First Dress then Address

During the foundation stone laying ceremony of the Bhubaneswar temple Srila Prabhupada asked me to speak about the science of Krishna consciousness. I spoke in English and there was a pandit translating in Oriya. Later, Prabhupada left by train for Calcutta and Gargamuni Prabhu and I took Prabhupada's car and came to Calcutta.

Prabhupada at that time was staying in the room that is presently the temple president's office. In the evening we all gathered in his room and once again Srila Prabhupada started speaking about the Bhaktivedanta Institute. Among many other things, he said that while addressing the scientists we must dress in suit and tie with tilaka and that our dress must command respect. This conversation was not recorded. Later, Srila Prabhupada reiterated similar instructions.

"In suit, yes. You get first dress, then address. But tilaka must be there. You dress like up-to-date gentlemen, but tilaka must be there. That is our trademark. … if you think it is impediment, you can have hair. … you keep hair. I have no objection. That should not be an impediment. … Don't disturb them, that 'These are strange people.' No, we don't want that. But, we must have our position. Tilaka is our position. That is Caitanya Mahaprabhu's stricture…. Tilaka must be there. And so far dress is concerned, you can dress up to the taste of the modern people." [Room Conversation, Bombay, March 31, 1977]