Uncanny how much Pishima [sister] and Prabhupada look alike!
She was also a pure devotee.
She would sometimes tease or just had a unique relationship with Prabhupada. To her, he was brother. She sometimes stood in front of him / vyasana, so she could see the Deities, semi-blocking his view. lol
She cooked whatever she wanted for him, regardless. :)
Sometimes when Prabhupada was busy and not in his bedroom she would use it to take rest - and the brahmacari's would freak out. They asked Prabhupada to talk to her about it. He did. She stopped for a short while, only to do it again. :)
This pure devotee sister and pure devotee brother had their own unique relationship we may not understand, or to some degree we may - tho we can appreciate it's sweetness.
Her name was Bhavatarini but devotees never ever called her that. Always, "Pishima."
As children Abhaya [Prabhuapada] and Bhavatarini [Pishima] flew kites together. When there was some difficulty getting the kites to fly, they would pray to Krishna. :)
Also as children, their father gave Abhaya [Prabhupada] a small set of Radha Krishna Deities. Pishima became his perpetual comrade in Their worship. [At a later point in time, Prabhupada gave her these Deities.]
She was an initiated disciple of Srila Bhaktisiddanta Saraswati.
Someone I know told me: "I met Bramacharis that she trained up."
Yes, Pishima ran a temple as Temple Commander.
Never think women must be weak or less intelligent or a staple in a society that maintains lower class sudra ideas. Prabhupada gave something higher.
In addition, we are not these bodies - we are spirit soul. The more one tries to identify with their soul, the less bodily social concepts are so important - Krishna becomes most important. Like peeling an onion, automatically the material layers around us will unfold when Krishna is involved, or rather, when we invite Him into our life.
The pure devotee usually stays within normal expectations to our eyes, so as not to disturb our minds or society. However, for them it is optional.
Long ago there was a riot in Calcutta India between Muslims and Hindus. This was around 1948. No one dared walk the streets when it was dark outside! But Pishima did. To go to the temple to see Krishna, she did, and never was harmed.
We must not to immediate. First do the [pleasant!] work to get there. Simultaneously we can understand, there is no discrimination for women who practice "transcendental" Krishna Consciousness.
Of course, live whatever [wholesome] lifestyle you wish, but find a way to add "transcendental" Krishna Consciousness.
Some think women should not receive initiation, but that is a different group, not Prabhuapda's. We are not practicing Hindusim, we are not practicing any sectarianism, and I myself am not practicing VAD [tho I accept it - but believe it's easy to misuse in kali-yuga]. Prabhupada himself initiated women.
Matter of fact, the first disciple "ever" initiated by Prabhupada, was a woman. By Krishna's mercy, I got to meet her.
Additionally, here is a comment from a godsister, regarding women taking initiation in the past:
"Devahuti was the disciple of her son Kapila. Janava wife of Nityananda was the head of the entire Gaudiya Sampradaya and had disciples including her son. Kunti served Devarsha Muni like a disciple, I don't know if she was initiated. Bhaktisiddhanta started a new and improved system of Maths and initiated many women. Mirabai has been criticized by some saying that she didn't have a guru but upon further research (which I don't recall the outcome details), she does have one and her husband became her disciple."
"Krishna is everyone's friend, and the pure devotee is carrying the friend's message. Therefore, he is a friend. If there is a nice friend, and if somebody gives information about that nice friend, he is also a friend." ... Srila Prabhupada, Morning Walk, July 1975
~~~
"Krishna is sarvatma. He is situated in everyone's heart as friend. He is the real friend. He is giving me advice. He is within, conscience, which we..., or good instruction, counsel." ~ (Srila Prabhupada lecture, November 7, 1973)
~~~
~~~
"O
my dear Krishna, You are the friend of the distressed and the source of
creation. You are the master of the gopis and the lover of Radharani. I
offer my respectful obeisances unto You."
(Bhagavad-gita As It Is, Introduction)
~~~
"Krishna does not say that 'I am for the Hindu living entities or the Indian living entities.' Where it is in Bhagavad-gita? Why the foolish men take it that Krishna Hindu, Krishna Indian? Krishna says that suhrdam sarva-bhutanam: 'I am friend of all living entities,' sarva-bhutanam. Not only human society, but animal society, the plant society, the aquatic society. There are so many living entities. Ananta-koti. Sa anantyaya kalpate. The living entities, there is no limit; there are so many quantities. And Kṛṣṇa says that suhṛdaṁ sarva-bhutanam jnatva mam santim rcchati: 'When one understands that I, Krishna, is the friend of everyone...' Krishna, when says, sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam vraja (BG 18.66), He does not say to Arjuna; He says to all living entities, without any exception. Sarva-bhutanam. Suhrdam sarva-bhutanam . This is position of Kṛishna."
(Srila Prabhupada lecture, December 12, 1974)
~~~
"This peace formula for the world is given in Bhagavad-Gita (5.29). When people know that the Supreme Lord, Krishna, is the supreme enjoyer, the supreme proprietor and the most intimate well-wishing friend of all living entities, peace and prosperity will ensue all over the world." ... Srimad-Bhagavatam 8.8.8, Purport
~~~
"If one makes friendship with Krishna, one will never be cheated and he will get all help needed."
(Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.27.4, Purport)
~~~
"Always remember Krishna Who is your dearmost friend and always serve Him just to please Him, and He will give you all intelligence how to be a first-class devotee. Just try to learn all about Krishna, chant Hare Krishna, and you will be a great preacher of our Krishna Consciousness movement."
(Srila Prabhupada letter, March 3,1970)
"Krishna, the Supreme Lord, should be accepted as one's best friend. He will never cheat. He will always give His friendly advice and friendly protection to the devotee."
(Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.25.38, Purport)
~~~
"As
Lord Krishna states in the Bhagavad-gita, He is the best friend of all
living entities. Suhrdam sarva-bhutanam. No one can be a greater well-wishing friend
to any living entity than the Supreme Personality of Godhead. He is so
kindly disposed towards everyone that in spite of our completely
forgetting our relationship with the Supreme Lord, He comes Himself --
sometimes personally, as Lord Krishna appeared on this earth, and
sometimes as His devotee, as did Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu -- and
sometimes He sends His bona fide devotees to reclaim all the fallen
souls."
(Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.15.31, Purport)
~~~
"Anyone can understand that behind the beauty of nature, behind the succulent fruits and vegetables, and behind the wonderful heat and light of the sun, there is a Friend. So we should contact that Dearmost Friend, Krishna." ~ Srila Prabhupada letter, August 6, 1970
~~~
"The word sakhayam ('friend') is very significant in this verse because God is eternally present beside the living entity. The Supreme Lord is also described as suhrdam ('ever well-wisher'). The Supreme Lord is always a well-wisher, just like a father or mother. Despite all the offenses of a son, the father and mother are always the son's well-wisher. Similarly, despite all our offenses and defiance of the desires of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the Lord will give us immediate relief from all the hardships offered by material nature if we simply surrender unto Him, as confirmed in Bhagavad-gita (mam eva ye prapadyante mayam etam taranti te (BG 7.14)."
(Srimad-Bhagavatam 4.28.25, Purport)
~~~
"In His Paramatma feature, Krishna is the old friend of everyone. According to Vedic injunction, Krishna is sitting with the living entity side by side. According to the sruti-mantra (dva suparna sayuja sakhayah), the Lord is sitting within the heart of every living entity as suhrt, the best friend. The Lord is always eager to have the living entity come home, back to Godhead."
(Srimad-Bhagavatam 4.28.51, Purport)
~~~
"The best friend and benefactor of all people is one who awakens humanity to its original Krishna consciousness."
(Srimad-Bhagavatam 4.22.47, Purport)
~~~
"The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krishna, is actually the best friend of everyone. In a condition of distress or misery, one wants to seek shelter of a well-wishing friend. The well-wishing friend of the perfect order is Lord Sri Krishna." - Srimad-Bhagavatam 7.4.21, P
