A Reply to SyamKrsna (alias Varada Krishna) Dasa

By Maha Purusha dasa

Hare Krishna Syamakrsna dasa, pamho, all glories to Srila Prabhupada!

Your recent article about H.G. Madhu Pandit dasa, found on your master’s tabloid website, has cemented your position in history as an authentic supporter of the ‘copy and paste’ guru lineage, which downloaded its connection to the paramapara via their envy for the bona-fide diksa guru, Srila Prabhupada. Unfortunately it came with a mayaic virus. Congratulations, you just won a vacation to the darkest place in the corner of the universe-pack lightly.

In your tabloid article, you ask why H.G. Madhu Pandit Dasa(MPD), didn’t make his ‘Peace proposal’ 10 years back. There are several reasons why, here are few:

In the beginning MPD was legitimately trying to work out the philosophical differences with the ‘GBC/gurus’. He was approaching the situation as a gentleman, something you and your master’s should try sometime.

1. After it was apparent that the‘Xerox guru lineage’ wasn’t going to obey Srila Prabhupada’s directives, MPD did his best to keep the name of Srila Prabhupada and ISKCON in a good light. Bringing this entire ‘struggle for truth’ to the public did not seem like the best thing for the ‘face’ of ISKCON.
2. If you carefully read MPD proposal you will see his ‘peace proposal’ extends past the court judgment date (February 28, 1009), by 24 days. That means win or lose his proposal is open for acceptance.

From MPP peace proposal:

“This offer is made whether we win or loose in the current court battle for control of Bangalore temple lest it be thought that this offer is made under pressure of losing and is open for minimum 45 days (only 24 days left for court verdict to come) and maximum as much as and if extended by us at the end of 45 days.”

The next thing Syamakrsna dasa conjures up from his one-sided and ill-motivated perspective, is that MPD beat up Varada Krsna dasa for ‘just’ coming to the temple for darshan, and that he had filed a false case against him. Actually what happened was VKD was regularly coming to the Bangalore temple to poison the devotees there, with lies about MPD. VKD had a falling out with MPD after the temple was built. VKD wanted a higher position in the management, when he didn’t get it, his lust for position, notoriety and power, turned into anger against MPD. This of course created many problems, eventually forcing MPD to expel him from the temple. Ever since then, VKD has had a vendetta against MPD. He will stop at nothing to get his revenge, as has been the apparent case over the last ten years. After VKD was expelled from ISKCON Bangalore, he would make regular visits to the temple to talk with devotees on an individual basis. In those conversations VKD would plant so many seeds of lies, distrust and envy about MPD. Unfortunately he is very good at spreading lies and envy, about 30 devotees ended up leaving the temple due to his insidious, dishonest and envious nature. Once the word got out about what VKD was doing, the management banned him from coming onto the temple premises. After this resolution was made, VKD came to the temple one day, but was denied access. He pleaded he had a right to take darshan, but his pleas were denied. Instead of accepting the ban, VKD laid down in front of one of the gates, blocking vehicles from exiting/entering. Security tried to verbally subdue him, but it was to no avail. Eventually security had to physically remove him, literally picking him up by his limbs and carrying him off. He was not beaten, many witnesses can attest to this fact. This event is Syamakrsna dasa idea of a beating. We can only imagine how he has manipulated his others claims of a false case against VKD and supposed threats towards Ananda Tirtha dasa. Why do people make all this gossip without actually substantiating their claims?

Syamakrsna dasa continues in his next paragraph to say that MPD ‘minions’ are behind a plot to “taking out the GBC and killing Jayapataka Svami and Radhanatha Svami.” He tries to substantiate this preposterous accusation by, again, another unsubstantiated claim. This time from a Sampradaya Sun article, by an ‘anonymous author’ who calls himself Yamuna Sunrise. What SyamaKrsna dasa fails to realize is that this so called-‘anonymous author’ is a convicted felon with a history of mental problems. I personally know ‘Yamuna Sunrise’, and to take his word on anything is like trusting a pedophile to baby-sit your kids. Jivahimsa.com has a nice article to substantiate what I’m saying.

SyamaKrsna dasa goes on to state that MPD should surrender in a humble way. Surrender to who? The ‘GBC’? The trail-mix of voted in Gurus? Why should anyone surrender to someone who isnt’ bona-fide? Does SyamaKrsna dasa read Srila Prabhupada’s books? Does he know what a bona fide spiritual master is? Does he know the checkered history of the personalities in ISKCON? Has he ever read the GBC resolutions? Obviously not, otherwise how can he support these people who are actually envious of Srila Prabhupada, while fighting against someone who is actually following HDG? Below are some quotes from Srila Prabhupada juxtaposed to the GBC resolutions. Take some time to anaylze, and see if you can make some sense of it:

Unfortunately, when the äcärya disappears, rogues and non-devotees take advantage and immediately begin to introduce unauthorized principles in the name of so-called svämés, yogés, philanthropists, welfare workers and so on. […]The äcärya, the authorized representative of the Supreme Lord, establishes these principles, but when he disappears, things once again become disordered. The perfect disciples of the äcärya try to relieve the situation by sincerely following the instructions of the spiritual master. (SB, 4.28.48, purport)

-1978, MARCH 19, 9:30 am: [GBC resolutions]The GBC will consider each year at Gour Pornima the appointment of new Spiritual Masters to be approved by a 3/4 vote. However, for 1978, no new Spiritual Masters shall be appointed other than the 11 selected by Srila Prabhupada.

One cannot be stamped mahätmä by votes. The standard for mahätmä is given in Bhagavad-gétä: the mahätmä is he who has taken shelter of the superior energy of the Lord. (Rajya-Vidya chp4. Knowledge by way of the Mahatmas, great Souls)

Don’t misunderstand. “I stamp you mahätmä by votes, and you become God. You become mahätmä.” These are not accepted in Bhagavad-gétä. (BG lecture 9.11-14 NY, Nov. 27^th, 1966)

-1981, March 6^th : [GBC resolutions]ISKCON Law (amendment to):[to law #1, meeting #7 of 27.3.78]11. That a GBC committee will be formed, consisting of the GBC members who are initiating Gurus. They have the power to nominate new initiating gurus, by consensus. Any nomination shall be forwarded to the governing body commission for their confirmation.

But if the people are given for nomination, as it is the practice now, by vote, then ordinary people, they are all rascals What is the value of their vote? Therefore another rascal is selected. Because one who is voting, he is a rascal. He does not know whom to give vote.(SB1.16.11 lecture, Los angeles, Jan. 8, 1974)

“So cats and dogs, they’re voting. So what they will vote, cats and dogs? They will vote another big cat, big dog, that’s all. So what the big dog, big cat can do? That is described in the Çrémad-Bhägavatam”. (SB lecture, Sep. 15 1972)

-1981, March 6^th: [GBC resolutions] BC Rule. (Amendment) 40. The governing body commission shall appoint GBC members or change members (in extreme circumstances) .Apart from the governing body commission’s own members, no one shall nominate or select. The governing body commission members are permanent.

Note what Srila Prabhupada writes in the Direction of Management(DOM,) it says:

2. His Divine Grace will select the initial 12 members of the GBC. In the succeeding years the GBC will be elected by a vote of all Temple presidents who will vote for 8 from a ballot of all Temple presidents, which may also include any secretary who is in charge of a Temple. Those 8 with the greatest number of votes will be members for the next term of GBC. Çréla Prabhupäda will choose to retain four commissioners. In the event of Çréla Prabhupäda’s absence, the retiring members will decide which four will remain.

3. The (GBC)commissioners will serve for a period of 3 years, and they may be re-elected at the end of this period.

Note:

The GBC have never allowed an election to take place, ever. In fact the DOM was never implemented by the GBC, to the dissatisfaction of Srila Prabhupada. However, ISKCON Bangalore implemented the DOM in October of 2008, I know because I was witness to it.

-1982, FEBRUARY 27: [GBC resolutions] 1. That all GBC be nominated as candidates to become initiating Gurus with the requirement that they receive the blessings of 3/4 (three fourths vote) of the GBC members present to begin their initiating role. There after the individual GBC men who are initiating will be responsible for recommending new candidates for initiating Guru from the godbrothers within their zone. These names must then receive the blessings of 3/4 (three fourths) of the majority of the GBC present at the annual meeting for them to begin their initiating roles.

Mundane votes have no jurisdiction to elect a Vaiñëava äcärya. A Vaiñëava äcärya is self-effulgent, and there is no need for any court judgment. (CC Madhya-lila, 1.221)

-1987, March 16^th: [GBC resolutions] That ISKCON guru daksine is the property of ISKCON to be used for the benefit of the Krsna Consciousness Movement. Therefore such daksine is to be kept in a special account, preferably an ISKCON account, with at least two signatures Account records are to be kept. (P/O)

Note:

Do they keep accounting records for the guru daksine? Really? Can anyone request to see them? Shouldn’t guru daksine be transparent for all to see? They have nothing to hide, right? Why wouldn’t it be in an ISKCON account? Gurus (mostly sannyasis) shouldn’t have a personal account, so where is all the guru daksine being kept. How is it being spent? You fanatic followers of the Guru Business Corporation should actually inquire, you will be unpleasantly surprised.

When Srila Prabhupada was still manifest on the planet, 90-plus percent of his disciples where temple residents, without jobs. Compare that to the current plethora of ISKCON Guru and their disciples, in which over 90+ percent of the guru’s disciples live outside of the temple, working mundane jobs. This brings a whole new light to the meaning of the acronym G.B.C. It no longer means Governing Body commission, but instead means: Guru Business Corporation. Let’s make a quick case study of one of the prominent ISKCON guru’s, Radhanatha Swami. Radhanatha Swami has at least 5,000 disciples, the majority of them working outside of the temple. On the conservative side let’s say the average guru daksine(donation) over a year, totals to 500 U.S. dollars. Multiply that by 5,000 disciples, and you get: 2.5 million U.S dollars, and that’s a conservative figure. Recently, one of Radhanatha Swami’s disciples donated to him 108 crowes of rupees, which is about 22 million U.S dollars! Taking into account the large amounts of money these Gurus are racking in, why is ISKCON struggling to maintain its properties-selling this farm, and that farm, closing down this temple or that one(Costa Rica farm, Spain’s farm, Germany temples, etc) Why aren’t there world-wide prasadam programs going on? Why aren’t the books being flooded into every town and village if these gurus are getting that much ‘guru ‘daksine!??! Where is the growth of ISKCON, if these gurus are getting so much money!?!? Can we see the accounts? Why do ‘gurus’ and sanyasis have private bank accounts!?!?

Such a pseudoVaiñëava associates with money and women and is jealous of successful Vaiñëavas. Although passing for a Vaiñëava, his only business is earning money in the dress of a Vaiñëava. Bhaktivinoda Öhäkura therefore says that such a pseudoVaiñëava is not a Vaiñëava at all but a disciple of Kali-yuga. A disciple of Kali cannot become an äcärya by the decision of some high court. Mundane votes have no jurisdiction to elect a Vaiñëava äcärya. A Vaiñëava äcärya is self-effulgent, and there is no need for any court judgment. A false äcärya may try to override a Vaiñëava by a high-court decision, but Bhaktivinoda Öhäkura says that he is nothing but a disciple of Kali-yuga. (CC Madhya-lila, 1.221)

-1982, FEBRUARY 27: II) Qualifications of an acarya in ISKCON according to 1982 GBC resolutions: He recognizes the GBC as the ultimate managing authority in ISKCON

Since when does an actual acarya have to acknowledge a governing body to validate his status as a self-realized soul, free from envy, lust and anger and the four human defects?

–1983, March 16^th: [GBC resolution]-That at every ISKCON temple there must be a Vyasa asana for the temple’s initiating Guru(s) and their pictures must be displayed, [on vyasasana and alter] and regularly offered Guru-Puja.

I wish that each and every Branch shall keep their independent identity and cooperate keeping the Acarya in the centre. On this principle we can open any number of Branches all over the world. The Ramakrishna mission works on this principle and thus as organization they have done wonderfully. (SPL to Kirtanananda-Feb. 11^th, 1967)

1985, February 27: [GBC resolution]- A GBC vote on adding an initiating guru requires a quorum of 3/4 months of the GBC Body to be present. To be approved, a candidate must receive a vote of 2/3rds of the (members present at that meeting).

Guru means who follows the predecessor, authorized predecessor. He is guru. Not that everyone is guru. So therefore we have to follow the superior order. Then we become guru, not that by cheating others we become guru. No. That is cheater. That is not teacher. Guru means who is following the superior order. The superior order is Kåñëa or His representative. (SP lecture SB 3.25.32-Bombay, Dec. 2,1974)

Prabhupäda: Yes. What can be done? Cheaters there are. If you want to be cheated, who can save you? He has made guru without asking his guru. He submits to others. Then how we can save him?

Tamäla Kåñëa: What does that do to his relationship with his own spiritual master?

Prabhupäda: Eh?

Tamäla Kåñëa: How does this affect his relationship with his…?

Prabhupäda: They don’t care for his own spiritual master.

Tamäla Kåñëa: But what…? That means their relationship is spoiled.

Prabhupäda: Yes. Guror avajïä, aparädha.

Tamäla Kåñëa: Aparädha.

Prabhupäda: And Caitanya Mahäprabhu has advised, “Save yourself from aparädha.” Some aparädha, and they are going away, just like Nitäi. Guror avajïä. (Conversation: Bogus Gurus—4/25/77, Bombay)

-1985, March 1^st : [GBC resolutions]: for initiating gurus: In general anyone who is recommended to the GBC Body to become initiating guru shall have worked in an area for at least 3 years, and have the recommendation of the local GBC Zonal Secretary, National Secretary, Regional or State Secretary, local Presidents or Temple leaders, as applicable.  The recommendations of the Zonal leaders should be submitted in confidential letters to the GBC officers.

Prabhupäda: That is the difficulty. Everyone sees that “Some way or other, I become guru. Then so many persons will offer me respect. Somehow or other, create some situation. Then I become guru.” This is going on. Not bona fide guru.(Room conversation—May 2, 1976, Fiji)

-1985, March 1^st : [GBC resolutions] When the GBC Body gives their blessings to a candidate to initiate, it is for a particular guru-datta-desa.  If the candidate wants to later change his area, his initiating functions shall again be reviewed and considered by the GBC Body under the conditions set down in the previous resolution. This establishes the GBC Body in in its position as the ultimate managing authority of Iskcon.

How does creating a system of voting in someone to be guru, establish the ‘GBC Body’ as the ultimate managing authority? Actually in truth, it establishes the ‘GBC Body’ as the ultimate deviation of ISKCON!

Prabhupäda: Yes. You are not guru, you are goru. Goru means cow. Sa eva go-kharaù. You are not guru. You are speaking against Kåñëa so you are not guru. Guru is Arjuna. Because a confidential instruction is given to Arjuna, so we accept Arjuna as guru. Or one who is following Arjuna, he is guru. Arjuna has accepted Kåñëa, paraà brahma paraà dhäma pavitraà paramaà bhavän [Bg. 10.12]. You accept Kåñëa as paraà brahma. You want to become paraà brahma. You are cheating people. You do not say Kåñëa is paraà brahma, but you are replacing Him. Then you are cheater, you are not guru. (Room conversation—12/26/76, Bombay)

-1985, March 1^st : [GBC resolutions] All disciples must offer Gurupuja daily to their spiritual master.

-1987, March 16^th: [GBC resolutions] That the GBC recommend that Srila Prabhupada be glorified in kirtan only by the words, “Jaya Prabhupada” and not “Jaya Jagat Guru Srila Prabhupada” or “Jaya Gurudeva.”  (Law of ISKCON)

[A.{90} Prohibition Order Against the Posthumous Ritvik Theory]

Whereas the posthumous ritvik theory (a concocted system by which a spiritual master allegedly acts as diksa guru after  his departure through the agency of ritviks or officiating ìpriests) has never been sanctioned by His Divine Grace A.C.  Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada;

How has it never been sanctioned by Srila Prabhupada? He sanctioned the system while he was on the planet, and he sanctioned it with the July 9^th letter, by signing it. He states in the letter: “Temple Presidents may henceforward (the dictionary definition: from now on; from this point forward) send recommendation for first and second initiation to whichever of these eleven representatives (not acaryas, or diksa gurus) are nearest their temple. July 9^th letter signed by HDG Srila Prabhupada

If one always follows the orders of the spiritual master, there is no question of falling down. As soon as a foolish disciple tries to overtake his spiritual master and becomes ambitious to occupy his post, he immediately falls down. Yasya prasädäd bhagavat-prasädo yasyäprasädän na gatiù kuto ‘pi **. If the spiritual master is considered an ordinary man, the disciple surely loses his chance to advance further. (SB 5.12.14 purport)

-1987, March 16^th: [GBC resolutions} That the following devotees are authorized by the GBC body to initiate disciples: Bhakti Caru Swami, Kavicandra Swami, Trivikrama Swami, Prabavishnu Swami, Shivaram Swami. Bhaktibusana Swami, Smita Krsna Swami, Rohini Suta das, Sacinandana das, Krsna Ksetra das,  Avinas Candra das, Astaratha das, Prahaladananda Swami

The first thing, I warn Acyutananda, do not try to initiate. You are not in a proper position now to initiate anyone. Besides that, the etiquette is that so long the Spiritual Master is present, all prospective disciples should be brought to him.[…} Don’t be allured by such maya. I am training you all to become future Spiritual Masters, but do not be in a hurry.{…} So for the time being, hold Kirtana. as I have advised above, and speak from Srimad-Bhagavatam, Bhagavad-gita, and try to serve the cause of the Krishna Consciousness society. You don’t be attracted by such cheap disciples immediately. One has to rise gradually by service. (SPL to Acyutananda, Jaya Govinda, 8/21/68)

Those possessing the title of Bhaktivedanta will be allowed to initiate disciples. Maybe by 1975, all of my disciples will be allowed to initiate and increase the numbers of the generations. That is my program. (SPL to Hamsaduta, Jan. 3, 1969)

Note:

This was a hopeful aspiration of Srila Prabupada, but we know that within a few years he knew know one was qualified to succeed him. In the conversation below TGK, admits that none of HDG’s disciples are qualified to be guru. Srila Prabhupada makes VERY important statements, saying you become Guru when you become qualified and when he (SP) authorizes.

Prabhupäda: No, you become guru, but you must be qualified first of all. Then you become.

Tamäla Kåñëa: Oh, that kind of complaint was there.

Prabhupäda: Did you know that?

Tamäla Kåñëa: Yeah, I heard that, yeah.

Prabhupäda: What is the use of producing some rascal guru?

Tamäla Kåñëa: Well, I have studied myself and all of your disciples, and it’s clear fact that we are all conditioned souls, so we cannot be guru. Maybe one day it may be possible…

Prabhupäda: Hm.

Tamäla Kåñëa: …but not now.

Prabhupäda: Yes. I shall choose some guru. I shall say, “Now you become äcärya. You become authorized.” I am waiting for that. You become all äcärya. I retire completely. But the training must be complete.

Tamäla Kåñëa: The process of purification must be there.

Prabhupäda: Oh, yes, must be there. Caitanya Mahäprabhu wants that. Ämära äjïäya guru haïä [Cc. Madhya 7.128]. “You become guru.” (laughs) But be qualified. Little thing, strictly follower…

Tamäla Kåñëa: Not rubber stamp.

Prabhupäda: Then you’ll not be effective. You can cheat, but it will not be effective. Just see our Gauòéya Maöha. Everyone wanted to become guru, and a small temple and “guru.” What kind of guru? No publication, no preaching, simply bring some foodstuff… My Guru Mahäräja used to say, “Joint mess,” a place for eating and sleeping. Amar amar ara takana (?)(Bengali): “Joint mess.” He said this.

I hope this exercise of comparing and contrasting has cleared up Syamakrsna dasa’s misconceptions about who these people are; parading themselves as followers of HDG Srila Prabhupada, while misleading people to surrender to them, under the self-imposed authority of the ‘GBC’. These GBC’s and ‘gurus’ have artificially put themselves between you and Srila Prabhupada. If you care to recognize, everyday HDG’s sabda is feeding us, yet the ‘GBC’ tells us to worship someone else! We are under Srila Prabhupada’s authority; he is a perfectly realized soul-Jagat guru, let us surrender to him, as MPD and many others have done.

Syamakrsna dasa writes in his article: “Oh so Madhu Pandit Dasa says he is ready to serve under the GBC and obey all their commands, really? The GBC’s first command is that Madhu Pandit Dasa and his gang pack their bags and leave HKH with nothing more than their declared possessions as mentioned on Madhu Pandit’s site Struggle for Truth. Madhu Pandit Dasa can then practice whatever philosophy he wants to anywhere in the world. When I see Madhu Pandit Dasa leave I will believe you, until then I don’t.”

Syamakrsna dasa, where have you left your brain? Did you even read MPD’s peace proposal, or did you just fail to actually understand it? MPD is willing to follow the GBC if they agree to the terms he has proposed, not that he will foolishly accept a post-dated check. Only an ignorant person will blindly follow; so when your ready Syamakrsna dasa, we will be more then happy to lend you a hand, to pull you out of the ditch you have been blindly led into. Try reading this article, it might help clear up your misunderstanding if the above compare and contrast ‘life-line’ didn’t penetrate into your consciousness.

Syamakrsna dasa tries to leave the impression that MPP is trying to further delay a 10 year on-going court case that is costing thousand upon thousands of dollars. If Syamakrsna dasa hasn’t noticed, MPP has been helping to feed prasdam to 1,000,000 children a day, and implementing various other preaching programs, according to Srila Prabhupada’s desires. Aksaya Patra’s output tripled from 2004 to present!

Prabhupäda: Yes. That will depend on your purified preaching activities. If you again become materially victimized, then you cannot do it. If you remain on the spiritual platform, if you try, then it will increase. Änandämbudhi-vardhanam. It will increase. As soon as there is any contemplation of sense gratification, then the spirit will be lost.

. Why would someone dedicated to serving Srila Prabhupada’s preaching mission want to waste his time and Srila Prabhupada’s resources on a court case? Why should we take you or anyone else’s envious words to heart? What have you sajiya disciples produced in the terms of successful preaching? Have you accounted where all the guru daksine has gone? Have ever bothered to ask your ‘GBC/Guru’ masters to show you any accounting for that money? Do you think you can learn to feed yourself, instead of always consuming the spoon fed fast-food, of the Guru Business Corporation? Can you and VardaKrsna dasa stop spending time and resources on trying to stop the successful preaching of MPP and ISKCON Bangalore? If you don’t believe that Srila Prabhupada left a ritivk order so that anyone who comes into ISKCON can have the mercy of an actual pure devotee, fine, go and continue your worship of the GBC’s 2/3 voted in guru lineage. But please stop attacking ISKCON Bangalore preachers!

Read the following quotes and then take a moment to reflect on what your doing Syamakrsna dasa, and anyone else attacking the preaching efforts of ISKCON Bangalore. You then might have an actual realization of what you’re doing, so help you God!

So far the Christian preachers are concerned you may ask them to leave the Temple and address them like this – If you have to preach your Christian philosophy, why don’t you ask people to come to your place? Why do you come here and disturb? Our Temple is especially meant for preaching Krishna Consciousness. In the world there are different philosophies and they have got their own temples also, long before our Temple was opened. There are places of worship of the Jews, of the Christians and of many other sects. They have got their different camps. Why do you come here and create disturbance? (SPL to Madhudvisa, 1/26/70)

“So demons are always disturbing. They’ll create disturbance. That is… Their business is to create disturbance in the creation of the Supreme Lord. So this Hiraëyäkña and Hiraëyakaçipu, two brothers, they were creating so much disturbances. The whole world is disturbed only for the existence of the demons, asuri. At the present moment also, the world is full of demons. The devotees, their number is very, very small. Just like our Krsna consciousness movement. We can count within the finger how many we have got, Krsna conscious; but demons, non-Krsna conscious, nondevotees, there is no limit…”

(Çrémad-Bhägavatam 1.3.7 Los Angeles, September 13, 1972)

Just like Lord Jesus Christ. He was crucified by the demons. The only fault was that he was God conscious. Just see; such innocent person. The world is like that. So these dangers are there, but don’t be afraid of. Krsna will save you. And tolerate. If there are disturbances… Because it is the nature of this material world, as soon as there will be devotee, God conscious person, there will be so many enemies from the side of the demons. So we have to tolerate. (Çrémad-Bhägavatam 1.3.7 Los Angeles, September 13, 1972)

–Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare-

Srila Prabhupada on Standard of cooking for Prasadam Distribution

Yesterday, in our article, “Akshaya Patra-Bhoga or Prasadam?-1” we discussed the reasons why Akshaya Patra is serving 100% prasadam as aopposed to Varada Krishna & co.’s envious remarks that it is not. We also promised that subsequently we will share with you various research notes we base our conclusion on. Here is what Srila Prabhupada says about the subject, gotten from the Vedabse.

Srila Prabhupada mentions in many places that the cooking should be done by second initiated brahmanas:

In the kitchen also, things should be kept spotless and cooking should only be done by brahmanas; others may assist. That is the same procedure followed with Deity worship. [Letter to: Laksmi Narayana, Los Angeles, 8 July, 1971]

Regarding the prasadam, I never approved Mr. Malkani cooking in the temple. He is not initiated. Of course he is Hindu, but he went there to start his business. But, he is not initiated to cook in the temple. Any paid cook is not desirable. Who was cooking formally? He wanted to start his business, not to be engaged by us. The independent cooking done in the temple kitchen is not good. [Letter to: Kirtanananda,,Bombay, 23 November, 1974]

Regarding the cooking, a non-brahmana may assist but he cannot cook. [Letter to: Sukadeva, Bombay, 24 November, 1974]

Unless one is initiated they cannot cook. They must be regular disciples then they can do Deity worship. So there is no question of the outsiders cooking in the New Delhi temple. [Letter to: Gopala Krsna, New York, 11 July, 1976]

But with respect to mass distribution, there are also instructions to employ professional cook, at least in India:

In the evening, you must have many varieties of first class ghee-cooked preparations offered to the Deity and you can sell the prasadam. The L.A. standard is good, but still you should have a better standard. You should make kacoris, samosa, etc. If it is required, a professional confectioner may be employed. The Deity worship must be done very gorgeously. [Letter to: Aksayananda, Dhananjaya, for Vrindavan temple, 26 May, 1975]

Give them nice prasädam by which they are attracted. It doesn’t matter khichadi, puri, kacuri, läòu. Whatever they are attracted, we must give. Whatever that will attract them. That I want. Krsna-prasädam. Don’t waste, give them nice palatable foodstuff. Give them one finest kacuri, one nice samosä, two puris, they will be very glad. Make very, very, nice prasädam. What is this rubbish, the dog cannot eat even? They have done a great mistake, all rascals. I am very angry. I say that if you have got no money, I’ll spend, I will give you money. Why should you make such tenth class, and no food at all. It is to be thrown away. Simply waste of grains and energy. Engage nice professional cook, prepare nice foodstuff. I shall spend for that if you have no money….. [Room Conversation, on Hyderabad Farm Management, December 10, 1976]

Give them prasädam, nice prasädam. Any gentleman comes, immediately there must be some prasädam. Engage first class cook. Spend money, don’t be a miserly. If you have no money, I will pay. So long I am living, I shall go on paying. You don’t be miserly. Bring devotees for eating, and then chanting, then cinema, then lecture, in this way you have to develop. [Room Conversation, on Hyderabad Farm Management, December 10, 1976, Hyderabad]

The following conversation [Room Conversation, December 12, 1976, Hyderabad] is specifically on hiring professional men for cooking, at least in India:

Prabhupäda: No uninitiated person should cook. Brähmaëa cook.

Mahämsa: What about professional cooks?

Prabhupäda: Real brähmana.

Mahämsa: Professional cooks?

Prabhupäda: Profes…? They are brähmanas.

Mahämsa: Yes, but they… Even though they are brähmanas, they have this habit of smoking, and if we try to find a professional cook who doesn’t smoke, it is very difficult.

Prabhupäda: Hm. As far as possible, our men should cook, a professional man who is in good habit, who has promised that they will not do this smoking. We have to manage somehow.

Mahämsa: As far as our devotees’ cooking, it’s practically impossible. We have tried so hard. They just can’t do it. Yesterday two of the boys tried to help, and the rice was not cooked because it was not done and he burned his leg. The water fell on his leg, and he couldn’t handle the pots properly and he got… Now the poor boy, he is suffering. He’s got a wounded leg, one of the German boys, the one with long hair. So our devotees, they are not… This boy, Bengali boy, Divid (?), he’s good. He can do it but he needs at least four or five men to help.

Tejas: He was a professional cook but he’s not… He can’t do it himself. He needs too much…

Mahamsa: He needs at least four people to help. It’s a big cooking, so it’s also very difficult for one man to do and nobody wants to help the cooking because it’s so hot, the smoke goes in the eyes and it’s very troublesome. So nobody wants to help in the cooking, devotees.

Prabhupäda: Not willing. They are not willing.

Mahämsa: They’re not willing to help in the kitchen because it is very hot, very hard, the eyes get burned, things like that. So this one Bengali boy, he’s a very good cook. He can do it very nicely but he wants help. And if no one helps, then he refuses to cook. And if you press him, then he runs away. Yesterday he tried to run away four times because we were trying to press him.

Prabhupäda: No, no, cooking alone, it is not possible. So that you have to do. Find out some men. Cooperate. Otherwise how it is possible?

Haàsadüta: Yes, therefore I’m asking you about hired people, whether hired people are good. In my experience…

Prabhupäda: So if they are, if our men not available, then you must hire, hire people. But not these carpenters or like that.

Mahämsa: No, we should get professional cooks who are really good, like this man who cooked today.

Prabhupäda: Yes. And this man is coming. He can bring.

Mahämsa: Yes, he himself will come. But he will have the habit of smoking and I think we can at the most regulate his smoking. “If you want to smoke, you go somewhere far away and smoke and before you start cooking you must wash yourself, have a bath, and then do the cooking.”

Prabhupäda: Yes. What can be done? Ne mämä che känä mämä (?) “If there is no uncle, one blind uncle is all right.” So the matter is now clear. You do it and develop it.

Another conversation: [Room Conversation, February 19, 1977, Mäyäpura]

Hari-sauri: The thing is, those men that Bhogilal sent were smoking bidis and everything.

Prabhupäda: That could be checked, that “You do not do this.” If you have to keep hired cook, so you’ll have to manage in that way. Everything depends on management. Change of menu is very good, not that the same thing should be…

So far your hired Brahmin cook, since we have our prasadam distribution program this may be necessary, but he must be clean, no smoking, and he must wear kunti beads. As far as possible he must follow our principles. [Letter to: Giriraja, For Mumbai Juhu Temple, 23 April, 1972]

Akshaya Patra- Bhoga or Prasadam? -1

It is being alleged by the “BDA” personnel that Akshaya Pattra Prasadam is not prasadam. It is bhoga. The main reason they give to support their argument is that it is cooked by non-devotees. They allege that since Srila Prabhupada instructed that only initiated devotees should cook and offer bhoga otherwise Krishna will not accept the offering, hence Akshaya Patra food is also not accepted by Krishna—hence it is Bhoga.

This allegation seems quite reasonable. And proven low-minded disgruntled people like Varada Krishna Das of the “bda” websites, use this angle to try to create commotion and agitation among the devotees and admirers of the Akshaya Patra program and by associaiton against its management team namely Sriman Madhu Pandit Prabhu, Sriman Cancalapati Prabhu and Sriman Citaranga Caitanya Prabhu.

What is the reality? Is Akshaya Patra food prasadam or bhoga?

Our team did a little research in :

a. Srila Prabhupada’s Vedabase
b. Akshaya Patra kitchen offering procedures

What we found was:

Reality 1: Srila Prabhupada instructed that only initiated devotees should cook and offer bhoga for Krishna to accept it.

Reality 2: But for mass prasadam distribution, he allowed for non-devotees to cook as limited number of devotees cannot cook on a large scale. Still the cooking should happen under the direction of devotees. The offering should also be to Srila Prabhupada by a devotee.

Conclusion: Food, not cooked for mass distribution, but for temple regular bhoga offerings or for brahmacaris, NEEDS to be cooked and offered by initiated devotees, preferrably second initiated devotees. The offering is to be made to Srila Prabhupada, who offers it, in the disciplic succession, to Lord Krishna.

But food cooked for mass prasadam distribution is set a lower standard of cooking by Srila Prabhupada himself. Hence, this food, when cooked by the non-devotees, under the supervision of devotees, when offered to Srila Prabhupada is also offered by Srila Prabhupada to Lord Krishna through the disicplic succession. This is so, as Srila Prabhupada has himself set the standard for mass prasdam distribution. This in fact shows Srila Prabhupada’s extreme compassionate nature and the potency and urgent necessity of mass distribution of prasdam. Srila Prabhupada accepts that offering as he has himself instructed it to be cooked in that manner.

Our research work we will post regularly in this space-over the next few days. The research work will consists of Srila Prabhupada’s instructions from Vedabase, written procedure for offering of bhoga and photos of offering.

The next related objection or hestitation among certain devotees is that the Akshaya Patra prasadam is prasadam BUT not the same kind of prasadam as the one offered to the deities.

Answer to that is that Prasadam means “mercy of Krishna”. When the bhoga is accepted by Krishna, first by Srila Prabhupada in the disicplic succession, it is prasadam. When Srila Prabhupada accepts the bhoga cooked by the brahmanas for the deities in the temple, or when he accepts the bhoga cooked by the non-devotees under the direction of the devotees for mass prasadam distribution as per his instruction, he offers, with pure love,  in the disciplic succession to Lord Sri Krishna, and Lord Krishna accepts it as He confirms in the Bhagavad Gita : Patram Pushpam phalam toyam, yo me bhaktya prayacchati. Once accepted by Lord Krishna, any food, becomes spiritual. Honoring it, knowingly or unknowingly, gives immense benefits and purification to the entire human society. It is maha marcy!

We in fact need to thank “bda” oeprative Varada Krishna das, due to whose “service” of questioning the authenticity of Akshaya Patra prasadam, we had to do this research from various angles. Result is that we have all become more appreciative of Akshaya Patra prasadam and the maha mercy it is bestowing to 1 million odd children daily!!!!! 1 Million plates of 100% maha mercy spiritual prasadam.

In fact, on Hare Krishna Hill, this prasadam is daily taken to the brahmacari ahsram for lunch prasadam around 1 pm. And we have observed all brahamcaris, who are present at that time, take it with extreme relish!

The proof is in the pudding. Anyone can go and taste the Akshaya Patra prasadam by going to the ISKCON Bangalore temple and requesting it. It is always available in the PPH till lunch time. I got into the habit of taking it every morning, and still look forward to it. Any devotee who is used to taking only prasadam will be able to recognize its spiritual quality. Go check it out for yourself and write your comments….

WATCH HIS SPACE FOR READING THE RESEARCH NOTES FROM VEDABASE AND AKSHAYA PATRA KITCHEN.

A Vaisnava Sees ISKCON Bangalore

I wanted to share a few points with you:

1) It’s very obvious that Vkd and gang are driven by their envy, not only of the service that the devotees on HK hill are rendering, but of Sri Sri Radha Krishna Chandra’s mercy on these devotees, for facilitating and reciprocating to their sincere desires to serve Srila Prabhupada’s movement. If the Lord has sanctioned so much to be achieved in the last ten years despite the ISKCON GBC’s attempt to expell and ostracize us, surely even a neophyte can see that Krishna has been accepting our humble attempts, by allowing the preaching to expand so much.

2) The rest of ISKCON is in shambles, but the worldwide good reputation of ISKCON Bangalore is allowing the rest of ISKCON to at least lift its head up. In fact, our temple has won so much good repute that people have changed their negative ideas of ISKCON, just by seeing our good work.

3) Although there is not a word of appreciation from the ISKCON Mumbai gang for the achievements that Sri Sri Radha Krishna Chandra has sanctioned on the devotees in Their temple, the undisputable fact is that the other ISKCON temples, including Mumbai, Delhi etc are sponging off our ideas for their preaching. For example:

(a) FFL India was a practically unheard of entity, till after the Akshaya Patra program took wing. In fact, they have stolen our AP presentation and show it around the world to collect funds for their FFL program! How come these Akshaya-Patra-copy kitchens can be producing prasadam but not the original Akshaya Patra Kitchens!!!

(b) Similarly, our  FOLK youth preaching program, under the banner of the BASICS Foundation, has “inspired” their program for youth in Bangalore and they have even gone to the extent of copying our concept of FOLK hostels by starting a similar facility for young men who are interested in living with like- minded people inclined to Krishna consciousness (I think it’s called BACE). In fact, JPS inaugurated the first such hostel when he was here in Aug-Spet last year, in connection with the court case.

(c) And, of course, there are the festival celebrations like Janmashtami and Vaikuntha Ekadashi that are celebrated at a grand scale here, which have “inspired” similar celebrations in their camp. They have even gone to the extent of sending our donors (whose addresses they stole from our database) invitations for their celebrations, to confuse them.

(d) And the competitions they conduct for children, which, of course, they cannot match with the tremendous response we receive from schools.

The list goes on and on. Vkd and his larkies have to admit that for all the lies and accusations they throw at us, we inspire them and give them the drive to do something at least, in their otherwise negatively motivated lives which are mostly spent in criticism of the devotees here and plotting how to hinder our service to Srila Prabhupada.

4) Their shallowness does not allow them to see that we internally do not take credit for any of the amazing things that are happening here. We know that these are all the miracles of the Lord’s internal energy, and He is, in His causeless mercy, using us (with all our limitations, shortcomings, faults and imperfections) as His instruments.

I remember, at the dedication ceremony of this temple, in 1987 April, the evening of the Deities’ installation, when MPP was asked to speak, he said that this temple is a miracle of the Lord’s reciprocation to our desire to serve Him. He also mentioned that it was the glory of the Holy Name that built this temple, as he had taken a vow and implemented it as well, from the day the project began, that every devotee involved in the project should complete his chanting of 16 rounds before 10am and take prasadam only after completing his rounds. I also remember, but not very clearly, as I did not know too many details, that JPS was very upset with Mpp after this dedication ceremony, and I later heard that it was because he had “not sufficiently” mentioned JPS as the inspiration for this project! Fact is, Mpp mentioned Srila Prabhupada’s desire to build temples etc. Which, apparently was not enough for JPS, who was not impressed by the mention of it being a miracle of the Holy Name! And we actually had JPS’s photograph in the temple project brochure (which we used to present to prospective donors) with the caption “The Inspiration” – but that was not enough for him as he wanted to be spoken about and glorified before his godbrothers, probably so he could show off his might and power to them!

Thank you for your time.

Your servant

Is ISKCON Bangalore a mall?

2 COMMENTS from iskcon bda site:

Ratnangada Govinda dasa writes on February 23, 2009 at 14:59

Hare krishna, What is that divine presence ?

Wherever there is Krishna, there should be divine presence, there can not be demoniac presence. Jahan Krishna tahe nahin Mayar adhikar.

According to you there is no Krishna on HKH ? Be watchful, you are offending. Divinity need not necessarily be the way you understand it. If you want to have dioramas and spiritual training centers why not try all that in your other temples. Why harp on this alone. there are many iskcon temples where these things are required, why not do there and leave this to how MPD is managing. It is not that on HKH spiritual trainings are not hapening. Is there any comparison to the programs that are conducted on HKH like FOLK – 2000 boys attend, Heritage fest – 30,000 children participate, krishna Contest – 60,000 students participate, Vatsalya, rasa all innovative and excellent programs any other Iskcon temple with programs like this and matching figures.

If you want to please krishna try to do much bigger programs. be constructive.

Ys Govinda Dasa

govinda dasa says:

February 23, 2009 at 15:17

Dear karprabhu,

hare Krishna.

Please specify in this fight who is arjuna, who is Duryodhana. because each side is claiming that they are pandavas and other side is Kauravas. whereas i see both of them are devotees, chanting Krishnas holy name and propagating the same to thousands of them.

may be in your case you did not get inspired on HKH, but in Jaganath mandir. But there are many who got inspired in HKH. what you have to say on this. So do not generalise. It is all left to individuals. each persons motivation is different. Not necessary that what motivates you should motivate me too.

I find thousands of devotees who still visit HKH with lot of devotion and their life has transformed. The figures show that over 250 highly educated youngsters have joined since last 10 years. How many have joined jaganath mandir ? Prabhupada says Phalena parichayate – results speak for themselves.

I can make hundreds of them stand before you who will tell that they got inspired and felt divine presence on HKH. you may be a peculier case.

Lot of activities are going on in HKH and everything is connected with Krishna, so they are all spiritual and krishna is satisfied, or else he would not have tolerated MPD fo so long.

Be positive, you guys also take it as a challenge and try to do bigger programs then what HKH is doing. Krishna will be pleased.

YS
RNGD

Explaning the Peace Offer

The Chairman and Executive Committee Members and GBC members,
Mayapur

Dear Maharajs/Prabhu,

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

Further to our offer of a peace proposal sent thru HH Bhakticaru Swami on February 4th 2009, we present before you the following explanatory note on the same:

The court case between Iskcon Bangalore and Iskcon Mumbai is coming to a close as the trial is over and case is posted for judgement on 28th February. Regardless of which side wins, the loser will appeal to the next court level. This will go on until it reaches the Supreme Court of India. Who knows how long this whole process will take, how much resources will be drained and how much time wasted. With this in mind, and with the supreme objective of continuing successful preaching for the satisfaction of HDG Srila Prabhupada, the Elected Governing Body of ISKCON Bangalore group of institutions has brought a peace proposal to the table.

This proposal was sent to HH Bhakti Caru Swami for delivery to the rest of the GBC. So far we have only received silence from HH Bhakticaru Swami and the GBC to our offer. And the GBC meetings are getting over in few days. Under these circumstances we are making this offer public along with this Explanatory Note to Chakra, VNN, Sampradaya Sun, Dandavats and other Vaishnava sites hoping it would attract the attention of the GBC members and other Vaishnavas who are closely watching this war between ISKCON Mumbai and ISKCON Bangalore.

Our dispute with the GBC began in 1998 when we came across Srila Prabhupada’s  last written directive on initiation in ISKCON, famously known as the July 9th directive.

Year after year, from the early 80s we have heard from the dais of  every Annual Ratha Yatra inauguration at Bangalore and every other public program, HH Jayapataka Swami being introduced as one of the eleven successor Acharyas appointed by Srila Prabhupada. Prior to 1998, being isolated in Bangalore and hardly exposed to international issues and being busy with building the temple at Bangalore, we all blindly believed the propaganda that the eleven persons had the sacrosanct appointment by Srila Prabhupada as the successor Acharyas. In fact the title of HH Jayapataka Swami was, Present Acharya. However we were shocked each time one of the eleven Acharyas fell down from grace, and this posed a big disturbing question as to why these persons, if they have been appointed by the pure devotee, Srila Prabhupada, are falling down? But the July 9th Directive answered our perpetual doubt about gurus fall down. They were never appointed by Srila Prabhupada but were appointed only as rtviks or Representative of the Acharya. More than anything was the deep pain in us for having become victims of this betrayal of trust.

It is a matter of undisputed evidence that several of the GBC members approached Srila Prabhupada on May 28th 1977 with a set of questions to be asked to him. One such question was, “How first and second initiation would go on particularly when he was no longer with us?” Srila Prabhupada’s immediate reply was, “I will appoint some of you to act as Officiating Acharya.” And to this HH Tamal Krishna Maharaj said, “Rtvik Acarya?” and Srila Prabhupada said, “Yes rtvik”. This is Guru Mukha Padma Vakya.

A great misunderstanding has been perpetrated in ISKCON that the parampara will be lost if we had a rtvik system and in order to maintain parampara we must have living initiating gurus. But Srila Prabhupada says differently on when parampara is lost or stopped:

Devotee: Srila  Prabhupada, if the knowledge was handed down by the saintly kings, evam parampara-praptam, how is it that the knowledge was lost?
Prabhupada: “When it was not handed down. Simply understood by speculation. Or if it is not handed down as it is. They might have made some changes. Or they did not hand it down. Suppose I handed it down to you, but if you do not do that, then it is lost. Now the Krishna consciousness movement is going on in my presence. Now after my departure, if you do not do this, then it is lost. If you go on as you are doing now, then it will go on.” (Room conversations, May 9th, 1975, Perth)

Now, here also it is stated, sa kalaneha mahata yogo nasto parantapa: “My dear Arjuna, oh, you are the great hero. Now, that Bhagavad-gita, the instruction which I imparted to the sun-god, was coming by disciplic succession. Now it is lost.” Now, we have to note down this point. Why it is lost? Why it is lost? Do you think that there was no learned man during that time? During Krsna’s time? Oh, there were many learned sages. Not only one, two, there were dozens of learned sages. But still, the Lord said, Krsna said, that “They… That knowledge which I exactly imparted to sun-god is now lost.” How it is lost? There were many scholars, and still, how it is lost? The lost means that the purport of Bhagavad-gita is lost. (Gita lecture New York, July 13th, 1966)

We have dozens of quotes on this subject that shows how and when parampara is lost, which requires a careful study. This is not the parampara of physical arts and crafts like music or massage therapy or wrestling – which requires a physical link of teacher and disciple to keep it going. We are talking of spiritual knowledge whose transmission, as repeatedly taught by Srila Prabhupada, does not depend on physical presence. Srila Prabhupada has set up an institution of preachers who, if they continue to speak what ever Srila Prabhupada has taught as it is, then the parampara will continue.

Another standard objection about rtvik system is that it is historically unprecedented. We have prepared a list of over a dozen things that Srila Prabhupada did that are historically unprecedented and would be considered unacceptable by other Indian Vaishnava traditions. And Srila Prabhupada has said this about an acharya:

“Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu wanted to invent a way to capture the Mayavadis and others who did not take interest in the Krishna consciousness movement. This is the symptom of an Acharya. An Acharya who comes for the service of the Lord cannot be expected to conform to a stereotype, for he must find the ways and means by which Krishna consciousness may be spread.” (CC Adi 7.33)

“So therefore it depends on the acharya how to adjust things. So, my Guru Maharaja, ‘Alright go on preaching on a motorcar, it doesn’t matter.’… This is adjustment. The acharya knows how to adjust things.” (SB class, Auckland, Feb. 20th, 1973)

And the most definitive direction on this subject is found in the purport of the Srimad Bhagavatam:

“One should take initiation from a bona fide spiritual master coming in the disciplic succession, who is authorized by his predecessor spiritual master. This is called diksha-vidhana.” (SB 4.8.54)

And now it is a historically established fact that Srila Prabhupada did not authorize any one to become an initiating spiritual master.

Based on these and several instructions of Srila Prabhupada on this matter the entire Bangalore temple devotees were convinced that the Officiating Acharya system was and is how Srila Prabhupada wanted initiations to carry on for the future of his movement through Rtviks, or Officiators of the Acharya, or persons “acting as Officiating Acharya”. There have been many debates over this July 9th directive which we will not get into here except for stating our stand. We also do not think that the Officiating Acaryas are just brahminical priests as the eleven persons whom Srila Prabhupada named were indeed accomplished leaders who contributed to expand the movement. As far we are concerned over the last eleven years we have taken this directive to our heart and soul and have accepted Srila Prabhupada as our spiritual master.

So we have got everything in writing, in books, in instructions. Our duty is to take them rightly and utilize it properly, advance in Krishna consciousness. (SB class, New Vrindaban, June 25, 1976)

Srila Prabhupada writes in a letter:

“They misunderstand me. Unless it is there from me in writing, there are so many things that ‘Prabhupada said.’”(Letter to Omkara-devi dasi, dated September 2nd 1975,)

So we know that what is written (and signed) by Srila Prabhupada is final.

With this faith in the words of our Spiritual Master Srila Prabhupada we have been engaging successfully in expanding his preaching mission by opening several  centers all over India, and distributing the Holy Name, Books and Prasadam from these centers to millions of conditioned souls. From when the  time the dispute began and we were 60 full time devotees, now we are a community of over 275 full time devotees in 14 locations.

With the assistance of the devotees of ISKCON Bangalore, our congregation, outside supporters, visitors, and all of us together, with the grace of Srila Prabhupada and Sri Sri Radha Krsna Chandra,  have made the temple and all of its preaching efforts a continual success, even in the face of the most vicious adversity. The GBC is very well aware of our recent history of adversity and maligning campaign that we have been facing, were we are called thieves and frauds, perpetrated by our opponents (ISKCON Mumbai) under the authorization of the GBC because of the court case against them. All of this I do not wish to list here to keep the mood positive. We can proudly say that we have tolerated it for a decade without retaliation and can safely say that we have never attacked ISKCON anywhere except a few months back  when we brought out a booklet “Struggle for Truth.” (We took this step as agents of ISKCON Mumbai stole the database of 40,000 donors of ISKCON Bangalore from the temple and mailed a booklet titled Fraud of Madhu Pandit Das). We were always careful in spite of all the provocations not to burn the bridges with the GBC with a hope to work some day under a strong united GBC. In spite of our struggle against these obstacles, we have carried out our devotional services to Srila Prabhupada to expand Krishna consciousness movement in India.

We can only imagine what the results of our efforts and resources would have been if we were permitted to expend them all on preaching, and not on defending the maligned attacks on us in the last decade.

Here is additional explanation of our proposal (attached along with) is:

1. We want to work under one single world wide GBC

2. But we should be respectably allowed to practice the Officiating Acharya system within our group.

3. Once we are under the GBC and as long as the law on ban of ritvik doctrine exists, we cannot practice the same under their authority except as hiding fugitives. We did not put up all these struggles to get that compromised status. What we are looking for is GBC permitting to practice the same only within our group, and obviously this cannot happen as long as the GBC is holding that it is a ‘deviant’ doctrine.  We do not want to be under a body who does not accept us to have Srila Prabhupada as our spiritual master, both diksha and siksha, as we are practicing now. That cannot happen without them repealing the law on ritvik. This is the crux of the issue. Not the property, at least for us. If they accept clearly, unambiguously and honestly that ritvik system can be practiced in our group of temples, we are prepared to flex in many different manners to bring all the properties under the control of the GBC on par with other ISKCON temples in the world.

There are three letters of Oct and Nov 1974, to show that Srila Prabhupada directed certain devotees to register a separate society in Calcutta by the name “International Society for Krishna Consciousness, Calcutta” under the West Bengal Societies Registration Act , although that instruction was not carried out. HH Jayapataka Swami was named as one of the Trustees too in that document. When the movement had just begun in 1972, Srila Prabhupada naturally considered Bombay as the headquarters and wanted all the funds in India to be sent to Bombay for centralizing and in return all bills to be paid from Bombay. He wrote so in a letter in early 1972. But there is absolutely no evidence of it having functioned in this manner. Srila Prabhupada was so much against centralization as we see in April 1972 when he disbanded the entire GBC when an attempt was made by some of the GBC members to centralize ISKCON management all over the world. (ref series of letters/telegrams that Srila Prabhupada wrote in April 1972).

If all the properties in India were to be controlled by the single trustee group of Mumbai society, i.e., Bureau, then why did Srila Prabhupada in his Will in 1977 not say so? On the contrary, Srila Prabhupada in his Will has appointed separate groups of three or more property trustees for each of the major properties in India. On the other hand, for India Srila Prabhupada could have just said,”…the Bureau is there.”

In addition, in Srila Prabhupada’s Will he even says that if one of them resign or die in any of those three of more trustee groups then the others will co-opt a new person as long as he is an initiated disciple of Srila Prabhupada.  Will is not a letter but a legal document.  Only if the ritvik system is practiced can there be initiated disciple of Srila Prabhupada, say fifty years from now.  Otherwise according to the Will all the properties would have to go to the government control as there will be no more initiated disciples of Srila Prabhupada to act as trustees. How does GBC answer these facts on Srila Prabhupada’s Will satisfactorily? Are they not obligated to honor the Will of Srila Prabhupada? Or at least give an explanation?

Why did Srila Prabhupada appoint separate property trustee groups for the India properties when the Bureau of Bombay Society was existing? We all know many things have happened in ISKCON during and after Srila Prabhupada’s life time, which were not according to his exact written direction. The fact is that these written directions exist today, and we can try to follow it unless the author, Srila Prabhupada, annulled such directions through another written document of equal weight.

Shankabrit Das as President , Ananta Padmanabha Das as Vice President , Amiya Vilas Das (now Amiya Vilas Swami) as Secretary  and Poorna Brahma Das as Treasurer and Bhakta Das jointly with two others registered a separate society at Bangalore in 1978 by the name International Society for Krishna Consciousness under the direct instructions of the then HH Hamsadutta Swami , who was the then GBC for South India. Hence it cannot be said that the society has come into existence clandestinely by the collusion of all these people without the knowledge of the GBC. Recently this has been confirmed by Hamsadutta Prabhu through an affidavit given to us for the court case. Several allegations and arguments have been placed before the court by ISKCON Mumbai that Bangalore Society is a bogus imposter Society, etc. etc., and I have committed fraud to make ISKCON Bangalore and its properties independent of ISKCON Mumbai. In any case this is the crux of the case and these things are matters before the court and the court will decide these matters based on the evidence and arguments placed by both parties. (By the way, I joined ISKCON only in 1981, three years after ISKCON-Bangalore society came into existence).

It was H.H. Jayapataka Swami who directed me in the 1980s to approach Shankabrit Prabhu. He told me that he did not have a good relation with Shankabrit and hence I should try it myself and do the needful to formalize the handing over of the management of ISKCON Bangalore society to me. Subsequently I contacted Shankabrit Prabhu in Tirupati as per the above direction of His Holiness Jayapataka Swami and that is how I became the President of Karnataka society after Shankabrit Prabhu resigned. Probably he remembered Srila Prabhupada’s letter regarding his intention to register a separate society in Calcutta and that is why he directed me so without batting an eyelid.

The very first line of Srila Prabhupada’s Will also says, “GBC is the Ultimate Managing Authority”.  But ISKCON Bombay took a stand in the court that it only exists for spiritual guidance. I had briefed my lawyers otherwise, during the cross examination. I had told my lawyers that GBC is the ultimate body though legally it has never been tied up properly. Otherwise where and how is the entire movement tied up as one. If they would have taken the right stand that GBC is the ultimate managing authority, we would have agreed to it, and would, of course, say that in this case they are not a party to this suit. And later if a fresh suit were filed by the GBC on the basis of such admission by us, we would have acceded control to it but would have argued that the real GBC would have to be formed by election of Temple Presidents as per Direction of Management. That was our plan if they had admitted the Ultimate Managing Authority of GBC. Obviously for this case such admission by them would have been fatal for them and so they said that GBC has only spiritual overseeing power over the temples.

In other words, we have always been willing to work under the properly elected GBC.

Therefore we want to work under an ISKCON which, at the least puts these things in right perspectives. That is the reason, we say, that we want to subordinate ourselves to the GBC and not to ISKCON Mumbai Bureau. In fact all ISKCON temples and institutions should incorporate amendments to give ultimate control to the GBC body. You can imagine, a body having such huge control over the properties, will be a very powerful body unlike present GBC which is toothless against protecting the properties of the movement. Why not have such a powerful body if that is what a united movement means as long as that body is an elected one which will automatically limit power corruption. Holding ultimate control of properties of the independent legal constituents of the movement by the GBC does not mean centralizing management or the GBC interfering with it.

This idea of election is not a concoction and this was conceived by Srila Prabhupada himself in the year 1970 itself and made into a legal document “Direction of Management.” It is through this document that the GBC was brought into existence by Srila Prabhupada for the first time. In DoM Srila Prabhupada gives directions on how ISKCON should be managed especially after his life time. Further in July 22, 1974 Srila Prabhupada wanted certain amendments to be made to incorporate the concept of GBC appointed as per DoM into “all official registration documents, constitutions, incorporation papers, etc.” on TOPMOST URGENCY basis. Hence we see that Srila Prabhupada wanted the concept of control by an elected GBC body according to DoM to be enshrined into all independent legal constituents of the entire movement.

In the DoM every three years election is suggested from amongst the temple Presidents to make up the GBC body, along with one third old members for continuity’s sake. You cannot talk of institutional control and have a loose institutional control mechanism unable to check everyone at all levels – from the GBC, as a group, to individual GBC members to every single member of the society. Corruption of power can happen at all levels. An organizational structure that will protect the institution from perpetuating such corruption is what Srila Prabhupada has envisioned. Without such control the GBC is fully autocratic.  Neither the extremes of autocracy nor the extremes of democracy are good. Srila Prabhupada did not say the GBC has to be elected by all the members of the society, but by the Temple Presidents who are knowledgeable. So it is not fully democratic, yet the essence of democracy wherein responsible and qualified leaders in the movement are allowed to choose who they will be governed by is intact. This keeps the topmost Governing Body from becoming permanently corrupted with favoritism, individualism and autocracy. In this age of Kali whether it is an individual or a group of individuals, total autocracy is not healthy. Yet individual authority and empowerment of Temple Presidents are also to be encouraged with in healthy limits for organizational growth. Today the GBC as a body is a permanent, static and unquestioned authority. And that is why no real reforms can happen. This is the reason why, in our proposal, we want to subordinate all our properties to the control of a GBC which agrees to adopt Srila Prabhupada’s DoM.

In any case, today ISKCON is full of guru groups. Let us not hide this fact: in Mumbai two distinct groups co exists. One is HH Radhanath Swami’s disciples and other is predominantly HH Gopal Krishna Goswami’s disciples and others. And we are asking, let us also be just another group and grow independently but under the GBC with due representation in the GBC for our group.

So you see our proposal is an integrated one involving an organizationally reformed GBC. Of course if rtvik is allowed by the GBC (not Bureau) then the beginning of our integration is done. It is said, something well begun is half done. I request the GBC to evaluate the proposal in the interest of the whole movement.  Actually there is no negotiation from our side except for the rtvik issue. We want the intelligent people in the movement to think why each of the conditions have been put forward. That is why our offer was not based on victory or no victory in the court case. We want to work under one worldwide GBC, but a reformed GBC, not the present flawed one with a track record of historically documented excesses, blunders and faults.

We cannot close this out-of-court settlement by patch up negotiation. The conditions I am asking, except for rtvik issue, are all organizational reforms for the good of a united ISKCON. That is why I am insisting that the GBC involve in discussing this proposal. Our proposal is not thrusting Rtvik system on others. But if we have to work under the GBC we have to be whole heartedly accepted. We would also want to be proud of being part of the united ISKCON movement. ISKCON as it stands currently, without election as per DoM, is headed by an autocratic body dominated by gurus.  We obviously will not subordinate our institution and properties to such a body.

Regarding financial transparency, we are willing, as a group to subject ourselves to all scrutiny, which anyway GBC will have the authority to when we subordinate ourselves to them. However we would want all temples and institutions of the organization to follow the same level of transparency, starting from international BBT. There cannot be two different standards. We desire even higher standards of professional quality of transparency than what exists now within our group, but want to see that rest of ISKCON also follows the same. This is to make the outside world look at our organization with high degree of credibility. Our group wishes to integrate itself as a healthy creative partner and not that you ask transparency from us as if we are all ‘thieves’.  We cannot be approached with the mood that, “We who are in the house are honest and hence need not worry about transparency. Only you ‘thieves’ have to be transparent!”

Can we honorably sit with the GBC and discuss all this? We think this is GBC’s duty. If they shirk, then it is the usual flaw manifested again of a non elected autocratic group as there is no one to question them on this neglect of duty to Srila Prabhupada at the highest organizational level when such an offer is placed before them. Law of Karma will act not only for ones action, but also for inaction.  We are crying in wilderness to the GBC, “Please take us under your wings.” But according to GBC our only defect is we are “hard core dedicated disciples of Srila Prabhupada!” What an irony!! But we have shown a way, without rocking their ‘boat of spiritual masters and disciples’ ,by which we can be  accommodated as a distinct group so that we can all expand the movement under a united and reformed GBC.

Do not mistake us that we are asking the GBC members to reform individually. That is not within our purview. We are seeking only organizational reform through election as per Srila Prabhupada’s DoM. We preach that Srila Prabhupada built a house where the whole world can live. Let the GBC first demonstrate that by expanding their house a little to accommodate the sincere followers of the very founder of the movement. Till then this ISKCON is not Srila Prabhupada’s house nor  the GBC Prabhupada’s GBC, but the houses of the gurus and a GBC body of gurus.  The GBC has assumed a right upon themselves to experiment (played around with spiritual and material lives of thousands of souls in the last 30 years) with various theories of gurus: Zonal Acharyas, Maha-bhagavata gurus till found fallen, GBC appointed gurus, voted- in gurus, No-objection gurus, suspended gurus, re initiating  gurus – (except acting as Officiating Acharya). Even morally GBC is bound to accommodate us as respectably as you have accommodated the ‘gurus and disciples’ of all the above flawed guru systems according to GBC’s own admissions after each experiment failed.

We are not supposed to experiment in spiritual life. We are supposed to follow the perfect descending process. Let the GBC open their hearts to let us at least follow the clear directive of July 9th 1977, and work under an elected GBC as per Srila Prabhupada’s “Direction of Management.”

We have to write this explanatory note so that the GBC does not think that this is a ‘compromise offer’ to save our skins from fear of losing the court case or being thrown in the streets or jail, as being propagated by the agents of the ISKCON Mumbai. That depends on where Krishna wants to keep us, in jail or street or palaces. They or we have no control over it. Since we are serving Him, we have full faith that He is in direct control of these outcomes which will be known in the next few days. Neither are we doing all this to buy time by being in any illusion that ISKCON Mumbai/GBC is going to lessen any of their efforts to defeat us in the higher courts by all means available just because of this peace proposal.  To sum up, it is a straight forward offer of peace to work together under one GBC body.

We request the GBC not to mistake us and think that what we have said above is out of arrogance. We have said so only with the desperate wish to work as part of a united worldwide ISKCON under a progressive GBC. We want the current GBC to see every one of our proposals in that light and respond so that court cases can all be ended. We are awaiting if the GBC body is serious about respectably welcoming our group as faithful Vaishnavas with some conviction, but not as deviant devotees being sheltered ‘mercifully’. The offer is there officially in writing. The demands in the offer are simple to understand.

Thank you Maharajs and Prabhus.

Your servant in service of Srila Prabhupada
Madhu Pandit Das.

Sriman Madhu Pandit Das proposes settlement with GBC

Editor Note: A lot is being made out of supposed motive of Sriman Madhu Pandit Das in taking ISKCON Bangalore away from ISKCON. Below is a proposal to HH Bhakti Caru Swami dated Feb 1st, 2009, by him and other governing body members of ISKCON Bangalore group of temples to the worldwide GBC body as to how these temples can integrate with world wide ISKCON under the overall supervision of international GBC. If this does not prove the sincere motive of Sriman Madhu Pandit Das and other Prabhus with him, then what will?

Letter by Sriman Madhu Pandit Das to HH Bhati Charu Swami dated February 1st, 2009

Maharaj, please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. Please find below a proposal from the members of the governing body of iskcon Bangalore group in pursuance of peaceful co existence under a single GBC.
Your servant
Madhu Pandit Das

Dear Bhakticaru Maharaj,
 
Please accept our humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
 
Thanks for calling Madhu Pandit Prabhu several times in your efforts to bring in some settlement of the dispute after your meeting with Sravanananda Prabhu in the US.  Besides your efforts, Yasomatinandan Prabhu and recently Shankabrit Prabhu and Amiya Vilas swami have been desiring that we sit and talk. Also Jagatchandra Prabhu from Cochin whom you know well and one Muralidhar Prabhu from Hubli has been trying to build bridges between the parties at the ground.  Two days back Shankdari Prabhu from Madurai also sought a sitting with a few of our governing body members to move in the direction of some settlement.
 
Madhu Pandit Prabhu had sent you a proposal by email after speaking to you in Bombay for which so far we have not received any response. That proposal did not envisage handing over all the properties under us to the control and ownership of the GBC but was a ‘live and let live’ proposal.   Hence in the wake of these several further indications for a compromise we are responding with a second proposal where all properties also will be subordinated to the control of GBC.
 
The Governing Body Council of the ISKCON Bangalore group of temples/trusts/institutions (hereafter referred to as IB group) which was recently elected as per Srila Prabhupada’s “Direction of Management”, discussed at length and has the following offer to the GBC. This offer is made whether we win or loose in the current court battle for control of Bangalore temple lest it be thought that this offer is made under pressure of losing and is open for minimum 45 days ( only 24 days left for court verdict to come) and maximum as much as and if extended by us at the end of 45 days.

OFFER:
1. We will subordinate our entire group of organizations with all its properties legally under the direct control of GBC Body (not to ISKCON Mumbai) on par with other ISKCON temples around the world or in any manner GBC decides. But the group will continue to maintain managerial, functional and structural independence as it is existing now and the elected body of IB group of temples will manage these trusts/socieites/institutions and its properties. The GBC shall have full freedom to independently Audit the accounts of the IB group. The GBC shall unleash legal control only in case of  financial impropriety with regard to  the properties managed by the elected body of the IB Group legally under the GBC provided:
 
a. The GBC rescinds the resolution that system of initiation through officiating acharya system after Srila Prabhupada’s Samadhi, as per July 9th,1977 directive issued by Srila Prabhupada, is a deviant doctrine/practice.
  
b. GBC passes a resolution that the officiating acharya system as per July 9th,1977 doctrine can  be practiced by the IB group.
 
 
A committee of best lawyers in the country from both sides shall approve the legal effectiveness of its IRREVERSIBILITY and continued ADHERANCE by GBC. (Both these have to be done in a sound  manner  so that the GBC cannot go back on it after transferring legal control over  properties currently held by the IB group.)
 
c .  IB group will expand its preaching through its temples by co-existing with present temples at a respectable distance from each other both, locationally and philosophically. The nomenclature of these temples can be different to distinguish it from existing ISKCON temples. These new temples opened by IB group will work directly under the elected body of the IB group, which in turn will legally subordinate itself to the larger GBC.
 
d.  No criticism in public of each other is permitted. Debates and discussion on mutually accepted topics can be pursued in approved forums with the objective of further narrowing down the differences over a period of time. Jointly pre-approved statements of conviction of each group and differences will alone be stated to the public, by the rank and file devotees of both parties. For the outside world it is only two different groups who think differently on what Srila Prabhupada desired for spiritual succession.
 
e.  Mumbai iskcon and all iskcon temples/projects/trusts/funds in the world should also subordinate themselves legally to the control of GBC in the same manner expected of from IB group. HH Radhanath Swami’s organisation/trusts/ funds  also should legally come under the control of GBC.
 
f.. GBC should perpetuate itself through elections by electing new GBC members from among the temple presidents all over the world every three years as per the “Direction of Management” issued by Srila Prabhupada in 1970.  
 
g.. Elected representatives from among IB group temple presidents should also be given proportionate representation in the  GBC based on number of IB group temples approved by the IB group and the GBC. IB group will elect them and fill up those allotted number of the GBC position for IB group.
 
 
h. There shall be Guru puja and Vyasa puja only for Srila Prabhupada in all Iskcon temples. All persons who preside over the initiations  should be called ‘officiating Acaharya’ in both camps. Then the only difference in two camps are that one camp  hold that the new initiates are  disciples of person presiding over the initiation, and the other camp hold that the new initiates are Srila Prabhupada’s disciples. For the outside world it is only a different understanding of ‘officiating acarya’. Officiating Acarya was the unambigous nomenclature ordered by Srila Prabhupada for those who were to perform initiation in Iskcon in his conversation on May 28th 1977 when  the GBC representatives met Srila prabhupada with a specific question on initiations “particularly when you are no longer with us.”
 
i. All the leaders of IB group and iskcon should declare their personal assets to the GBC body every three years starting immediately through signed affidavits. (IB group leaders have already done it and even published in leading newspapers of Bangalore.)
 
j. BBT shall promote original unchanged edition of all Srila Prabhupada’s books that existed before the samadhi of Srila Prabhupada by supply to all their customers who place orders and supply changed versions only on specific request of customers.  The current practice is reverse of this. Just a change with regard to which edition BBT will actively promote.
 
k. All fight ends and in parallel we expand preaching under a single GBC body as Srila Prabhupada wanted.

Looking forward for the GBC response at the earliest. Best wishes,

  Your servants in service of Srila Prabhupada /Members of governing body of IB group. Amitasana Das, Chitranga Chaitanya Das, Chanchalapati Das, Jai Chaitanya Das, Madhu Pandit Das, Rajiv Lochan Das, Satya Gourachandra Das, Stoka Krishna Das, Suvyakta Narasimha Das, Vasudev Keshava Das.

Warning to the GBC – Cut-off VKd

Dear GBC members – Please cut off Varada Krishna Das from your association. He is a bad sore. He has his good qualities but now he has become too offensive and crazy. His tabloid like writings are proof enough. Any devotee in correct mind will not wish to associate with him and his small band of crows. If you do not take action then the bda websites will reflect on you and even your intelligent disciples will turn against you. Wonder what devotees like Radheshyam Prabhu, Devamrita Prabhu, Shyamananda Pandit Prabhu and Govinda Prabhus have to say about these writings! What will other devotees in Chawpatty say about these writings!

Why should you not take action? You have often riled and preached against blasphemy to senior devotees by ISKCON dissidents. Why not take the same action now.

You may say that you have no control over Vkd. But we know that you have. He is working full time with the ISKCON mumbai legal office in Bangalore with the sole task of blackening the name of Mpp. He is paid a regular salary by the ISKCON legal office. He is working as the right hand man of Doyaram Prabhu, the head of the ISKCON Legal office, who has been given carte blanche go ahead by the GBC and the RGB to bring down Madhu Pandit Prabhu. Vkd talks regularly with HH Radhanatha Swami over phone for guidance. HH Radhanatha Swami has been given the overall charge for the Bangalore situation in the last GBC meetings.

Hence we request that you instruct Varada Krishna Das to layoff. Otherwise we will be forced to:

1. Make sure the connection of Varada Krishna Das and the ISKCON bda sites with the GBC body is publicized all over the world. Let all disciples of Gurus see what their gurus are involved in through their paid henchman.
2. Publicize the wrong doings of HH Radhanatha Swami, HH Gopal Krishna Goswami and HH Jayapatka Swami all over Mumbai, Pune, Delhi, Vrindavan and Calcutta.
3. We will work closely with the Indian media especially Maharashtra media to reveal in detail the gory past of who gave the order and inspiration to murder Sulocana Das.
4. Who was and is the GBC of Vrindavan and Mayapur Gurukuls while horrible child abuses have happened.
5. How HH Jayapataka Swami’s disciple from Mayapur, Rakha Govinda Das was the person responsible to molest the American lady last month in Juhu temple and was spirited away in hiding to Mayapur. And the lady was given money to keep quite.
6. Publicize the very reasonable settlement proposed by Madhu Pandit Prabhu and other Bangalore devotees and the response of the GBC body to it. This will show how they are adamant in fighting to destroy preaching rather than to expand it unified under a single name and GBC.

Now the ball is in the court of the GBC body. Cut off Varada Krishna Das. He has become a bad sore on your body. He is just going to bring you down. Stop paying him his salary. You can see that he does not owe you any loyalty. He will turn on you at the drop of his hat. His warning to you is proof for you. His only concern is personal hatred of Madhu Pandit Das. This hatred will burn ISKCON, and in turn you, if not curbed now.

Please listen to us. We are serious about it.

Clearing Some Doubts of Vkd

Varada Krishna Das has understandably gone hysterical today. Since jivahimsa.com has started posting common sense Vaisnava writings by different worldwide devotees, his rantings are becoming more and more apparent by contrast.

What has devotional service to do with putting devotees in Jail. Anyway there are so few devotees to go around. Must be hard work trying to put the most successful devotees in jail. Wonder where he gets the inspiration from—-From George Bush?

Anyway, that is between him and Srila Prabhupada and Sri Narasimhadeva. As far as we are concerned, it is with faith in Krishna’s words we can say that Lord Krishna protects his devotees. Sriman Madhu Pandit Das is not perfect, he is not a pure devotee. He is a simple servant of Srila Prabhupada who may also commit similar mistakes as other temple presidents. But he is trying to serve Srila Prabhupada and protect Srila Prabhupada’s disciples under is care to the best of his abilities. For that he is glorifiable.

And all devotees in the HK Hill understand that. They see Sriman Madhu Pandit Das struggling day in and day out working on their behalf. They see him chanting and attending aratis regularly. They see him providing for them so that all devotees can practice devotional service peacefully. They have also seen other ISKCON temples riddled with politics and guru corruptions. They have also seen the quality of disciples of other gurus. They have seen the fate of other ritviks. Most importantly they have faith in Sri Sri Radha Krishnacandra that all of them will be protected, especially Sriman Madhu Pandit Das from any aggressors.

Proof of what we say is the last 10 years. WHY HAVE NOT THE ISKCON mumbai AGGRRESORS MANAGED TO OVERTAKE THE TEMPLE, PUT MPP IN JAIL, ETC. as they claim, FOR THE LAST 10 YEARS. Do not believe in post dated checks. What has happened in the past will generally happen in the future. Why would Krishna sanction a result where the best run temple in ISKCON is removed from the care of the devotees managing it currently and given in care of devotees like Doyaram who have run the Kolkata temple in the ground since taking over.

So a message for Sriman Varada Krishna Das. Stop day dreaming. Remember Rukmi. Remember Paundraka. How they bombastically declared that they are going to kill Krishna. And were promptly defeated by Krishna. Krishna will never take away the service of sincere devotees. Stop hurting yourself. Instead, help the preaching in Bangalore. Build another big temple if you are such a big collector. Make it function better than what Sriman Madhu Pandit Prabhu is doing. Then instruct Madhu Pandit Prabhu to improve. That will expand the preaching as well as be beneficial to all living entities including for Madhu Pandit Prabhu. May Krishna help you to come out of this influence of Kali.

Why is HH Radhanath Swami quite about BDA activities?

HH Radhanath Swami is famous in ISKCON as a stickler of Vaisnava etiquettes. He is known to often enthuse his followers in Chaupatty and Pune to not committ Vaisnva Aparadha by criticizing devotees or by hearing of criticism to senior devotees.

But where is he in the case of BDA sites? It is well known to all that Varada Krishna Das is driving the BDA sites. Varada Krishna Das regularly has long conversations with HH Radhanath Swmai. In fact HH Radhanath Swami has been given the charge of getting the Bangalore temple back to ISKCON by the GBC Body. This happened last year in the yearly meetings in Juhu in October, almost to the day when HH Jayapataka Swami suffered his unfortunate stroke and was hospitalized. Being in charge of the Bangalore situation, HH Radhanath Swami should “Walk the Talk” and ask his siksha disciple Varada Krishna Das to stop this blasphemy and tabloid like criticisms.

What purpose does it serve other than to try to break the fragile faith in sadha sanga of the neophytes who are being sent to Madhu Pandit Prabhu to guide on behalf of Srila Prabhupada. Adau shraddha, tatha sadhu sanga, tatha bhajan kriya. If the young devotees shraddha in Madhu Pandit Prabhu is shaken, then why will they associate and then how will their bhajan kriya commence and continue? If nothing else, at least one should appreciate and respect the fact that Madhu Pandit Prabhu has guided hundreds of devotees to dedicate their lives to Srila Prabhupada’s mission. And many more hundreds are being sent by Lord Krishna to him to train. Is this a material formula? Why try to disturb that desire of Lord Krishna?

Or is Varada Krishna Das doing this fully aware of the spiritual result so that this can help reduce the material power of Madhu Pandit Prabhu. Is this Vaisnava thinking?

And a more important question for us—Why is HH Radhanatha Swami not stopping this demoniac behavior?