Garbhadana Samkara - The Difference
Between Good Progeny and Varna-sankara.

Sometimes we have observed children having personal challenges; becoming victims of abuse; abusing others; getting in trouble with various authorities; taking to forms of intoxication or chemical and substance abuse; or other forms of violence; crime against society; and further forms of self destruction, even suicide.

On a number of such occassions we have enquired further into the nature of the child's conception. The results of such a broad survey have provided conclusive evidence that, while we are certainly all under Krishna's charge, and He is free to assist us in His exclusive service

For a number of years, even a couple of generations it has been that all one has to do is chant 50 rounds and by some magic everything will be perfect. Let us look at a couple of harsh realities that unveil other facts:

There are ten offences involved and to be avoided in chanting the Holy Name of the Lord, and until one is purely chanting then the expectation of experiencing Krishna fully present when one performs one's activities is a fantasy. Certainly, even poor japa is better than no japa, but it is a poor imitation of attentive japa.

The chanting of the Lord's Holy name, and uniting with one's mate is a Krishna conscious activity, and not some mere mundane ritual. Krishna Himself says that one who performs this activity of sex in consciousness of Him, not something else, but conscious of Him, the He becomes, or is that rite (Bhagavad Gita 7:11.) Being not contrary to religious principles means actually performing samskara, or ritualistic purification for Him, and not just some dovetailing covert sex life in His name because of lust, and trying to make it legal.

Honesty and integrity in our level of advancement is imperitive. When the showing off of profiles to others or presentations for self preservation are finally given up, we have some chance at doing things properly. We can fool each other, but in the ultimate issue we cannot fool Krishna.

If one is a transcendentalist, meaning actually transcendental to the onslaught of the material influences, then and only then do we become free from the results of material nature in our activities. Srila Prabhupada comments: "There are many good examples in the lives of the great devotees of the Lord of those who became indifferent to the rituals of the Vedas simply by devotional service to the Lord. When a person factually understands Krishna and his relationship with Krishna, he naturally becomes completely indifferent to the rituals of fruitive activities, even though an experienced brähmana. Sri Mädhavendra Puri, a great devotee and ächärya in the line of the devotees, says:

sandhyä-vandana bhadram astu bhavato bhoh snäna tubhyam namo
bho deväh pitarash ca tarpana-vidhau näham kñamam kshamyatäm
yatra kväpi nishadya yädava-kulottamasya kamsa-dvishah
smäram smäram agham harämi tad alam manye kim anyena me

“O my prayers three times a day, all glory to you. O bathing, I offer my obeisances unto you. O demigods! O forefathers! Please excuse me for my inability to offer you my respects. Now wherever I sit, I can remember the great descendant of the Yadu dynasty [Krishna], the enemy of Kamsa, and thereby I can free myself from all sinful bondage. I think this is sufficient for me.”
The Vedic rites and rituals are imperative for neophytes: comprehending all kinds of prayer three times a day, taking a bath early in the morning, offering respects to the forefathers, etc. But when one is fully in Krishna consciousness and is engaged in His transcendental loving service, one becomes indifferent to all these regulative principles because he has already attained perfection. If one can reach the platform of understanding by service to the Supreme Lord Krishna, he has no longer to execute different types of penances and sacrifices as recommended in revealed scriptures. And, similarly, if one has not understood that the purpose of the Vedas is to reach Krishna and simply engages in the rituals, etc., then he is uselessly wasting time in such engagements. Persons in Krishna consciousness transcend the limit of shabda-brahma, or the range of the Vedas and Upaniñads." (Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. Bhagavad Gita 2:52. purport.)

The important thing is that we are dedicated to the service of the Lord. Ideally it is best if we are all paramahamsas, but realistically it is great if we are honest devotees. And better still if we treat each other nicely, friends.

There are three exalted kinds of devotees - uttama adhikaris, madhyama adhikaris, and kanistha adikaris. Then there are others too who are devotees, according to Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura - for these devotees it is most important, as they are in the majority that the varnashram system is aided by the functional samskaras performed by competant priests - purohits. Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur in his Sri Chaitanya Shikshamrita 3rd chapter says, and our own humble experience, by performing the various functionary rites for the community of devotees, these rites themselves act as the glue which bond society, and community together. We have found that as we all come together in wholistic co-operation to celebrate, and appreciate the practical implementation of Daivi Varna Ashram Dharm, whilst ecstaticly chanting the Hare Krishna Maha mantra, our community is healthy and attractive. "Those who are Vaishnavas - the devotees of Lord Vishnu, true to their sense - for them according to their ashram, and nature, how to lead their life - they should look to 'Satkriya-Saradeepika' of Gopal Bhatta Goswami"(Sri Chaitanya Shikshamrtam, page 83.)

"As for the various fruitive results, such as the attainment of rain, a son, or residing in a celestial material planet, that are offered
to the followers of the karma-kanda rituals in the Vedas. These benefits are offered to attract the minds of ordinary men. When
ordinary men see that these material benefits are actually attained by performing Vedic rituals, they become attracted to study
the Vedas. By studying the Vedas they become able to discriminate between what is temporary and what is eternal. In this way
they gradually become averse to the temporary things of this world and they come to hanker after Brahman. In this way it may
be understood that all the parts of the Vedas describe the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Vedic rituals bring material benefits as a result only when the performer of the ritual is filled with material desire. If the performer
is materially desireless, then he does not gain a material result, but rather the result he obtains is purification of the heart and the
manifestation of spiritual knowledge. Therefore the meaning of the verse 'tam etam vedanuvacanena brahman vividisanti',
'brahmanas study the Veda to understand the Supreme Personality of Godhead'(Brhad Aranyaka Upanishad 4:4:22.) is that in
the Vedic rituals when one is required to worship a particular deva, one does so as a limb or representative of the Supreme
Personality of Godhead, and thus by worshipping them one is actually worshiping the Supreme Lord, the result being that one
gradually becomes pure in heart and awake with spiritual knowledge."(Baladev Vidyabhushana. Govinda Bhasya commentary
on Vedanta Sutra 1:4:4. Adhkarana sutra 4.)

"Unless one is transcendentally situated, it is not possible to cease from sense enjoyment. The process of restriction from sense enjoyment by rules and regulations is something like restricting a diseased person from certain types of eatables. The patient, however, neither likes such restrictions nor loses his taste for eatables. Similarly, sense restriction by some spiritual process like astanga-yoga, in the matter of yama, niyama, äsana, pränäyäma, pratyähära, dhäranä, dhyäna, etc., is recommended for less intelligent persons who have no better knowledge. But one who has tasted the beauty of the Supreme Lord Krishna, in the course of his advancement in Krishna consciousness, no longer has a taste for dead, material things. Therefore, restrictions are there for the less intelligent neophytes in the spiritual advancement of life, but such restrictions are only good until one actually has a taste for Krishna consciousness. When one is actually Krishna conscious, he automatically loses his taste for pale things." (Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. Bhagavad Gita 2:59. purport.)

My purport to this is that if you cannot, or refuse to accept that these principles are scientific, and are proposed in the Vedik literatures, and are supported by the Acharyas, then better one not try to bring progeny into the world.

The devotees of the Lord need to develop real family planning. Such planning means, in a mode of goodness at least, and under the sanction of Bhagavad Gita, and the Acharyas teachings, follow the system of samskaras, the purificatory rites devised to change the consciousness to Krishna consciousness, so that activities that follow such rites are in fact purified.

Simply to think therefore I am, is not Vaishnava philosophy. The impure chanting, while still better than no chanting, is not in itself the potency that we want to invoke for our ceremonies, rituals, rites, or during our life-style development. Therefore the injunction is there:

Srimad-Bhägavatam (5.5.18):

gurur na sa syät sva-jano na sa syät
 pitä na sa syäj janani na sä syät
daivam na tat syät na patish ca sa syän
 na mocayed yah samupeta-mrityum

“One who cannot deliver his dependent from the path of birth and death should never become a spiritual master, a relative, a father or mother, or a worshipable demigod, nor should such a person become a husband.”

"Everyone naturally gets a father and mother at the time of birth, but the real father and mother are those who can release their offspring from the clutches of imminent death. This is possible only for parents advanced in Krishna consciousness. Therefore any parents who cannot enlighten their offspring in Krishna consciousness cannot be accepted as a real father and mother. The following verse from the Bhakti-rasämrita-sindhu (1.2.200) confirms the uselessness of serving ordinary parents:......" (A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. Srimad Chaitanya Charitamrita Antya-lila 13:113. purport.)

In the words of Christ, "Is it the fault of the child, or that of the parents, or is it something from previous lives, that makes a child born blind."

Jesus Heals a Man Born Blind

9 As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth.
2 His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”

3 “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him.
4 As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work.
5 While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”

6 After saying this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man’s eyes.
7 “Go,” he told him, “wash in the Pool of Siloam” (this word means “Sent”). So the man went and washed, and came home seeing.

8 His neighbors and those who had formerly seen him begging asked, “Isn’t this the same man who used to sit and beg?”
9 Some claimed that he was.Others said, “No, he only looks like him.”
But he himself insisted, “I am the man.”

10 “How then were your eyes opened?” they asked.

11 He replied, “The man they call Jesus made some mud and put it on my eyes. He told me to go to Siloam and wash. So I went and washed, and then I could see.”

12 “Where is this man?” they asked him.

“I don’t know,” he said.(John 9.New International Version (NIV))

It is imperitive we understand that what we go through, that who we call, that who we have in our families, and the various pleasures and apins associated with all of this are according to our natures and our deserves. These things do not happen unwarrented. Prudent reading is the essay of Ravindra Swarup prabhu, "Do bad things happen to good people?".

We can blame who we like instead of taking the responsibility upon ourselves, but the fact still remains that when we point at others, there are three fingers pointing back in our direction.

So instead of making excuses for doing things in a lesser or inferior manner, and then trying to caste the blame in every direction but our own, better would be to face up to facts and take note before we plan to procreate.

Varnasankara: Literally means unwanted population. Unwanted by who?
Unwanted by their parents; unwanted by the governments of the world who they become so dependent upon, because of their solo parental situation, on some kind of hand-out from the government. A lack of intelligence, often causes a life of crime, or drug addiction, prostitution or a combination of all of the above. Such a way of life is not wanted by the society in general, and most end up either in jail(s)(of one sort or another), mental institutions, and being dependent on the rest of society.

Reluctantly around the world society does set up reactionary half-way-houses, and reformatory institutions to help such individuals, but can you see the point that I'm making? Better would have been to be pro-active in the first incident, so as not to bring such burdens onto society. Some might see these writings as some right wing - fascist ideals, but the fact still remains, and I'm not interested in wishy washy liberalistic ideals that have allowed things to deteriate to what they are today, possibly promulgated by varnasankaras themselves.

One person suggested to me that these poor souls have to take their birth somewhere. Sadly it is true, shastra tells us:

This is the process of Vedic civilization. In the beginning of life, as a brahmacäri, one has to undergo severe penances and austerities in order to be educated in spiritual values. The brahmacäri, or student, is never allowed to mingle with women and learn from the beginning of life about sex enjoyment. The basic flaw in modern civilization is that boys and girls are given freedom during school and college to enjoy sex life. Most of the children are varna-sankara, meaning “born of undesirable fathers and mothers.” Consequently, the whole world is in chaos. Actually, human civilization should be based on the Vedic principles. This means that in the beginning of life boys and girls should undergo penances and austerities. When they are grown, they should get married, live for some time at home and beget children. When the children are grown up, the man should leave home and search for Krishna consciousness. In this way one can make one’s life perfect by going home to the kingdom of God. (Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. Srimad Bhagavatam 4:31:1. purport.)

Srima Bhagavad Gita 1:42. clearly states:

doshair etaih kula-ghnänäm
varna-sankara-kärakaih
utsädyante jäti-dharmäh
kula-dharmäsh ca shäshvatäh (Bg 1:42.)

"By the evil deeds of those who destroy the family tradition and thus give rise to unwanted children, all kinds of community projects and family welfare activities are devastated."

PURPORT
Community projects for the four orders of human society, combined with family welfare activities, as they are set forth by the institution of sanätana-dharma, or varnäshrama-dharma, are designed to enable the human being to attain his ultimate salvation. Therefore, the breaking of the sanätana-dharma tradition by irresponsible leaders of society brings about chaos in that society, and consequently people forget the aim of life—Vishnu. Such leaders are called blind, and persons who follow such leaders are sure to be led into chaos. (Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. Bhagavad Gita 1:42. purport.)

utsanna-kula-dharmänäm
manuñyänäm janärdana
narake niyatam väso
bhavatity anushushruma  (Bg 1:43.)

"O Krishna, maintainer of the people, I have heard by disciplic succession that those who destroy family traditions dwell always in hell."

PURPORT
Arjuna bases his argument not on his own personal experience, but on what he has heard from the authorities. That is the way of receiving real knowledge. One cannot reach the real point of factual knowledge without being helped by the right person who is already established in that knowledge. There is a system in the varnäshrama institution by which before death one has to undergo the process of atonement for his sinful activities. One who is always engaged in sinful activities must utilize the process of atonement called the präyashchitta. Without doing so, one surely will be transferred to hellish planets to undergo miserable lives as the result of sinful activities. (Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. Bhagavad Gita 1:43. purport.)

utsideyur ime lokä
na kuryäm karma ced aham
sankarasya ca kartä syäm
upahanyäm imäh prajäm  (Bg 3:24.)

"If I did not perform prescribed duties, all these worlds would be put to ruination. I would be the cause of creating unwanted population, and I would thereby destroy the peace of all living beings."

PURPORT
Varna-sankara is unwanted population which disturbs the peace of the general society. In order to check this social disturbance, there are prescribed rules and regulations by which the population can automatically become peaceful and organized for spiritual progress in life. When Lord Krishna descends, naturally He deals with such rules and regulations in order to maintain the prestige and necessity of such important performances. The Lord is the father of all living entities, and if the living entities are misguided, indirectly the responsibility goes to the Lord. Therefore, whenever there is general disregard of regulative principles, the Lord Himself descends and corrects the society. We should, however, note carefully that although we have to follow in the footsteps of the Lord, we still have to remember that we cannot imitate Him. Following and imitating are not on the same level. We cannot imitate the Lord by lifting Govardhana Hill, as the Lord did in His childhood. It is impossible for any human being. We have to follow His instructions, but we may not imitate Him at any time. The Srimad-Bhägavatam (10.33.30–31) affirms:

naitat samäcarej jätu
manasäpi hy anishvarah
vinashyaty äcaran maudhyäd
yathä ’rudro ’bdhi-jam visham

ishvaränäm vachah satyam
tathaiväcaritam kvacit
teshäm yat sva-vaco-yuktam
buddhimäms tat samäcaret

“One should simply follow the instructions of the Lord and His empowered servants. Their instructions are all good for us, and any intelligent person will perform them as instructed. However, one should guard against trying to imitate their actions. One should not try to drink the ocean of poison in imitation of Lord Shiva.”
We should always consider the position of the Ishvaras, or those who can actually control the movements of the sun and moon, as superior. Without such power, one cannot imitate the Ishvaras, who are superpowerful. Lord Shiva drank poison to the extent of swallowing an ocean, but if any common man tries to drink even a fragment of such poison, he will be killed. There are many pseudo devotees of Lord Shiva who want to indulge in smoking ganjä (marijuana) and similar intoxicating drugs, forgetting that by so imitating the acts of Lord Shiva they are calling death very near. Similarly, there are some pseudo devotees of Lord Krishna who prefer to imitate the Lord in His räsa-lilä, or dance of love, forgetting their inability to lift Govardhana Hill. It is best, therefore, that one not try to imitate the powerful, but simply follow their instructions; nor should one try to occupy their posts without qualification. There are so many “incarnations” of God without the power of the Supreme Godhead. (Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. Bhagavad Gita 3:24. purport.)

So similarly we have seen so many try to imitate His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupad and other great devotees in trying to "utilise" material elements while in reality they were not advanced enough to do so. and while it still has to be recognised that they did very worthy service to the community before many of them fell down and went away, or joined opposing camps to challenge the views of their guru, the fact is they fell down, overwhelmed by material nature. Thus one cannot pretend in any way shape or form, one has to be at the level he is at. And if that means that he is not transcendental then maybe one has to be humble and follow what is recommended for us in shastra and by sadhu.

In Bhagavad Gita's 12th chapter ( it is clearly chalked out if you can't do this then do that, but remain in devotional service. The goal is to attain pure loving service to the Lord, and all other exceptions are to allow inclusion until we can, and not that the exception is the goal, as some present.

Reactions to not performing Garbhadanam properly:
"To check the increase of demoniac population, the Vedic civilization enacted so many rules and regulations of social life, the most important of which is the garbhädhäna process for begetting good children. In Bhagavad-gitä Arjuna informed Krishna that if there is unwanted population (varna-sankara), the entire world will appear to be hell. People are very anxious for peace in the world, but there are so many unwanted children born without the benefit of the garbhädhäna ceremony, just like the demons born from Diti. Diti was so lusty that she forced her husband to copulate at a time which was inauspicious, and therefore the demons were born to create disturbances. In having sex life to beget children, one should observe the process for begetting nice children; if each and every householder in every family observes the Vedic system, then there are nice children, not demons, and automatically there is peace in the world. If we do not follow regulations in life for social tranquillity, we cannot expect peace. Rather, we will have to undergo the stringent reactions of natural laws." (Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. Srimad Bhagavatam. 3:17:15. purport.)

"Children begotten under the rules and regulations of the scriptures generally become as good as the father and mother, but children born illegitimately mainly become varna-sankara. The varna-sankara population is irresponsible to the family, community and even to themselves. Formerly the varna-sankara population was checked by the observation of the reformatory method called garbhädhäna-samskära, a child-begetting religious ceremony. In this verse we find that although King Puranjana had begotten so many children, they were not varna-sankara. All of them were good, well-behaved children, and they had good qualities like their father and mother. (Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. Srimad Bhagavatam. 4:27:7. purport.)

"It is the duty of a father and mother to arrange for the marriage of their sons and daughters. That is the obligation in Vedic society. Sons and daughters should not be allowed freedom to intermingle with the opposite sex unless they are married. This Vedic social organization is very good in that it stops the promulgation of illicit sex life, or varna-sankara, which appears under different names in this present day. Unfortunately in this age although the father and mother are anxious to get their children married, the children refuse to get married by the arrangement of the parents. Consequently, the number of varna-sankara has increased throughout the world under different names."  (Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. Srimad Bhagavatam. 4:27:8. purport.)

"The ächäryas specifically mention that in this verse the words mätuh anugrahät (“by the mercy of their mother”) refer to the breast milk of their mother. In India it is a common belief that if a baby is fed his mother’s milk for at least six months, his body will be very strong. Besides that, it is mentioned herein that all the sons of Ägnidhra were endowed with the nature of their mother. Bhagavad-gitä (1:40.) also declares, strishu dushthäsu värshneya jäyate varna-sankarah: when women are polluted, varna-sankara, unqualified children, are generated, and when the varna-sankara population increases, the entire world becomes hellish. Therefore, according to Manu-samhitä, a woman needs a great deal of protection in order to remain pure and chaste so that her children can be fully engaged for the benefit of human society." (Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. Srimad Bhagavatam. 5:2:21. purport.)

"The entire American nation has tried to advance in material opulence without striving to produce ideal human beings. The result is that Americans are now regretting the wholesale criminality of American society and are wondering how America has become so lawless and unmanageable. As stated in Srimad-Bhägavatam (7.5.31), na te viduh svärtha-gatim hi vishnum: persons who are unenlightened do not know the aim of life, which is to return home, back to Godhead. Therefore, both individually and collectively, they try to enjoy so-called material comforts, and they become addicted to wine and women. The men produced in such a society are less than fourth class. They are the unwanted population known as varna-sankara, and as stated in Bhagavad-gitä, an increase of varna-sankara population creates a hellish society. This is the society in which Americans now find themselves.
    Fortunately, however, the Hare Krishna movement has come to America, and many fortunate young men are giving serious attention to this movement, which is creating ideal men of first-class character, men who completely refrain from meat-eating, illicit sex, intoxication and gambling. If the American people are serious about curbing the degraded criminal life of their nation, they must take to the Krishna consciousness movement and try to create the kind of human society advised in Bhagavad-gitä (chätur-varëyam mayä srishtham guna-karma-vibhägashah [Bg. 4:13]). They must divide their society into first-class men, second-class men, third-class men and fourth-class men. Since they are now creating only men who are less than fourth class, how can they avoid the dangers of a criminal society? Long, long ago, Lord Indra regretted his disrespect to his spiritual master, Brihaspati. Similarly, it is advised that the American people regret their mistaken advancement in civilization. They should take advice from the spiritual master, the representative of Krishna. If they do so, they will be happy, and theirs will be an ideal nation to lead the entire world." (Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. Srimad Bhagavatam. 6:7:12. purport.)

samskärä yaträvicchinnäh
sa dvijo ’jo jagäda yam
ijyädhyayana-dänäni
vihitäni dvijanmanäm
janma-karmävadätänäm
kriyäsh cäshrama-coditäh

"Those who have been reformed by the garbhädhäna ceremony and other prescribed reformatory methods, performed with Vedic mantras and without interruption, and who have been approved by Lord Brahmä, are dvijas, or twice-born. Such brähmanas, kshatriyas and vaishyas, purified by their family traditions and by their behavior, should worship the Lord, study the Vedas and give charity. In this system, they should follow the principles of the four äshramas [brahmacarya, grihastha, vänaprastha and sannyäsa]."

PURPORT
After giving a general list of thirty qualifications for one’s behavior, Närada Muni now describes the principles of the four varnas and four äshramas. A human being must be trained in the above-mentioned thirty qualities; otherwise, he is not even a human being. Then, among such qualified persons, the varnäshrama process should be introduced. In the varnäshrama system, the first ceremony for purification is garbhädhäna, which is performed with mantras at the time of sex for propagating a good child. One who uses sex life not for sensual pleasures but only to beget children according to the reformatory method is also accepted as a brahmacäri. One should not waste semen on sensual pleasure, violating the principles of Vedic life. Restraint in sex is possible, however, only when the populace is trained in the above-mentioned thirty qualities; otherwise, it is not possible. Even if one is born in a family of dvijas, or twice-born, if they have not followed the reformatory process he is called a dvija-bandhu—not one of the twice-born, but a friend of the twice-born. The whole purpose of this system is to create good population. As stated in Bhagavad-gitä, when women are polluted the populace is varna-sankara, and when the varna-sankara population increases, the situation of the entire world becomes hellish. Therefore, all the Vedic literatures strongly warn against creating varna-sankara population. When there is varna-sankara population, the people cannot be properly controlled for peace and prosperity, regardless of great legislative assemblies, parliaments and similar bodies."  (Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. Srimad Bhagavatam. 7:11:13. purport.)

Women are to be protected:
This is a much misunderstood statement. To understand a statement we need to look at the goal. When we understand the goal, then we can see why such a statement is made.

strinäm ca pati-devänäm
tac-chushrüshänukülatä
tad-bandhushv anuvrittish ca
nityam tad-vrata-dhäranam

"To render service to the husband, to be always favorably disposed toward the husband, to be equally well disposed toward the husband’s relatives and friends, and to follow the vows of the husband—these are the four principles to be followed by women described as chaste."

...and further in his purport Prabhupada says: "It is very important for peaceful householder life that a woman follow the vow of her husband. Any disagreement with the husband’s vow will disrupt family life. In this regard, Chänakya Pandita gives a very valuable instruction: dampatyoh kalaho nästi tatra shrih svayam ägatäh. When there are no fights between husband and wife, the goddess of fortune automatically comes to the home. A woman’s education should be conducted along the lines indicated in this verse. The basic principle for a chaste woman is to be always favorably disposed toward her husband. In Bhagavad-gitä (1:40) it is said, strishu dushthäsu värshneya jäyate varna-sankarah: if the women are polluted, there will be varna-sankara population. In modern terms, the varna-sankara are the hippies, who do not follow any regulative injunctions. Another explanation is that when the population is varna-sankara, no one can know who is on what platform. The varnäshrama system scientifically divides society into four varëas and four äshramas, but in varna-sankara society there are no such distinctions, and no one can know who is who. In such a society, no one can distinguish between a brähmana, a kshatriya, a vaishya and a shüdra. For peace and happiness in the material world, the varnäshrama institution must be introduced. The symptoms of one’s activities must be defined, and one must be educated accordingly. Then spiritual advancement will automatically be possible." (Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. Srimad Bhagavatam. 7:11:25. purport.)

"As far as the women class are concerned, they are accepted as a power of inspiration for men. As such, women are more powerful than men. Mighty Julius Caesar was controlled by a Cleopatra. Such powerful women are controlled by shyness. Therefore, shyness is important for women. Once this control valve is loosened, women can create havoc in society by adultery. Adultery means production of unwanted children known as varna-sankara, who disturb the world." (Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. Srimad Bhagavatam. 1:9:27. purport.)

vidhäyälika-vishrambham
ajneshu tyakta-sauhridäh
navam navam abhipsantyah
pumshcalyah svaira-vrittayah

"Women are very easily seduced by men. Therefore, polluted women give up the friendship of a man who is their well-wisher and establish false friendship among fools. Indeed, they seek newer and newer friends, one after another."
PURPORT
Because women are easily seduced, the Manu-samhitä enjoins that they should not be given freedom. A woman must always be protected, either by her father, by her husband, or by her elderly son. If women are given freedom to mingle with men like equals, which they now claim to be, they cannot keep their propriety. The nature of a woman, as personally described by Urvashi, is to establish false friendship with someone and then seek new male companions, one after another, even if this means giving up the company of a sincere well-wisher." (Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. Srimad Bhagavatam. 9:14:38. purport.)

The modern day feminists especially think that they are above shastra like the Srimad Bhagavatam, and the teachings of the Smriti shastra (like Manu) and the Acharyas, and that they are masters of their own destiny. Fact of the matter is world wide there are more and more single mothers with children, more lesbians, and prostitution in general is rife. Not only as in the profession Vishya kanya, but the general mentality of women, who think that it is okay to go out hunting and rumaging around the night-life, clubs, pubs, etc., looking for a mate.

"So to have good population, the women should be very chaste. That is the basic principle of Vedic civilization. And to keep the women chaste, it was the function of the responsible father, or, in the absence of father, the elder brother... So he must get the woman, the girl, married. It is compulsory. There was no compulsory for man to marry. Because a man may remain brahmacäri. By training, he can abstain from sex. But if woman is not protected very strictly, it is very difficult. It is very difficult. We are discussing shästra. Don’t think otherwise. Chänakya Pandita says: vishväsam naiva kartavyam strishu räja-kuleshu ca. Vishväsam naiva kartavyam. “Don’t trust women.” Vishväsam naiva kartavyam strishu. Strishu means women. Räja-kula... And politicians. Yes. Vishväsam naiva kartavyam strishu räja-kuleshu ca. Never the trust the politician and woman. Of course, when woman comes to Krishna consciousness, that position is different. We are speaking of ordinary woman. Because Krishna says, in another place, striyo vaishyas tathä shüdrah. They are considered, women, vaishya, the mercantile community, and shüdra, and the worker class, they are less intelligent. Päpa-yoni. When the progeny is defective, then they become less intelligent. So Krishna says:

mäm hi pärtha vyapäshritya
ye ’pi syuh päpa-yonayah
striyo vaishyas tathä shüdras
te ’pi yänti param gatih  [Bg. 9.32]

Even päpa-yoni, degraded birth, even women, shüdra and vaishya, they also can become fully Krishna conscious by training. And they can also go back to home, back to Godhead, without any check.
So when we study things from material point of view, these things are to be taken care. But when a man or woman becomes Krishna conscious, he or she takes care of herself or himself. So it is spoken... Arjuna is speaking of ordinary woman. Strishu dushdhäsu. Just like adharma-abhibhava. Adharma. If the woman is trained, a girl is trained from the very beginning that: “You should remain chaste,” that is dharma. It is called Satitä dharma. Saté means chastity. There are many stories of Sati, chaste woman. Nala-damayanti. His husband became so poverty-stricken. He was king, but he became later on so poverty-stricken that he had no sufficient cloth. The husband and wife was putting on the same cloth, half and half. So still, still there was no divorce. You see. Still the woman did not consider... She was also king’s daughter. But the husband has fallen down to so much poverty-stricken condition. “So why shall I live with him?” These are some of the extreme examples of chastity. Not to speak of olden days, I have seen in Bombay, in 1935 or ’34, on the roadside, there was a beggar. The beggar, the face was defaced. Might be some accident. His eyes and everything became defaced. He could not see, everything became useless. So he, he was sitting on the roadside, and his wife also, also sitting. But I saw that beggar was neat and clean. The wife was also neat and clean. The wife’s business was that to keep the husband always neat and clean and fresh and bring him there and again take him at home. Young woman. So I could understand that the wife is so chaste. She has not left such ugly husband. Because his face was defaced. And helping him.
Because they require some money. So we have seen.

There are many stories of chaste woman. Many stories. There was one disciple of Rämänujäcärya, a very poor. So Rämänujäcärya came in that poor disciple’s house and he saw there was no one in the house. So he thought: “What is this? This is my disciple’s house. He’s family man. Why there is none?” That means he could understand that the door is not locked. Door was closed only. Then he could understand that within the door his wife is there. Therefore he knocked the door, and there was response also, knocking, but she could not come out. That means she, she was so poor that she had no garment. She was keeping herself within the room, naked. So Rämänujäcärya could understand that “There is his wife. Maybe she has no sufficient clothing.” So immediately, his own cloth he gave her, within the room, and the woman came out, putting on that... And then offered obeisances. So he could understand the position. They were very, very poor. Even no clothing. So after putting on the cloth, she went to the grocer’s shop. Because Rämänujäcärya is there. She must receive. Grocer shop. The grocer knew that this woman is very woman, uh, very poor, so his business was to entice her. But she never agreed, although she was young. Now this woman went to the grocer’s shop that: “You know that I am very poor. I require immediately some grains, ghee, and other things. My Guru Mahäräja has come at home. I must receive. So tonight I agree with your proposal. Please give me. Even at the sacrifice of my chastity I want this.” So the grocer was very glad. “Oh, this woman, I have canvassed her, I have tried to induce her. She never agreed. And now she’s agreeing.” So: “All right, you take, whatever you like. Take.” So she was given all kinds of food grains, as much as she wanted. And she cooked and gave to the spiritual master and his associates, his servants. Everything was very nice. In the meantime, the husband came, working whole day. And he saw that everything was nicely done. “Guru Mahäräja is fed, and his associates, they’re fed.” So he asked his wife: “How did you get all these things?” Then she narrated the whole story. Then husband also said: “Yes, you have promised. All right. Take some prasädam and go to him. Because you have promised to meet him this evening. So go.” Then the grocer heard the whole story and his mind became changed. “Oh, such a chaste woman. Such a faithful... You are my mother. You take more ingredients, grains, as much as you like, you shall...”
So there are still. That is not very long ago. So this was the training. And the psychology is that woman, the first man she meets and if she is kept carefully, she becomes staunch lover. This is psychology. There is good psychology in maintaining the society. Therefore a woman, especially in India, especially in Bengal, before attaining puberty, she was married. Not to meet the husband unless she attains puberty. But she remained at father’s house, but she must know that: “I am married. I have got husband.” This psychology. Then she becomes very chaste. Because she thinks of her husband, and becomes more and more devoted. So this arrangement that woman must be married before puberty... Or even after puberty, she must get a husband. So if this dharma... It is called kanyä-däya, kanyä-däya. Kanyä-däya means it is very obligatory that the father must get the daughter married. This is dharma. So if this dharma, or this religious principle is violated, that is... Arjuna is marking: adharma-abhi, abhi-bhava. When people become neglectful of the family tradition and religious principles, adharma abhibhavät krishna pradushyanti kula-striyah. Kula-striyah. Kula-striyah means... Kula means family, and striyah means woman. So woman must be belonging to a respectable family. Therefore it is said: kula-striyah. Not society-girls. Kula-striyah. Of the family. We have got experience in our school, college days. I was sitting in a friend’s house and one sweeper woman, sweeper, with broomstick and with, what is called, covering?
Devotee: Shawl.
Prabhupäda: She was standing, say, about twenty yards distant from our sitting place. So I asked my friend that: “Your, this sweeper woman wants to come in. She’s waiting because we are sitting. She is ashamed to come. So let us come here.” So we stood separately. That means although she was a sweeper woman, still we had to honor her to enter. We stood up separately. She was feeling that; “How can I go between two men?” This we have seen in our... So this is Vedic culture. Woman should not be allowed to mix with man. Not allowed. In Japan also, the same system. Before marriage, they can mix. But after marriage they cannot mix. In Japan also I have seen. But in India still the system is there. Woman, without husband, cannot talk with any man. That is also psychological. In the Bhägavata it is stated that man is like ghee, butterpot, and woman is like fire. Therefore, as they, as soon as there is fire and butter pot, the butter pot must melt. Therefore they should be kept aside. These are the statements. And the shästra says that in a solitary place you should not remain even with your daughter, even with your sister, even with your mother.

mätri-svasra-duhitravan
na viviktah sanevashet
balavän indriya-grämo
vidväms api karshati

Either your mother or sister, or daughter. No, nobody becomes lusty with mother or sister or daughter. But shästra says: “Even your mother or sister or daughter, you should not live in a solitary place.” Then one may question that “How it is possible?” No. The shästra says: balavän indriya-grämah. The senses are so strong that it becomes polluted. “Now it may be, some rascal fools may be polluted like that.” No. Shästra... Vidväms api karshati. Even the most learned, he can be polluted. So sometimes in India, I am criticized that I keep women and men in the same temple. In India, that is not allowed. No women can live at night. They can come and go. But I defend myself that this is the system of the country, the women and men, they intermingle. How can I check it? Then the women, shall I not give them any chance for chanting Hare Krishna? No, I shall do this chance, I shall give this chance to woman even at the risk. That is my reply.
So therefore chastity is very, very important thing for producing good population, nice population. So unless the population is good... If the population becomes hippies, then how there can be any peace and prosperity? Therefore, to produce children, there is samskära. First samskära is Garbhädhäna samskära. This is called kula-dharma. Garbhädhäna samskära means when, especially the high caste, brähmana, kshatriya especially...Not shüdra. Shüdra has no samskära. Only the higher class, brähmana, kshatriya and vaishya. Vaishya also sometimes no samskära. But brähmana, kshatriya must have samskära. Dasha-vidhä samskäräh. Ten kinds of samskära. One of the samskära... Samskära means purificatory method. One of the samskära is also marriage. One must get married. So, before the child is given birth, there is a samskära, what is called? Garbhädhäna samskära. It is not that the husband and wife mix without any restriction and have sex life at any time. No. You know that, that mother of Hiranyakashipu, Kashyapa Muni, I think, father. So she, the woman became very much sexually excited and the husband replied that: “This is not time. This is very bad time, evening. Why you are insisting?” But she was too much lusty, and because the husband was obliged, Hiranyakashipu was born, a demon was born.
Therefore there is Garbhädhäna samskära, to find out when the husband and wife should mix and give birth to a child. Therefore in the Bhagavad-gitä you’ll see that sex life which is according to the principle of religious ideas, that is “I am.” So sex life is not bad, provided it is executed according to the religious principles. So Garbhädhäna samskära... Just, what is the idea? The idea is the child born must be first class. He’ll be able to become Krishna conscious. He’ll be able to understand the shästras, the Vedas. He must have the good brain. These were the ideas. But if they are not born in that way, like cats and dog, that is called varna-sankara. Varna-sankara. You cannot specify whether he’s a brähmana or a kshatriya and vaishya and shüdra. That is called varna-sankara. So varna-sankara population is not good. Varna-sankara. No caste. No designation, no definition to which class this man belongs.
So at the present moment, because these purificatory processes are not accepted, even in India... Accepted, they’re unable. Everything has topsy-turvied. Therefore the shästra says that: “Accept everyone as shüdra.” Kalau shüdrah sambhava. There is no more brähmana, kshatriya or vaishya. All shüdras. We have to accept. Because no Vedic culture, no Garbhädhäna samskära. They are born like cats and dogs. So where is this division? There cannot be. Therefore, accept them as shüdra. Varna-sankara is less than shüdra. So at least, shüdra they should be. So there is no Vaidic dikshä. For shüdra, there is no dikshä, there is no initiation. Initiation is meant for the persons who are born in brähmana family, kshatriya family, or vaishya family. The shüdra has no initiation. So in India there are professional gurus. They initiate shüdras, but do not eat foodstuff touched by the disciple. So there are so many things, that if he’s initiated, how he can remain shüdra? But they keep him shüdra; at the same time, they become guru. Sanätana Gosvämi gives direction in the Hari-bhakti-viläsa that: tathä dikshä-vidhänena dvijatvam jäyate nrinäm. If properly initiated, he becomes immediately brähmana. Dvijatvam. Dvija means second birth. Yathä känchanatäm yäti kämsyam rasa-vidhänatah. There is a chemical process that kämsya, bell metal, can be turned into gold by mixing with proportionately mercury. Now here is a hint of chemistry. If anyone can prepare gold... But it is very difficult to mix mercury. As soon as there is little heat, immediately the mercury’s finished. So there is a process. Everything has process. Many yogis know how to make gold from copper. Actually, chemically, copper, tin and mercury, if you mix proportionately, it will be gold. So Sanätana Gosvämi gives this example. As the copper and tin, these two metals, mixed with mercury, there can be production of gold, similarly, by proper initiation, by the proper spiritual master, one shüdra, even though he’s a shüdra, less than shüdra, varna-sankara, or candäla, he can become dvija, brähmana. So our process is to make dvija. Päncarätriki vidhi. Päncarätriki vidhi. That is recommended.

shruti-smriti-puränädi-
päncarätriki vidhim vinä
aikäntiki harer bhaktir
utpätayaiva kalpate
 [Bhakti rasamrita sindhu. 1.2.101]

Rüpa Gosvämi gives this direction that the initiation must be done according to shruti, smriti or päncharätriki vidhi. There is nyäya-prasthäna, shruti-prasthäna and smriti-prasthäna. To make spiritual progress in three ways: by the Vedänta philosophy, or Vedic ways, or according to Smriti. Smriti means authorized books written in accordance to the Shruti. Shruti smriti. Just like Bhagavad-gitä. Bhagavad-gitä is not directly Vedas, but the all the stanzas of Bhagavad-gitä, they’re strictly according to the Nyäya-prasthäna and Shruti-prasthäna. So any book which is strictly written according to the Vedas and Vedäntas, that is also accepted as Vedic literature. So Päncharätriki vidhi means that it doesn’t matter whether man is shüdra or candäla... Candäla means less than shüdra. Panchama The fifth grade. First class, brähmana; second class, kshatriya; third class, vashya; fourth class, shüdra; and below this fourth class, they’re all candälas. Candälas means pancama. Untouchable. They are called untouchable. So even the untouchables... Because Krishna has said: Mäm hi pärtha vyapäshritya ye ’pi syuh päpa-yonayah [Bg. 9:32]. The päpa-yoni, candäla means päpa-yoni, born of low-grade family... The Bhägavata says, Shukadeva Gosvämi says, that: Kiräta-hünändhra-pulinda-pulkashä äbhira-shumbhä yavanä khasädayah. Yavana, mlechca yavana. They, they are called... They are also counted amongst the candälas. Ye ’nye ca päpäh, even lower than that. Ye ’nye ca päpäh shuddhyanti. They becomes purified. How? Prabhavishnave namah. When they are initiated to become Krishna conscious. So if a, one may argue, “How it is possible to make a candäla a Vaishnava?” No, that is possible. Prabhavishnave namah. Vishnu is so powerful, omnipotent. He can do that. So only by Vishnu mantra, by becoming a Vaishnava, one can transcend all this restriction, sociology. They can be. That is confirmed by Krishna: mäm cävyabhicärini bhakti-yogena yah sevate sa gunän brahmätityaitan brahma-bhüyaya kalpate. Immediately he transcends. He’s in the Brahman platform. One who has taken very seriously this devotional service, he’s no more on this material platform. So long we are in the material platform, these distinction, brähmana, kshatriya, vaishya, varna-sankara, they are considered. But when one is transcendentally situated, simply in pure, unalloyed service of the Lord, he’s no more in the material platform.
He’s in the spiritual platform. Brahma-bhüyäya kalpate. He’s already in the Brahman platform. Brahman platform means sa gunän samatitya etän. This material platform means three modes of material nature. Sattva-guna, rajo-guna, tamo-guna. Here, even one is brähmana... Sattva-guna means the brahminical qualification. He’s also contaminated. He’s conditioned by the material nature. And what to speak of shüdra and varna-sankara? Everyone is conditioned by the material nature. Daivi hy eshä gunamayi [Bg. 7.14]. Brähmana means to be situated, a first-class prisoner. A first-class prisoner is also prisoner. You cannot say that he’s free. No, free is different from a first-class prisoner. Sometimes, any respectable gentleman, some political offense, he’s put into jail. Just like Gandhi also went to jail. And so many others. But they were given the place, first-class prisoners. They got servant. They got separate bungalow and books, library, all facilities. But they cannot go out of the prison house. They are called first-class prisoners. So to become a brähmana means to becomes a first-class prisoner. That’s all.
So our, our point of view is not to become a first-class prisoner. To get out of the prison. That is Vaishnava vision. You’ll find... Last night I have given comments that Mädhavendra Puri, he was performing the Annakuta ceremony and installing the Deity. So everything was being brähmana, done by brähmana, qualified brähmana, but Mädhavendra Puri initiated them again to become Vaishnava. Then he gave them in charge of the Deity worship. So the Vaishnava functions cannot be done evey by a brähmana. Even one is qualified brähmana, he is unfit to propagate Vaishnava philosophy. That is stated in the shästras.

sat-karma-nipuno vipro
mantra-tantra-vishäradah
avaishnavo gurur na syäd
vaisnavah shva-paco guruh

Shva-paco means candäla, who was eating dog. That is considered the lowest. There are different kinds of meat-eaters. But in India, the cow-flesh–eaters, they were none. Some of them were eating hogs, even dogs. No government will not allow to eat the cow flesh. No, that is not allowed. If you want to eat flesh, you can eat hogs and dogs, and other, goats also. But you cannot touch a cow. This is restriction. First of all, they should not be meat-eater. But if you are staunch meat-eaters, then you cannot touch cow. You can eat some other animal. So shva-pacah. Shva-pacah means the dog-eaters. In Korea, and some parts of there, they eat dogs. They, they sell dog flesh publicly. So in India also there is a class. In Asamsaye, they eat also dog. So the dog-eaters, they are considered lowest of the mankind. Sva-pacah. Shva means dog and pacah means who cooks. Shva-pacah means candäla. If a man from the shva-pacah family, or the candäla family, he becomes a Vaishnava, strictly according to the orders, then he can become guru, but not a brähmana if he’s not a Vaishnava. This is the stricture. Even one is born in the family of a brähmana, and he’s not only born, he’s qualified, sat-karma-nipuno... Nipuno means qualified. Brähmana has got six kinds of occupation. He must be learned himself, he must be able to teach others Vedic literatures. That is called padhana pädhana. Then he must worship... Worship means demigods. Or they consider that any demigod or God, the same, some impersonalists. So yajana, yäjana. There are other also, religious ritual functions. They perform. That is called yajana. Yajana yäjana. And däna pratigriha. A brähmana takes contribution. A brähmana is never engaged in service like shüdra. That is shüdra’s business.
So these are called dharmas. There are so many departmental dharmas. So Arjuna is referring to this, that: adharma-abhibhavät krishna. When these principles are sacrificed and there is awakening of adharma, irreligious principles, then the result will be... Adharma abhibhavät krishna pradudyanti kula-striyah. Then the stricture will be withdrawn and the family women, women, they’ll be polluted. And as soon as the women is polluted, strishu dushdhäsu, the woman is polluted, värshneya, “My dear Krishna,” jäyate varna-sankara, “then the whole population will be varna-sankara.” And the next verse will explain how varna sankara population makes this world exactly like hell. That is stated. (Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. 28th July 1973. Bhagavad Gita lecture 1:40. London.)

"So these are the principles. This is called human society. Varnäshramäcaravatä purushena parah pumän. In human society, vishnur ärädhyate, the Lord is worshiped. But ne te viduh svärtha-gatim hi vishnuh. At the present moment, these rascals, they do not know. Andhä yathändair upaniyamänäh. And the so-called leaders, they are blind, themselves, and they are trying to lead other blind men. This is the social position. Therefore there is no more hope of reviving the Vedic culture. But by the grace of Caitanya Mahäprabhu, ceto darpanam märjanam... The Vedic culture means to cleanse the heart and make him perfect. Brahma-bhütam, perfectly spiritualized. That is Vedic culture. Vedaish ca sarvair aham eva vedyah [Bg. 15:15]. To know the Supreme Lord. That is Vedic culture. Now everything is topsy-turvied. Therefore, by the grace of Caitanya Mahäprabhu, He has simply recommended: harer näma harer näma harer näma eva kevalam [Chaitanya Charitamrita. Ädi 17.21]. Only chant. Then the result will be: ceto-darpana-märjanam [Chaitanya Charitamrita. Antya 20.12]. The same result as the Vedic culture introduced will purify the heart to understand one’s position. By the chanting of Hare Krishna mantra, the same position will come. Kirtanäd eva krishnasya mukta-sangah param vrajet. Therefore there is no question of being depressed that: “We do not belong to this, do not belong to that.” Never mind. Whatever it is. Simply chant and you’ll become purified. That is Krishna consciousness movement.
Thank you very much. (end) (Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. 28th July 1973. Bhagavad Gita lecture 1:40. London.)

"In our own lives, we are meant to follow the principles indicated herewith for getting good children. Of course, it is not possible for everyone to get Krishna as his son, but at least one can get very good sons and daughters for the benefit of human society. In Bhagavad-gitä it is said that if human beings do not follow the spiritual way of life, there will be an increase of varna-sankara population, population begotten like cats and dogs, and the entire world will become like hell. Not practicing Krishna consciousness but simply encouraging artificial means to check the population will be futile; the population will increase, and it will consist of varna-sankara, unwanted progeny. It is better to teach people how to beget children not like hogs and dogs, but in controlled life.
    Human life is meant not for becoming a hog or dog, but for tapo divyam [Srimad Bhagavatam 5:5:1], transcendental austerity. Everyone should be taught to undergo austerity, tapasya. Although it may not be possible to undergo tapasya like that of Prishni and Sutapä, the shästra has given an opportunity for a method of tapasya very easy to perform—the sankirtana movement. One cannot expect to undergo tapasya to get Krishna as one’s child, yet simply by chanting the Hare Krishna mahä-mantra (kirtanäd eva krishnasya), one can become so pure that one becomes free from all the contamination of this material world (mukta-sangah) and goes back home, back to Godhead (param vrajet). The Krishna consciousness movement, therefore, is teaching people not to adopt artificial means of happiness, but to take the real path of happiness as prescribed in the shästra—the chanting of the Hare Krishna mantra—and become perfect in every aspect of material existence."  (Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. Srimad Bhagavatam 10:3:34-35. purport.)

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