More Than Saffron Cloth – The Real Meaning of Becoming a Sannyāsī
In the Vedic social system, the final stage of life is sannyāsa, the renounced order. To the common eye, becoming a sannyāsī is identified by the saffron dress and the carrying of a staff (daṇḍa). However, Śrīla Prabhupāda warns against a superficial understanding of this grave responsibility. He argues that if one simply changes dress to live by begging or to gain cheap respect, one destroys the sanctity of Vedic culture. True sannyāsa is not a matter of cloth, but of consciousness. It is the determination to dedicate one's life—body, mind, and words—exclusively to the mission of the Supreme Lord.
Cheating of Imitation
Śrīla Prabhupāda strongly condemns the practice of "imitating" the renounced order. He notes that simply putting on a saffron dress does not transform a person. If one becomes a sannyāsī but maintains private connections with sense gratification, it is called markaṭa-vairāgya, or "monkey renunciation." Monkeys appear renounced—they live in the forest and wear no clothes—but they are deeply attached to sex and eating. Similarly, a sannyāsī who is not internally renounced is a cheater who harms society.
- Simply by changing the dress from white to saffron color, one becomes sannyasi. No. There are duties of sannyasis or the brahmana or the grhastha, vanaprastha. There are duties.
- A renounced life, sannyasa, if he is following the regulative principles, that is sannyasa asrama. Not that imitating somebody, I put on a saffron dress and I become a sannyasi and by begging I live. This has killed the sanatana-dharma society.
Purpose: Distributing Knowledge
Why should one become a sannyāsī? It is not to retire comfortably or to become a "parasite" on society. The duty of a sannyāsī is to travel and preach. Having given up family connections, the sannyāsī becomes a father to society, responsible for enlightening the householders who are often lost in material affairs.
- After preparing himself fully, he should become a sannyasi to distribute the knowledge of spiritual life to each and every home.
- To become sannyasi means that, that he'll be pure devotee, and wherever he will go, he will purify. That is sannyasa.
Māyāvādī Misconception
Śrīla Prabhupāda specifically critiques the Impersonalist (Māyāvādī) concept of sannyāsa. In the Śaṅkara school, it is often thought that by taking sannyāsa, the soul merges into the Brahman and practically becomes Nārāyaṇa (God). Śrīla Prabhupāda dismisses this as vivarta-vāda—a foolish bewilderment. A living entity is eternally a servant; changing one's dress does not make one the Supreme Lord.
Tridaṇḍī Sannyāsī
The Vaiṣṇava sannyāsī is known as a tridaṇḍī. He carries a staff made of three rods, symbolizing the dedication of body, mind, and words to Kṛṣṇa. Unlike the ekadaṇḍī (one rod) of the Māyāvādīs who seek merging, the tridaṇḍī seeks service. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that anyone who dedicates their life in this way is the true sannyāsī.
Conclusion
Becoming a sannyāsī is a serious commitment to the service of humanity and God. It demands strict adherence to principles and a fearless spirit of preaching. As Śrīla Prabhupāda summarizes that, to become sannyāsī is not very great credit, to become perfect householder, that is credit. To become sannyāsī means that he'll be pure devotee.
Dive Deeper into Śrīla Prabhupāda's Vani
Śrīla Prabhupāda lives within his instructions. This article is a summary of the profound truths found in the Vaniquotes category Becoming a Sannyasi. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.