Who are the Aryans?

DISCLAIMER : The opinions expressed in this article are my own and not those of Srila Prabhupada necessarily. Sometimes my conclusions may overlap with him, and sometimes not. Please read his books to find out and follow his real instructions. This post is my musing on how we can best utilize the information provided by Srila Prabhupada in the form of his books, letters, and lectures.

This is a long post, so I encourage the reader to bookmark it for further reading.

In my first blog post, I want to start with a redpill that is still unclear to me. Namely, who are the Aryans? Subsequent posts will be on topics on which discussion is far more settled and the conclusions of which are bright as day.

Required reading before reading this post –
* https://prabhupadabooks.com/sb/2/4/18
* http://www.krishnapath.org/the-myth-of-the-aryan-invasion-of-india/

At the start, I would like to say that the Aryan Invasion Theory is false. Instead, Vedic civilization was spread from India to the rest of the world, which is why there are similarities in language (Sanskrit derived), Gods (Vedic derived), and people (Aryan derived) culture all around the world. Some other articles to read on this topic are –
* http://www.veda.harekrsna.cz/encyclopedia/aryans.htm
* https://iskcondesiretree.com/profiles/blogs/aryan-invasion-fictitious
* https://www.sanskritimagazine.com/india/debunking-the-aryan-invasion-theory/
* https://www.stephen-knapp.com/death_of_the_aryan_invasion_theory.htm
* https://www.stephen-knapp.com/aryan_invasion_theory_the_final_nail_in_its_coffin.htm

There are a huge number of scholars, historians, linguists, and other experts refuting and challenging the Aryan Invasion Theory, which was a ploy by colonial forces to make Indians devalue/disbelieve their own Vedic heritage and accept the white conquest/hegemony over them as having historical precedence. It made Indians
1. Think that the Vedas were written by barbaric nomads of Central Asia instead of being sacred texts of direct revealed knowledge from God.
2. Create amongst themselves a divide based on geography and skin colour, between North Indians and South Indians or ‘Dravidians’, which created social tension and made India easier to divide and conquer.
3. Think that since ‘ancient’ Indian culture originated from [the people who eventually became the] West, they were best qualified to tell Indians what it should be, such as replacing the traditions with Christianity, the latest [central asian descended people’s] western ‘gift’ to the westerners’ subordinates.
4. Defined Aryan as a race of blonde skinned blue eyed westerners. (important).

Srila Prabhupada himself denies the Aryan Invasion Theory here –

Morning Walk — November 13, 1975, Bombay:

Yaśomatīnandana: They believe in whatever is existing now. Whatever is existing now, or whatever they…

Prabhupāda: And what is not existing which is mentioned in the Bhagavad-gita. Cātur-varṇyaṁ mayā sṛṣṭam (BG 4.13). Still people say, “I am brāhmaṇa,” “I am kṣatriya,” “I am this,” “I am that.” It is existing.

Yaśomatīnandana: They would even believe the mundane historians more than the śāstras. The historians have very funny stories. The Aryans came from the northeast Asia or something.

Indian man (1): Central Asia.

Yaśomatīnandana: Central Asia and inhabited in India. Then the Indian civilization sprang. Everybody thinks that India was not originally inhabited. It was all inhabited by the Dravidians, and then the Dravidians were pushed into the South and then Aryans dominated them. Whatever they learn in the schools. And because they have this theory, therefore they have to date all the śāstras, after, either after Christ or just a few centuries before Christ. (break) …bhārata, they say, it must have been a small family feud and some poet’s imagination made it a big war.

Prabhupāda: “May be. May not be.” (laughter) We say, “may not be.”<END QUOTE>

But in this conversation he seems to be agreeing with it. Also, here he makes the distinction that being tan is not being black (negroid presumably). This will be important since being ‘black’ will be mentioned in other quotes later.

Srila Prabhupada: Maybe. Actually Aryan civilization was central Asia. Some of them went towards India and some of them went towards Europe. Indo-European stock that is called.

Revatinandana: Central Asia.

Srila Prabhupada: Central Asia. Caucasian. Kasyapa Muni’s place.

Hamsaduta: How come they’re so white?

Srila Prabhupada: The Aryans are white. But here, this side, due to climatic influence, they are a little tan. Indians are tan but they are not black. But Aryans are all white. And the non-Aryans, they are called black. Yes.

Devotee: They use the term Caucasian to designate those persons who…

Srila Prabhupada: Not only Europeans. The Kashmir side of this Afghanistan, Baluchistan and Punjab, they are all white.

Devotee: Caucasaus Mountains is near Afghanistan.

Srila Prabhupada: Yes. All white. In Punjab, you’ll find, they are as white as Europeans. Oh, yes. Kashmir.

(Lecture on Srimad-Bhagavatam 6.1.6, given in Bombay, on November 6th, 1970)<END QUOTE>

So the truth or falsity of the Aryan Invasion Theory needs further clarification (since this blog goes only by Srila Prabhupada’s teachings and holds him to be the highest authority on all matters). I will be researching the topic more and will update this post accordingly. Maybe people can help me with it in the comments.

Now, I should make it clear that the species according to the vedas is a very different word than species as referred to by biologists. From http://www.prabhupada.org.uk/sp_expose/com_evol.htm  –

“There are 900,000 species of aquatic life; 2,000,000 species of plants and trees; 1,100,000 species of insects; 1,000,000 species of bird life; 3,000,000 species of beasts, and 400,000 species of human life.”Padma Purana .2 The meaning of “species” understood by biologists is different from the meaning implied here. The meaning used by biologists applies to the gross physical appearance or the gross morphological feature of the living material bodies. The Vedic meaning, however, which is derived after thorough and careful analysis, is based on the level of consciousness of the living being. For example, biologists say that all human beings belong to one species, whereas the Vedic literatures list 400,000 species. In other words, there are 400,000 grades of human beings on different levels of consciousness.

Here are the alternatives that arise from reading Srila Prabhupada’s words on the matter –

1. FOR bodily discrimination – In this category lie the quotes which support the view that a certain species of humans are inherently an advanced spiritual species and more ‘tuned’ to the Vedic culture and knowledge. Reading the quotes will tell you exactly which species are being held as the advanced ones. Other species are not as capable as the Aryans of advancing in Krishna Consciousness. Ultimately, this is an incorrect view since in several places in his books, Srila Prabhupada has emphasized the all-inclusive and all-merciful nature of Lord Sri Krishna, and how by his grace, all material contamination can be removed from a living entity who takes to the process of surrendering unto Him, no matter how sinful he was previously. Still, it should be interesting to contrast the quotes which strongly favour this argument.

2. AGAINST bodily discrimination – In this category lie the quotes which support the view that all species only have bodily distinction on the physical platform and that an Aryan is defined by one who follows and upholds the Vedic culture and possesses spiritual knowledge. So here aryans are defined on the basis of culture, not species. Therefore they go against the idea that one can be an Aryan, or an advanced spiritual human being, by birth. Of course, at the end of the day, one’s past life karma and spiritual cultivation will transfer to this life as well since in Krishna Consciousness progress is saved and never reset. Excerpt from https://asitis.com/2/40.html – “Translation : In this endeavor there is no loss or diminution, and a little advancement on this path can protect one from the most dangerous type of fear. Purport : Activity in Krsna consciousness, or acting for the benefit of Krsna without expectation of sense gratification, is the highest transcendental quality of work. Even a small beginning of such activity finds no impediment, nor can that small beginning be lost at any stage. Any work begun on the material plane has to be completed, otherwise the whole attempt becomes a failure. But any work begun in Krsna consciousness has a permanent effect, even though not finished. The performer of such work is therefore not at a loss even if his work in Krsna consciousness is incomplete. One percent done in Krsna consciousness bears permanent results, so that the next beginning is from the point of two percent; whereas, in material activity, without a hundred percent success, there is no profit.[…]Material activities and their results end with the body. But work in Krsna consciousness carries the person again to Krsna consciousness, even after the loss of the body. At least one is sure to have a chance in the next life of being born again as a human being, either in the family of a great cultured brahmana or in a rich aristocratic family that will give one a further chance for elevation. That is the unique quality of work done in Krsna consciousness.” Also, the family in which one is born will influence their cultural upbringing as well.

3. NEUTRAL – In this category lie the quotes which support the view that no matter in which species one belongs to, one can always be elevated to a pure and transcendental platform by taking to Krishna Consciousness. Ultimately, this is the right answer, since we are not this body. Rather we are the spirit soul within, and living entities are not bound by the species of humanity they are born to, but can always rise through following the regulative principles of Krishna Consciousness. Still, it should be interesting to see the distribution of direct quotes from Srila Prabhupada across the different categories on the basis of first impressions, especially since any frank and honest discussion of racism is heavily frowned upon in modern society.

4. UNSURE – In this category lie the quotes about which I am unsure as to whether they belong in the first or the second category, because I am not clear about what Srila Prabhupada is implying. Maybe people can help me classifying them in the comments.

It is important to study the characteristics of the different species of human beings because they are the first body type a living entity accepts when it falls down to the material universes from the spiritual universe. Excerpt from SB 4.29.4 (https://prabhupadabooks.com/sb/4/29/4) – “Translation: When the living entity wants to enjoy the modes of material nature in their totality, he prefers, out of many bodily forms, to accept that body which has nine gates, two hands and two legs. Thus he prefers to become a human being or a demigod. Purport : Originally the living entity is a spiritual being, but when he actually desires to enjoy this material world, he comes down. From this verse we can understand that the living entity first accepts a body that is human in form, but gradually, due to his degraded activities, he falls into lower forms of life—into the animal, plant and aquatic forms. By the gradual process of evolution, the living entity again attains the body of a human being and is given another chance to get out of the process of transmigration. If he again misses his chance in the human form to understand his position, he is again placed in the cycle of birth and death in various types of bodies.” So if society can optimize itself for the elevation of different types of human beings according to their proclivity and predispositions, their falldown to the animal, plant, or other types of kingdoms can be prevented and they can be liberated in their very first life in the material universes.

Also, as a person replied to me when I told him to not go by such quotes since afterall, we are not this bodies, but the spirit souls within –

“So long as the jiva is influenced by workings of the gunas, the realities of the body have to be taken into account. Just as they have to be taken into account in the interactions between men and women.” Here are the quotes. I have divided them by the webpage I took them from, and then further into the four categories.

FOR – excerpt from SB 4.20.26, Purport:

The association of devotees (ārya-saṅgama) is the most important factor in this world. The word ārya refers to those who are advancing spiritually. In the history of the human race, the Āryan family is considered to be the most elevated community in the world because it adopts the Vedic civilization. The Āryan family is distributed all over the world and is known as Indo-Āryan. In prehistoric days all of the members of the Āryan family followed the Vedic principles, and therefore they became spiritually advanced. The kings, known as rājarṣis, were so perfectly educated as kṣatriyas, or protectors of the citizens, and so greatly advanced in spiritual life, that there was not a bit of trouble for the citizens.

The glorification of the Supreme Lord can be very much appreciated by the Āryan family. Although there is no bar for others, the members of the Āryan family very quickly catch the essence of spiritual life. How is it that we are finding it very easy to spread Kṛṣṇa consciousness among the Europeans and Americans? History reports that the Americans and Europeans proved their capability when they were anxious to expand colonization, but at the present time, being contaminated by the advancement of material science, their sons and grandsons are turning into reprobates. This is due to their having lost their original spiritual culture, which is Vedic civilization. Presently these descendants of the Āryan family are taking this Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement very seriously. Others who are associating with them and hearing the chanting of the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra from the lips of pure devotees are also becoming captivated by the transcendental vibration. Transcendental vibrations are very much effective when chanted among Āryans, but even though one does not belong to the Āryan family, he will become a Vaiṣṇava simply by hearing the mantra because the vibration has great influence over everyone.<END QUOTE>

In this quote, the special ability of the Aryan ‘family’ or species is mentioned. I think by ‘family’ Srila Prabhupada means species because he says that this “family is distributed all over the world and is known as Indo-Āryan”. It is obvious that he can’t mean that all the different cultures who were descendants of Aryans of Ancient India are known as ‘Indo-Aryan’. He can only mean that the species of people from India are the Indo-Aryans. The member of this species ‘very quickly catch the essence of spiritual life’, and ‘transcendental vibrations’ are ‘very much’ effective when chanted among Aryans. Also, Americans (who were European colonies) and Europeans have been included in the Aryan family. So they are descendants of Aryans from Ancient India.

1. Taken from https://vaniquotes.org/wiki/SB_02.04.18_kirata-hunandhra-pulinda-pulkasa…_cited (generally all the quotes on this page fall into the NEUTRAL category. I have picked out only quotes which very clearly touch on species of the aryans and lower species).

1. (first I should reinforce the idea that everyone can be elevated) – NEUTRAL – excerpt from SB 2.4.18 –
The Vaiṣṇava never accepts another Vaiṣṇava on the basis of birthright, just as he never thinks of the Deity of the Lord in a temple as an idol. And to remove all doubts in this connection, Śrīla Śukadeva Gosvāmī has invoked the blessings of the Lord, who is all-powerful (prabhaviṣṇave namaḥ). As the all-powerful Lord accepts the humble service of His devotee in devotional activities of the arcana, His form as the worshipable Deity in the temple, similarly the body of a pure Vaiṣṇava changes transcendentally at once when he gives himself up to the service of the Lord and is trained by a qualified Vaiṣṇava. The injunction of Vaiṣṇava regulation in this connection runs as follows: arcye viṣṇau śilā-dhīr guruṣu nara-matir vaiṣṇave jāti-buddhiḥ śrī-viṣṇor nāmni śabda-sāmānya-buddhiḥ, etc. “One should not consider the Deity of the Lord as worshiped in the temple to be an idol, nor should one consider the authorized spiritual master an ordinary man. Nor should one consider a pure Vaiṣṇava to belong to a particular caste, etc.” (Padma Purāṇa)<END QUOTE>

2. NEUTRAL – Excerpt from CC Adi 17.212, Purport:

Significant in verse 211 are the words kṛṣṇera kīrtana kare nīca bāḍa bāḍa, indicating that anyone can join in the saṅkīrtana movement. This is confirmed in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (2.4.18): kirāta-hūṇāndhra-pulinda-pulkaśā ābhīra-śumbhā yavanāḥ khasādayaḥ. This is a list of the names of caṇḍālas. The pāṣaṇḍīs say that when these lower-class men are allowed to chant, their influence is enhanced. They do not like the idea that others should also develop spiritual qualities, because this would curb their false pride in having taken birth in families of the elevated brāhmaṇa caste, with a monopoly on spiritual activities.<END QUOTE>

3. NEUTRAL – Lecture on BG 9.3 — Toronto, June 20, 1976:

No, that is not. Kṛṣṇa says, māṁ hi pārtha vyapāśritya ye ‘pi syuḥ pāpa-yonayaḥ (BG 9.32). Never mind whether he is Indian, brāhmaṇa or this or that. Even if he’s born in the lowest, lowest grade of family, pāpa-yoni. They are kirāta-hūṇāndhra-pulinda-pulkaśā ābhīra-śumbhā yavanāḥ (SB 2.4.18), there are so many. They’re pāpa-yoni, almost animal. Śudhyanti, they also become purified and comes to Kṛṣṇa. It is so wide, universal, easy and especially you are Indian, why you should not take advantage of this facility. You take it and be happy. That is my request. Thank you very much.<END QUOTE>

Especially recommends Krishna Consciousness for Indians. Will they find it easier to take to the process, are they Aryans, since he contrasts them with the ‘lowest grade of family’, the lower species?

4. NEUTRAL – Lecture on BG 16.8 — Hyderabad, December 16, 1976:

Kṛṣṇa says openly, māṁ hi pārtha vyapāśritya ye ‘pi syuḥ pāpa-yonayaḥ (BG 9.32). Pāpa-yoni, low-born. Pāpa-yoni. There are… They are mentioned in the śāstras, kirāta-hūṇāndhra-pulinda-pulkaśā ābhīra-śumbhā yavanāḥ khasādayaḥ (SB 2.4.18). They are considered as caṇḍāla, less than the śūdras. Kirāta means Africans, the black. In our country also there are santals, very black. They live in the forest. Every country aborigines. They are called kirāta. So Huns… There are Huns on the northern side of Germany. Āndhra, kirāta-hūṇāndhra-pulinda-pulkaśā ābhīra-śumbhā yavanāḥ khasādayaḥ. Many. But Śukadeva Gosvāmī says that they can be purified, śudhyanti prabhaviṣṇave, if they become Vaiṣṇava. Prabhaviṣṇave namaḥ. If one becomes Vaiṣṇava, then he is transcendental to this material designation.<endquote>

Here he seems to be conflating being black (as in negroid black, not merely tan) with being a lesser species of humans.

5. NEUTRAL – Lecture on SB 1.7.5-6 — Johannesburg, October 15, 1975:

That is confirmed in the Bhagavad-gītā. Māṁ hi pārtha vyapāśritya ye ‘pi syuḥ pāpa-yonayaḥ (BG 9.32). Pāpa-yoni, lower class, very, very lower class… Pāpa-yoni, their description in the śāstra, kirāta-hūṇāndhra-pulinda-pulkaśā ābhīra-śumbhā yavanāḥ khasādayaḥ (SB 2.4.18). So these pāpa-yoni, these black, they are also considered pāpa-yoni, but for everyone Kṛṣṇa consciousness is open. Kirāta-hūṇāndhra-pulinda. Hūṇa, kirāta, andhra, pulinda, pulkaśa, ābhīra, śumbha, yavana, khasādaya… Mongolia, those who do not develop mustaches, khasādaya, ye ‘nye ca pāpa, and lower than that, yad-apāśrayāśrayāḥ—if he takes sincerely the shelter of the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa or His devotee, yad-apāśrayāśrayāḥ śudhyanti, he becomes very purified.<END QUOTE>

6. NEUTRAL – Lecture on SB 1.16.8 — Los Angeles, January 5, 1974:

So it is advised that nṛ-loke. Nṛ-loke means the human form of body, in the human society. We don’t discard that “This is American society” or “This is European society,” “This is Indian society…” No, all human being. All human being. It doesn’t matter what he is. All human being. What to speak of civilized men, even uncivilized, anārya. They are also described in the Bhāgavatam. Kirāta-hūṇāndhra-pulinda-pulkaśā ābhīra-śumbhā yavanāḥ khasādayaḥ (SB 2.4.18). These names are there. Kirāta. Kirāta means the black, the Africans. They are called kirāta. Kirāta-hūṇa āndhra. Hūṇa, the nation or the community on the North Pole, above Russian, German, they are called hūṇa.<END QUOTE>

Includes Africans and Mongoloids (“those who do not develop moustaches) into the uncivilized species in quotes 6 and 7.

7. NEUTRAL – Lecture on SB 5.5.26 — Vrndavana, November 13, 1976:

You cannot take shelter of Kṛṣṇa directly, that is not possible, but one who has taken shelter of Kṛṣṇa, you can take shelter of him. That is mad-āśrayaḥ, one, mat-āśrayaḥ: “a person who has taken shelter of Me.” That means His devotee, a pure Vaiṣṇava, a Vaiṣṇava guru. You have to take shelter of. Then you can practice bhakti-yoga. Then never mind what you are. Kirāta-hūṇāndhra-pulinda-pulkaśā ābhīra-śumbhā yavanāḥ khasādayaḥ, ye ‘nye ca pāpā yad-apāśrayāśrayāḥ (SB 2.4.18). If you take shelter of a devotee of Kṛṣṇa or Viṣṇu, then śuddhyanti—you’ll be purified. Śuddhyanti. How it is possible that…? He’s born in low-grade family, kirāta-hūṇāndhra-pulinda-pulkaśā. How he became so purified that he can see? Now prabhaviṣṇave namaḥ. This is Kṛṣṇa’s influence. He can do that. If you take shelter, upāśrayāśrayāḥ, a devotee of Kṛṣṇa, then Kṛṣṇa is pleased to reveal Himself. That is Kṛṣṇa’s special power, Viṣṇu’s special power. He can be seen even by the kirāta-hūṇāndhra andhra, and He cannot be seen even by the most purified brāhmaṇa. That is His option. He is not exposed to be seen by everyone. That is not possible.<END QUOTE>

Those in the lower species can see Krishna before even an Aryan Brahmin.

8. FOR – Lecture on SB 5.6.10 — Bombay, December 28, 1976:

So managers… The varṇāśrama-dharma: the managers, the brāhmaṇas and the kṣatriyas; and the workers, the vaiśyas and the śūdras. And less than that, less than the śūdras, the caṇḍālas, they have to be fully controlled, kirata-hūṇāndhra-pulinda-pulkaśā (SB 2.4.18), because they do not know the regulative principles of life. They are called caṇḍālas. So they are described in the śāstra. So the kṣatriyas, they used to keep these caṇḍālas under full control. Otherwise the society would be lost.<END QUOTE>

The lower species should be ‘fully controlled’ otherwise they degrade into an abominable existence and are unable to advance spiritually. This is done by the Kshatriya Aryans.

9. FOR – Lecture on SB 7.6.3 — Toronto, June 19, 1976:

That, how it can be done? By bhāgavata dharma. Not otherwise. Not by karma or jñāna or yoga. No. You cannot change. Simply by acting in devotional service, bhāgavata dharma, anyone can be raised to the highest position. Kirāta-hūṇāndhra-pulinda-pulkaśā ābhīra śumbhā yavanāḥ khasādayaḥ ye ‘nye ca pāpā (SB 2.4.18). Pāpā, these are pāpā. Pāpā means very abominable life. Even they can be raised to the highest perfection. Māṁ hi pārtha vyapāśritya ye ‘pi syuḥ pāpa-yonayaḥ (BG 9.32). The pāpa-yoni.<END QUOTE>

Lower species have an abominable life.

10. NEUTRAL – The Nectar of Devotion — Bombay, January 1, 1973:

So one who becomes engaged immediately in pure devotional service, he immediately becomes liberated. Immediately. Without any distant time. Immediately. Tad kṣaṇāt śraddhā bhavati, śraddhā savanāya kalpate. Jīva Gosvāmī (says) that one who, even one is born in the lowest degree, śva-pācaḥ, śraddhā savanaya kalpate, he becomes immediately eligible for performing sacrifices. There are śāstra evidences. And Śukadeva Gosvāmī says,

kirāta-hūṇāndhra-pulinda-pulkaśā
ābhīra-śumbhā yavanāḥ khasādayaḥ
ye ‘nye ca pāpā yad-apāśrayāśrayāḥ
śudhyanti (tasmai) prabhaviṣṇave namaḥ
(SB 2.4.18)

Even born in kirāta family, the aborigines… They, these, these names are of the caṇḍālas. They are not Aryans. Non-Aryans. So kirāta-hūṇā… In the Bhagavad-gītā also Kṛṣṇa says, māṁ hi pārtha vyapāśritya ye ‘pi syuḥ pāpa-yonayaḥ (BG 9.32). Pāpa-yoni. Striya śūdra tathā vaiśyās te ‘pi yānti paraṁ gatim. Immediately. So the devotional service is so nice, practical, that simply if you take to this devotional service, immediately you become sa guṇān samatītyaitān brahma-bhūyāya kalpate (BG 14.26).<END QUOTE>

Distinction is made between many species, including the aborigines, who are not Aryans.

11. NEUTRAL – Initiation of Jayapataka Dasa — Montreal, July 24, 1968:

Pāñcarātriki-vidhi means if any one has a little inclination for spiritual development, he should be given chance. This initiation means to give chance. The Bhāgavata says that kirāta-hūṇāndhra-pulinda-pulkaśā ābhīra-śumbhā yavanāḥ khasādayaḥ (SB 2.4.18). These are the list of the caṇḍālas or less than the śūdras. So Bhāgavata gives open road for everyone. Even one is kirāta… Kirāta means… Generally they are called aborigines, or the very black aborigines living in the jungles, they are called kirāta. In our country it is called hanta (?). So anyway, Hun, Hun a class of people in the hill side of north Arctic. They are called Huns. So kirāta-hūṇāndhra-pulinda-pulkaśā ābhīra-śumbhā… There are very great list of the caṇḍālas, less than the śūdras. The Bhāgavata says ye ‘nye ca pāpā, not these classes, even less than them, even they are born in the family of sinful tribe, they can be also purified. Śudhyanti, they can be also purified. Kirāta-hūṇāndhra-pulinda-pulkaśā ābhīra-śumbhā yavanāḥ khasādayaḥ, ye ‘nye ca pāpā śudhyanti. They can be purified by association of Vaiṣṇava. Yad-apa, yad-apāśrayāśrayāḥ. Upāśraya means just like a person who is a devotee of Kṛṣṇa and if anyone takes shelter of such devotee, he can be purified. This is called paramparā system.<END QUOTE>

12. NEUTRAL – Sannyasa Initiation — Bombay, November 18, 1975:

So you are taking this pledge for serving in front of Kṛṣṇa, Vaiṣṇava, guru, and fire. So you shall be very much cautious not to forget your duty. You have got good opportunity. You are going to Africa to deliver these persons. Śukadeva Gosvāmī says, kirāta-hūṇāndhra-pulinda-pulkaśā ābhīra-śumbhā yavanāḥ khasādayaḥ, ye ‘nye ca pāpā (SB 2.4.18). These groups of men are considered very fallen, kirāta, the black men. They are called niṣāda. Niṣāda was born of Vena, King Vena. So they are habituated to steal; therefore they have been given a separate place, African jungles. That is there in the Bhāgavatam. So, but everyone can be delivered. Kirāta-hūṇāndhra-pulinda-pulkaśā ābhīra-śumbhā yavanāḥ khasādayaḥ ye ‘nye ca pāpā. These are known (as) sinful life. But Śukadeva Gosvāmī says, “There may be others which is not mentioned here.” Ye ‘nye ca pāpā yad-apāśrayāśrayāḥ: “If they take shelter of a Vaiṣṇava,” śudhyanti, “they become purified.” So you have to become very rigid Vaiṣṇava; then you will be able to deliver them.<END QUOTE>

Black men “are habituated to steal”.

13. FOR – Philosophy Discussion on Plato:

Prabhupāda: So you can see practically in your country between the black and white. The white men are more advanced in everything, and the black man, although he has got the same facilities, they are in inferior position. Why? It is putra-janma dṛḍham. That is the proof of past life. But so far we are concerned, we are not concerned about one black man or white man. Both of them are in the clutches of māyā. We want to educate all of them to Kṛṣṇa consciousness, and they have got equal opportunity, it is stated in the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, kirāta-hūṇāndhra-pulinda-pulkaśā ābhīra-śumbhā yavanāḥ (SB 2.4.18). Never mind what is his body, if he is willing to become trained to Kṛṣṇa consciousness, that is the platform of the soul, that we can do.

Hayagrīva: Now for Plato, perfect happiness is in attempting to become godlike.

Prabhupāda: Hm?

Hayagrīva: Perfect happiness is in attempting to become godlike.

Prabhupāda: Godlike?

Hayagrīva: Godlike, godly.<END QUOTE>

Given the same facilities, black men will still be in an ‘inferior position’ and white men will be ‘more advanced in everything’. This is proof that those who are born in the lower species have lesser spiritual advancement from their past lives as compared to the Aryans.

14. FOR – Morning Walk at Villa Borghese — May 26, 1974, Rome:

Prabhupāda: Yes. Slaves? This word is used in Vedic language also, slave. The Africans, they were meant for becoming slaves.

Yogeśvara: Śrīla Prabhupāda, can we take a picture here please?

Prabhupāda: Yes. Kirāta-hūṇāndhra-pulinda-pulkaśā ābhīra-śumbhā yavanāḥ khasādayaḥ (SB 2.4.18). So the Kirātas, they were always slaves of the Āryans. The Āryan people used to keep slaves, but they were treating slaves very nicely. Later on it degraded. Otherwise, slaves were kept just like family members.

Bhagavān: They had no resentment.<END QUOTE>

Apparently in Ancient India Aryans kept slaves as nicely as their own family members. Also Africans are ‘meant for becoming slaves’. Could this also be applied to other lesser species?

15. NEUTRAL – Morning Walk — March 11, 1975, London:

Prabhupāda: At the present moment there is no director, neither executive. Some of them are only productive, and some of them are worker, most of them. Therefore it is said, kalau śūdraḥ-sambhavaḥ. In the Kali-yuga, mostly all the people are śūdras. Because they are workers. (break) Everyone can be purified, even the caṇḍālas. Kirāta-hūṇāndhra-pulinda-pulkaśā ābhīra-śumbhā yavanāḥ khasādayaḥ (SB 2.4.18). Yavanāḥ khasādayaḥ. Yavanas means these European groups, and khasādayaḥ, Mongolian group: China, Japan. So Japanese were there in Vedic age also. Kālayavana. Kālayavana fought with Kṛṣṇa.<END QUOTE>

A recurring theme is that all species can be purified, but the timespan in which that will happen is longer for some species than for others presumably. Also, not all Europeans are Aryans. Some ‘European groups’ are included in the lesser species of Yavanas. This is important because this means only some European groups are descended from the Aryan family.

16. FOR – Morning Walk — July 11, 1976, New York:

Prabhupāda: Just see these black men living in such a highly rich country, and civilized men, but their nature is not changed. Angara satatau tena(?), but they can be changed only in Kṛṣṇa consciousness. No other way. Kirāta-hūṇāndhra-pulinda-pulkaśā… (SB 2.4.18).

Bali-mardana: Fifty-ninth Street.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: This is a good location. This building is for sale.<END QUOTE>

Other processes and advancement of material civilization can’t change the nature of lesser species such as the ‘black men’. Only Krishna Consciousness can.

17. FOR – Room Conversation with Dr. Theodore Kneupper — November 6, 1976, Vrndavana:

Prabhupāda: So how you can be happy under the control of fourth-class men? There is no first-class men, no second-class men, even no third-class. That means all fourth-class, fifth-class. That’s all. This is the human society, combination of fourth, fifth, tenth-class men. Tenth-class. The fourth-class… There are fourth-class men and more than that, fifth-class men, uncivilized. Aborigines, they are fifth class. Kirāta-hūṇāndhra-pulinda-pulkaśā ābhīra-śumbhā yavanāḥ khasādayaḥ (SB 2.4.18). There are so many. In the human civilized… Civilization means there must be first-class men, second-class men, third-class men, fourth-class men. Then rest all fifth-class, up to tenth-class. But at the present moment there is some fourth-class men and all fifth-class, sixth-class, up to tenth-class. So how we can be happy? There is no first-class men, there is no second-class men, not even third-class men.<END QUOTE>

2. Taken from https://vaniquotes.org/wiki/Aryan_means (in most of the quotes on this page, aryan is defined on the basis of culture and civilization. the question is, are some species more likely to be civilized inherently/by birth with Aryan qualities or not?)

1. AGAINST – CC Madhya 11.192, Purport:

The word Āryan means advanced. Unless one is spiritually advanced, he cannot be called an Āryan, and this is the difference between Āryan and non-Āryan. Non-Āryans are those who are not spiritually advanced. By following the Vedic culture, by performing great sacrifices and by becoming a strict follower of the Vedic instructions, one may become a brāhmaṇa, a sannyāsī or an Āryan. It is not possible to become a brāhmaṇa, sannyāsī or Āryan without being properly qualified. Bhāgavata-dharma never allows one to become a cheap brāhmaṇa, sannyāsī or Āryan. The qualities or qualifications described herein are quoted from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (3.33.7) and were spoken by Devahūti, the mother of Kapiladeva, when she understood the influence of devotional service (bhakti-yoga). In this way Devahūti praised the devotee, pointing out his greatness in all respects.<END QUOTE>

It is possible to ‘become’ an Aryan through ‘vedic culture’, ‘performing great sacrifices’, and “by becoming a strict follower of the Vedic instructions”.

2. AGAINST – Lecture on BG 2.1-10 and Talk — Los Angeles, November 25, 1968:

Prabhupāda: But at the present moment they claim that “We belong to the Āryan family,” but they have not the qualification of an Āryan. The Āryan qualification is described there. Simply Arjuna was little flickering, he showed his little weakness, and he was at once condemned as non-Āryan. “Oh, you are just showing your symptom of a non-Āryan.” You see. And by Kṛṣṇa. So the Āryan word is not ordinary. To become Āryan means a perfect human being, as far as possible. That is Āryan civilization.<END QUOTE>

It is possible to become a non-Aryan through lack of qualification.

3.. FOR – Lecture on BG 7.3 — Bombay, March 29, 1971:

So in the human society there must be some program how to cultivate such knowledge which can give me relief from this repeated birth and death. That is perfect human society. Otherwise those who are being carried away by the waves of material nature like cats and dogs, that is not proper human society. Human society means which society is making advance in spiritual knowledge, the Aryans. The Aryans means those who are advanced in spiritual knowledge. They are called Aryans. Ārya. Kṛṣṇa says, manuṣyāṇāṁ sahasreṣu (BG 7.3). There are 400,000 species of human beings, different types of human beings. Kirāta-hūṇāndhra-pulinda-pulkaśā ābhīra-śumbhā yavanāḥ khasādayaḥ (SB 2.4.18). There are so many varieties, they are considered lowest, low-grade. They cannot realize what is the aim of life. Kirāta-hūṇāndhra-pulinda-pulkaśā ābhīra-śumbhā yavanāḥ khasādayaḥ. Kirāta, the black race.<END QUOTE>

He specifically says that “they cannot realize what is the aim of life” which if interpreted literally (and it is best to take Srila Prabhupada literally, or ‘as it is’) means that they have to undergo purification by following regulative principles and refraining from sinful activities and then be reborn into an Aryan family through the grace of Krishna Consciousness so that they can achieve pure devotional service in that Aryan birth.

4. FOR – Lecture on BG 9.3 — Melbourne, April 21, 1976:

The best form of human life, the Aryans… Aryans. Aryans means those who are advanced. So the Aryan family, the history of Aryan family… From Central Asia, Caucasian ranges, they divided, the Indo-Aryans, Indo-Europeans. This is the history of mankind. So the Europeans, they belong to the Indo-Europeans, and some of the Europeans, not the uncivilized, the civilized, they came from that side, eastern side, when there was a threatening by Paraśurāma to kill the kṣatriyas. So most of the kṣatriyas, they came to Europe, and some of them settled in the middle, the border of Europe and Asia, Turkey, Greece. There is a big history, Mahābhārata. Mahābhārata means the greater history of India. So on the whole, the conclusion is that the Aryans spread in Europe also, and the Americans, they also spread from Europe. So the intelligent class of human being, they belong to the Aryans, Aryan family. Just like Hitler claimed that he belonged to the Aryan family. Of course, they belonged to the Aryan families.<END QUOTE>

Includes the truly intelligent class of human beings into the Aryan family. Accepts Hitler’s claims of being Aryan (but not his claim of being the only Aryans – See Aryan Invasion Theory refuted at the beginning of this post). Also goes into the history of Europeans, atleast the civilized Aryan-descended groups. He makes a distinction between Europeans – only some of them, the ‘civilized’ ones, came from the Aryan family.

5. AGAINST – Lecture on SB 1.15.25-26 — Los Angeles, December 4, 1973:

So that culture begins, civilized, in the Aryan families. Therefore they are called Aryans, “advanced.” Aryan means advanced. People want to group themselves in the Aryan family. Just like Hitler, he declared himself only, “The Germans are only Aryans, and Jews are not Aryans,” like that. You can manufacture. But real Aryan means one who is advanced in spiritual consciousness. He is Aryan. Not a class of men. Aryan means he’s advanced in spiritual consciousness. The Aryan civilization is so eulogized because they…, in the Aryan civilization there was Vedic culture. That is Aryan. Otherwise ahastāni sahastānām, and that is apadāni catuṣ-padām. This is going on, struggle for existence. In the primitive age that human being, so-called human being, naked, in the jungle, they eating animals. The animals have no leg… The Darwin’s theory is that there was no civilized man, but gradually it has developed. It is not very clearly explained; he does not know what is the evolution. Evolution means to become civilized. That is evolution. Or to advance in Kṛṣṇa consciousness. That is evolution.<END QUOTE>

Aryans are not ‘a class of men’ but one who is ‘advanced in spiritual consciousness’.

6. AGAINST – Lecture on SB 5.6.6 — Vrndavana, November 28, 1976:

So opulence, even Caitanya Mahāprabhu… Kṛṣṇa appeared in a kṣatriya family, very opulent. Lord Rāmacandra appeared in a kṣatriya family, kingdom, opulence. He also accepted vairāgya-vidyā. Father requested, “My dear son, Your mother likes that You should go to the forest.” Immediately accept, “Yes.” This śloka is applicable to Lord Rāmacandra. Tyaktvā sudustyaja-surepsita-rājya-lakṣmīm (SB 11.5.34). He was going to be coronated next day king, but immediately, by the order of His father, He left everything. Vairāgya… Tyaktvā sudustyaja-surepsita-rāj… Is there any instance throughout the history of the whole world that a prince was going to be king tomorrow and on the order of father he left everything? This is vairāgya-vidyā. This is called vairāgya-vidyā. Tyaktvā sudustyaja-surepsita-rājya-lakṣmīṁ dharmiṣṭha ārya-vacasā yad agād araṇyam (SB 11.5.34). Ārya-vacasā. Elderly person is called ārya. Respectful person is called. Ārya means one who is advanced. Ārya does not mean meat-eaters, Āryan family. No. Āryan means one who is advanced in civilization, they are called Āryan, not these fool and rascals, Āryan. No. Ārya-vacasā. By a superior person… His father, Mahārāja Dāsaratha, said—immediately.<END QUOTE>

Specifically denies that Aryans are a ‘family’ or a species who eat meat, but instead are those who are ‘advanced in civilization’.

7. UNSURE – Lecture on SB 7.6.1 — Boston, May 8, 1968:

Our constitutional position is lover. Prahlāda Mahārāja says that Viṣṇu, your loving object is Viṣṇu. So try to love Viṣṇu, then your life will be successful. You’ll feel satisfaction. Yayātmā suprasīdati. You’ll feel, “Oh, I have got something now. Now I have got this loving object.” In another place Prahlāda Mahārāja said na te viduḥ svārtha gatiṁ hi viṣṇu. They do not know what is their actual loving object. That is Viṣṇu. And in the Vedic mantra, Ṛg mantra, it is said, tad viṣṇoḥ paramaṁ padaṁ sadā paśyanti sūrayaḥ. Those who are demigods, they are always sūrayaḥ. Sūrayaḥ means Just like Aryans and non-Aryans. Then there’s suri and asuri, or sura or asura. Asura, asura means demons, and sura, just the opposite. Or Aryans and non-Aryans. So the Aryans Aryans, the real meaning, the Sanskrit word, “Aryans,” means progressive. We have historically made a class of men. No. Aryan civilization means who is progressive, advancing. They are intelligent. They are fair-complexioned. Therefore Aryan means progressive. So they know.<END QUOTE>

This quote is confusing since he rejects considering a historical class of men (presumably a species) to be Aryans but then goes on to list a physical characteristic of Aryans which is being fair-complexioned. A question arises that are Aryans exclusively fair-complexioned? Or is it just one of the physical traits and can be replaced by dark skin in some (or many) cases? It is important to keep in mind that Srila Prabhupada sees the Indian dark skin as being ‘tan’ and not black. It is ‘tan’ only due to the ‘climatic influence’, otherwise he sees Aryans as being all white, as evidenced by the second quote near the beginning of this post. In the same quote he says “But Aryans are all white”).

8. FOR – Lecture on SB 7.6.3 — Toronto, June 19, 1976:

You cannot change. Simply by acting in devotional service, bhāgavata dharma, anyone can be raised to the highest position. Kirāta-hūṇāndhra-pulinda-pulkaśā ābhīra śumbhā yavanāḥ khasādayaḥ ye ‘nye ca pāpā (SB 2.4.18). Pāpā, these are pāpā. Pāpā means very abominable life. Even they can be raised to the highest perfection. Māṁ hi pārtha vyapāśritya ye ‘pi syuḥ pāpa-yonayaḥ (BG 9.32). The pāpa-yoni. Pāpā-yoni, there are different types of pāpa-yoni. Except civilized human being, advanced human being, those who are called āryan. Āryan means those who are advanced. Below that position they are all pāpa-yoni. In the Aryan civilization there is a system of four divisions of social order and four division of spiritual order. Social order is brāhmaṇa, kṣatriya, vaiśya and śūdra. And spiritual order: brahmacārī, gṛhastha, vānaprastha and sannyāsa. Therefore what is going on at the present moment as Hindu… This word you won’t find in the Vedic literature. Varnāśrama. This is real Vedic system, varṇāśrama. And human life begins when one observes the varṇāśrama regulations. Varnāśrama. Human life means to elevate oneself to spiritual consciousness or God consciousness.<END QUOTE>

Other species are below the Aryans in terms of civilization and advancement.

9. AGAINST – Lecture on SB 7.6.7 — Vrndavana, December 9, 1975:

As birth is inevitable, death is inevitable, similarly, old age is inevitable. So in this way our time is wasted because we do not know how valuable this human form of life is. There is no such education. They think human life is as cheap as dog’s life, but factually it is not. Bahūnāṁ janmanām ante (BG 7.19). One gets this human form of life, 8,400,000 species of life, especially advanced life, the Aryan civilization… Aryan means advanced, advanced in spiritual knowledge. The materialists, they claim Aryan only from the bodily conception, but that is not the fact. Anyone who is advanced in spiritual life, they are called Aryans. Anārya-juṣṭam. Arjuna was chastised by Kṛṣṇa that “You are talking like non-Aryan.” Anārya-juṣṭam. So non-Aryan and Aryan, what is the difference? The Aryan civilization means this varṇāśrama-dharma, four varṇas, four āśramas. And non-Aryan means there is no division. Everyone is one or equal. That is advocated now at the present moment.<END QUOTE>

Divides Aryans and non-Aryans on the basis of whether they follow the varnashrama-dharma.

3. Taken from https://vaniquotes.org/wiki/Aryan_(Conversations_and_Letters) –

1. FOR – Morning Walk — December 12, 1973, Los Angeles:
Prabhupāda: Ah. Because the kṣatriyas were not doing exactly, he twenty-one times massacred them. Finish! And those who, kṣatriyas, fled from India, they came to Europe. So the European means they are coming from the kṣatriya descendant, but they have forgotten their own culture. Indo-aryan. (break) …strong, then there is no doubt he will be able to control all over the world. That’s a fact. But we must keep ourself spiritually strong.<END QUOTE>

Europeans are descendants of Indian Kshatriya-Aryans who fled Parashurama.

2. FOR – Room Conversation with Yoga Student — March 14, 1975, Iran:

Young man: Are human beings the only creations that can have Kṛṣṇa consciousness?

Prabhupāda: Yes. Kṛṣṇa consciousness means God consciousness. The cats and dogs cannot be trained up. But a human being can be trained up. Especially the Āryans, they can be trained up. They are advanced.

Young man: More advanced than other races?

Prabhupāda: By birth they are advanced. They have got intelligence. But for Kṛṣṇa consciousness everyone can be purified, even the non-Āryans. It is without any check. Ahaituky apratihatā. Apratihatā means without any material check. It is not a disqualification that one is not an Āryan, therefore he cannot understand God. No. He can also be trained up. Because it is spiritual, and we are all spiritual identities, so it is not difficult. Even one who is not spiritual at the present moment, but by training he can also become spiritual.<END QUOTE>

3. FOR – Room Conversation with Justin Murphy (Geographer) — May 14, 1975, Perth:

Prabhupāda: First of all, you have to understand what is the basic principle of civilization, what we want to fulfill, what is the goal. There are different species of life beginning from aquatics, fishes and animals in the water. Then, as the water dries up, then vegetation come. In this way there is evolution from aquatics to vegetable life, then moving, insects, reptiles. Then, gradually, birds. From insect, the flies come out, and then flies gradually comes to bird. Then from birds to beast, four-legged. Then from beast to human being. Then human being, the aborigines, uncivilized. Then you come to civilized life, which is generally known as Aryan life. So the Aryan civilization, Vedic civilization… In this way we get this human form of life, developed consciousness. Now we should try to understand, “What I am? Am I this body or something else?” That is the subject matter of enquiry. So where is that department of knowledge?<END QUOTE>

4. AGAINST – Morning Walk — September 4, 1975, Vrndavana:

Nayanābhirāma: So I was just wondering if it wouldn’t be better if we gave them food and clothing instead of paying them.

Prabhupāda: But they will not work. (break) …gradually. Hare Kṛṣṇa. Jaya. (break) …Who does not deviate from the instruction of the Lord, he is Aryan. All others, non-Aryan. The Aryans will take the words of God as it is, without any deviation. That is Aryan. An Aryan means advanced, advanced in knowledge, and one who is advanced in knowledge, he is advanced civilized. Rascal fools, how they can be civilized? Everyone is claiming “Aryan,” but he does not know what is the business of Aryans. Simply by some bodily feature… The same ignorance—”I am this body.” So by the bodily features they settle up: “This is from Aryan family; this is from non-Aryan family.” That is good. That is external. Real Aryan means one who is advanced in knowledge and goes by the order of Kĺńṇa, or God. (aside:) Jaya.

Brahmānanda: Adolf Hitler adopted the idea of Aryan, but his criteria for Aryan was one who had blond hair and blue eyes.

Prabhupāda: That is bodily. (chuckles) That is another foolishness. Just like we have dress. So this dress of sannyāsī is not all. I must be real sannyāsī in knowledge, in education, in behavior, not that… Hitler studies by the dress. That is the foolishness. It is not by the dress, but by the quality.<END QUOTE>

Clearly says that there are qualifications to become an Aryan and one can’t be one by simple external bodily features.

5. AGAINST – Press Conference — October 2, 1975, Mauritius:

Puṣta Kṛṣṇa: …’All the lists of the incarnations of Godhead submitted herewith are either plenary expansions or parts of the plenary expansions of the Supreme Godhead, but Kṛṣṇa is the Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself.’ (Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, First Canto, Third Chapter, twenty-eighth verse.) Therefore Kṛṣṇa is the original Supreme Personality of Godhead, the AbssPURolute Truth, the source of both the Supersoul and the impersonal Brahman. In the presence of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Arjuna’s lamentation for his kinsmen is certainly unbecoming, and therefore Kṛṣṇa expressed His surprise with the word kutas, ‘wherefrom.’ Such unmanly sentiments were never expected from a person belonging to the civilized class of men known as Aryans. The word ārya is applicable to persons who know the value of life and have a civilization based on spiritual realization. Persons who are led by the material conception of life do not know that the aim of life is realization of the Absolute Truth, Viṣṇu or Bhagavān, and they are captivated by the external features of the material world, and therefore they do not know what liberation is. Persons who have no knowledge of liberation from material bondage are called non-Aryans. Although Arjuna was a kṣatriya, he was deviating from his prescribed duties by declining to fight. This act of cowardice is described as befitting the non-Aryans. Such deviation from duty does not help one in the progress of spiritual life, nor does it even give one the opportunity to become famous in this world. Lord Kṛṣṇa did not approve of the so-called compassion of Arjuna for his kinsmen.”

Prabhupāda: So this movement is to make the people Aryan.

Guest (2): Telling… (microphone moving) Let’s say, people who fight for their rights, the blacks in the United States or…

Prabhupāda: …for the kṣatriya? Kṣatriya means one who gives protection from being hurt, kṣat. Kṣat means hurting. So suppose if I unnecessarily hurt you, then it is the duty of the government to give you protection. So unless I am also punished by violence, I cannot…, He cannot give you protection. So this is also necessary. Therefore in the society there must be kńatriya. The brāhmaṇas should be learned; they should give instruction, advice. The kṣatriyas should give protection; the vaiśyas should produce, economic development; and rest, they should assist-śūdras, that’s all. This is the program of Aryan society.<END QUOTE>

6. Morning Walk — October 25, 1975, Mauritius:

Harikeśa: Someone was telling me that the weather here was supposed to be like Miami.

Prabhupāda: Miami? (break) …places were reserved for the sinful man in Kali-yuga. Formerly the Aryans never touched these places.

Harikeśa: Africa.

Prabhupāda: Africa or similar, other places. They were living in best places, like India. Now the number of sinful persons are increasing. Therefore they have been transferred here.

Puṣṭa Kṛṣṇa: America?

Prabhupāda: Anywhere.<END QUOTE>

Says that India is the best place to reside and meant for Aryans. Implies that some places are inherently better than others (maybe on the metaphysical, karmic plane, conducive to spiritual development?) and that the places of lower preference are reserved for the sinful people.

7. UNSURE – Morning Walk — November 21, 1975, Bombay:

Prabhupāda: That is I am asking. Civilization means not animal. Man, human being, must not be animal. This is the basic principle of civilization.

Dr. Patel: Primary all are animals. They have to advance from animal life to further up. That is the civilization as you say.

Prabhupāda: Yes, that I say. So not to remain animal.

Dr. Patel: Yes, not to have status quo.

Prabhupāda: Still it is going on. The junglis, they are not called civilized. They are as good as animals. In India we say jungli he, jungli. And others say uncivilized. So Aryan, Aryan means the most civilized group.

Dr. Patel: But presently, sir, the Aryan race are spread the world over.

Prabhupāda: Huh?

Dr. Patel: Right from… Aryans are spread the world over right from South America to…

Prabhupāda: They were, they were belonging to the Aryan family. The Europeans, they were also Aryan family, and Indians, the Arabians, Persians, they were all Aryan family. And the Americans they also migrated from Europe. They are also Aryans. But that is familywise. But actually Aryan means one who is advanced in civilization. That is Aryan. Therefore when Kṛṣṇa chastised Arjuna, He addressed him, “non-Aryan.” “You are not talking like Aryan.” Anārya juṣṭam. “You are talking like non-Aryan.” (aside:) Hare Kṛṣṇa. So Aryan means advanced. The first-class civilized men are the Aryans. So that standard of Aryan civilization is to understand God, Vińṇu, and go back to. This is perfectional. Yato vā imani (indistinct) bhūtāni jayante. To understand it. And again return back to Him. The modern civilization, they are completely unaware of God, neither they know it that going back to home, back to Godhead, is perfection of civilization. This is the defect.

Dr. Patel: They say, sir, that the Aryan civilization, cradle of Aryan civilization near the North Pole, is somewhere in Russia. From there they started transmigrating. People went to Europe, from there to America, then south down to Iran, and then to India and all that. When they have such extreme cold they were able to civilize themselves to that extent.

Prabhupāda: Hm? We don’t say.

Dr. Patel: The Eskimos are not able to do it.

Prabhupāda: No. Civilization means they must live in a nice place like India. That is civilization. The America in those days, they were neglecting. Nobody was living there. Gradually they advanced. Otherwise these tracts of land were rejected.

Dr. Patel: Hm?

Prabhupāda: These tracts of land, North America, that was rejected by the Aryans. They knew it.

Dr. Patel: They say the Mexico was known.

Prabhupāda: Mexico, they are less civilized. They are not Aryans. They are not Aryans.

Dr. Patel: That is patala bhumī.

Prabhupāda: Yes. Patala bhumī means just opposite the eastern hemisphere.<END QUOTE>

Includes Indians, Arabians, Persians, Europeans, and Americans (by dint of being a European colony) as Aryans, ‘familywise’. But then he gives the term a cultural definition, ‘advanced in civlization’. Directly refutes the Aryan Invasion Theory after Dr. Patel mentions it to him. Says North America was rejected by Aryans as a place to live. Says that Mexicans are a lesser species and that they live in ‘patala bhumi’ which translates to hellish land.

8. AGAINST –
Morning Walk — November 21, 1975, Bombay:

Prabhupāda: …proposition is not migrating. That is due to increase of population. The civilization means the culture. (aside:) Hare Kṛṣṇa. Jaya.

Dr. Patel: (break) …really spread toward the east in Indonesia and Indochina, all those places, which were again overtaken by Islam later on.

Prabhupāda: Islam is also…

Dr. Patel: History, it has spread. Even Bali Islands today are practicing Hinduism.

Brahmānanda: Aryan means change in consciousness to God consciousness.

Prabhupāda: Yes.

Brahmānanda: This means all over the world there can be an Aryan culture.

Prabhupāda: Yes, that is right.

Dr. Patel: Today the world is dominated by Aryans, all over practically. Except in Central Africa.

Prabhupāda: Today the whole world is dominated by demons.

Dr. Patel: Today. The Aryans have become demons.

Prabhupāda: Yes. That… Anyone can become demon. A demon can become Aryan, and Aryan can become demon by culture. That is one…

Dr. Patel: Yes, yes. A brāhmaṇa can be generated to Rāvaṇa state.

Prabhupāda: Yes. That is the Aryan culture.

yasya hi yad lakṣanaṁ
proktaṁ varṇābhivyañjakam
yady anyātrāpi dṛṣyeta
tat tenaiva vinirdiṣet
(SB 7.11.35)

That who is Aryan? These are the symptoms of Aryan. If the symptoms are found in Mexico, they are Aryan. That is verdict of Nārada. Yady anyātrāpi dṛṣyeta tat tenaiva vinirdiṣet (SB 7.11.35). We are doing that. They are coming from mleccha family, but they have practiced to become brāhmaṇa, they are brāhmaṇa. This is Aryan culture.

Dr. Patel: But they are Aryans originally.

Prabhupāda: No, no. This you are calculating from the skin.

Dr. Patel: No, no skin. From the blood group. (laughter)

Prabhupāda: Blood or skin, the same thing. The same thing. The same thing.

Dr. Patel: All the Aryans have got B blood group in majority of them.

Prabhupāda: Skin comes from the blood. You know better than…, medical practitioner.

Dr. Patel: Skin is nourished by blood. It comes from something else.

Prabhupāda: So that is not the way. When there is symptoms… The symptom is… First symptom is that he must know that he is not body, and he must know what is God. Then it is Aryan civilization.<END QUOTE>

Says that a demon can become an Aryan and that an Aryan can become a demon ‘by culture’. Rejects caulculating the Aryan group by skin or physical characteristics in general.

9. AGAINST – Morning Walk — December 19, 1975, Bombay:

Dr. Patel: Well, sir, we also had an empire, India, and we have lost it, haven’t we? And we, all the eastern country, Malaya, Java, Sumatra, and all those things. Why we lost it? Kālena!

Prabhupāda: Kālena of course. So when you lose your culture, then you lose everything.

Dr. Patel: That’s right. Because they did not see with the same eye all people. They were the rascals. (indistinct) …a very good race. After all, we are Aryans.

Prabhupāda: Aryans means to follow Vedic instructions.

Dr. Patel: They have forgotten.

Prabhupāda: That is Aryans. So they are now the same thing. A person born in a brāhmaṇa family, he is claiming “I am brāhmaṇa.” Similarly, even though born in Aryan family, without any culture they are claiming “I am Aryan.” Kṛṣṇa observed it in Arjuna, and therefore He chastised him, “This kind of proposal is anārya-juṣṭam. Under the non-Aryans, you’re forgetting your duty.” That is the beginning of loss of culture. A small beginning, it creates havoc. Kṛṣṇa warned this, anārya-juṣṭam. Kṣatriya’s description is given in the Bhāgavata: yuddhe cāpy apalāyanam, not to go behind. They must fight. That is Aryan culture.<END QUOTE>

“Aryans means to follow Vedic instructions.”

10. FOR – Morning Walk — February 6, 1976, Mayapura:

Hṛdayānanda: Prabhupāda? You wrote in a letter to Bhagavān… You said that originally the Europeans had Aryan-type culture but they have become degraded.

Prabhupāda: Oh, yes. They are still Aryan. Europeans are Aryan, Indo-Aryan. That is admitted in history.

Hṛdayānanda: You said that they became degraded by associating, by bad…

Prabhupāda: Yes, by association with these aborigines.

Hṛdayānanda: Who were the aborigines they associated with?

Prabhupāda: Everywhere there were aborigines. In India there are still aborigines, ādivāsī.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: You were saying, Prabhupāda, the Huns.

Prabhupāda: Huns.<END QUOTE>

Says “they are still Aryan” even though they have become degraded. Definitely referring to species.

11. FOR – Room Conversation — August 2, 1976, New Mayapur (French farm):

Prabhupāda: In Bengal the, just like here, so many, black mixed up with white. In Bengal and Madras, so many Dravidian have been mixed up with the Āryan. Therefore in Bengal and Madras you’ll find many black.

Hari-śauri: Dravidian?

Prabhupāda: Dravidian culture. Dravida. They are non-Āryans. Just like these Africans, they are not Āryans. Now they are mixing up with Europeans and Americans. In India, it was, one from the higher section, brāhmaṇa, kńatriya, vaiśya, they will be fair complexion. Śūdras, black. So if a brāhmaṇa becomes black, then he’s not accepted as brāhmaṇa. Kāla bahu (?). And if a śūdra becomes fair, then he’s to be know that he’s not pure śūdra. Although we do not take very, but, this brāhmaṇa, kńatriya, vaiśya, by birth, but still, we have seen, those who are coming purely from high caste family, their behavior and śūdras behavior is different. The family culture. And the spiritual culture lost, still, the family culture keeps them separate.<END QUOTE>

Lays great importance on skin colour in defining an Aryan. Aryans are different even if their spiritual culture is lost, just by family culture and mannerisms.

12. FOR – Morning Walk — January 6, 1976, Bombay:

Dr. Patel: Sir, I may tell you. Russians are not that intelligent. I have very poor regard for the Russian intelligence. Intelligence is not with Russians that much.

Prabhupāda: No. No, no, all Europeans, they’re very intelligent.

Dr. Patel: Especially Germans.

Prabhupāda: They’re very intelligent. Germans are extraordinarily…

Indian man: The Aryan races are intelligent, and in Russia there is a mixture…

Prabhupāda: They are Aryans. They are Aryans.

Dr. Patel: Mixture, Aryan as well as the yellow race.

Prabhupāda: Mixture everywhere now.

Dr. Patel: No, here… I mean, so far as the Eastern European countries, they are more or less pure. They are mixed in a way.

Prabhupāda: Anyway, we are not on that platform, we or anyone. We think we are on the… Everyone in the material platform, more or less, they are rascals, here or there. The Bengali is guhyera epi han opi. You know this? Stool, this side or that side, Eastern side or Western side, it is, after all, stool. (laughs) If somebody says, “Eastern side of the stool is very good,” that is his foolishness.

Dr. Patel: After the scattering of these Aryans, they have come different place. How is it that we brought all the cultural heritage in north, east and western countries? They must have also taken. But because they have to live very hard life, they are in cold countries…

Prabhupāda: And what do you mean by “we”? We are not…

Dr. Patel: “We” means our forefathers.

Prabhupāda: Forefathers may be saintly person, but we are not. Why do you say “we”?

Dr. Patel: “We” means the descendants of our forefathers.

Prabhupāda: My father might have been very rich man, but I am a poverty-stricken man, loitering in the street. Why say “we”?

Dr. Patel: “We” means these Aryans in India, they brought all the Vedas and Vedic culture with them. They must have taken it in.

Prabhupāda: That’s all right. One who is speaking, he is not in Vedic culture. That is the difficulty.<END QUOTE>

Says Europeans/Germans/Russians are Aryans. Says it is important to leave the material platform and that unless one is purely in vedic culture there is no reason to associate onself with the Aryans, even by blood.

13. BOTH FOR AND AGAINST – Morning Walk — January 6, 1976, Bombay:

Prabhupāda: Vedic culture is all right now. There is no question of “we” or “you.”

Dr. Patel: But why it is not with them?

Prabhupāda: Why it is not with you? First of all say why you are challenging them? (laughter) First of all challenge yourself.

Dr. Patel: (laughing) That’s right. But they have not, their forefathers have got. We have at least with our forefathers.

Prabhupāda: No, no, their forefathers are the Aryans, the same forefathers, your forefathers.

Dr. Patel: They’re Aryans, but they did not take the Vedic culture with them.

Prabhupāda: They did not take. You are not taking. That’s the same thing.<END QUOTE>

Says that Europeans have the same forefathers as the Indian Dr. Patel, that is the Aryans. Says as long as one does not take to vedic culture there is no point of calling oneself an Aryan.

14. Room Conversation — February 25, 1977, Mayapura:

Prabhupāda: To kill “demon-crazy,” LSD. (laughs) Yes, that is my mission. That is Kṛṣṇa’s mission, paritrāṇāya sādhūnāṁ vināśāya ca duṣkṛtām (BG 4.8), to kill all these demons, crazy demons. I have no such power; otherwise I would have killed them. Either establish Kṛṣṇa conscious government or kill them-bas, finish. I would have done that, violence.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Yes, when good argument fails…

Prabhupāda: Kill them. Finish. Just like Paraśurāma did. Kill all them, twenty-one times.

Bali-mardana: Oh, Paraśurāma. I was just reading in that…

Prabhupāda: Yes.

Bali-mardana: …8.3. Very nice.

Prabhupāda: No consideration. Kill them. Due to Paraśurāma, the kńatriyas went to European side, fled away. From India either they were driven away or killed when they become inconsistent with Vedic rules. So these kṣatriyas and associates… These parts of the world were resided by aborigines, mean uncivilized class. So for so many years associated with them, they have learned killing the an… Otherwise they’re Aryans.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Fallen Aryan culture.

Prabhupāda: Bas. They have fallen.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: But you are raising them.

Prabhupāda: Yes.<END QUOTE>

Repeats that Europeans are descendants of Indian Kshatriya-Aryans. Implies that association with lesser species is bad for Aryans and can cause falldown. In my opinion, it should be limited to preaching purposes.

15. FOR – Short Dissertations — May 24-25, 1977, Vrndavana:
Prabhupāda: …The animals, if somebody purchases, it is, if they are well fed, it is a great fortune for the animals. Just like the dogs here. When they have got a good master, they are fortunate. So it is the fact. If there is civilization, that is this Aryan civilization in India, Vedic civilization. Otherwise, throughout the whole world… These people were within Aryan civilization. Aryan, Iranian, their names are given. Up to Iran, their field(?). Europeans also, Indo-European. Gradually they declined. Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s mission is to make them civilized. Paścimera loka saba mūḍha anācāra. They are all fools and misbehaved. Teach them this Kṛṣṇa consciousness. They’ll be happy.<END QUOTE>

Vedic Aryan civilization is compared to being a good master. Talks of reestablishing the fallen Aryans in their pre-decline position through Krishna Consciousness.

16. FOR – Letter to Bhagavan — Bombay 14 November, 1975:

The Western people, they are Aryans and ksatriyas in their origin, but due to bad association with the aborigines, they have taken all bad habits and become degenerated. Now we have to revive this Aryan civilization and rectify things. If we do it nicely, then all the Western people will be happy and they will glorify Lord Caitanya. <END QUOTE>

I am still quite confused about the final conclusion, since Srila Prabhupada appears to say opposing things several times. But the conclusion seems to be that Aryan is the name of the topmost species of human beings, and by birth they are more spiritually advanced, intelligent, civilized, and fair-complexioned (including the tan indians have due to the climate of the places they reside in). Europeans, and Americans by extensions, and several other nationalities mentioned in the quotes, are descendants of the Aryans. Europeans in particular are the descendants of Indian Kshatriya-Aryans who fled from Parashurama across the Caucasus mountains. This is a confusing point because he says (in the second conversation pasted in this post) – “Maybe. Actually Aryan civilization was central Asia. Some of them went towards India and some of them went towards Europe. Indo-European stock that is called.”. So he seems to be also endorsing the theory that Aryans came from Central Asia and outside modern-day India. How I resolve this is by considering that there were (atleast) two groups of Aryans in the family. The ones in Central Asia (part of Ancient India) had features similar to those found in the white people of today. They split for some reason and one part went to Europe while the other came to modern-day India. However this doesn’t mean that there were no Aryans in modern-day India at the time, or from before. The second group of Aryans were Indian Kshatriyas from modern-day India (some of them must have been tanned) who fled from Parashurama. Thus both theories are reconciled, although there was no invasion, just a migration. It should be noted that not all Europeans are descended from the Aryan family – only some civilized ones are (see 1.15 and 2.4).

One thing which must be kept in mind is that modern-day Aryan descendants are far from Aryan culturally (which is the qualification mentioned by Srila Prabhupada in several quotes, eg. 1.1, 1.2, 3.4 etc. They are beef/meat-eating, sex-chasing, alcohol-chugging, drug-abusing, and in many cases, godless sense-gratifiers. So they must earn the title of Aryan by following the rules and regulations of the Vedic scriptures faithfully, as their ancestors did. Therefore pride at belonging to the Aryan species is misplaced, at least until one has stepped into the duties required of this species.

The names of several of the lower species are revealed, especially in the purport to SB 2.4.18. It would be useful to know more about the characteristics of the different human species beyond mongoloids (huns) having deficient moustache growth on their upper lip and blacks being habituated to steal. More research should be done from Vedic scriptures regarding this (I’ll be doing it and posting more in the future). Someone may say that these so-called ‘lesser species’ also have richly developed spiritual traditions,. However they may be mistaking the ability to be possessed by a spirit (shamans of Africa and East Asia), or the ability to make rain appear through rain-dancing (Aborigines) as spiritual abilities. They are mere mystical powers, on the material platform. In the end, it must be remembered that everyone can advance in Krishna Consciousness and be fully purified to achieve the transcendental platform. It is only a matter of how much accumulated karma one has to clear and how much spiritual knowledge one has to cultivate and already possesses from past lives. Therefore some species take longer than others. Society should be adjusted in connection to these species so that they (the real special needs persons) are taken care of and guided along the path of spiritual evolution. Maybe they should be placed under the care of Aryans so that they may gain valuable association with truly civilized people. Another factor is the Lord’s causeless mercy, boundless grace, and unconditional compassion which can clear away all material contamination  and restore’s one’s original, natural consciousness instantly.

One thing to remember is that an acharya has a spiritual vision that is unequalled by us materially conditioned souls. He is a fully liberated and self-realized person. A vashnava’s activities are incomprehensible to even Lord Brahma and Lord Shiva (can someone please help me find the source for this quote in the comments? I have looked so hard but I can’t find where I read it). All apparent contradictions are a result of our limited and imperfect intelligence and senses – source – https://vaniquotes.org/wiki/Apparent_contradiction , https://prabhupadabooks.com/d.php?qg=50 (these talk about the activities of Lord Sri Krishna, not a vaishnava, but they are qualitatively the same in nature, only difference is that of quantity). “SB 3.2.16, Purport:

For example, Uddhava knew perfectly well that Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa is eternally existent and can neither die nor disappear for good, yet he lamented for Lord Kṛṣṇa. All these events are perfect arrangements to give perfection to His supreme glories. It is for enjoyment’s sake. When a father plays with his little son and the father lies down on the floor as if defeated by the son, it is just to give the little son pleasure, and nothing more. Because the Lord is all-powerful, it is possible for Him to adjust opposites such as birth and no birth, power and defeat, fear and fearlessness. A pure devotee knows very well how it is possible for the Lord to adjust opposite things, but he laments for the nondevotees who, not knowing the supreme glories of the Lord, think of Him as imaginary simply because there are so many apparently contradictory statements in the scriptures. Factually there is nothing contradictory; everything is possible when we understand the Lord as the Lord and not as one of us, with all our imperfection. ” Similarly, a vaishnava can act in ways which are not immediately clear to us.

Please ask me any questions on Krishna consciousness. Start reading Srila Prabupada’s books and chanting the Hare Krishna mantra as outlined in the below image.

(The youtube link is https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LeRXtDFtp7Y and the article is https://krishna.org/the-ten-offenses-in-chanting-the-hare-krishna-mantra)

Also would love to know your thoughts on this post, and any questions/comments you have on any of the quotes (refer to them by their numbering, that’s why I laid them out the way I did), and any other quotes you may have. Help me in classifying the quotes in the UNSURE category. Let me know any topics you want me to cover as well, and any other suggestions.

All Glories to Srila Prabhupada! Jaya Nitai, Jaya Gaura! Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare.