IF ANYONE WITH LONG HAIR OR A BEARD WANTS TO JOIN THIS KRSNA CONSCIOUSNESS MOVEMENT AND LIVE WITH US, HE MUST SIMILARLY SHAVE HIMSELF CLEAN.
Madhya 20.70 Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu Instructs Sanatana Gosvami in the Science
The words bhadra karana are significant in this verse. Due to his long hair, moustache and beard, Sanatana Gosvami looked like a daravesa, or hippie. Since Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu did not like Sanatana Gosvami’s hippie features, he immediately asked Candrasekhara to get him shaved clean. IF ANYONE WITH LONG HAIR OR A BEARD WANTS TO JOIN THIS KRSNA CONSCIOUSNESS MOVEMENT AND LIVE WITH US, HE MUST SIMILARLY SHAVE HIMSELF CLEAN. THE FOLLOWERS OF SRI CAITANYA MAHAPRABHU CONSIDER LONG HAIR OBJECTIONABLE.
76-07-17. Letter: Dhrstaketu
Unless absolutely necessary, one should keep head shaven and not allow the hair to grow long. If absolutely necessary, one can dress like an American gentleman, with short hair, but long hair is prohibited. The reason that one with long hair is not my disciple is because he is against the principle. Unless absolutely necessary one should keep hair short, and if necessary one can dress like an American gentleman with short hair. IT IS NOT EXPECTED THAT EVERYONE WILL JOIN. FOR THAT REASON WE CAN’T COMPROMISE. THE TENDENCY IS THERE TO BE HIPPY. WHEN THE ACARYAS ARE SEEN WITH BEARD, THAT IS DURING CATURMASYA, JULY-SEPTEMBER. IF OBSERVED STRICTLY THERE IS NOT SIMPLY A BEARD. THERE ARE SO MANY RULES AND REGULATIONS. ONE CAN’T EAT A VARIETY OF FOODS. ONLY KITRI PREPARED AND POURED ON THE FLOOR, AND THEN LICKED UP. THERE ARE SO MANY OTHER RULES ALSO. THAT IS NOT ALWAYS THAT THEY KEPT BEARD.
Letter to: Ramesvara
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NEWSLETTER
26 November, 1976
Dear Ramesvara Maharaja,
Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. The following is an extract from a morning class on S.B. 5.6.3, delivered on 25.11.76. Srila Prabhupada has requested that it be sent to all temples and G.B.C.
“If you pat your subordinates it will increase their faulty habits and if you chastise them, they will improve. Therefore it is advised that either your son or disciple, you should always chastise them, never give them leniency. So a little leniency, immediately so many faults will grow. Now for our practical life we are known all over the world as shaven headed, is it not? Now we are becoming hair-headed, we are forgetting shaving. Because there is a little leniency, immediately faulty things are creeping in. SO WE SHOULD BE KNOWN AS SHAVEN-HEADED, NOT HAIR-HEADED. THIS IS DISCREPANCY. AT LEAST ONCE IN A MONTH YOU MUST BE CLEARLY SHAVEN-HEADED. ON THE BRIGHT FORTNIGHT, ON THE DAY OF PURNIMA, FOUR DAYS AFTER EKADASI. ONCE IN A MONTH, IN THE BRIGHT FORTNIGHT WE MUST BE SHAVEN-HEADED. IT IS NOT DESIRABLE THAT IN GROWN UP AGE ALSO, YOU BE CHASTISED. THAT IS NOT DESIRABLE-THAT IS ALSO DIFFICULT BECAUSE WHEN THE DISCIPLE OR SON IS GROWN UP, IF HE IS CHASTISED, THEN HE BREAKS. SO BEFORE BEING CHASTISED WE SHOULD BE CONSCIOUS THAT THIS IS OUR RULES AND REGULATIONS, WE MUST OBSERVE. Therefore it is advised by Canakya Pandit (Sanskrit) After the 16th year of the disciple or son, he should be treated as friend because if you chastise when he is grown up then he will break up- that is also another risk. So our request is that instead of chastising, with folded hands I request you, don’t you become hippies again by growing hair. Keep your head cleansed at least once in a month. That is my request. Neither I can chastise you, I am an old man and you are young men.”And in the room after the lecture:
S.P.: “At least once in a month you must be shaven-headed.”
Dev.: “Actually we usually shave more than once a month-every two weeks because even after two weeks it looks a little dirty.
Dev.: “You can get good wigs.”
S.P.: “No. There is no need. That is also mental concoction. Nowadays you can go with coat, pant and shaven head, noone will criticize. It has become fashion. Russians, they use, Krushchev, I have seen, shaven head.
Dev.: “They don’t have a sikha. That’s all.”
S.P.: “It is practice only”
72-01-21. Letter: Chaturbhus
Lord Caitanya may have long hair in his early grhastha life, but that does not mean that we should imitate Lord Caitanya. Caitanya also had shaven head and sikha. THE IMPORTANT THING IS THAT WE FOLLOW THE REGULATIVE GUIDELINES AS LAID DOWN BY GREAT SAINTS AND ACARYAS IN OUR LINE, AND SO IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT WE WEAR CLEAN-SHAVEN HEADS. but there is no hard and fast rule in this respect. If it is practical to grow hairs out, that can be done. But it is not that we may imitate Lord Caitanya by growing big hairs.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qt_yKPNORLM
I find the following very significant when we read and understand from Srila Prahupada reference ; 72-01-21. Letter: Chaturbhus;
” ……… but there is no hard and fast rule in this respect. If it is practical to grow hairs out, that can be done. But it is not that we may imitate Lord Caitanya by growing big hairs.”
Of course in the beginning process, when we are creating certain interest in learning and doing what we develop the interest for it, there is no hard and fast rule in this respect because we are developing the interest at this stage. That’s true. Isn’t it ?
However, as we develop further interest by becoming sincere and serious in learning and developing our interest into furtherance, there is, indeed, certain rule and regulation which must be followed rigorously in order to discipline ourselves for achieving the perfection what we aspire for it. That’s very true, indeed. Isn’t it ?
That is why Srila Prabhupada says in the above mentioned letter under reference ;
” …THE IMPORTANT THING IS THAT WE FOLLOW THE REGULATIVE GUIDELINES AS LAID DOWN BY GREAT SAINTS AND ACARYAS IN OUR LINE, AND SO IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT WE WEAR CLEAN-SHAVEN HEADS. ..”
I hope it clarify and helps to Charles Dowson.
OM TAT SAT.
Hare Krishna. All Glories to Srila Prabhupada.