Srila Prabhupada has made it clear that we can wear whatever is effective according to time, place and circumstance. It is not the question of the dress but the consciousness. Still, much is to be said about this topic. Below are just a few of thousands of similar experiences over a period of 2 days in London
Whilst going out shopping, banking etc., it may seem that wearing modern dress (whatever modern dress is) would be the done thing. Maybe!
Anyways, a few days ago in London we did a little shopping, banking and money changing in Oxford Street.
Wherever we went people commented about our dress. In the money changer the lady was intrigued and readily ended up taking a book. In Apple store the black salesgirl called us to explain what we were all about – asking questions about the dress, she happily took a book and her black co-worker was equally enamoured by the dress and the shaved head, tilak etc.. it turned out he was Vegan and when he saw the cookbook was delighted to take one. On the street, seeing our dress, person after person said Hare Krsna. On the bus back the man next to me said, ‘I love the colour of your dress’. Please explain what you are doing – again another book.
The next day we are going to a programme. On the way we pass through Oxford Circus underground station. Chanting japa as we go, in front of us is a common sight of a busker, street musician, singing in the tunnel. As we get closer, seeing us dressed in dhotis, he spontaneously bursts into sweet chanting of the maha-mantra with a most beautiful melody, played out on his guitar. For 5 to 10 minutes, he leads the kirtan and we respond – a must watch on the link below. At the end I give him a book which he happily takes and says please ‘help yourself to whatever you want from the donation box.’ I said “brother, you have given more than enough, chanting so beautifully with us. I cannot thank you enough and we embrace.
After getting my eyes tested for new glasses, we walk out into the street – I’m thirsty, so we drop into a small superette to get a bottle of water. Immediately one middle-aged lady (the only other customer) says Hare Krsna – where have you guys been? Do you have a temple around here? We mention the Soho Street temple. – “wow is it still there – I went there 30 years ago. ‘Have you got any books’. Give me all you’ve got’. I take out all the books in my bag and give them to her. (Moral – always carry books with you wherever you go). Emptying her pockets she’ gave me all the change she had. The lady behind the counter also joyfully took a cookbook.
Just a few little benefits from not hiding our identity, or should we rather say helping others to come to remember their identities as Krsna das.
Whenever people see devotees dressed in dhotis with tilak and shaved heads or ladies dressed in sarees they are immediately connected to Krsna and the impression remains in their hearts for their eternal benefit. Sorry to say, when we wear modern dress there is next to no benefit – we are just another nowhere man in the crowd as we pass through the thronging crowds.
Perhaps it is unbecoming to wear the old-fashioned, or out of place dress of the Hindus –you know it might just remind someone of Krsna. Oh – that is very dangerous! But Isn’t that what we are supposed to be doing?
Of course there are many situations where a devotee needs or feels the need to wear ‘modern dress’ but without even speaking or even chanting, by merely wearing the dhoti, tilak etc.. we are automatically preaching the holy names far and wide.
Food for Thought.
A few points, and with all due respect to Janananda Goswami:
When anananda Goswami says, "We," he is referring to 90% brahmacharis — monks. The majority of the harinam was with monks — all clad in saffron dhotis and, yes — shaved heads. But this "we," here, does not necessarily include 95% of the ISKCON membership, which is made up of financially independent householders.
Food for thought:
In 1977, Srila Prabhupada **defined** the term, "Grihasta-dress" as "nice coat, pant."
Food for thought.
When Srila Prabhupad saw a picture of Balavanta prabhu (USA) running for political office, dressed in a suit and tie, Srila Prabhupada said, "Ah. This is what I always wanted; that we be known as 'American Krishnas.'"
Food for thought.
Srila Prabhupada told Sacinandana Swami's father, "You can be Krishna conscious is a suit and tie."
Did Prabhupada tell him, "You can be Krishna conscious in a suit and tie…but not when you go on Harinam?"
Did Prabhupada tell him, "You can be Krishna conscious in a suit and tie…but not when you lead a kirtan?"
How seriously do we take Srila Prabhupada's statements on dress code?
When Srila Prabhupada says, "Dress is a dead thing," or when he says, "We are not concerned with dress," or when he says, "dress is immaterial in Krishna Consciousness," do we take those words seriously?
When, in Jaiva Dharma, chapter Nine,, Bhaktivinoda Thakura says, "“The only requirement for clothing is that you should cover the body and be clean and free from unpleasant odors," do we take those words seriously?
Totally agree with HH Janananda Goswami. That's also been my experience time and again. Thank you so much for the reminder, Maharaj, and thank you also for setting a good example. Sometimes, we become self conscious and refrain from presenting ourselves as devotees. When we do, the response we get is exactly as Maharaj described. If we don't make the effort to don Vaishnava attire, this part of the culture will gradually erode and there won't be much to pass on to future generations.