Query regarding reading of BG and SB during menses

[BVKS Sanga]

From: "Alamelu mangai" 

To: "BVKS Sanga" 

Sent: 16-05-2021 12.57.40 PM

Subject: Re: Query regarding reading of BG and SB during menses

Respected prabhus, 

Please accept my humble obesiances

All glories to Srila Prabhupada and Guru Maharaja

In regard to this discussion, I found one reference from Sri Bhaktisiddhanta Vaibhava, volume two, Pg 103

Śrīla Sarasvatī

Ṭhākura further disdained the smārtas superficial and faithless approach:

Because smārtas emphasize external, material purity, their worship is idolatrous and

atheistic. Although concerned with purity and impurity, they act contrary to the wishes of

the Lord and the spirit of śāstra. They think that even mahā-prasāda, Gaṅgā water,

caraṇāmṛta, śālagrāma, and śāstra become contaminated by contacting impure items, that

if the Lord appears in the material universe He becomes defiled by matter, and that if a

Vaiṣṇava delivers a fallen soul from the ephemeral world he becomes contaminated in the

process. If, as they maintain, mahā-prasāda loses its spiritual quality upon touching the

hand of a caṇḍāla, and the Bhāgavata if covered by leather becomes contaminated, then

what is the purifying quality of these items? How can one person uplift another? How can

a sinful untouchable be redeemed?

32 *

Your servant

Anupama Devi dasi

On Fri, 30 Apr 2021, 11:41 BVKS Sanga, wrote:

From: "Divya Prema dasa" 

Sent: 28-04-2021 2.40.07 PM

Subject: Re: Query regarding reading of BG and SB during menses

Dear Jaya Nityanand Prabhuji 

Dandavat Pranaam. Jai Srila Prabhupada. Guru Gaurnaga Jayateh. 

Thank you for presenting clarity on this topic. Within the same elucidation as stated below I have a doubt and request your kind self to please clear it..... 

Within the context of menstruation, all Vaishnava traditions do not prefer to touch any holy items during this period. Some Grhasthas devotees informed me that their wives do not even use the Tulasi beads for chanting during this time. Instead they chant on neem beads or digital counter. Chanting Lord's holy names is for all time, place, circumstances (kirtaniyah sada harih). 

We understand there is 2 types of kirtan:

1. Recitation/ chanting of the Holy Name

2. Chanting  of the glories of the Lord & His devotees in the form of recitation of BG/ SB/ similar literatures so how can we differentiate the two during menses. 

Yours in service, 

Divya Prema dasa

From: "Jay Nityananda Das" 

Sent: 25-04-2021 3.31.39 PM

Subject: Query regarding reading of BG and SB during menses

Dear Guru Maharaja and other respected Devotees,

Namo Namah.

Due to Corona isolation I was not able to respond to the concerns of the devotees regarding the issue. I deeply apologize for this. Please see the below references.

JND:  This is an excerpt from the commentary of Jiva Gosvami, Vishvanatha Cakravarti and Mukunda on BRS [1.2.118-120] that mentions that to worship the deity after touching a woman during her menses is an offense in deity worship. The original reference is found in Varaha Purana.

 

JND: The 11th vilasa of Hari-bhakti-vilasa, verse 720, mentions that as one of the "SADACARAs" , a Vaishnava is not supposed to see, touch or have conversation with a woman (devotee/non devotee alike) in her courses (udakyA-darshanaM, sparshanaM, sambhAShaNam).

Now, someone may argue---Are Vaishnavas supposed to follow the "SADACARAs"? In response to that Srila Sanatana Gosvami writes in his "Dig-darshini" commentary on BRS, 11th vilasa, verses 800-801 as follows:

Translation: These are various kinds of conducts of "good people" such as --one should not sleep under a banyan tree or in a Cowshed at night, one should not rub one's eye by using one hand in the morning and so on. Devotees are expected to follow them, however, among such good conducts, some are related to avoiding poverty while some are related to avoiding diseases and so on. Hence, such conducts may overstep devotional principles and thus, devotees may not be expected to follow them.

So, should such good conducts be followed by the Vaishnavas?--In response to that the Author writes the verse beginning with "nityatvam"-These conducts have already been stated to be prescribed in the very beginning of writing "SADACARA", and also because of their glorious nature, Vaishnavas must follow them as it may happen that due to poverty, diseases and so on, one's devotional service may get affected. If it were not so, then such good conducts would not had been written in this book, that has been declared to mention the necessary duties or actions of the Vaishnavas.  

JND: Both Jiva Gosvami and Sanatana Gosvami recognize the prohibition of not worshiping the deity in menstruation. HBV supports the prohibition of women during menses as one of the "SADACARA " followed by a Vaishnava. Not only Gaudiyas, Madhvas and Ramanujas also follow the restrictions regarding the menstruation. Regarding Srila Prabhupada's letter..

>>According to the smarta vidhi, women cannot touch deity during menstrual period but the goswami viddhi allows. But it is better not to do it. One thing is that the seva can never be stopped for any reason. This also for the cooking. [Letter to Amsu -- Vrindaban 13 August, 1974 ]

The emphasis is not on worshiping the deity in menstruation as it is also not a norm in Gaudiya Vaishnavism (see the references above), however, the deity worship cannot be stopped for any reason--even in menstruation (if there is no other alternative)! This is in contrast to Smartas, who can not allow women in her period to worship the deity in emergencies. The point is that devotee women should not worship the deity in menstruation, however, if there is no other alternative available, then such devotee women may worship the deity.    

>>She can read Srila Prabhupada's books in phone/in form of book. Although both are respected equally yet there is difference, one cannot offer arati to Krsna's picture in phone or perform abiskek. Although Deities and Srila Prabhupada's books are respected equally, we distribute books not deities. So there is a difference. 

 

Within the context of menstruation, all Vaishnava traditions do not prefer to touch any holy items during this period. Some Grhasthas devotees informed me that their wives do not even use the Tulasi beads for chanting during this time. Instead they chant on neem beads or digital counter. Chanting Lord's holy names is for all time, place, circumstances (kirtaniyah sada harih). 

Certain things are holy by their nature e.g. Tulasi, Deity form and so on, however, certain things are not intrinsically holy but, they become holy by the spiritual content they carry e.g. spiritual books in paper form, kindle form, hearing devices that contain spiritual discourses and so on. We do not respect newspapers, however, we do respect those papers that contain spiritual substance i.e. BG in paper form, SB in paper form, BTG magazines and so on.

So, as we advance toward traditional culture, we should be respecting traditional values as well. Srila Bhaktisiddhanata Sarasvati treated printing press as a brhad-mrdanga and hence, included its image in the logo of Gaudiya Mission along with other holy images i.e. Mrdanga, Tilaka, their Lordships Sri Sri Laksmi-Narayana, their Lordships Sri Sri Radha-Krsna and so on. 

Traditionally there were no electronic devices, hence, there was no discussion found in the Dharma-shastras regarding dealing with them. Before the advent of Kali-yuga, there was no point to discuss how to show respect to scriptures in paper form (as there was no need to write scriptures in paper form), however, through traditions alone we come to know about the "SADACARA" regarding treating holy books in paper form. IMHO, why should we not extend this practice to electronic version of the books or similar electronic devices that contain holy substance (as far as possible)! 

>>1. What is the nature and cause of impurity during menses? If the
cause of impurity is bleeding of blood, does similar restrictions
apply to men who might be bleeding due to injury?

2. Or is the impurity due to women accepting one-fourth of sin of

Indra's killing a brahmana? (SB 6.9.9)     

JND: As per the nature of restrictions, it does seem to be of bleeding impurity as any woman having bleeding from any other part of her body is not supposed to hide herself from her family members or from public. According to Vashishta-smrti, the sin of brahma-hatya done by King Indra manifest as menstrual cycle in women.

Hope this serves the devotees,

   

das,

Jaya Nityananda Dasa

("Nandagrama" Varnasrama Community Project)

[BVKS Sanga]

From: "Sridhara Srinivasa das"

Sent: 17-05-2021 11.57.53 AM

Subject: Re: Query regarding reading of BG and SB during menses

Respected Guru Maharaja and esteemed vaishnava members

Please accept my humble obeisances. .

All glories to Srila Prabhupada and Guru Maharaja.

Namah sadas

I checked with with multiple Sri Vaishnava scholars on these topics at different times and following is a summary of their answers, added along in parenthesis are my humble realisations. I attempt to answer these topics only for my own purification so i am eager to be corrected wherever required.

1. Chanting of Vedic mantras and Vedic shabdhas by Stris: Sriman Ubhaya Vedanti M.A.VenkataKrishna Swami.

Swami says that Vedic mantras have to be pronounced by controlling the air in certain ways that puts enormous pressure due to compression and elongation of stomach sack. This is the main reason you may observe South Indian Brahmanas having bulged stomach (this is Swami's explanation). A woman cannot afford to do this because her uterus will be damaged causing infertility, abortions, excess bleeding during mensus, and also their beauty will be diminished. These are the various physical limitations for a woman. Especially during menses there will be enormous pressure due to mental and psychological agonies that they literally cannot utter these shabdas in proper consciousness. Why dark room is recommended is because of unbearable pain they should just sleep well during those days for long hours. But women can chant holy names and Divya Prabhandham (this is true that I saw in Bhardvaja Samhita chapter 1 text 54, pratlomadi bhasyaika laukika mantram- meaning for pratiloma and others they can receive mantras in bhasya form in their regional languages. Our understanding is that Srimad Bhagavatam is a natural commentary of Vyasadev harmonizes with the above verse from BS 1.54). During mensus, it is recommended that they take prasadam and rest or sleep well.

2. Regarding cooking or making offerings, Sriman Vasudevan Tattacariar of Sri Rangam says, women or in general during asucam period, devotees would not use regular kitchen and only use alternate kitchen or equivalent facility. In those circumstances the tradition is to invite the Lord to the alternate kitchen or mentally take offering to the Lords alter and offer it to the Lord. 

He also stated that smartas believe that broken salagrama silas should not be worshipped. But Vaishnavas do not accept this and worship the broken pieces as equal to the Lord (advaitam acyutam anadi rupam...Purnamadam Purnamamidam...).

3. (So from the above answers we find that Vaishnava sampradaya acaryas have clearly kept service to Lord Krishna at the center and do not follow the consciousness of smara in following the vidhi, although sometimes it may appear outwardly of adopting of smarta practices.)

I hope this helps.

Your humble servant

Sridhara Srinivasa dasa

[BVKS Sanga]

From: "Jay Nityananda Das" 

Sent: 17-05-2021 1.06.24 PM

Subject: Re: Query regarding reading of BG and SB during menses

Respected Mother,

Namo Namah.

>>"...Although concerned with purity and impurity, they act contrary to the wishes of

the Lord and the spirit of śāstra. They think that even mahā-prasāda, Gaṅgā water,

caraṇāmṛta, śālagrāma, and śāstra become contaminated by contacting impure items..."

Within the context of regulations to be followed by women during menstruation, it is not a concern whether holy items such as books, beads and so on, get contaminated due to touch of women in her menses (and hence, should be avoided by them), however, the direction has been clearly delineated by Vaishnava Traditions not to touch such holy items during "periods". There could be several gross and subtle reasons behind such practices, and we  may not be able to know or appreciate them completely by our reasoning  as "Dharma" is complex and so is its application.

Such practices could have been given as a matter of respecting the holy items. For example, we do not carry holy items such as books in the toilet though we know that books are transcendental and beyond contamination. (Respecting holy items or Superiors is also a part of Vaishnava culture, and thus, it should also be seen as a limb of devotional service though we do not generally emphasize it in the beginning of our Preaching.)    

 Also, it is reasonable to follow those practices ( without maintaining a doubt ) that have been approved by all Vaishnava Traditions including Gaudiya, who do not follow Smarta-Vichara.    

das,

Jaya Nityananda Dasa

("Nandagrama" Varnasrama Community Project)

On Mon, May 17, 2021 at 10:34 AM BVKS Sanga wrote:

From: "Alamelu mangai" 

To: "BVKS Sanga" 

Sent: 16-05-2021 12.57.40 PM

Subject: Re: Query regarding reading of BG and SB during menses

Respected prabhus, 

Please accept my humble obesiances

All glories to Srila Prabhupada and Guru Maharaja

In regard to this discussion, I found one reference from Sri Bhaktisiddhanta Vaibhava, volume two, Pg 103

Śrīla Sarasvatī

Ṭhākura further disdained the smārtas superficial and faithless approach:

Because smārtas emphasize external, material purity, their worship is idolatrous and

atheistic. Although concerned with purity and impurity, they act contrary to the wishes of

the Lord and the spirit of śāstra. They think that even mahā-prasāda, Gaṅgā water,

caraṇāmṛta, śālagrāma, and śāstra become contaminated by contacting impure items, that

if the Lord appears in the material universe He becomes defiled by matter, and that if a

Vaiṣṇava delivers a fallen soul from the ephemeral world he becomes contaminated in the

process. If, as they maintain, mahā-prasāda loses its spiritual quality upon touching the

hand of a caṇḍāla, and the Bhāgavata if covered by leather becomes contaminated, then

what is the purifying quality of these items? How can one person uplift another? How can

a sinful untouchable be redeemed?

32 *

Your servant

Anupama Devi dasi

On Fri, 30 Apr 2021, 11:41 BVKS Sanga, wrote:

From: "Divya Prema dasa" 

Sent: 28-04-2021 2.40.07 PM

Subject: Re: Query regarding reading of BG and SB during menses

[BVKS Sanga]

From: "Sridhara Srinivasa das" 

Sent: 17-05-2021 3.59.52 PM

Subject: Re: Query regarding reading of BG and SB during menses

Namah Sadas

Some additional details to Jaya Nityananda Prabhu's statements.

During menses if a man touches woman he has to take bath immediately or else his yajno pavitram is void.

Similarly all the items in the house should be purified by invoking Varuna deva via Punyavacanam followed by dattam (charity to Brahmanas). So its better to make some arrangements in the grha for alternate kitchen if in emergency times a woman in menses have to cook to eat something when none else can cook for her..

Other alternative would be for other family members to cook in the order of qualifications. 

Last resort would be to get prasadam from devotees neighborhood. This is usually done when the whole family is in asaucam (for 10 days in case of immediate family member) during which time they cannot light any fire for asaucam.

When my father left his body, the priest told me that as per sastric injunctions after the soul passes away, for 3hours there is no saucam period so within that time he told me to take bath enter the puja room, keep some raw rice and jaggery with Tulasi in a cup and retrieve out a lamp, its oil and any other essential utensils and close the altar. 

Before the the expiry of three hours one may go to the kitchen or sacrificial fire and light this lamp. They should ensure the lamp never goes off so one keeps pouring oil and wicks at required times. This lamp serves two purposes: one for the soul in its journey to yamaraja's abode it acts as the light on the dark path. Secondly, this also acts to maintain the sacrificial fire, since for 3 days the grihastha will not be able to do any homa or yajna.

The other part that one cannot take holy books into toilet: while it is true there are certain mantras to be recited before, during, and after evacuation (asaucam), brushing and rinsing mouth, and bathing (snanam). We do recite appropriate mantra to purify from forced to do inauspicious activities such as evacuation. 

This is a very complex subject, as complex as a culture. Every action has basis in dharma sastras and have deeper import behind it that it is mainly followed in parampara of tradition rather than explicit study.

Your humble servant

Sridhara Srinivasa dasa

On Mon, May 17, 2021, 13:18 BVKS Sanga wrote:

From: "Jay Nityananda Das" 

Sent: 17-05-2021 1.06.24 PM

Subject: Re: Query regarding reading of BG and SB during menses

Respected Mother,

Namo Namah.

>>"...Although concerned with purity and impurity, they act contrary to the wishes of
the Lord and the spirit of śāstra. They think that even mahā-prasāda, Gaṅgā water,
caraṇāmṛta, śālagrāma, and śāstra become contaminated by contacting impure items..."

Within the context of regulations to be followed by women during menstruation, it is not a concern whether holy items such as books, beads and so on, get contaminated due to touch of women in her menses (and hence, should be avoided by them), however, the direction has been clearly delineated by Vaishnava Traditions not to touch such holy items during "periods"

There could be several gross and subtle reasons behind such practices, and we  may not be able to know or appreciate them completely by our reasoning  as "Dharma" is complex and so is its application.

[Bhakti Vikasa Swami]

Many things smartas and Vaisnavas do the same, or very similarly.

[BVKS Sanga]

From: "Jay Nityananda Das" 

Sent: 18-05-2021 11.55.49 AM

Subject: Re: Query regarding reading of BG and SB during menses

  >>This is a very complex subject, as complex as a culture. Every action has basis in dharma sastras and have deeper import behind it that it is mainly followed in parampara of tradition rather than explicit study. [HG Shridhara Srinivasa Prabhu ji]

It is the right mentality for understanding or approaching Scriptures. Reasoning has its own limits, sometimes scriptures contradict each other, opinions of sages also differ, hence, the safest path is that has been advocated by the Mahajans. [Mahabharata, Vana-parva (313.117)]     

  

A side point: Smartas do have differences (some are even offensive ) with respect to Vaisnavas, in their approach to applying Vedic injunctions due to their insufficient knowledge of the Scriptures, however, both of them share the same cultural values for the most part. Hence, we should not be dismissing Smartas for everything they say or do!   

das,

Jaya Nityananda Dasa

("Nandagrama" Varnasrama Community Project)

On Mon, May 17, 2021 at 1:18 PM BVKS Sanga <sa...@bvkssanga.info> wrote:

From: "Jay Nityananda Das" 

Sent: 17-05-2021 1.06.24 PM

Subject: Re: Query regarding reading of BG and SB during menses

Respected Mother,

Namo Namah.

>>"...Although concerned with purity and impurity, they act contrary to the wishes of
the Lord and the spirit of śāstra. They think that even mahā-prasāda, Gaṅgā water,
caraṇāmṛta, śālagrāma, and śāstra become contaminated by contacting impure items..."

Within the context of regulations to be followed by women during menstruation, it is not a concern whether holy items such as books, beads and so on, get contaminated due to touch of women in her menses (and hence, should be avoided by them), however, the direction has been clearly delineated by Vaishnava Traditions not to touch such holy items during "periods". There could be several gross and subtle reasons behind such practices, and we  may not be able to know or appreciate them completely by our reasoning  as "Dharma" is complex and so is its application.

On Fri, 30 Apr 2021, 11:41 BVKS Sanga, wrote:

From: "Divya Prema dasa" 

Sent: 28-04-2021 2.40.07 PM

Subject: Re: Query regarding reading of BG and SB during menses

Dear Jaya Nityanand Prabhuji 

Dandavat Pranaam. Jai Srila Prabhupada. Guru Gaurnaga Jayateh. 

Thank you for presenting clarity on this topic. Within the same elucidation as stated below I have a doubt and request your kind self to please clear it..... 

Within the context of menstruation, all Vaishnava traditions do not prefer to touch any holy items during this period. Some Grhasthas devotees informed me that their wives do not even use the Tulasi beads for chanting during this time. Instead they chant on neem beads or digital counter. Chanting Lord's holy names is for all time, place, circumstances (kirtaniyah sada harih). 

We understand there is 2 types of kirtan:

1. Recitation/ chanting of the Holy Name

2. Chanting  of the glories of the Lord & His devotees in the form of recitation of BG/ SB/ similar literatures so how can we differentiate the two during menses. 

Yours in service, 

Divya Prema dasa

das,

[BVKS Sanga]

From: "Alamelu mangai" 

Sent: 19-05-2021 12.21.00 AM

Subject: Re: Query regarding reading of BG and SB during menses

In continuation with this discussion, I would like to express my observation from reading Srila Prabhupada's books. 

Only one Instruction regarding menstruating woman in Nectar of devotion and Hari Bhakti vilasa, one should not touch her. This comes under the list of instructions/rules to be followed in Deity worship. Srila Sanatana Goswami and Rupa Goswami included these instructions from Varaha Purana.

In Sri Vaishnava sampradaya, prime sadhana (practice to achieve desired goal, reach Vaikuntha) is arcana (worshipping lord with awe and reverence), in contrast with our sampradaya, sadhana is kirtan (glorification of Krsna). Although we perform arcana, but the prime limb of Gaudiya Vaishnavas is Sankirtana. So Sri Vaisnavas are assiduous in following rules and regulations, which is very important in Deity worship. 

I have also noticed, there is always this never ending question is coming up. I am literally fed up because authentic brahmanas cannot accept from south India cannot accept women wearing tulasi neckbeads and vaisnava Tilak , not chanting on tulasi Japa mala during menstruations, not touching sastra etc. The attachment to one's birth sampradaya is difficult to overcome for most of devotees from brahmana family. 

One thing I understand from the quote I posted from Sri Bhaktisiddhanta Vaibhava, sastra, tulasi beads, etc  are intrinsically pure and never contaminated in contact with impure things. Srila Siddhanta Sarasvati thakur has drawn out this from famous verse which describes deity worship should not be considered as idol worship, or Vaisnavas according to bodily designations is an offence. Still most of Sri Vaisnavas or Madhvas find it difficult to overcome bodily designations, they don't accept non brahmana by birth as a Vaisnavas, which is an offence and Srila Siddhanta Sarasvati thakur Prabhupada has fought up against caste Brahmanas and jati Gosais. 

As Gaudiya Vaishnavas, we follow Rupa Goswami, Rupanugas, we aren't overly concerned about many rules and regulations, rather we are concerned about improving our love for Krsna, we accept rules and regulations regarding to this, as given in Nectar of devotion. Nor we do overly studying so many scriptures. It is best to adhere to Srila Prabhupada instructions even when implementing Varnasrama dharma.  Otherwise we will lose the essence. Rules regarding sauca or asauca, ritualistic ceremonies are no concern for devotees, except for those engaged in the service of Deity worship either in home or temple. Impure state is not going to affect the consciousness of a devotee. 

Your servant

Anupama Devi Dasi

On Mon, 17 May 2021, 13:16 BVKS Sanga,  wrote:

From: "Sridhara Srinivasa das"

Sent: 17-05-2021 11.57.53 AM

Subject: Re: Query regarding reading of BG and SB during menses

[Gaura Bhagavan Dasa]

Re: Query regarding reading of BG and SB during menses

From	Jay Nityananda Das
Date	20 May, 18:31

Respected Mother,

Namo Namah.

>>In continuation with this discussion, I would like to express my observation from reading Srila Prabhupada's books.

I believe, we all (including your good self) accept the "trinity": "guru-sadhu-sastra" as the pramana or valid proof, not just "Only Srila Prabhupada's books" as Srila Prabhupada himself never advocated such a trend in his preaching campaign. Kindly note the following from CC Adi 7.48, purport:

“The real import of the scriptures is revealed to one who has unflinching faith in both the Supreme Personality of Godhead and the spiritual master.” Śrīla Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura advises, sādhu-śāstra-guru-vākya, hṛdaye kariyā aikya. The meaning of this instruction is that one must consider the instructions of the sādhu, the revealed scriptures and the spiritual master in order to understand the real purpose of spiritual life. Neither a sādhu (saintly person or Vaiṣṇava) nor a bona fide spiritual master says anything that is beyond the scope of the sanction of the revealed scriptures. Thus the statements of the revealed scriptures correspond to those of the bona fide spiritual master and saintly persons. One must therefore act with reference to these three important sources of understanding.  

Hence, harmonizing guru-sadhu-shastra, is the guideline for understanding anything in spiritual life. We can't just accept any one out of the three and reject the other two without taking the trouble of reconciling  all the three, for any complacency in this regard lead to ambiguity.

>>Only one Instruction regarding menstruating woman in Nectar of devotion and Hari Bhakti vilasa, one should not touch her. This comes under the list of instructions/rules to be followed in Deity worship. Srila Sanatana Goswami and Rupa Goswami included these instructions from Varaha Purana.

It is not so. Hari bhakti Vilasa (11th Vilasa, verses 720) mentions that as one of Sadachars or practices of good people, devotees should not touch a woman in her period. There is no context of deity worship there. Also in the same Vilasa, (verse 732) makes a point that a devotee in general (not a pujari) should take a bath in order to purify himself if he/she happens to touch a woman in her period, a cobbler, a naked person, a woman who have just delivered a baby, a mleccha or a yavana and a person carrying a dead body.  

>>In Sri Vaishnava sampradaya, prime sadhana (practice to achieve desired goal, reach Vaikuntha) is arcana (worshipping lord with awe and reverence), in contrast with our sampradaya, sadhana is kirtan (glorification of Krsna). Although we perform arcana, but the prime limb of Gaudiya Vaishnavas is Sankirtana. So Sri Vaisnavas are assiduous in following rules and regulations, which is very important in Deity worship.

Kindly go through the below reference:

"...In his Bhakti-sandarbha (text 284), Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī strongly emphasizes the chanting of the holy name of the Lord as follows:

nanu bhagavan-nāmātmakā eva mantrāḥ, tatra viśeṣeṇa namaḥ-śabdādy-alaṅkṛtāḥ śrī-bhagavatā śrīmad-ṛṣibhiś cāhita-śakti-viśeṣāḥ, śrī-bhagavatā samam ātma-sambandha-viśeṣa-pratipādakāś ca tatra kevalāni śrī-bhagavan-nāmāny api nirapekṣāṇy eva parama-puruṣārtha-phala-paryanta-dāna-samarthāni tato mantreṣu nāmato ’py adhika-sāmarthye labdhe kathaṁ dīkṣādy-apekṣā. ucyate—yady api svarūpato nāsti, tathāpi prāyaḥ svabhāvato dehādi-sambandhena kadarya-śīlānāṁ vikṣipta-cittānāṁ janānāṁ tat-saṅkocī-karaṇāya śrīmad-ṛṣi-prabhṛtibhir atrārcana-mārge kvacit kvacit kācit kācin maryādā sthāpitāsti.

Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī states that the substance of all the Vedic mantras is the chanting of the holy name of the Lord. Every mantra begins with the prefix nama oṁ and eventually addresses by name the Supreme Personality of Godhead. By the supreme will of the Lord there is a specific potency in each and every mantra chanted by great sages like Nārada Muni and other ṛṣis. Chanting the holy name of the Lord immediately renovates the transcendental relationship of the living being with the Supreme Lord.
To chant the holy name of the Lord, one need not depend upon other paraphernalia, for one can immediately get all the desired results of linking with the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

It may therefore be questioned why there is a necessity for initiation or further spiritual activities in devotional service for one who engages in the chanting of the holy name of the Lord. The answer is that although it is correct that one who fully engages in chanting the holy name need not depend upon the process of initiation, generally a devotee is addicted to many abominable material habits due to material contamination from his previous life. In order to get quick relief from all these contaminations, it is required that one engage in the worship of the Lord in the temple. The worship of the Deity in the temple is essential to reduce one’s restlessness due to the contaminations of conditioned life. Thus Nārada, in his pāñcarātrikī-vidhi, and other great sages have sometimes stressed that since every conditioned soul has a bodily concept of life aimed at sense enjoyment, to restrict this sense enjoyment the rules and regulations for worshiping the Deity in the temple are essential. Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī has described that the holy name of the Lord can be chanted by liberated souls, but almost all the souls we have to initiate are conditioned. It is advised that one chant the holy name of the Lord without offenses and according to the regulative principles, yet due to their past bad habits they violate these rules and regulations. Thus the regulative principles for worship of the Deity are also simultaneously essential." [An excerpt from CC Adi 7.76, purport]

So, although  the prime limb of Gaudiya Vaishnavas is Sankirtana, it has to go along with the deity worship as most of us are not liberated souls like Sri Haridasa Thakura. We follow Pancaratra-vidhi (arcana) along with Bhagavata-vidhi (kirtana).  

>>I have also noticed, there is always this never ending question is coming up. I am literally fed up because authentic brahmanas cannot accept from south India cannot accept women wearing tulasi neckbeads and vaisnava Tilak , not chanting on tulasi Japa mala during menstruations, not touching sastra etc. The attachment to one's birth sampradaya is difficult to overcome for most of devotees from brahmana family.

Any sampradaya including our ISKCON, is not untouched with deviations, hence there is no point in getting disappointed if we happen to come across some of them. At the same, not everything that is said or done by any sampradaya followers can be taken as unauthentic. Better to have peaceful discussions on such matters with some scholars of their sampradaya instead of blaming the whole sampradaya. We should be open to learn many things from such sampradaya with respect to culture, if such things have a strong basis in "guru-sadhu-shastra".    

>>One thing I understand from the quote I posted from Sri Bhaktisiddhanta Vaibhava, sastra, tulasi beads, etc  are intrinsically pure and never contaminated in contact with impure things. Srila Siddhanta Sarasvati thakur has drawn out this from famous verse which describes deity worship should not be considered as idol worship, or Vaisnavas according to bodily designations is an offence. Still most of Sri Vaisnavas or Madhvas find it difficult to overcome bodily designations, they don't accept non brahmana by birth as a Vaisnavas, which is an offence and Srila Siddhanta Sarasvati thakur Prabhupada has fought up against caste Brahmanas and jati Gosais.

 To everyone's surprize, many Madhva and Ramanuja Matha-adhipatis hade given certificates to ISKCON in early days in recognition of ISKCON foreign sannyasis' as real brahmanas following Pancaratra-vidhi.    

>>As Gaudiya Vaishnavas, we follow Rupa Goswami, Rupanugas, we aren't overly concerned about many rules and regulations, rather we are concerned about improving our love for Krsna, we accept rules and regulations regarding to this, as given in Nectar of devotion. Nor we do overly studying so many scriptures. It is best to adhere to Srila Prabhupada instructions even when implementing Varnasrama dharma.  Otherwise we will lose the essence. Rules regarding sauca or asauca, ritualistic ceremonies are no concern for devotees, except for those engaged in the service of Deity worship either in home or temple. Impure state is not going to affect the consciousness of a devotee.

There are many things dealing with Vaisnava culture that have not been personally established by Srila Prabhupada, and thus, many of such things could not be found in Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu alone, however, the principle of trinity: guru-sadhu-shastra, is the guideline given by Srila Prabhupada in reviving the daiva-Varnasrama culture. Let us not get carried away by the " Only Srila Prabhupada's books" argument, for it is the same line of argument that has been given by the "Ritvikas" and PRO-fdgs for manufacturing "creative" ideas from Srila Prabhupada's books that are not in harmony with guru-sadhu-shastra.

And, even if refer to "Only Srila Prabhupada's books" policy, one has to consult a massive body of Vedic scriptures that has been extensively cited by Srila Prabhupada. e.g. We have  to consult  Manu-samhita for many social issues, that has been advocated as a guideline for human society by Srila Prabhupada. And in the same Manu-samhita, there is a description of "ashucha vichara" or rules-regulations during impure periods.

In summary, we have to consult the trinity: Srila Prabhupada's books (guru), other genuine Vaishnava traditions (sadhu) and scriptures (shastra), and learn the Vedic science of harmonizing the three (Technically it is called Mimamsa. Our Gaudiya Acaryas have extensively used the rules of Mimamsa for giving definite conclusions in philosophical works). Without such harmonization, there is no point in accepting or rejecting anything on the basis of mere partial understanding of the subject matter.   

Side Note: If impure state is not going to affect the consciousness of a devotee, then what is the difference between a Paramahamsa and a conditioned soul. A Paramahamsa like Gaurakishora dasa Babaji can chant even in the filthiest places whereas conditioned souls like ourselves cannot do so. Let us not overestimate our ADHIKARA or eligibility.

I beg forgiveness for any unintended harshness in my reply,

[BVKS Sanga]

From: "Jay Nityananda Das" 

Sent: 24-05-2021 1.20.40 PM

Subject: Query regarding reading of BG and SB during menses

Dear Devotees,

Namo Namah.

Within the context of the rules and regulations during Menstruation, we have prepared a small document (5 pages) that covers a few notes of Guru Maharaja (with the kind permission of His Holiness) regarding the general topic: following rules and regulations of Vedic life, from his upcoming book : Vaisnava Culture, Etiquette and Behavior. [A herculean task indeed! ]

For the easy understanding of the devotees, purposefully we have kept the presentation brief as literally, there are hundreds of notes in this regard.

The topic is covered under three headings:

(1)  Smarta v/s Vaishnava outlook, (2) The relevance of Vedic rules and regulations for Vaishnavas and (3) Vaishnavas are supposed to follow Brahminical rules.

Hope this helps devotees appreciate the relevance of Vedic rules and regulations in Vaisnava culture (to some extent). For more details, please wait for the mercyful glance of our beloved Guru Maharaja!