Question: Please clarify the siddhānta spoken in Bhāgavata Purāṇa by Kṛṣṇa Himself that the highest religious duty for a woman is to sincerely serve her husband, behave well towards her husband’s family and take good care of her children (SB 10.29.24). Women who desire a good destination in the next life should never abandon a husband
Question: In Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Antya 12.37 it is said: peṭāṅgi-gāya kare daṇḍavat-namaskāra govinda kahe śrīkānta āge peṭāṅgi utāra When Śrīkānta offered obeisances to the Lord, he was still wearing his shirt and coat. Therefore Govinda told him, ”My dear Śrīkānta, first take off these garments.” In his commentary, Śrīla Prabhupāda quotes from the Tantra: vastreṇāvṛta-dehas
Question: To be a devotee, is it really necessary to follow Indian culture? For example, is it necessary to wear a dhotī or sari, shave one’s head, or apply a tilaka? Answer: Most people do not have a clear concept of God. If you ask them, “what is God?” the most common answer that I
Question: Upon study of the Gosvāmī literature it is clear that: 1) Brāhminical initiation is only meant for children born in brāhminical families; 2) Bhakti is meant for everyone; 3) Bhakti can give Kṛṣṇa but still not qualify one as brāhmaṇa in this life. Technically, nobody except Indians can take upanayana and recite Brahma Gāyatrī. Yet,
Question: In SB 3.33.6, it is stated: tyan-nāmadheya-śravaṇānukīrtanād, yat-prahvaṇād yat-smaraṇād api kvacit śvādo ‘pi sadyaḥ savanāya kalpate, kutaḥ punas te bhagavan nu darśanāt “To say nothing of the spiritual advancement some who see the Him face to face, even a person born in a family of dog-eaters immediately becomes eligible to perform Vedic sacrifices if
Question: Previously, was there any distinction of dress between Gaudiya Vaishnavas and the regular population in India, and for the different varnas? What did people generally wear? There seems to be no mention of grihastha dress in shastra, only sannyasa garb. Answer: There is no such thing as Vaishnava dress specifically. It is Indian dress
Question: Are women less intelligent? Answer: This is a vague question, I must say. Intelligence is multifaceted; there are various types of intelligence. According to Howard Gardner, Professor of Education at Harvard University, there are nine types of intelligence. Similarly, according to Steven Rudolph of Jiva Institute, there are eight types of intelligence. Somebody may
