HARE KRSNA, IS IT A MUST FOR A DEVOTEE TO WEAR DOTIE AND KURTA ,IF SO WHICH PART OF THE SCRIPTURE SAID SO -HOW NOT WEARING THESE DRESS WILL HINDER ONE SPIRITUAL LIFE .
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The word “karmi” means “fruitive worker.” The word “clothes” mean “items worn to cover the body.” By definition, then, the words “karmi clothes” mean items worn to cover the body of someone who is a fruitive worker. Similarly, the word “devotee” means someone who is engaged in the loving service of Lord Krishna. By definition, then, the words “devotional clothes” mean items worn to cover the body of someone who is a devotee of Lord Krishna.
It is a sociological fact today, as it was centuries ago, that Vaishnavas and Vaishnavis are not the only people who wear dhotis and saris. Indeed, the large majority of individuals who wore/wear dhotis and saris are non-Vaishnavas or, in other words, “karmis.” Muslims, tantrics, demigod worshipers, meat-eaters- millions of them- wear dhotis and saris. These people have little or nothing to do with devotion to Lord Krishna. Therefore, by definition, the dhotis and saris that these non-Vaishnavas wear are, in effect, “karmi clothes.” Similarly, there are Vaishnavas and Vaishnavis who dress in Western clothes. By definition, these devotees’ garments are “devotional clothes.” The dress does not define the Vaishnavas; the Vaishnavas define the dress.
One can be a doctor devotee and attend morning service in dhoti and kurta or jeans and t-shirt and then later go to work (hospital) in his doctor's uniform. All that the devotee has worn is still Vaishnava clothes.
Hare Krsna.
Adding to it:
Reporter: Swamiji, your movement has received a great deal of attention for, at least one reason, because many of your followers dress in what for the West is an odd fashion and relate to the world in what for the West is an odd fashion. Can you respond to that? Why have you asked your followers to dress in this fashion and to play drums on the streets?
Prabhupada: This is our preaching method, some way or other to draw their attention. (laughter)
Devotees: Jaya! Haribol!
Reporter: I’m sure that you’re aware that to many people in the West, in America, in New York City specifically, that your disciples seem strange because of the way they act on the streets. What about that?
Prabhupada: Yes, they must be strange because they are spiritual. You are all material. (laughter) So, for the material persons, we are surely strange people.
Reporter: Is this manifestation the only way to be spiritual, dressing in this fashion?
Prabhupada: No, no, you cannot compete with us. Because we don’t have any illicit sex, we don’t have meat-eating, we have no intoxication, we have no gambling. There’s so many no’s which you are unable to perform.
Reporter: Swami, that wasn’t my question. My question was, is this manifestation, dressing in this fashion, playing drums and dancing in the streets, the only way to be spiritual?
Prabhupada: No, we have got about sixty books. If you want to learn this movement through science and philosophy, we have got our books. You have not seen our books? (laughter)
Reporter: Swami, that isn’t the thrust of my question. Yes, I have. The thrust of my question very simply is this: Can’t people be spiritual without dressing in this fashion and dancing in the street?
Prabhupada: Oh, yes, oh, yes, you can become spiritual in your this dress. Simply you have to learn what it is from the books. The dress… dress is not very important thing, but still, in the material field, this girl is dressed in a different way, you are dressed in a different way.
Reporter: The way we dress lets us move in all circles.
Prabhupada;: No, the thing is, dress is not very important.
Reporter: But you have your disciples dress in this way…
Prabhupada: But just to draw a particular… Just like the policeman, he is differently dressed. One can understand that he is policeman. Similarly, we are also differently dressed so that people may understand we are Hare Krsna people.
Devotees: Jaya! Haribol!
Hare Krishna Prabhu ,
Its not written in any scripture to wear anything compulsarily. However , during worship times when we pray to lord or perform some specific celebration/festival for god, we believe to be identified completely for devotion and simplicty.
Ultimately ,what matters is our intention ( as per told by lord krishna himself in bhagwad geeta).
THANK YOU PROBHU
Dress doesnt show who you really are, but it may be good thing if you wanna be recognized in certain way by others.
For example, doctor wear white dress to be recognized by others in hospital, soldier doing the same in army.
In gaudiya vaishnava society its tradition to wear dhoties and kurtas, especially when doing service in temple .
THANK YOU PRABHU,THE WORD TRADITION COME INT PLAY,BECAUSE DHOTIES IS A NOTIONAL DRESS FOR THE PEOPLE OF INDIA ,THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH VAISHNAVA.
HARE BOL PRABHU ,I UNDERSTAND YOUR EXPLANATION ,BUT I AM LOOKING FOR SOMETHING THAT IS WRITTEN SOME WHERE.
Hare Krsna PRabhuji,
PAMHO.
I am not aware of scritpures whihc say to wear dhoti kurta. My take on it and this is what I have heard in lectures also:
the way a policeman has weight only when in uniform, a doctor, nurse, pilot, air hostess is identified by her dress, that same way a vaishnava is identified by his dress also. Tilak and kanthi mala is part of the vaishnava attire.
Would you attend a meeting with the boss in your office in shorts and t-shirt? Or suppore you have to meet the PM of India or say President of USA. WOuld you meet them in formal attire or in casuals - saying it doesnt matter what you are wearing, these personalities are not meeting you for your dress? Then why the protest when you have to go to temple to meet the Supreme Personality of Godhead?
We follow guru parampara and our founder acharya prescribed this dress for his disciples. Wearing the vaishnava dress is another visible form of acceptance of authority and surrender. Especially if one is doing direct deity service like bhoga or arati, then it is mandatory to wear vaishnava attire - stitched cloth is considered impure, therefore its just unsticthed cloth worn in a particular manner. This is mentioned in the scriptures - pancharatrika vidhi mentions it.
Haribol,
YOur servant,
Rashmi
THANK YOU MATAJEE FOR YOUR REASONING ,BUT FOR POLICE ,DR ,NURSES ,PILOT,AIR HOSTESS,ETC.THE DRESS CODE IS A CONDITION OF EMPLOYMENT,WRITTEN IN THEIR CONTRACT .THE NATIONAL WEAR FOR THE PEOPLE OF INDIA IS DOTIE ,WHY THE PEOPLE ALL AROUND THE WORLD SHOULD ABIDE WITH THIS ,IF IT IS NOT MENTION IN THE SCRIPTURES.WE CANNOT FOLLOW WHAT IS NOT WRITTEN .I AM AWARE FOR DEITY SERVICES THERE IS A STRICT DRESS CODE.YOU SAID YOU FOLLOW THE GURU PARAMPARA ,WHERE THE FOUNDER ACHARYA PRESCRIBED THIS DRESS FOR HIS DECIPLES,CAN YOU PLEASE TELL ME WHERE CAN I FIND THIS INSTRUCTIONS.THANK YOU HARE BOL.