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WORLD April 6, 1999 VNN3523 Tattoos And The Swami BY MAHAVEGAVATI DASI USA, Apr 6 (VNN) — With regard to Arjuna prabhu's article about Romapada Maharaj, I would like to send this in to give some confirmation of Romapada M's character from my own experience: In 1978 when the Buffalo temple closed, I was given permission from my temple president to visit the NY temple. I wrote a letter to Romapada (at that time, das), the temple president to say that I would be coming to visit in two weeks, and I telephoned the temple as well. When I arrived at the temple, (during January in the snow, at 2:00pm), the temple receptionist, Trilokesvara prabhu told me he had orders to tell me to leave. I was not allowed to take darsan of Radha-Govinda and I was threatened that I would be beaten if I even dared to try to enter into the temple. I kept asking for an explanation but I got nothing other than I "had better get out or else..." (I was totally bewildered... chanting over 50 rounds for more than 2 years, and I was the fulltime cook and fulltime pujari in Buffalo before the temple was closed down by Kirtanananda prabhu, the GBC at that particular time.) To make it really short, I ended up calling my TP at 9:45pm and I was finally let in. Several weeks later, (after I had been asked to stay since I was rendering so much service), I was informed by Trilokesvara prabhu of the reason why I had been so ill treated that first day: Romapada gave the order based on his own misconception that I was another mataji from LA who had been having improper relations with various sannyasis. Romapada M NEVER bothered to come and explain anything to me. If he had done so, he could have been made to understand that I was not the person. (I was an East Coast devotee, and I certainly did not fit the body type of the mataji in question.) The problem was created simply due to Maharaja's impersonalism - not coming to talk to me - and his own preconceived notions which he never bothered to check out. This is not so bad, although in an of itself, it is not so good. I've had other experiences with His Holiness: To make it very brief, (considering): I was residing in Buffalo and was doing a regular preaching program. Due to my landlady's desire to put her brother in the apartment shared by my apartment mate and me, she broke the lease and we were forced to move out immediately. In the immediacy of trying to find a place right then and there, I ended up moving into an apartment with one girl who I later found out was a drug addict. There was no stove or refrigerator. I received a telephone call from Romapada M - my number being listed under "Gathering's in the BTG. Romapada M told me one of his siksa grhastha couples was planning to move to Buffalo, that he wanted them to take over the preaching programs I was doing - He said he was GBC of Buffalo - and that I should arrange a program for them, and that he was coming to speak. I told him of my awkward circumstances, (since I had just moved into this situation), but he said to arrange a program anyway, so I did, despite the awkwardness of my living arrangements. (I might add that Romapada had me donate books to the effort as well, and I did, as well as my covering for other expenses.) To make it short, Romapada M after the couple moved up and got settled in, told me if I wanted to come to any Nam Hatta programs, I had to get rid of my tattoos - all Krsna related, and which I had put on in the 60s 0 and change my cloth from saffron to white. I told Romapada M that I had no problem with the cloth - to remove my tattoos was not possible - but that I did not want to waste my laksmi on new cloth. (I explained that all of my laksmi went towards my rent and towards free book and prasadam distribution. I myself was earning laksmi at what was considered "below poverty level" because while working I dressed as a devotee and was not able to get a decent job. (I had also just returned from Africa where I had rendered service for many years, I was physically crippled and I had never been trained within Iskcon in any marketable skills.) Romapada M chastised me saying that I had no business talking to a sannyasi about my clothing. (What was his business in approaching me and telling me what to wear and what not to wear?) I later wrote a letter to Romapada M. (taking the humble position), explaining why I was wearing saffron. I explained it from many angles; historical, sociological, philosophical, and others. I referred Romapada M to the section in SB where Sati prepared herself to leave the planet and dressed in saffron. I referred to my own "case history", where I explained that while Srila Prabhupada was present, in the early 70s, I took a vow of celebacy. I shaved my head and put on white. (I was never a widow, but I did break off my engagement with my fiance who was not a devotee.) This was later approved of by His Divine Grace. In the later 70s many woman put on white. Sadly the seriousness of this act was not understood by many of the women who had changed their cloth or many of the men in the movement. At one point, white meant "available" (I myself had been approached quite a number of times for marriage, despite my shaved head, tattoos and not so good bodily looks.) When BT Swami sent me to Africa, he asked me to not wear white cloth since in Africa white cloth was associated with African voodoo and witchcraft. The first time I went to Africa, I wore colors, but Laksmi Moni (in USA), seeing me in colors started the rumor that I had fallen down and was getting married. The second time I went to Africa BT Swami agreed to my wearing saffron, (even commenting that he felt I looked good in saffron). I explained also to Romapada M that when I first became a devotee (in 1967 - I was not living in the temple as I was too young and my mother was very inimical), the devotees back then wore either saffron, (for single males AND females), and yellow for Grhasthas, both male and female. I explained to Romapada M that Vedically, a person dressed in such a way so that other people would know how to approach (or not approach) them - ie. the way a woman parted her hair or wore her sari, (as she was not to be approached during her menses, and thus wore her sari differently). I said that I was not a widow, but rather had vowed myself to celebacy, and that saffron cloth reflected that more accurately. (Since I put on saffron, no male devotees have approached me concerning marriage, other than my giving them assistance in finding a possible suitable marriage partner.) I gave all of these explanations of Maharaj as well as others, (including my explanation that I felt I was able to protect myself better by wearing saffron as opposed to wearing white), and I did it taking a very humble position. (After so many years in Iskcon, and so much abuse, I now try to "show my hoods" - as Narada Muni once instructed - to protect myself, so I am not so humble as I was back then.) Romapada then told me that I should not come to the Nam Hatta programs and ordered that I not be allowed into the Nam Hatta gatherings because of my not removing my tattoos or putting on white. It was then told to people I had preached to that I was "a 'deviate'" and that they should not associate with me. Again, I am making this brief. I show respect to Romapada S because the Upadasamrta says that one should respect within one's mind anyone who is chanting Hare Krsna, but sadly, he, as well as some of my other Godbrother gurus are off in their understanding of the Krsna consciousness philosophy and its proper practical application. We are always preaching that we are not these bodies but it is very sad indeed that we are lacking in both realization and practical application, especially those devotees who are gurus. (BG 5.18) Romapada would much have preferred to possibly annihilate my spiritual life by denying me the association of other people who were hearing and chanting about Krsna, only because Romapada was that much on the bodily platform; he didn't like my tattoos which were related to Krsna, and which I had put on when I was a teenager, nor did he approve of my wearing saffron. (I later found out that Malati, was wearing saffron, and Romapada never gave her any grief over it) Why a sanyasi-guru should be so disturbed over a his Godsister's dress and tattoos bewilders me, other than it is a reflection of his impure consciousness. We try so hard to make devotees and we so easily break devotees, but we are not so expert at maintaining the devotees who have already proved themselves to be serious and dedicated devotees. How long are we going to keep up this bodily consciousness, especially those of us who accept the position of guru? (BG 3.21 - other devotees may start to follow your example. Is that what you really want?) There are a few other stories I can tell about Romapada Maharaj, like the time a 70 year old mataji from Bmbay came to the NY Brooklyn temple. (I myself was a guest there at the time.) She came to the women's quarters, and after trying to get some assistance from the other women, came to me. She explained that she had called the temple, spoke to the life membership director and told him when she would be coming. He assured her a room and prasadam would be ready upon her arrival. When she came, nothing was ready. The other women would not help her, could I give some assistance. I tried to speak to the other matajis, but I got nowhere. Not knowing what else to do - I being a guest myself - I went to Romapada M and explained the situation. He answered, "What do you want me to do? Tell her if she doesn't like the accommodations, she can leave!" I was TOTALLY shocked. This was a GBC leader, and a guru - who is supposed to set the example of Vaisnava for his disciples and other devotees. I know that Srila Prabhupada NEVER taught us this. Even the Vedas explain that an enemy should be welcomed in such a way that there is no indication of his being seen as an enemy. Anyway, that was where Romapada was at. There is also Romapada Maharaja's telling one of his Godbrothers to leave the Brooklyn temple because Srila Romapada was very concerned about this particular Godbrothers popularity amongst the younger devotees. Romapada's concern was that if the devotees liked this particular Godbrother too much, if in the future there was some issue, the devotees might take sides with this Prabhupada disciple because he was, by dint of his preaching and personality, considered by Romapada, popular with the devotees. What kind of vision is this for a sanyasi and guru? Sadly, there is quite a lot of this idiocy around. I won't give the details on this one as I don't want to breach into my Godbrother's privacy. If he chooses to reveal the details and his name, I will leave that up to him. To add one last note, I am amazed at the hard-heartedness of so many of our leaders and other devotees when they scream out, "It was", (or "is"), "their karma" when it comes to the abuses purportrated in the movement, that of the Gurukula children, and that of other devotees. What can be said? Ultimately Srila Prabhupada was patita pavana and patiti pavana picks up all kinds of people, anyone and everyone who will chant Hare Krsna, (for whatever reason), irregardless of their consciousness. My dear Arjuna prabhu, (and other prabhus), no matter what, don't give up on the REAL philosophy and the REAL process of Krsna consciousness even if you come across cheaters and liars in devotee garb. There are many wonderful devotees whose desire it is to become a real Vaisnava; sa mahatma su durlabha. Your servant, Mahavegavati dasi Hare Krsna Comment on this Story This story URL: http://vaishnava-news-network.org/world/WD9904/WD06-3523.html
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