In the absence of a biological offspring, can devotee couples consider adoption?

In Vedic times, if a couple could not have children, they would try something called niyogah or devareṇa-sutotpatti, which is forbidden in Kali-Yuga. The husband’s brother would impregnate the woman under social rules and regulations. Pāṇḍu, Dhṛtarāṣṭra and Vidura in Mahābhārata were born in this way because their mother’s husband died of tuberculosis died without having an issue and there had to be an heir to the throne. So Vyāsadeva was summoned by his mother Satyavatī to perform niyogah and thus the three personalities were born.

A perfect example of adoption is Kṛṣṇa Himself, who was adopted by His foster parents Nanda Mahārāja and Mother Yaśodā although Vasudeva and Devakī were His real parents.

Another example of adoption was Karṇa in Mahābhārata. Kuntīdevī, after giving birth to him as an unwed mother (having conceived him from the sun-god), put him in a basket and cast him to the river. Then a charioteer picked him up and adopted him. There must undoubtedly be other examples as well, which may not immediately come to my mind.

Adoption is not uncommon in India and other parts also. Usually, the child is adopted from people known to them, sometimes even within family members. Vasudeva and Nanda Mahārāja knew each other very well. They were good friends and relatives as well, coming from the Yadu dynasty.

But the thing is that, with the current, legalized adoption procedure, the parents of the child are unknown. Maybe some details might be shared of their origin. We largely don’t know under what circumstances, they were conceived.

If you read BG 1.40-44, and the purports, you will see the explanation of varṇa-saṅkara, unwanted population, caused by the free mixing of loose women and men. In this Kali-Yuga, everywhere, men and women are becoming loose, and it is especially prominent in Western society.

So we don’t know what kind of people these children will become. Of course, with good training in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, the child may have a good chance to become Kṛṣṇa conscious as well. But still, the traits of the parents may affect the life of the child.

The following purport is very instructive (SB 4.13.39 purport):

“Generally the daughter receives the qualifications of her father, and the son acquires those of the mother. So, according to the axiomatic truth that things equal to the same thing are equal to one another, the child born of King Aṅga became the follower of his maternal grandfather. According to smṛti-śāstra, a child generally follows the principles of his maternal uncle’s house. Narāṇāṁ mātula-karma means that a child generally follows the qualities of his maternal family. If the maternal family is very corrupt or sinful, the child, even though born of a good father, becomes a victim of the maternal family. According to Vedic civilization, therefore, before the marriage takes place an account is taken of both the boy’s and girl’s families. If according to astrological calculation the combination is perfect, then marriage takes place. Sometimes, however, there is a mistake, and family life becomes frustrating.”

So, let them consider these things and take an informed decision.

If they really want to adopt, there is nothing against it. They can always do it but do it in an informed way.

In our Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement, we adopt people from all different backgrounds and train them in Kṛṣṇa consciousness. So our business is that of adoption but the center is Kṛṣṇa. We adopt people on the principle and condition that the temple inmates accept the rules and regulations of Kṛṣṇa consciousness. So it is a conditional adoption procedure, a spiritual adoption procedure.

But in the context of a family, the center is not Kṛṣṇa and one will have to be legally bound to the child including inheritance and everything irrespective of the character of the child. Of course, this is the same for any child, even one’s own begotten child.

So, these are some of the aspects to be considered regarding adoption.

Ultimately, it is not barred to adopt but these things have to be considered. The best option is, if possible, to have one’s own child. Especially if the parents are serious in their Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Because a child conceived by such parents will be a pious soul from his/her previous life.