Women: Masters or Mothers? is a must read for men and women in our Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement. It discusses the importance of introducing daiva-varṇāśrama within our society, which would provide an equal opportunity for all devotees to advance in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, while acting according to their prescribed duties. Varṇāśrama-dharma is essential for the living entity on their path back to Godhead as stated in the Viṣṇu Purāṇa (3.8.9):

varṇāśramācāravatā puruṣeṇa paraḥ pumān

viṣṇur ārādhyate panthā nānyat tat-toṣa-kāraṇam

The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Viṣṇu, is worshiped by the proper execution of prescribed duties in the system of varṇa and āśrama. There is no other way to satisfy the Supreme Personality of Godhead. One must be situated in the institution of the four varṇas and āśramas.

His Holiness Bhakti Vikāsa Swami brings to our attention the obstacles on the way to establishing varṇāśrama-dharma which is so crucial for stable marriages, happy and emotionally healthy children, and overall flourishing spiritual communities. I am fully convinced that the words of His Divine Grace Śrīla Prabhupāda will come true and that millions of people will join ISKCON if we set a perfect example of a society based on self-sufficient farms according to God’s social order and with God in the center. The cover of the previous edition of this book makes me laugh as it reminds me of the transformation in my life from being a girl with feministic ideas planning to be a policewoman, to a housewife who is trying to follow in the footsteps of Śrī Sītā-devī. I wish that the members of ISKCON take the contents of this book into their hearts and that we all try to establish varṇāśrama-dharma in whatever way possible in our present situation.