In Defense of Hridayananda Acharyadeva
BY: BILBLASSANANDA
Nov 25, USA (SUN) — I have been shocked silly by those senseless criticisms of Shrila Acharyadeva, and wish to clear the air of all this wacky tomfoolery. Shrila Acharyadeva always adorns himself in the finest of casual fashions, ever attentive to the latest trends of colors and fabrics. Perhaps is it no exaggeration to say that among his peers, that is the other remaining Zonal Acharyas (and not his ignorant underlings), none has a flair for the good sense of dress as Shrila Acharyadeva does. Anyone with an eye for style can see that he does not wear golf shirts from the Dollar Stores, so what is all this hubbub about, anyway?
Shrila Acharyadeva’s look is at the forefront of chic, yet delightfully conservative and held back as if to modestly state his humility about his exalted post of World Acharyaship. He has an updated yet classic look which embodies his youthful, aggressive and sports-centered guru-persona. His bold embrace of lively colors that fit the changes of season is strictly him and him alone. With an eye to the future and tutored in style, Shrila Acharyadeva knows that changing tastes will never catch this Enlightened Guru by surprise. At once functional in cut and design, his outerwear reflects a knowledge of things that truly count, for he has realized that the clothes really do make the man.
His twill khakis are always delightfully oversized denoting his devil-may-care casualness as he moves from place to place enlightening an ignorant world on various important subjects, like the meaning of his various titles, from PhD to GBC. The time-tested sheer authenticity of his woven fabric slacks with their definitive fit and trim is a bold statement in itself. Attired as such, his impact is so great that it is a wonder he even bothers to speak at all, so powerful is this Acharyadeva’s fashion statement.
His relaxed, boot cut “workaholic” look betrays the casual smile that serves as his final statement. Perhaps none of his envious and demonic detractors ever considered that the color khaki of his dungarees was a result of white British army uniforms turning delightfully brownish by being washed in the rivers of India. Doubtless, Shrila Acharyadeva has understood and conveys this India-connection ever so subtly, yet so very effectively. No wonder he is known as the Pierre Cardin of Indologists.
His collection of baseball caps further intensifies that special something of a trademark look his fans have come to adore as “Shrila Acharyadeva Style”. His preference is the long-billed cap, popularized by young, well-to-do joggers seen here and there during their morning breaks at the trendiest of cafes. Each cap is stylishly stonewashed to demonstrate a certain “weathered” look as lingering evidence of his vast time-tested experience in enlightening juveniles less fortunate than he. Embroidered mottos on the crown reflect hidden messages as sutras, and the depth of their meaning can only be understood after years of meditation. By dramatically removing his golf cap before his eager audiences he reveals his stylish bald spot, a mark that is de rigeur for intellectuals and academics of his status. As far as the lotus feet that have received thousands of flowers from adoring followers are concerned, only the finest casual mocs or jogging shoes will suffice.
I am sure that Shrila Acharyadeva’s illiterate underlings—once having seen this honest presentation of facts about his character, qualities, style (and message)—will cease their blind criticism and learn from him to likewise keep an eye out for the latest in fashions, for the enlightenment of others!
[Photo: © ISKCON News Network]
The Fashion Plate Acharya attracts a well dressed following. Sidelined on the left in the photo, no doubt due to his emphasis on drab, traditional garb, is ISKCON Guru Hanumat Preshaka Swami in dhoti and kurta. As the photo proves, the clothes really do make the man.
ALL GLORIES TO SHRILA ACHARYADEVA!
