Srila Prabhupada made it absolutely, unmistakably clear that women are in need of protection. "In the Manu-samhitä it is advised, na striyam svatantram arhati. Women should be always protected." (Lecture, Nairobi, 27/10/75)
I want to share with you, my dear reader, something that happened in Mayapur a few years ago. My husband and I had made a vow to attend mangala-arati every morning while we were there. One morning, we had both gone to mangala-arati, then my husband had gone back to the apartment afterward to study. I had stayed to do some more japa in the temple.
When I came out of the temple to walk home, a man approached me, requesting that I allow him to take a photo of me. I thought it was weird that he wanted to take a photo of only me, and no one else. But because people are always asking my husband and me to pose for photos, I complied, even though I had a strange feeling about this guy. After he clicked the photo, I walked away quickly toward our building. As I hurried home, I suddenly remembered that I had to do the puja for my deities. I stopped at the garden to quickly pick a Tulasi leaf for my Lord Rama deity and some flowers for the altar. When I turned around to leave the garden and go into the building, that weird guy was right behind me! He had been following me! That made me feel extremely uncomfortable. I ignored him and hurriedly walked toward the door and upstairs to our apartment. When I came in the door, I told my husband about what had happened. He advised me to stay inside. I gladly complied, bathing in the warm protection of my husband, and feeling relieved to be near him.
I wanted to stay inside all day. But later, because we had some guests who had come from a distant state and were staying in the next building, I had to go back outside to bring them some prasadam (we'll call them Harish and Sadhna). My husband was not available to go with me at the time, so I had to go without him, but he told me to take my phone and call him if necessary.
Upon cautiously exiting our flat, I carefully looked around. I was relieved to see that the strange man was not hanging around outside our door. I peeked out of the main door and peered around the building and the parking lot. He was nowhere to be seen. I breathed a sigh of relief.
When I reached our guests' room in the next building, though, there he was! I was shocked to see that the stalker guy was hanging around outside THEIR door! I knocked urgently. I whispered to them to quickly let me in and close the door. With concern on their faces, they asked me what was happening. I told them about the scary stalker, and then called my husband. He told me to ask our friends to escort me outside and protect me from that strange man. So when I was ready to leave, both Harish and his wife Sadhna came with me. Immediately, as soon as we left the room, the guy started following us. He even started talking to me, "Mataji, Mataji!" trying to get my attention. Harish turned and grabbed his arm and shoved him out of the way, looking into his eyes and asking him strongly, "What do you want?" Harish didn't back down. He held an attack position till the guy slinked off and backed away.
Our friends escorted me all the way back to our flat. When I got back home, I told my husband I am relieved that he was there at the room to give me shelter and to protect me and I was also glad that he had asked our friend Harish (whom I see as my son) to protect and escort me back to our apartment.
I am so thankful for the protection of my husband and my sons. For the rest of the time we were in Mayapur, I kept looking out for that strange guy, but he never showed up again, thank Krsna. That experience really made me aware that even in the holy dhamas, there are weirdos, and that I am so lucky to have a protective husband and protective sons. "They [women] should be given all protection. That's a very nice system." (Lecture, 23/10/68, Montreal)
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