There are never ending questions, regarding chanting of gayatri mantra, worshiping Deities and offering oblations to fire by a woman.
Let me discuss it unbiased way.
In Indian system, the straight answer is no. We Indians are so easy to accept this. For those from western origin may be difficult to digest.
Srila prabhupada gave gayatri mantra to be recited by His qualified female disciples who strictly followed Harinam Diksha vows.
Without purity, chanting mantras will never help one attain perfection.
We must always remember that great devotees like Haridasa thakura are never outrageous to break social customs. He never entered the temple of Sri Jagannath Puri. And never partook prasadam among other associates of Caitanya mahaprabhu who were brahmanas or other higher varnas.
As women we must follow the socio-cultural restrictions. Follow the rule of the land.
Still in Iskcon temples located at, men are the pujaris. Because devotees know that women performing puja will not be acceptable or would rise unnecessary criticism that would hinder preaching activities of our movement.
Srila prabhupada gave his women disciples gayatri mantra to chant. It should be heard personally from the mouth of Spiritual master. It means to bring oneself closer to Guru. It is socially and morally unacceptable. SRILA PRABHUPADA GAVE RECORDED TAPE TO BE HEARD.
One must be honest with oneself. If you are freed from sexual urges then you can chant. Generally women after having children accept brahminical initation. Probably the sexual urges subsides by the time women has children.
Who is qualified for brahminical initation?
When one understands the truth about this life but is not completely cleansed of material contamination, he is not factually situated in the transcendental abode, Vṛndāvana, although he may understand spiritual life. When, however, one becomes free from the sex urges of the material body, he can actually attain the supreme abode of Vṛndāvana. When one is so situated, he can utter the kāma-gāyatrī and kāma-bīja mantra.
(Teachings of Lord Caitanya 31)
O chaste and auspicious woman, when I left home for other places, were you in so much anxiety that you did not offer oblations of ghee into the fire?
SB 8.16.8
From this we can predict that highly advanced women were allowed to perform daily yajña in the absence of her husband. A brahminical husband supposed to Daily offer yajña at his residence, in his absence, Aditi must have done it under his instructions.
Whimsically women should never pose themselves as Guru sitting in Vyāsa asana, do you ever find gopis or vraja-vāsīs doing that. They all are obedient to Vedic culture. If you aren't, then you can never reach spiritual world.
What audacity that women have to break the social standards which are feared by yudhisthira maharaja ,Haridasa thakura , other great Vaisnavas.
Women should never offer oblations, or become a Diksha guru. However qualified women are allowed by spiritual master to engage in Deity worship and chanting gayatri mantra.
O most magnanimous Lord, the instructions on this process of Deity worship first emanated from Your lotus mouth. Then they were spoken by the great Lord Brahmā to his sons, headed by Bhṛgu, and by Lord Śiva to his wife, Pārvatī. This process is accepted by and appropriate for all the occupational and spiritual orders of society. Therefore I consider worship of You in Your Deity form to be the most beneficial of all spiritual practices, even for women and śūdras.
Srimad Bhagavatam 11.27.3-4
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