Rape? Why on Earth Srila Prabhupada wrote that?
Tackling one of the most polemical and difficult-to-understand statements from Srila Prabhupada.
The 4th canto of Srimad Bhagavatam is especially beautiful, including passages like King Puranjana's allegory, which can make one rethink his priorities in life, understand the temporality of this world, and start his spiritual path. However, it also brings us one of the most polemical and difficult-to-understand statements from Srila Prabhupada:
"In this regard, the word vikhyātam is very significant. A man is always famous for his aggression toward a beautiful woman, and such aggression is sometimes considered rape. Although rape is not legally allowed, it is a fact that a woman likes a man who is very expert at rape." (SB 4.25.41 purport)
What exactly does it mean? Are we supposed to believe that every woman has a secret fantasy of being attacked by a random drunkard in some dark alley? As in other passages from Srila Prabhupada, there is some deep meaning, even though maybe not obvious.
This purport appears in the initial scenes of the Puranjana allegory, in the 4th canto of Srimad Bhagavatam. King Puranjana, the hero, enters the city and meets the mysterious young lady who was living there. Being Puranjana a great hero, the lady becomes attracted to him, and makes it clear through a series of verses, culminating with:
"O mighty-armed, who in this world will not be attracted by your arms, which are just like the bodies of serpents? Actually you relieve the distress of husbandless women like us by your attractive smile and your aggressive mercy. We think that you are traveling on the surface of the earth just to benefit us only". (SB 4.25.42)
The lady became enchanted by the king and openly declared her intentions. Now she is waiting for the man to take the initiative.
This shows a basic principle of human psychology: a single woman will look for a man and a single man will look for a woman. Nothing more normal than that. However, when they find a potential spouse, they act (at least traditionally) in different ways. A man will generally try to actively seduce the lady in different ways, while a woman will try to attract the attention of the man, and wait for him to take the initiative. When a lady desires a man, she becomes very pleased if he gives her attention and tries to seduce her in a confident way. This is the basis of many books and movies. Many ladies fantasize about some handsome man trying to seduce her in different ways, especially by doing something heroic.
If directed at a lady who is not interested, this seduction would be considered a form of aggression. Such advances are even considered a crime in some countries. If the man would insist, trying to touch the lady and so on, this could be considered rape, a terrible crime.
We can understand that the same assertive attitude can be perceived in very different ways according to the disposition of the lady. The line between seduction and aggression can be tenuous. Sometimes a seductive man will be able to attract a lady who is not initially interested, or a lady may be interested but have some blocks in her mind that the man may try to overcome. Again, this is the theme of many extremely popular books and movies.
One can get a graphic example of this in a controversial scene of the movie Baahubali (warning: not for brahmacharis), a scene that was defined by a prominent Indian politician as "the longest rape scene in the history of Indian cinema". Despite being called "rape" by some, it's probable that many Indian ladies watching the movie were desiring to be in the place of the heroine.
Keeping this in mind, we can understand that Prabhupada was just describing this facet of human psychology in his purport, following the ideas expressed in the verses. In the verse, the mysterious woman entices King Puranjana to show his "aggressive mercy" and Srila Prabhupada felt the need to include a short commentary on this particular point.
Still, one could argue about the usage of the word "rape", a word that in Western culture have a very clear meaning and is always used in a negative sense.
The point is that the meaning of words changes over time. Srila Prabhupada studied Scottish English, learning from dictionaries from the 19th century. He used English words in a traditional and classic sense, as we can observe in his purports.
An old meaning of the word rape is "to seize and carry off" (in other words, to steal, or to take possession of something), and that’s the meaning Prabhupada appears to use here. Understanding the situation (a man making advances over a willing woman, winning her heart, and taking her hand) becomes clear that Prabhupada is not using the word "rape" in the modern sense, but to describe the process of assertive seduction that is the basis of the love affairs between men and women.
When everything is understood, we can better appreciate what Srila Prabhupada wrote in context:
"Every husband is certainly a great hero to his wife. In other words, if a woman loves a man, that man appears very beautiful and magnanimous. Unless one becomes beautiful in the eyes of another, one cannot dedicate his whole life to another. The husband is considered very magnanimous because he gives as many children to the wife as she likes. Every woman is fond of children; therefore any husband who can please his wife by sex and give her children is considered very magnanimous. Not only does the husband become magnanimous by begetting children, but by giving his wife ornaments, nice food and dresses, he keeps her completely under submission. Such a satisfied wife will never give up the company of her husband. Manu-saṁhitā recommends that to keep a wife satisfied a husband should give her some ornaments because women are generally fond of home, ornaments, dresses, children, etc. In this way the woman is the center of all material enjoyment.In this regard, the word vikhyātam is very significant. A man is always famous for his aggression toward a beautiful woman, and such aggression is sometimes considered rape. Although rape is not legally allowed, it is a fact that a woman likes a man who is very expert at rape." (SB 4.25.41)
Srila prabhupada has n number of times condemned Illicit sex. Infact the following are the four regulative principles which are must for every iskcon devotee:
No Gambling
No meat eating
No illicit sex
No intoxication
Apart from this, there are innumerable instances in which Śrīla Prabhupāda demonstrated profound concern for women, repeatedly stressing the duty to protect and care for them. To give a few examples:
Conversation with Author -- April 1, 1972, Sydney:
Security. No, social welfare, that the girls are getting illicit children and the government has to supply food for them. Nobody is taking care of the girls, of the children. And government has to take.
Room Conversation after Press Conference -- July 9, 1975, Chicago:
Prabhupāda: No, we don't say that woman should be exploited by men. We say the man should be responsible and give protection to woman.
Morning Walk -- June 27, 1975, Los Angeles:
Husband must be very responsible to take care of the wife..
Room Conversation with Mister Popworth and E. F. Schumacher -- July 26, 1973, London:
Prabhupāda: Women should be treated as mother. They should be given protection. They should not be advertised for prostitution.
Lecture on BG 1.40, London, July 28, 1973
“When women are polluted or dishonored, the whole family tradition is lost. Therefore, women must be given full protection. If women are misled or insulted, the entire society is spoiled.”
Lecture on SB 1.3.21, Los Angeles, September 28, 1972
“She should be protected by her father, husband, or grown sons. That is civilization. If women are left unprotected, they become exploited.”
In the Srimad-Bhāgavatam 3.14.40 purport, he writes, “In a demoniac society, innocent animals are killed to satisfy the tongue, and women are tortured by unnecessary sexual indulgence.”
"To insult a chaste woman means to bring about disaster in the duration of life. Duhsasana, a brother of Duryodhana, insulted Draupadi, an ideal chaste lady, and therefore the miscreants died untimely"
SB 1.8.5 purport
On April 4, 1972, Srila Prabhupada witnessed a disturbing rape scene on television. His immediate reaction was one of sadness and disbelief, shaking his head in sorrow.
– Caru Prabhu’s recollection of Srila Prabhupada’s reaction (April 4, 1972) – documented in Vaishnavi Ministry archives.
Just one of many examples of the need for men to not abuse women is given in his book “Dharma—The Way of Transcendence” where he writes: “Indeed, human life is meant for self-control. The more you control yourself, the more perfect a human being you become, and the more you allow your senses to run loose, the more of an animal you are.”
Unlike the standards of many orthodox Hindu traditions, Srila Prabhupada formally initiated women into the Krishna movement and accorded them with the same rights and privileges as men. He often remarked that in his movement, women “are as good as their brothers”.
In ISKCON in Prabhupada’s time and today—unlike many Hindu, and even Christian, Muslim and other religious communities—women perform the full functions of priests, pujaris, temple presidents, and also sit on ISKCON’s highest ecclesiastical body, its Governing Body Commission. For example, women serve as Community Presidents at ISKCON’s Washington, D.C. community, and at Alachua, Florida, the largest ISKCON community in North America.
Direct testimonies of women disciples of Srila Prabhupada who personally interacted with him consistently document his concern, respect, and grandfatherly care of his female followers.
Statement by Vishaka Devi, author of many books on Vedic wisdom:
While my husband remained in Los Angeles editing a documentary film, as a photographer I was part of Prabhupada’s personal entourage when he traveled in America during the summers of 1974 and 1975. Prabhupada’s Bhaktivedanta Book Trust paid for my airline tickets, my camera, my film, and arranged for all my accommodations and meals.
From the moment I’d met Srila Prabhupada, all I’d experienced—and continued to experience while traveling with him—was his encouragement. He evoked in me a spirit of voluntary, enthusiastic service. He generated an atmosphere of fresh challenge, and I enthusiastically agreed to rise and meet it. He drew out my spontaneous loving spirit of sacrificing my energy for God, Krishna. He appreciated my efforts. He wanted me to be all I could be for Krishna. I never sensed a smidgen of male chauvinism or misogyny, superiority or self-righteousness, hubris or haughtiness in him. Neither a whiff of desire to exploit, oppress or repress women or anyone else.
Dr. Thomas J. Hopkins, Professor of Religious Studies (Emeritus) at Franklin and Marshall College wrote about Srila Prabhupada: “He was a genuine holy person with enormous integrity and compassion, and he had a powerful impact on those who met him. He never claimed authority and respect for himself; what he said and did was always in the name of Krishna [God].”
There are many fights about this rape sentence but I think Praphupada was against rape.He had to marry a very young girl which he didn't want to.Then he wanted another wife but his father didn't allowed him to having another wife.Then later on they divorced.I think if he was for rape he would have liked the situation with the younger girl.
Plus in the Bhagavatam it is written about Brahma that his sons were very angry when he had sexual thoughts towards his daughter,while his daughter didn't have sexual thoughs towards him.
So Brahma as a punishment was transformed into a dark fog for a long time and he didn't get back his own body for a while.Later this dangerous dark fog can be seen circulating on the Earth.Then there was a situation about a raped woman on the court and Praphupada was asked about his opinion.And they turned his opinion against him,while it can be understood right that he wasn't a rapist and didn't like rapists.
Hare Krishna.🌺