Importance of Marriage in Vedic Culture

Since we are not these bodies and this material world is not our real home, one who is on the pathway of spiritual progress is meant to completely renounce sex. However, since for most people it is not possible to come immediately to such a renounced position, facility is given for regulated sex within married life. Regulated sex means that sex is only indulged in for the purpose of procreation and other than that is completely avoided. Such regulated sex according to the directions of the scriptures and great spiritual authorities is most auspicious and attracts highly qualified transcendentalists to take birth in such Krishna conscious families.

Sometimes it is thought that those who have completely renounced sex--brahmacaris, vanaprasthas, and sannyasis--should have nothing to do with wedding ceremonies. But as shown by Srila Prabhupada's example of personally performing the wedding ceremony for his disciples, the members of the three celibate orders can attend wedding ceremonies for the purpose of encouraging the newly weds to have a happy Krishna conscious marriage in accordance with the Vedic principles.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Transcendental Wedding--Kaunas, Lithuania--19 October 2014Transcendental Wedding--Kaunas, Lithuania

Sriman Vyasadeva Das Marries Srimati Gaura Lila Devi DasiSriman Vyasadeva Das Marries Srimati Gaura Lila Devi Dasi

Answers by Citing the Vedic Version:

Question: Why Lord Caitanya Accepted Sannyasa from a Mayavadi?

Please accept my humble obeisances.
Thank you for taking your time and answering my questions.

As I was reading about Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, He accepted sannyasa (the renounced order) from a guru who belonged to the Mayavada sampradaya. I have a question. Was there no Vaishnava sannyasi at that time near his village from whom he could have accepted sannyasa? Why did the Lord choose to do so? Was there some special reason?

Thank you very much.

Your aspiring servant,
Timir N.

Answer: In Keeping With Social Conventions of His Time

Srila Prabhupada has nicely answered your question as follows in his purport to Caitanya Caritamrita, Adi 3.34:

"During the time of Lord Caitanya, the influence of Sankaracarya in society was very strong. People thought that one could accept sannyasa only in the disciplic succession of Sankaracarya. Lord Caitanya could have performed His missionary activities as a householder, but He found householder life an obstruction to His mission. Therefore He decided to accept the renounced order, sannyasa. Since His acceptance of sannyasa was also designed to attract public attention, Lord Caitanya, not wishing to disturb the social convention, took the renounced order of life from a sannyasi in the disciplic succession of Sankaracarya, although sannyasa was also sanctioned in the Vaisnava sampradaya."

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

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