Category:Caitanya and Women
Theme Analysis
Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu descended to teach the world the highest principles of devotional service, and a key component of this was setting the perfect example of renunciation. After accepting the sannyāsa order, the Lord became extraordinarily strict in His avoidance of women. He never joked with women, and if He saw a woman approaching, He would give her ample space to pass. He established a clear etiquette in Jagannātha Purī, requiring His feminine devotees to offer their respects from a great distance. He actively avoided hearing the singing of the deva-dāsīs in the temple, warning that a woman's singing is exceptionally dangerous for a sannyāsī. His strictness was not born of hatred, but from a necessity to teach the world the uncompromising nature of the renounced order. When an associate like Kṛṣṇadāsa became attracted to a woman, the Lord immediately severed their association. However, this external strictness beautifully contrasted with His internal theology: while avoiding mundane women, He constantly glorified the transcendental gopīs of Vṛndāvana, distinguishing pure spiritual love from the mundane lust imitated by the sahajiyās.
- The Strict Sannyāsī: The Lord completely avoided close contact, talking, or joking with women, setting the absolute standard for the renounced order.
- Distant Respect: Feminine devotees were instructed to offer obeisances from afar, a rule designed to protect the sannyāsa vow rather than demean women.
- The Danger of Attraction: The Lord demonstrated zero tolerance for illicit attraction, avoiding female singers and rejecting associates who fell into illusion.
- The Supreme Position of the Gopīs: Despite His rigid earthly vows, the Lord exalted the gopīs, proving their love is entirely spiritual and vastly superior to anything in the material world.
- Explore the synthesized essence of this category in this Vanipedia article: Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and Women - The Ideal Sannyāsī.
Pages in category "Caitanya and Women"
The following 16 pages are in this category, out of 16 total.
A
- A sannyasi is forbidden to hear songs sung by the fair sex. Yet even in the rigid position of a sannyasi He (Caitanya) recommended the mode of worship preferred by the gopis of Vrndavana as the topmost loving service possible to be rendered to the Lord
- After accepting the sannyasa order of life, He (Lord Caitanya) was very, very strict about avoiding association with women, but still He taught that there is no better method of worshiping Krsna than that conceived by the gopis
- As taught by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, a woman's singing is dangerous because it can make a sannyasi fall a victim to the woman
L
- Lord Caitanya never even heard the prayers of the deva-dasis offered in the temple of Jagannatha because a sannyasi is forbidden to hear songs sung by the fair sex
- Lord Caitanya was an ideal sannyasi, and when He was at Puri His feminine devotees could not even come near to offer their respects. They were advised to bow down from a distant place. This is not a sign of hatred for women as a class. BG 1972 purports
S
- Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu has instructed devotees not to be allured by golden ornaments and beautifully decorated women
- Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu introduced the system that a woman, even if not a widow, must observe the Ekadasi day and must not touch any kind of grains, even those offered to the Deity of Visnu
- Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu never even joked with others' wives. As soon as He saw a woman coming, He would immediately give her ample room to pass without talking. He was extremely strict regarding the association of women
- Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu said - Although I am a sannyasi, My mind is sometimes perturbed when I see a woman. But Ramananda Raya is greater than Me, for he is always undisturbed, even when he touches a woman
- Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was most strict in such dealings (with women), especially after He accepted the sannyasa order. Indeed, no woman could come near Him to offer Him respect
T
- The ideal sannyasi was Lord Caitanya Himself, and we can learn from His life that He was very strict in regards to women. BG 1972 purports
- The sahajiyas pose as followers of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu although they indulge in lusty affairs with women. In His youth Lord Caitanya was very humorous with everyone, but He never joked with any woman, nor in this incarnation did He talk about women
- They (Caitanya's feminine devotees) were advised to bow down from a distant place. This is not a sign of hatred for women as a class, but it is a stricture imposed on the sannyasi not to have close connections with women. BG 1972 purports
W
- When the woman came to her senses, however, she quickly climbed back down to the ground and, seeing Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, immediately begged at His lotus feet for forgiveness
- When they (Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Krsnadasa) returned to Jagannatha Puri He ordered that Krsnadasa remain separate from Him, for the Lord was never favorably disposed toward an associate who was attracted by a woman