Why so many conditions for entering into the kitchen & deity room?
A girl devotee (Name hidden) asked like this:
Why is cow milk so important? I did a very terrible thing. I went in to Radharani’s kitchen at my local Iskcon without asking permission of Radharani without wearing a sari (just casual clothes). After I went into the kitchen, then a devotee came to me and said that I won’t have taste anymore for Krishna consciousness and I will just fall down because Radharani and Balaram will be angry at me and they won’t give me any mercy..
I just went to help Some devotees in the kitchen for food for life. I didn’t know that I had to ask permission to Radharani, I only knew that if I’m 6 months and longer a vegetarian and following the regulative principles, then I can enter the kitchen.
Is this true Prabhu, will I fall down, won’t I have any taste more in Krishna? How can I ask forgiveness to Radharani & Balaram ?
Its now 7 months that I’m following the regulative principles, I don’t eat onion and garlic and I also chant regularly and read Bhagavad Gita and other books of Prabhupada.
Please help me Prabhu. I’m scared. I don’t want to fall down, I’m tired of this world. I want to go Home, Back to Godhead. Back to Krsna loka.
Please hide my name. Hare Krishna.
REPLY:
This is too much. God is not to punish the innocent offences.
The devotee would have told so to indicate the seriousness of entering into kitchen without certain qualifications and etiquettes. However, the words used by her are exaggerated.
In the temple kitchens, the devotees cook food not just for the visitors, but, for Krishna, Radharani and other deities there.
(10 FOODS KRISHNA DEVOTEES SHOULD EAT AND AVOID! READ HERE!)
Therefore, they maintain strict rules to enter into kitchen. If everyone is allowed to enter and help in kitchen, there can’t be any control and purity.
When we cook food for Krishna in temple, only if we are following the Vaishnava etiquettes after taking diksha, we should enter. Otherwise we should avoid entering.
The males should be wearing dhoti and females saree. Other forms of dress are not allowed inside the kitchen. These dress will not give a dedicated mindset for us.
It is advisable that only the initiated devotees enter into the kitchen and cook for the Lord. If sufficient number of the initiated devotees are not available, atleast those well known persons with good track record of following devotional rules and wearing dhoti or saree may enter the kitchen and cook for Krishna. They should bath before going to kitchen and cook for Lord.
Whenever I go to temples, I wear dhoti. This gives a satvic feeling like wearing a devotional uniform. I too enter into kitchens only rarely just whenever necessary, because, one should not unnecessarily enter into the prohibited places.
Similarly, consciousness is made to get disturbed when we wear casual dress. There may not be any seriousness in approaching the devotional way of life.
(30 Tips to take some services in ISKCON Temples! READ HERE!)
Therefore, I do not find any wrong in fixing eligibility conditions to enter into kitchens, deity room, etc. It is the right of every temple and it is in good objective only. Because the kitchens are doing very important service of cooking for KRISHNA and deity rooms are very sacred places that should have very strict rules to enter. Only the Pujari and his assistant can enter into the deity room.
And, you need not fear whether Radharani will punish you. Since entering into the kitchen & deity room in casual clothes is an innocent violation, this will be immediately forgiven if you just ask SORRY to that devotee and to Krishna. Just chant one round praying for forgiveness.
Forget about this matter hereafter and boldly follow devotion. You will definitely grow well in devotion, if you sincerely follow it.
As far as cow’s milk is concerned, it has less fat and more satvic in nature. It slightly resembles mother’s milk. The milk of buffalows has more fat and more thamasic in nature.
That is why, cow’s milk is better than others.
(Should we avoid cow’s milk since Cows are exploited commercially? READ HERE!)