lowest caste immediately chant the holy name of Krsna, dance like madmen and become spiritual masters capable of delivering the whole world
- It is not that woman cannot be acarya. Generally, they do not become. In very special case. But Jahnavi-devi was accepted as, but she did not declare
J
- Jahnava devi was-Nityananda's wife. She became. If she is able to go to the highest perfection of life, why it is not possible to become guru? But, not so many
- Just like I have got many Godbrothers, they are all acting. Similarly, all these disciples which I am making, initiating, they are being trained to become future spiritual masters
R
- Regarding the Teachings in the temple; everyone of my disciples may become a teacher strictly following my instructions. I am a bona fide teacher as long as I follow the instructions of my spiritual master
- Regarding your question about the disciplic succession coming down from Arjuna it is just like I have got my disciples, so in the future these many disciples may have many branches of disciplic succession
S
- So far as initiating disciples is concerned, anyone who is qualified can do this
- So far designation is concerned, the spiritual master authorizes every one of his disciple. But it is up to the disciple to carry out the order, able to carry out or not. It is not that spiritual master is partial, he designates one and rejects other
T
- That is our mission. All of you who have come to Krsna consciousness movement, that is our request, that you, all of you, become guru but don't speak nonsense. That is request. Simply speak what Krsna has said
- The actual system is that the husband is Spiritual Master to his wife, but if the wife can bring her husband into practicing this process, then it is all right that the husband accepts wife as Spiritual Master
- The best thing is if you come and live with us for some time and learn thoroughly the Krsna science. Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu said anyone can become a guru in the matter of teaching about Krsna, provided he or she thoroughly learns the Krsna science
- Those possessing the title of Bhaktivedanta will be allowed to initiate disciples. Maybe by 1975, all of my disciples will be allowed to initiate and increase the numbers of the generations. That is my program