I heard in one of the lectures of Govind pr. that the system of sanyasa was forbidden for the people of the age of Kali.But still...Bhakti siddhanta saraswati thakur(spiritual master of srila prabhupada) revived this system and started giving sanyasa...so my question is...Did he not do any wrong by reviving this system and going against the scriptures?
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Hare Krishna dear Devotees, please accept my humble obeisances! all glories to Srila Prabhupada!
It is Kali yuga right, but also Lord Chaitania told that His movement of Harinaam will last up to 10 000 years. in this way there will be a small particle of Satya yuga within Kali yuga up to 10 000 years.
in this way HH Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur did not do anything out of scriptures.
If you read carefully Prabhupada has said in the above verse that "Of course, those who actually follow the rules and regulations must take sannyāsa." Sanyasa was not recommended for this age because many people would not follow the rules and regulations regarding the Sanyas Ashram but if you are following all the rules and regulations, it is acceptable.
Also if we want to advance in our spiritual life we must follow in the footsteps of the great Acharyas as stated in Srimad Bhagvatam 4.22.24 Purport. Acharyas like HH Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur, HH Srila Prabhupada and other respectable Acharyas, they are not ordinary people. They are sent by Krishna to guide us fallen souls in the age of Kali Yuga so it is a must we follow them.
"In this Age of Kali, five acts are forbidden: the offering of a horse in sacrifice, the offering of a cow in sacrifice, the acceptance of the order of sannyāsa, the offering of oblations of flesh to the forefathers, and a man's begetting children in his brother's wife." (Brahma-vaivarta Purāṇa, Kṛṣṇa-janma-khaṇḍa 185.180)
Nevertheless, we see that ŚrīCaitanyaMahāprabhu Himself accepted sannyāsa and approved of the sannyāsa of His elder brother, Viśvarūpa. It is clearly said here, bhālahaila, — viśvarūpasannyāsakarilapitṛ-kula, mātṛ-kula, — duiuddhārila. Therefore, should it be thought that ŚrīCaitanyaMahāprabhu made statements that are contradictory? No, actually He did not. It is recommended that one accept sannyāsa to dedicate his life for the service of the Lord, and everyone must take that kind of sannyāsa, for by accepting such sannyāsa one renders the best service to both his paternal and maternal families. But one should not accept the sannyāsa order of the Māyāvāda school, which has practically no meaning. We find many Māyāvādī sannyāsīs simply loitering in the street thinking themselves Brahman or Nārāyaṇa and spending all day and night begging so they can fill their hungry bellies. Māyāvādī sannyāsīs have become so degraded that there is a section of them who eat everything, just like hogs and dogs. It is such degraded sannyāsa that is prohibited in this age. Actually, ŚrīlaŚańkarācārya's principles for the acceptance of sannyāsa were very strict, but later the so-called Māyāvādī sannyāsīs became degraded because of their false philosophy, which propounds that by accepting sannyāsa one becomes Nārāyaṇa. ŚrīCaitanyaMahāprabhu rejected that kind of sannyāsa. But the acceptance of sannyāsa is one of the items of the varṇāśrama-dharma. How then can it be rejected?
Srila Prabhupadaa on (January 7, 1977 Bombay)
“If you want woman you get yourself married, live respectfully. We have no objection. But this hypocrisy should be stopped. There have been so many fallen down. First of all there will be no sannyasi anymore. I have got very bad experience. And at least, we are not going to create new sannyasis. And those who have fallen down, let them marry, live like respectable gentlemen. I have no objection.
Srimad Bhagavatam Canto 8, Chapter 2, TEXT 30 Purport
The soldiers in this Krsna consciousness movement must always possess physical strength, enthusiasm and sensual power. To keep themselves fit, they must therefore place themselves in a normal condition of life. What constitutes a normal condition will not be the same for everyone, and therefore there are divisions of varnasrama—brahmana, ksatriya, vaisya, sudra, brahmacarya, grhastha, vanaprastha and sannyasa. Especially in this age, Kali-yuga, it is advised that no one take sannyasa. asvamedham gavalambham sannyasam pala-paitrkam devarena sutotpattim kalau pañca vivarjayet [Cc. Adi 17.164] (Brahma-vaivarta Purana) From this we can understand that in this age the sannyasa-asrama is forbidden because people are not strong. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu showed us an example in taking sannyasa at the age of twenty-four years, but even Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya advised Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu to be extremely careful because He had taken sannyasa at an early age. For preaching we give young boys sannyasa, but actually it is being experienced that they are not fit for sannyasa. There is no harm, however, if one thinks that he is unfit for sannyasa; if he is very much agitated sexually, he should go to the asrama where sex is allowed, namely the grhastha-asrama. That one has been found to be very weak in one place does not mean that he should stop fighting the crocodile of maya. One should take shelter of the lotus feet of Krsna, as we shall see Gajendra do, and at the same time one can be a grhastha if he is satisfied with sexual indulgence. There is no need to give up the fight. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu therefore recommended, sthane sthitah sruti-gatam tanu-van-manobhih. One may stay in whichever asrama is suitable for him; it is not essential that one take sannyasa. If one is sexually agitated, he can enter the grhastha-asrama. But one must continue fighting. For one who is not in a transcendental position, to take sannyasa artificially is not a very great credit. If sannyasa is not suitable, one may enter the grhastha-asrama and fight maya with great strength. But one should not give up the fighting and go away.”
I found the following excerpt from one of Srila Prabhupadas lecture speaking about Sanyas in Kaliyuga.
This has also been spoken in Srimad Bhagvatam 3.24.35
" In this age of Kali-yuga sannyāsa is prohibited because persons in this age are all śūdras and cannot follow the rules and regulations of sannyāsa life. It is very commonly found that so-called sannyāsīs are addicted to nonsense—even to having private relationships with women. This is the abominable situation in this age. Although they dress themselves as sannyāsīs, they still cannot free themselves from the four principles of sinful life, namely illicit sex life, meat-eating, intoxication and gambling. Since they are not freed from these four principles, they are cheating the public by posing as svāmīs.
In Kali-yuga the injunction is that no one should accept sannyāsa. Of course, those who actually follow the rules and regulations must take sannyāsa. Generally, however, people are unable to accept sannyāsa life, and therefore Caitanya Mahāprabhu stressed, kalau nāsty eva nāsty eva na-sty eva gatir anyathā. In this age there is no other alternative, no other alternative, no other alternative than to chant the holy name of the Lord: Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare. The main purpose of sannyāsa life is to be in constant companionship with the Supreme Lord, either by thinking of Him within the heart or hearing of Him through aural reception. In this age, hearing is more important than thinking because one's thinking may be disturbed by mental agitation, but if one concentrates on hearing, he will be forced to associate with the sound vibration of Kṛṣṇa. Kṛṣṇa and the sound vibration "Kṛṣṇa" are nondifferent, so if one loudly vibrates Hare Kṛṣṇa, he will be able to think of Kṛṣṇa immediately. This process of chanting is the best process of self-realization in this age; therefore Lord Caitanya preached it so nicely for the benefit of all humanity."
Replies
Hare Krishna dear Devotees, please accept my humble obeisances! all glories to Srila Prabhupada!
It is Kali yuga right, but also Lord Chaitania told that His movement of Harinaam will last up to 10 000 years. in this way there will be a small particle of Satya yuga within Kali yuga up to 10 000 years.
in this way HH Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur did not do anything out of scriptures.
Your servant,
Bhakting Maral Mataji has explained nicely.
If you read carefully Prabhupada has said in the above verse that "Of course, those who actually follow the rules and regulations must take sannyāsa." Sanyasa was not recommended for this age because many people would not follow the rules and regulations regarding the Sanyas Ashram but if you are following all the rules and regulations, it is acceptable.
Also if we want to advance in our spiritual life we must follow in the footsteps of the great Acharyas as stated in Srimad Bhagvatam 4.22.24 Purport. Acharyas like HH Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur, HH Srila Prabhupada and other respectable Acharyas, they are not ordinary people. They are sent by Krishna to guide us fallen souls in the age of Kali Yuga so it is a must we follow them.
In your service,
Hare Krishhna to all devotees
I hope below excerpts helps.
Śrī Caitanya Caritāmṛta Ādi 15.14 Purport
It is sometimes said that Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu disapproved of the acceptance of the sannyāsa order in this Kali-yuga because in the śāstra it is said:
aśvamedhaḿ gavālambhaḿ sannyāsaḿ pala-paitṛkam
devareṇa sutotpattiḿ kalau pañca vivarjayet
[Cc. Ādi 17.164]
"In this Age of Kali, five acts are forbidden: the offering of a horse in sacrifice, the offering of a cow in sacrifice, the acceptance of the order of sannyāsa, the offering of oblations of flesh to the forefathers, and a man's begetting children in his brother's wife." (Brahma-vaivarta Purāṇa, Kṛṣṇa-janma-khaṇḍa 185.180)
Nevertheless, we see that Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu Himself accepted sannyāsa and approved of the sannyāsa of His elder brother, Viśvarūpa. It is clearly said here, bhāla haila, — viśvarūpa sannyāsa karila pitṛ-kula, mātṛ-kula, — dui uddhārila. Therefore, should it be thought that Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu made statements that are contradictory? No, actually He did not. It is recommended that one accept sannyāsa to dedicate his life for the service of the Lord, and everyone must take that kind of sannyāsa, for by accepting such sannyāsa one renders the best service to both his paternal and maternal families. But one should not accept the sannyāsa order of the Māyāvāda school, which has practically no meaning. We find many Māyāvādī sannyāsīs simply loitering in the street thinking themselves Brahman or Nārāyaṇa and spending all day and night begging so they can fill their hungry bellies. Māyāvādī sannyāsīs have become so degraded that there is a section of them who eat everything, just like hogs and dogs. It is such degraded sannyāsa that is prohibited in this age. Actually, Śrīla Śańkarācārya's principles for the acceptance of sannyāsa were very strict, but later the so-called Māyāvādī sannyāsīs became degraded because of their false philosophy, which propounds that by accepting sannyāsa one becomes Nārāyaṇa. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu rejected that kind of sannyāsa. But the acceptance of sannyāsa is one of the items of the varṇāśrama-dharma. How then can it be rejected?
Hare Krishna Prabhu,
All Glories to Srila Prabhupada & Gurudev
I found the following excerpt from one of Srila Prabhupadas lecture speaking about Sanyas in Kaliyuga.
This has also been spoken in Srimad Bhagvatam 3.24.35
" In this age of Kali-yuga sannyāsa is prohibited because persons in this age are all śūdras and cannot follow the rules and regulations of sannyāsa life. It is very commonly found that so-called sannyāsīs are addicted to nonsense—even to having private relationships with women. This is the abominable situation in this age. Although they dress themselves as sannyāsīs, they still cannot free themselves from the four principles of sinful life, namely illicit sex life, meat-eating, intoxication and gambling. Since they are not freed from these four principles, they are cheating the public by posing as svāmīs.
In Kali-yuga the injunction is that no one should accept sannyāsa. Of course, those who actually follow the rules and regulations must take sannyāsa. Generally, however, people are unable to accept sannyāsa life, and therefore Caitanya Mahāprabhu stressed, kalau nāsty eva nāsty eva na-sty eva gatir anyathā. In this age there is no other alternative, no other alternative, no other alternative than to chant the holy name of the Lord: Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare. The main purpose of sannyāsa life is to be in constant companionship with the Supreme Lord, either by thinking of Him within the heart or hearing of Him through aural reception. In this age, hearing is more important than thinking because one's thinking may be disturbed by mental agitation, but if one concentrates on hearing, he will be forced to associate with the sound vibration of Kṛṣṇa. Kṛṣṇa and the sound vibration "Kṛṣṇa" are nondifferent, so if one loudly vibrates Hare Kṛṣṇa, he will be able to think of Kṛṣṇa immediately. This process of chanting is the best process of self-realization in this age; therefore Lord Caitanya preached it so nicely for the benefit of all humanity."
-Srimad Bhagvatam 3.24.35
In your service,
Hare Krishna Prabhu,
All Glories to Srila Prabhupada & Gurudev
Can you please quote in which scripture does it say that Sanyas is prohibited in Kaliyuga?
In your service,