Truth: New names were to be sent to Srila Prabhupada’s address not to him personally, but to his secretary who was to include the names of new Srila Prabhupada’s disciples officially initiated via ritviks in the ‘Initiated Disciples’ book, which is confirmed by other evidence.
By Bhakta Alex (Russia)
There is an argument put forward by anti-ritviks regarding July 9th 1977, directive: at the end it says that names of new disciples should be sent by ritvik-representatives “to Srila Prabhupada”:
“The newly initiated devotees are disciples of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, the above eleven senior devotees acting as His representative. After the Temple President receives a letter from these representatives giving the spiritual name or the thread, he can perform the fire yajna in the temple as was being done before. The name of a newly initiated disciple should be sent by the representative who has accepted him or her to Srila Prabhupada, to be included in His Divine Grace’s “Initiated Disciples” book.”
So, they say it means this whole initiation system was set just temporary until Srila Prabhupada’s physical departure. For example, BBTI officer Vijitatma das wrote:
“…the letter very clearly indicates the time limits to which Srila Prabhupada’s order to appoint “representatives” should be applied: as long as Srila Prabhupada remains on the planet, and letters can be sent to him. These are the words: ” The name of a newly initiated disciple should be sent by the representative who has accepted him or her to Srila Prabhupada”. Thus, the original argument of ritviks is completely baseless.” (New Ritviks, Old Delusions, 2009)
This interpretation was defeated many years ago. An excerpt from “The Final Order”:
“The July 9th letter states that the names of newly initiated disciples were to be sent “to Srila Prabhupada”. Could this indicate that the system was only to run while Srila Prabhupada was physically present? Some devotees have argued that since we can no longer send these names to Srila Prabhupada, the ritvik system must therefore be invalid.
The first point to note is the stated purpose behind the names being sent to Srila Prabhupada, i.e., so they could be included in his “Initiated Disciples” book. We know from the July 7th conversation (please see Appendices, p.128) * that Srila Prabhupada had nothing to do with entering the new names into this book; it was done by his secretary. Further evidence that the names should be sent for inclusion in the book, and not specifically to Srila Prabhupada, is given in the letter written to Hamsadutta, the very next day, where Tamal Krsna Goswami explains his new ritvik duties to him:
“… you should send their names to be included in Srila Prabhupada’s “Initiated Disciples” book.”
(Letter to Hamsadutta from Tamal Krsna Goswami, 10/7/1977)
There is no mention made here of needing to send the names to Srila Prabhupada. This procedure could easily have continued after Srila Prabhupada’s physical departure. Nowhere in the final order does it state that if the “Initiated Disciples” book becomes physically separated from Srila Prabhupada all initiations must be suspended.
The next point is that the procedure of sending the names of newly initiated disciples to Srila Prabhupada in any case relates to a post-initiation activity. The names could only be sent after the disciples had already been initiated. Thus, an instruction concerning what is to be done after initiation cannot be used to amend or in any way interrupt pre-initiation, or indeed initiation procedures (the ritvik’s role being already fulfilled well before the actual initiation ceremony takes place). Whether or not names can be sent to Srila Prabhupada has no bearing on the system for initiation, since at the point where new names are ready to be sent, the initiation has already occurred.
The last point is that if sending the names to Srila Prabhupada were a vital part of the ceremony, then even before Srila Prabhupada’s departure, the system would have been invalid, or at least run the constant risk of being so. It was generally understood that Srila Prabhupada was ready to leave at any time, thus the danger of not having anywhere to send the names was present from day one of the order being issued.
In other words, taking the possible scenario that Srila Prabhupada leaves the planet the day after a disciple has been initiated through the ritvik system, according to the above proposition the disciple would not actually have been initiated simply because of the speed by which mail is delivered. We find no mention in Srila Prabhupada’s books that the transcendental process of diksa, which may take many lifetimes to complete, can be obstructed by the vicissitudes of the postal service. Certainly, there would be nothing preventing the names of new initiates being entered into His Divine Grace’s “Initiated Disciples” book even now. This book could then be offered to Srila Prabhupada at a fitting time.” (End of excerpt from ‘The Final Order’ by Krishnakant, 1996)
* Here is the relevant quote from July 7th, 1977, conversation:
Tamala Krsna: You know that book I’m maintaining of all of your disciples’ names? Should I continue that?
Prabhupada: Hmm.
Tamala Krsna: So, if someone gives initiation, like Harikesa Maharaja, he should send the person’s name to us here, and I’ll enter it in the book. Okay. (Room Conversation — July 7th 1977, Vrndavana)
It was the system from early days of proxy initiations in ISKCON:
“Kirtanananda will chant on the beads for new devotees in America, Canada, like that, you can chant on the beads for the European continent new disciples. They shall, of course, still be considered as my disciples, not that they shall become your disciples, but you will be empowered by me to chant their beads and that is the same effect of binding master and disciple as if I were personally chanting. They may continue to send me their letters of request, along the President’s recommendation, and I shall give them name and it will be entered by my Secretary in our records, only I will send my letter of reply to you and you will purchase beads there and chant them and send, along with my letter to the new initiates.” (SP Letter to: Revatinandana — Bombay 4th January 1973)
In 1998, Tamal confirmed that “the secretary kept the book of initiated disciples”:
“So, I said to Prabhupada that we can list, because Prabhupada… we had kept… the secretary kept the book of initiated disciples, so I said that when someone does this initiating on your behalf, then the names can be kept in your book and Prabhupada said yes.” (Class given by Tamal Krishna Goswami on 6th August 1998, in Hong Kong)
Moreover, VedaBase 2019 release (the official collection of Srila Prabhupada’s instructions, issued and updated by the Bhaktivedanta Archives) presented previously unknown letter from Tamala Krishna to Ramesvara dated July 22, 1977. It appeared in ‘230 New Secretary Letters 2019 [To be merged in future VedaBase releases]’ section. This letter hadn’t been published earlier, even in the previous VedaBase release dated May 12, 2018. It explains in detail how ritviks should conduct both first and second initiation ceremonies and then send the names of new Srila Prabhupada’s disciples to the “Initiated Disciples” book to the secretary (“to me for inclusion in Prabhupada’s Initiated Disciples Book)” which puts an end to the dispute whether the names were to be sent to Srila Prabhupada personally or just to his address, for his secretary. The text of the letter:
Letter to: Ramesvara July 22nd, 1977 From: Tamal Krishna
My dear Ramesvara Maharaja,
Please accept my most humble obeisances at your feet. I thought it would be in order to give some instructions to the 11 disciples of His Divine Grace whom He chose to represent Him for giving first and second initiations. I thought you could photocopy this letter and send a copy to each of them.
The system that His Divine Grace has always followed in the case of initiations is that first of all He receives a recommending letter from the temple president. In the case of first initiation requests, His Divine Grace replies by saying: “As you have recommended him I accept as my initiated disciple. His spiritual name is. Now you should hold a fire ceremony, and he must vow to follow the four regulative principles and chant minimum 16 rounds daily. Teach him to be an ideal Vaisnava by your example.” His Divine Grace has authorized all of the GBC and senior sannyasis in the past to chant on beads for initiation, so this is already going on.
In the case of second initiation, Srila Prabhupada writes: “As you have recommended him, I accept [BLANK SPACE] for second initiation. His brahmana thread, duly chanted on, is enclosed herein along with the Gayatri mantra sheet. Now you should hold a fire ceremony after which he may be permitted to hear the Gayatri mantra tape in the right ear. Teach him to be Brahminical, always keeping clean internally by chanting Hare Krsna, and externally by regular bathing.” The process of chanting on the thread is that during one of the times when you are saying your normal Gayatri mantra, you hold the thread to be chanted on (which should remain twisted up, that is not open) in the right hand, and by chanting on your thread the Gayatri mantra, this new thread is considered chanted upon .I would suggest that His Holiness Ramesvara Maharaja may supply each of the 11 representatives sufficient copies of the Gayatri mantra sheet.
I think it would be appropriate in your letter to the president or the person who is being accepted for initiation, to remind him to send Guru-daksina to His Divine Grace. This is no longer being done very regularly, but actually it is the proper etiquette to be followed.
I hope this letter is helpful to you, and if there is any further clarification required, please do not hesitate to write. Hoping this meets you all well.
Your servant, Tamal Krsna Gosvami Secretary to Srila Prabhupada
P.S. Please remember to send the names of all new initiates (1st initiation only) to me for inclusion in Prabhupada’s Initiated Disciples Book.
Include former karmi name.
His Holiness Ramesvara Swami c/o ISKCON Los Angeles Copies to all rittiks [ritviks]
(End of quote from VedaBase)
Such a letter was published by the Bhaktivedanta Archives 42 years after Srila Prabhupada’s physical departure. Please note how detailed was the description of the formal initiation system via ritvik-representatives of the acarya. Where is similarly detailed description of the future system of multiple diksa gurus in ISKCON, their voting in by the GBC, etc? Such details as separation of powers between the GBC and new initiating gurus, etc., were simply not given, because Srila Prabhupada did not intend to create a system of many diksa gurus in ISKCON, but gave instructions that he himself would remain the initiating guru for his entire movement.
We hope that more documents and audio recordings of 1977 will become public and leave fewer opportunities for anti-ritvik false arguments.
In conclusion: Srila Prabhupada had nothing to do with writing down the names of new disciples, accepted by ritviks, in his “Initiated Disciples” book. This was done by the secretary, and now it can function in the same way by a secretary appointed by the GBC (ideally). The phrase about sending the names of new disciples means sending them to Srila Prabhupada’s address, to his secretary- this is what Srila Prabhupada really approved on July 7th 1977, and what Tamal Krishna wrote about on July 22nd 1977. July 9th 1977, directive describes the system of proxy initiations that should function in ISKCON “henceforward” and does not say anything that this was just a temporary measure for the period until Srila Prabhupada’s physical departure.
The beginning of the directive refers to Srila Prabhupada’s conversation with the GBC on May 28th 1977, where some issues related to the period after Srila Prabhupada’s departure were discussed. Thus, this directive became the fulfillment of Srila Prabhupada’s promise to appoint ritviks for the future, “particularly” when he “is no longer with us” (as per May 28th 1977, conversation). This is also confirmed (directly and indirectly) by Srila Prabhupada’s Last Will, personal letters to the first ritviks in 1977, Srila Prabhupada’s conversations of that period, various witness testimonies, etc. Total aggregate of available evidence clearly proves that ritvik initiations were established by Srila Prabhupada for the future, especially after his physical departure so that initiation ceremonies would continue, and he would remain the spiritual master for his movement.
Truth: Srila Prabhupada did not state he established the ritvik system because he was ill or for the period of his physical presence. This is nothing but speculation that contradicts real evidence that ritvik arrangement was made by Srila Prabhupada for the future, especially after his physical departure.
by Bhakta Alex, Russia.
In 1977, before his physical departure, Srila Prabhupada finalized the proxy initiation system in ISKCON to be continued in the future, especially after his passing away. This is proved by May 28, 1977, conversation with GBC members, July 9th,1977 directive, his Final Will, other documents and various testimonies of those who were with Srila Prabhupada in spring, summer and autumn of 1977. However, those who don’t have enough knowledge of this topic or are opposed to Srila Prabhupada’s orders in this regard, reject these orders of the acarya and claim, without any serious proof, that the ritvik initiation system was established by Srila Prabhupada just because he was ill, and it was meant to continue only until his physical departure. E.g. in 1996, Tamala Krishna Goswami, the mastermind of ISKCON coup in the 1970s and a key architect of the zonal acarya system, wrote:
“6 months before his own demise, Prabhupada had announced that he would appoint some of his disciples to perform all of the functions of initiating new disciples as he had become too ill to do so. Those so initiated would still be Prabhupada’s disciple while those who would be initiated after his demise would become his grand-disciples.” (‘The Perils of Succession’, Tamala Krishna Goswami)
This has become a widespread misinterpretation among the anti-ritvik party:
Maya-ISKCON “guru” Kadamba Kanana Swami: “Yes Srila Prabhupada did write a 9th of July letter. It shows that Srila Prabhupada started a ritvik system at the end of his life, when he was ill and not able to travel.” (KKS Letter, October 11th, 2006)
Kailasa Candra das: “Srila Prabhupada was very ill, so he authorized his rittviks to make some decisions that normally he would have made.” (‘Flaws in the Rittvik Concoction’, circa 2008)
Basu Ghosh das: “there’s just one letter [July 9, 1977], which those old timers, you know, like us, Prabhupada disciples, we know that was because Prabhupada was ill, and he couldn’t give initiations” (maya-ISKCON Indian Continental Committee meeting, 9/7/21)
Maya-ISKCON “guru” Sankarsana das: “The quote from the letter you have cited, which by the way was written by my Godbrother and close associate Tamal Krishna Maharaja on 9 July 1977, describes the system for Srila Prabhupada’s initiating disciples during his last year when he was physically present on this planet and was indisposed due to chronic illness but still accepting disciples.” [January 21st, 2009]
Comment by Krishnakant Desai:
a) The system of initiation set up on the 9th July 1977, now allowed representatives to take over accepting disciples on Srila Prabhupada’s behalf by giving a spiritual name –
“After considering the recommendation, these representatives may accept the devotee as an initiated disciple of Srila Prabhupada by giving a spiritual name, or in the case of second initiation, by chanting on the Gayatri thread, just as Srila Prabhupada has done.”
(July 9th, 1977, directive)
– with the actual initiation ceremonies themselves having already been delegated to Temple Presidents to perform:
“After the Temple President receives a letter from these representatives giving the spiritual name or the thread, he can perform the fire yajna in the temple as was being done before.”
(July 9th, 1977, directive, emphasis added)
b) Hence the ritvik system could not have been set up because Srila Prabhupada was “indisposed due to chronic illness”, since Srila Prabhupada had not lost the use of his vocal chords or his hearing, and so he could have continued to accept disciples by issuing spiritual names in the same way the ritviks were going to. Rather, the system was set up to allow Srila Prabhupada to continue initiating without the need for his physical presence. (Source: https://iskconirm.com/docs/webpages/divinity_delusion_sad.html)
An article from ‘Back to Prabhupada’ magazine that refutes the anti-ritvik argument in more detail:
Debunking The Illness Initiation Myth. Back to Prabhupada, Issue 39, Spring 2013
On page 6 we addressed the long-standing myth that Srila Prabhupada had sanctioned non-liberated diksa gurus. Through a detailed analysis, this myth was thoroughly debunked. Another much-repeated myth is the idea that Srila Prabhupada authorised the representational (rtvik) system of initiation only because he was ill. An example of this myth is the following recent GBC statement:
“It is documented that on July 7th, 1977, Srila Prabhupada discussed how devotees who had been waiting for initiation could be initiated during his illness. At that time, Srila Prabhupada named specific senior disciples who would initiate on his behalf during his illness. Two days later, the July 9th letter was written to inform devotees about the July 7 conversation and these instructions of Srila Prabhupada.”
(GBC letter to Bangalore devotees, 9/3/2013)
Below we provide a detailed analysis which thoroughly debunks this myth. The quotes in the shaded boxes are from the July 7th, 1977, room conversation, with all emphases added.
Initiation stoppage
Tamala Krsna: “We’re receiving a number of letters now, and these are people who want to get initiated. So up until now, since your becoming ill, we asked them to wait. […] I mean, one thing is that it’s said that the spiritual master takes on the … You know, he takes on the … He has to cleanse the disciple by … So, we don’t want that you should have to … Your health is not so good, so that should not be … That’s why we’ve been asking everybody to wait […] Some devotees are writing you now for second initiation, and I’m writing them to wait a while because you’re not well.”
Tamala Krsna states:
a) All initiations have been stopped due to the concern of Tamala Krsna and other devotees over Srila Prabhupada’s health (“we don’t want that you should have to”).
b) This concern of theirs is that after the spiritual master takes disciples he has to cleanse them spiritually and Srila Prabhupada’s health may be adversely affected by this task (“that’s why we’ve been asking everybody to wait”).
Initiations resumed
Tamala Krsna: “We’re receiving a number of letters now, and these are people who want to get initiated. So up until now, since your becoming ill, we asked them to wait.”
Srila Prabhupada: “The local, mean, senior sannyasis can do that.”
Tamala Krsna: “[…] So should that process be resumed, or should we…? I mean, one thing is that it’s said that the spiritual master takes on the […] That’s why we’ve been asking everybody to wait. I just want to know if we should continue to wait some more time.”
Srila Prabhupada: “No, the senior sannyasis…”
Having heard the health concern for why the initiations were stopped, Srila Prabhupada immediately rejects it and asks that initiations be resumed. He wants to continue initiating, and thus does not accept that his health will not be able to take the effects of continuing to accept disciples.
Last aspect devolved
Tamala Krsna: “That’s what we were doing … I mean, formerly we were … the local GBC, sannyasis, were chanting on their beads, and they were writing to Your Divine Grace, and you were giving a spiritual name. […] I just want to know if we should continue to wait some more time.”
Srila Prabhupada: “No, the senior sannyasis […]”
Tamala Krsna: “So supposing someone is in America, should they simply write directly to
Kirtanananda or Satsvarupa?”
Srila Prabhupada: “Nearby.”
Up until this time, as explained above, the initiation system had been largely devolved to the senior sannyasis, with Srila Prabhupada only giving a spiritual name. Srila Prabhupada states that the senior sannyasis can resume the initiation system, and now give the spiritual name as well.
Summary
1. The issue of health was only relevant to why the leaders had stopped initiations.
2. Even then the health issue was not Srila Prabhupada’s physical capacity to continue initiating, but the health effects from spiritually “cleansing” future disciples.
3. These health concerns were rejected and Srila Prabhupada asked that initiations be resumed.
July 9th confirmation
Thus, the July 7th conversation does not document, as the GBC falsely claimed, that the rtvik system was set up by Srila Prabhupada only to initiate devotees “during his illness”. Further, the July 9th directive, which sets out the rtvik system of initiating on Srila Prabhupada’s behalf, makes zero mention that the system was set up only for during Srila Prabhupada’s illness. Indeed, it makes no mention of Srila Prabhupada’s illness at all. Rather, it only states that the system is for all initiations generally — “for the purpose of performing initiations, both first initiation and second initiation”. Ironically, here the GBC are defeated by their own statement. They claimed that “the July 9 letter was written to inform devotees about the July 7th conversation and these instructions of Srila Prabhupada.” Since the July 9th directive makes no mention of the illness theory, they have to accept, by their own reasoning, that the July 7th conversation does not either!
Unable to perform yajna
Over 3 months later, Srila Prabhupada was unable to perform a fire yajna for someone who had travelled all the way from New York to Mayapur to be personally initiated by Srila Prabhupada, and in response Srila Prabhupada states:
“So, deputies, Jayapataka’s name was there? […] So I depute him to do this at Mayapur, and you may go with him. I stop for the time being. […] And if by Krsna’s grace I recover from this condition, then I shall begin again, or I may not be pressed in this condition to initiate. It is not good.”
(Srila Prabhupada, Room Conversation, 18/10/1977)
The “stopping” here cannot refer to the representational (rtvik) system of initiation, since:
a) The representational system of initiation had already been running for over 3 months and had never been stopped.
b) Srila Prabhupada asks one of the rtviks, Jayapataka, to perform the initiation on his behalf.
So, the stopping and beginning again refer only to Srila Prabhupada physically performing initiation ceremonies himself, with initiations on his behalf continuing normally.
Conclusion
Hence, it is not that the representational initiation system was set up because of Srila Prabhupada’s illness. Rather, the leaders had stopped the initiations because of their concern for Srila Prabhupada’s health, and Srila Prabhupada rejected this health concern and simply asked that initiations be immediately resumed. (End of article)
One evidence anti-ritviks may extrapolate their opinion from is the following message given in Bhaktivedanta Book Trust’s newsletter by Ramesvara Swami dated June 20th 1977 (before the July discussions):
“We have received one letter from Tamal Krsna Maharaja who discussed the question of new requests for first and second initiation with Srila Prabhupada. Srila Prabhupada told Tamal Krsna that he does not want to consider any requests until his health has returned. Tamal Krsna Maharaja requested that I inform all the GBC members to instruct their temples to hold all requests for initiation until further notice.”
However, if we carefully look at this message, we will see the following:
1. In the second half of June 1977, initiation requests were postponed until Srila Prabhupada’s health was improved. But this in itself doesn’t prove what anti-ritviks claim: that the system of ritvik initiations, formalized later in July 1977, was introduced only because of Srila Prabhupada’s illness and was intended only until physical departure of the acarya. This is not stated in the above letter.
2. This evidence is not signed by Srila Prabhupada, and it is not an audio recording. Where is the tape of the conversation? Why was it among the many audio recordings from 1977 that disappeared under Tamal’s care? This means Tamal could have incorrectly reported what was actually said in June since he is proven mastermind of the coup that was already secretly being prepared by him and carried out at that time- in summer of 1977. He may have distorted or omitted important aspects mentioned by Srila Prabhupada. Thus, at present moment, this document is just a third hands retelling (Srila Prabhupada-Tamal-Ramesvara) not confirmed by Srila Prabhupada’s recorded words or signature.
3. This message from Tamal to Ramesvara doesn’t look to fit in with the conversation on July 7th 1977, when Tamal said that “we” do not want Srila Prabhupada to get the burden of karma of new disciples during illness, but Srila Prabhupada replied “no”, rejecting the idea that initiations should not be conducted because of his health. Srila Prabhupada said to resume initiations, and to send new letters with requests for initiations to the nearest “senior sannyasi”/ritvik, 9 of whom he named during this July 7th conversation. Srila Prabhupada didn’t emphasize anywhere that all this was introduced only for the period of illness of his body. For some reason, there is no reference or hint in July 7th conversation to the decision allegedly made in June. But even if the document quoted above correctly stated Srila Prabhupada’s instructions, then in this case it was a temporary solution “until further notice”, and later, in July 1977, this decision was changed.
4. What exact participation on the part of Srila Prabhupada was meant in June 20th newsletter? If it was meant his personal physical involvement in initiation procedures, it was postponed but then solved by the ritvik system: his personal participation was difficult or impossible at that time, but his remaining the spiritual master who delivers transcendental knowledge, taking spiritual charge of the disciple up to his/her spiritual liberation cannot be checked by physical difficulties, and his representatives would continue doing the formal part of initiations on behalf of Srila Prabhupada. This arrangement, unlike Srila Prabhupada’s personal participation in yajna, etc., was possible regardless Srila Prabhupada’s health condition. Why could it continue until Srila Prabhupada physical departure only if all the physical ceremonial aspects of initiation were anyway devolved to ritviks?
5. In the beginning of the July 9th 1977, directive that officially introduced the ritvik initiation system in ISKCON there is reference to GBC meeting at Vrindavana when during May 28th, 1977, conversation GBC members asked Srila Prabhupada questions about initiations after his physical departure. His Divine Grace replied he would appoint ritviks. The July 9th directive also gives information from July 7th, 1977, discussion (9 of the first 11 ritviks were named on July 7). It is also based on other instructions from Srila Prabhupada (names of 2 ritviks not mentioned on July 7, and probably conversations held before May 28, 1977, about ritviks, etc.).
However, on the July 9th directive and private letters written by Tamal (as Srila Prabhupada’s secretary) during the same period to some ritviks (Kirtanananda, Hamsaduta, Harikesa), absolutely nothing is said that this system is being introduced for reasons related to Srila Prabhupada’s health and only for the period until his physical departure. In these letters, Tamal wrote vaguely “henceforward”, “in the future”, trying to avoid any direct mention that this system is being introduced “particularly” for the period when Srila Prabhupada is “no longer with us” (as per May 28th 1977, conversation). However, Srila Prabhupada’s Final Will confirms that in the future, all executive directors of all ISKCON properties, even their “successors”, must be “my initiated disciple[s]” (which is possible only if the ritvik initiations on behalf of Srila Prabhupada are to be maintained), and no successor gurus are appointed in the Will.
6. There are a number of testimonies that confirm that Srila Prabhupada ordered ritvik-representational system of initiations for the period of his departure.
Gauridas Pandit Das, one of Srila Prabhupada’s personal servants in 1977: “The next few days after the ritvic appointments I heard more instructions from Srila Prabhupada. Tamal K.G. asked him the next morning, July 8th, if there should be vyasasana’s for the ritviks in the temples. Srila Prabhupada said, “No; that would create enmity among my disciples.” […] Tamal K.G. also asked Srila Prabhupada if there could be more ritviks in the future. Srila Prabhupada said that more could be appointed by the GBC at Mayapura. Tamal K.G. asked Srila Prabhupada what to do if a ritvik falls down and Srila Prabhupada replied that the GBC could remove them. […] I told some of the devotees what I heard about this and Yasodanandan wrote it down in his diary.
On July 8th Yasodanandan Prabhu wrote, “Tamal Krishna Maharaja was talking about [with Prabhupada] rtvik gurus to initiate on behalf of Prabhupada after he leaves the planet.” On July 9th Yasodanandan wrote, “I heard from Tamal Krishna Maharaja in the afternoon that Srila Prabhupada had told him to send a letter to ‘all the temples’ to explain the ritvik initiation system for the future.”
On July 10th Yasodanandan wrote, “Tamal Krishna Maharaja comes out of Prabhupada’s room.
TKG: “Haribol, Yasoda, did you see this?”
Yasoda: “No, what is it?”
TKG: “This is signed by Prabhupada.”
Yasoda: “What does all this mean?”
TKG: “Devotees have been writing to Prabhupada asking for initiations and now Prabhupada has named eleven ritviks who can initiate on his behalf. Prabhupada said others can be added.”
Yasodanandan: “And when Prabhupada departs?”
TKG: “They’ll be ritviks. That’s what Prabhupada said. It’s all on tape.”
(R.C.5-28-77 & 7-7-77etc.)” (On My Behalf, by Gauridasa Pandita Dasa, 01/19/98, VNN)
According to the testimony of Cyavana Swami Srila Prabhupada said, “I will continue to accept disciples and give them my blessings even after I am no longer physically present, you may initiate them on my behalf”. To that he added, “I will have millions of disciples”… (Posted by HH Cyavana Swami on his Facebooks page on September 7, 2016)
Pita das recollected in 1998, “The fact of the matter was Srila Prabhupada made himself very clear on how new devotees coming into his movement were to be accepted into it after his disappearance. The word ritvik was first heard by me from Srila Prabhupada’s Lotus mouth and His Divine Grace used the term many times during his last two weeks in Vrindaban. I remember this clearly because I didn’t know what a ritvik was.” (from ‘Srila Prabhupada Coined the Term Ritvik’, December 1, 1998, VNN).
Locanananda das: “One other thing he [Pita das] mentioned in the same letter [to Locanananda] was that he heard Srila Prabhupada say at least a dozen times in Vrndavana in 1977 that initiations would be performed after his departure by the ‘ritvik acharya'”. (‘Srila Prabhupada Hidden Glories’, book 1, chapter 63, pg. 343)
7. Of course, Srila Prabhupada’s severe health crisis in May 1977 incited formalizing the ritvik-representative system for the future, but not just until his physical departure, like anti-ritviks claim. It was Srila Prabhupada’s divine arrangement for the future of his movement, especially after his disappearance. Proxy initiation system had already been de facto practiced in ISKCON throughout the world during 1970s since it wasn’t possible for Srila Prabhupada to examine and personally initiate all the ever-growing number of disciples in each temple, and this factor alone could have caused finalizing the ritvik system in some time even if Srila Prabhupada wouldn’t get ill. Srila Prabhupada wrote in 1973:
“Just now I have received some more requests for giving first initiation from Dhananjaya, and now I am receiving weekly not less than ten to fifteen such requests from new students. So, it is becoming very expensive to send so many sets of beads such long distance, and it has become little bothersome for me also, so I think now you may be appointed by me to give first initiations to new disciples by chanting on their beads on my behalf. In America Kirtanananda Swami is going that. So now if there are two of you that will give me great relief. Kirtanananda will chant on the beads for new devotees in America, Canada, like that, you can chant on the beads for the European continent new disciples. They shall, of course, still be considered as my disciples, not that they shall become your disciples, but you will be empowered by me to chant their beads and that is the same effect of binding master and disciple as if I were personally chanting. They may continue to send me their letters of request, along the President’s recommendation, and I shall give them name and it will be entered by my Secretary in our records, only I will send my letter of reply to you and you will purchase beads there and chant them and send, along with my letter to the new initiates. Is that all right? I shall continue to deal with the matter of second initiations. The sacred threads do not require so much postage to send airmail.” (SP Letter to: Revatinandana — Bombay 4 January 1973)
So, at some point, due to even more increased number of temples and disciples, the second initiation and other remaining aspects of initiation procedure would take too much time as well, even if Srila Prabhupada would remain perfectly healthy. So, Srila Prabhupada made arrangements to remain the current spiritual master for his worldwide movement, not necessarily due to illness alone.
8. Thus, neither the above quoted message in the BBT newsletter, nor the subsequent conversation dated July 7th, 1977, nor the July 9th, 1977 directive, nor the Will of June 4th, 1977, nor personal letters to first ritviks, etc. – nowhere does actual evidence prove what anti-ritviks claim: that the representative initiation system was introduced only for the period of Srila Prabhupada’s illness. Srila Prabhupada himself does not state this anywhere. Why do anti-ritviks insist on something they have no solid evidence of? Is this a serious approach? No, this is just their interpretation based on their unwillingness to understand and follow the real instructions of Srila Prabhupada.
In conclusion: Srila Prabhupada established the ritvik initiation system for the future, particularly when he is no longer with us. But some individuals don’t want to accept the acarya’s order. So, what they are left with? With the argument, “Yes, he set this system, but only temporary, until his physical departure”. And why temporary, until the departure, when the actual orders don’t state this at all, but indicate the future after the departure as well? So, they can only indulge in wishful thinking, “Oh, until departure because he was ill”. And then continue to state this dogmatic opinion countless times, as if it in itself constitutes a proof. How can one terminate the acarya’s order on such a shaky basis and then introduce a completely different system of new diksa gurus whom Srila Prabhupada never authorized in this capacity and never gave descriptions of the new multiple guru system in ISKCON?
So, this anti-ritvik argument is a speculation and myth, because Srila Prabhupada never stated anywhere in the recorded evidence that representational initiation system is introduced only due to his illness and only until his physical departure. Sincere devotees should be careful not to blindly accept and then not to repeat this bogus argument introduced by some deviated persons.
Truth: Srila Prabhupada didn’t sanction this, and it’s he who is the current acarya.
By Bhakta Alex (Russia).
One teacher of maya-ISKCON’s Mayapur Institute wrote against Srila Prabhupada’s ritvik system, “If I was to be given a choice to get diksa from a guru not present on the planet, then I would probably accept Srila Rupa Gosvami”. Another person wrote: “Then what is the difficulty to accept initiation directly from Caitanya Mahaprabhu? Or from Brahma, Narada? What is the hindrance?” There are many similar statements from those who don’t accept Srila Prabhupada’s instructions regarding initiations in ISKCON. But this argument can easily be defeated as follows:
1. Although it’s potentially possible to get darsana (spiritual audience) of any previous acarya, as they are eternal souls, still there is a general rule: one must take initiation from the spiritual master who is current link of bona fide Vaisnava guru parampara (disciplic succession of spiritual masters). Srila Prabhupada, not any previous acarya, is the current bona fide link after Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati in the Brahma-Madhva-Gaudiya sampradaya. And Srila Prabhupada didn’t authorize any guru successor(s) but said that he would continue as ISKCON’s initiating guru and the formal part of initiations would be assisted by ritvik representatives. Some quotes:
“As already stated, Brahmā is the original spiritual master for the universe, and since he was initiated by the Lord Himself, the message of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is coming down by disciplic succession, and in order to receive the real message of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam one should approach the current link, or spiritual master, in the chain of disciplic succession. After being initiated by the proper spiritual master in that chain of succession, one should engage himself in the discharge of tapasya in the execution of devotional service. One should not, however, think himself on the level of Brahmā to be initiated directly by the Lord…” (Srimad-Bhagvatam 2.9.7, purport)
“So, if you want to understand Bhagavad-gītā, then we must understand in the same way as the person who directly heard from. This is called paramparā system. Suppose I have heard something from my spiritual master, so I speak to you the same thing. So, this is paramparā system. You cannot imagine what my spiritual master said. Or even if you read some books, you cannot understand unless you understand it from me. This is called paramparā system. You cannot jump over to the superior guru, neglecting the next ācārya, immediate next ācārya.” (Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.15.30 — Los Angeles, December 8, 1973)
“Lord Brahmā is the guru of Nārada Muni, who is the guru of Vyāsadeva, and Vyāsadeva is the guru of Madhvācārya. Thus, the Gauḍīya-Mādhva-sampradāya is in the disciplic succession from Nārada Muni. […] The immediate spiritual master is the representative of Nārada Muni; there is no difference between the instructions of Nārada Muni and those of the present spiritual master. Both Nārada Muni and the present spiritual master speak the same teachings of Kṛṣṇa” (Srimad-bhagvatam 6.5.22, purport)
Prabhupāda: …Then he knows that Vāsudeva, Kṛṣṇa, is the original (indistinct). It is a question of knowing, and knowing through the direct current via media-guru. Otherwise, he remains in darkness. (Discussions with Syamasundara Dasa: Bertrand Russell)
“You have rightly observed that I am simply trying to execute the order of my Spiritual Master. Whatever is being done it is not on account of my intelligence or endeavor because I am simply an instrument in the hands of my Spiritual Master. I do not know how far I have got the capacity to carry His order, but I may say that I have a sincere desire to do it. This is Parampara system. If a student tries to satisfy his immediate Acarya or the Spiritual Master, that is the only qualification for advancing in Krsna consciousness.” (SP Letter to: Paramananda — Los Angeles 17th June 1970)
2. So, one who studies Srila Prabhupada’s instructions gets clear understanding that one should accept immediate, current link of sampradaya, not that we should accept directly Krsna, Brahma, Narada, Caitanya, Rupa, etc. as our diksa guru. Not that it is the custom to accept some past acarya, let’s says third link previous to current link. Everyone is encouraged to accept the current acarya of parampara. And that current acarya in our lineage is Srila Prabhupada himself since he proved to be real acarya and confirmed that he is current, present link of sampradaya and didn’t appoint any successor or established any system of future diksa gurus in ISKCON but instead ordered ritvik-representatives system to continue for the future, even “when he is no longer with us”.
“Krsna Consciousness Handbook” (ISKCON Press, 1970), approved by Srila Prabhupada, explains the position of His Divine Grace, “Present acarya of Krsna consciousness and founder of ISKCON”. There are many similar statements in original ISKCON literature that Srila Prabhupada is the current spiritual master (and zero mentions of any other acaryas of ISKCON, present or future).
Srila Prabhupada himself said that he is “the Acharya of the present Gaudiya Sampradaya” after Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur (room conversation, January 19th 1976, Mayapur). And Srila Prabhupada didn’t cancel this position in his last directives, letters, conversations or purports to Srimad Bhagavatam, even when he was asked by reporters in 1975-76 if he is going to appoint a successor. E.g.:
Prabhupāda: After one month I will be eighty.
Reporter (1): Eighty?
Prabhupāda: Eighty years old.
Reporter (2): What will happen…
Prabhupāda: I was born in 1896, now you can calculate.
Reporter (2): What will happen to the movement in the United States when you die?
Prabhupāda: I will never die.
Devotees: Jaya! Hari bol! (laughter)
Prabhupāda: I shall live for my books, and you will utilize.
Reporter (2): Are you training a successor?
Prabhupāda: Yes, my Guru Mahārāja is there. Where is my photo of Guru Mahārāja? I think… Here is. (Press Conference — July 16th 1975, San Francisco)
Interviewer: What happens when that inevitable time comes when a successor is needed?
Rāmeśvara: He is asking about the future, who will guide the movement in the future.
Prabhupāda: They will guide. I am training them.
Interviewer: Will there be one spiritual leader, though?
Prabhupāda: NO, I AM TRAINING GBC, eighteen all over the world.
Rāmeśvara: His personal secretaries.
Interviewer: I see.
Rāmeśvara: To see that the original teachings that Prabhupāda has given are not in any way changed.
Interviewer: Well, nothing more? Then ah, thank you, and I wish you well in your travels. (Magazine Interview — June 10th 1976, Los Angeles)
Guest (2): What do you see as the future of your movement and are you planning to…
Prabhupāda: My movement is genuine.
Guest (2): …to choose a successor.
Prabhupāda: It is already successful. Genuine thing is always success. Gold is gold. If somebody is fortunate, he can purchase gold, but gold remains gold. If somebody purchases and somebody does not, it doesn’t matter. Gold is gold. So future, gold future is always the same as it is at present—if it is gold. If it is something glittering, that is another thing.
Guest (4): But there must be somebody, you know, needed to handle the thing.
Prabhupāda: Yes, that we are creating. We are creating these devotees who will handle.
Hanumān: One thing he’s saying, this gentleman, and I would like to know, is your successor named or your successor will…
Prabhupāda: My success is always there. Yes. Just like the sun is there always. It may come before your vision or not. The sun is there. But if you are fortunate, you come before the sun. Otherwise you remain in darkness. (Room Conversation with Sanskrit Professor, other Guests and Disciples — February 12th, 1975, Mexico)
In his article “SOME OBSERVANCES ON THE LATTER-DAY GURUS A Rational and Ethical View of Guru Since Prabhupada’s Departure” Rohini Kumar Swami wrote:
“At our center at 26th Second Ave., Srila Prabhupada, when asked who would be the next acarya after him stated, “There will not be any more acaryas.”
This article was written in 1985 and included as Appendix 8 of Sulocana Dasa’s book “The Guru Business” (1986), and in that book Sulocana mentions that this conversation, according to Rohini Kumar Swami, occurred in 1968 in New York.
Another disciple of Srila Prabhupada, Pradyumna Dasa, wrote in his letter to GBC chairman Satsvarupa das Gosvami dated August 7th 1978:
“At the time of Srila Prabhupada’s disappearance, it was most clearly understood by all of us present that Srila Prabhupada had made no successor. Everyone admitted that fact and understood it clearly. Instead, the GBC was to jointly manage all affairs of ISKCON just as had been the case previously”.
According to the testimony of Cyavana Swami Srila Prabhupada said, “I will continue to accept disciples and give them my blessings even after I am no longer physically present, you may initiate them on my behalf”. To that he added, “I will have millions of disciples”… (Posted by HH Cyavana Swami on his Facebooks page on September 7th 2016).
There are other similar testimonies consistent with documented evidence. On May 28th 1977, Srila Prabhupada said to GBC delegation that in the future particularly when he is “no longer with us”, he would appoint “ritviks” and confirmed that future disciples would be his disciples. That was further confirmed in the July 9th 1977 letter to all GBCs and Temple Presidents (the final directive on future initiations in ISKCON), “The newly initiated devotees are disciples of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, the above eleven senior devotees acting as His representative.”
Disciples of Srila Prabhupada’s disciples would be possible if he would have ordered them so (it was mentioned by Srila Prabhupada on April 22nd, 1977, May 28th, 1977, etc.) But there was no such order although on October 2nd 1977, Srila Prabhupada said that he had given everything in writing: “I have given in writing everything, whatever you wanted—my will, my executive(?) power, everything.” Srila Prabhupada’s final will also doesn’t mention any future spiritual successors but confirms that even successors to ISKCON property trustees/executive directors must be “my initiated disciple” and that the system of management shouldn’t change, and the GBC will be managerial authority.
There are numerous evidences both documented and testimonial that Srila Prabhupada clearly wanted to remain the initiating guru for his movement even after his physical departure, and ceremonial aspect of initiation should be conducted by temple presidents and official ritviks (to be “added as necessary”, according to TKG Confession, December 3rd 1980, citing Srila Prabhupada’s instruction). History and evidence show that Srila Prabhupada didn’t authorize neither zonal acarya system, nor voting in many diksa gurus by GBC managers and regional bodies, nor that we should wait for any self-effulgent successor acarya to be emerged in ISKCON any time soon. Srila Prabhupada didn’t give any details of the current multiple diksa guru system in maya-ISKCON.
Therefore, His Divine Grace is still the current immediate acarya for his movement, and so called “ISKCON gurus” or other self-made diksa gurus are not real links, they have no solid standing as current spiritual masters, representatives of God Himself. No proof of their legitimacy and lots of proofs they are bogus. Then how can one call those non-liberated, non-authorized “gurus” with innumerous deviations, failures and crimes, as proved by history, as current links of Brahma Madhva Gaudiya sampradaya? It’s not honest and rational. So sastra, previous acaryas and Srila Prabhupada advice to avoid and reject bogus gurus.
Prabhupada: You have to follow the paramparā system, order. That is guru. Not that I declare myself as guru. No. That is not guru. […] Ār nā koriho mane āśā. Simply whatever you hear from the guru, try to execute it. Ār nā koriho mane āśā. Do not expect anything more. So, whatever we are chanting, we are reading, we must realize that. The Gauḍīya Maṭha institution became a failure on account of disobedience and not following the orders. Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura’s statement about the verse vyavasāyātmikā buddhir—find out this verse from the Bhagavad-gītā. The Caitanya-caritāmṛta statement, āmāra: one can become guru by the superior order. (Room conversation, May 30th 1976, Honolulu)
3. Neither Srila Prabhupada, nor any previous acarya gave any order to conduct initiations within ISKCON or among followers of Srila Prabhupada on behalf of previous links of parampara. For example, Srila Rupa Gosvami was never founder and/or current initiating guru in ISKCON, and he didn’t give permission to Srila Prabhupada’s followers to take shelter of him (Rupa Gosvami) as diksa disciples. Then how can one so liberally equate previous acaryas with Srila Prabhupada in this sense?
“There is no record anywhere of Srila Prabhupada ever giving an order to go and take initiation from Rupa Goswami.” (Yasoda nandana das, 30th October 2023)
4. Srila Prabhupada, the founder and spiritual master of ISKCON and current link of the sampradaya, did gave clear orders that he himself would remain initiating spiritual master for his ISKCON movement. And we should “simply try to execute the order” of His Divine Grace. This is plain and simple for any honest person. That’s the main point – Srila Prabhupada gave orders for ritvik initiations system to be followed in the future and that new followers of ISKCON should become his initiated disciples even when he would no longer be with us. Not that his manifested body is not present anymore, and thus someone just whimsically decided to approach Srila Prabhupada who has supposedly become a previous acarya, while acknowledging that there are some other current acaryas/diksa gurus in ISKCON. Anti-ritviks just make thoughtless/unfair mish-mash and try to present that this is the ridiculous position of Prabhupadanugas, while it is their argument that is actually off point.
In conclusion: Srila Prabhupada’s followers should become his initiated disciples, as per his orders and his position of current acarya, and not try to “jump over” to previous gurus or to accept pseudo-successors.
Sunday, 11 May 2025 [Mayapura, West Bengal, India Time]
Śrī Narasiṁha Caturdaśī – The Appearance Day of Śrī Narasiṁha dev
—– FASTING TILL Dusk —-
Śrīla Prabhupāda explains Śrī Narasiṁha Līlā:
Following the instructions of Prahlāda Mahārāja, all the sons of the demons became attached to Lord Viṣṇu, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. When this attachment became pronounced, their teachers, Ṣaṇḍa and Amarka, were very much afraid that the boys would become more and more devoted to the Lord. In a helpless condition, they approached Hiraṇyakaśipu and described in detail the effect of Prahlāda’s preaching. After hearing of this, Hiraṇyakaśipu decided to kill his son Prahlāda. Hiraṇyakaśipu was so angry that Prahlāda Mahārāja fell down at his feet and said many things just to pacify him, but he was unsuccessful in satisfying his demoniac father. Hiraṇyakaśipu, as a typical demon, began to advertise himself as being greater than the Supreme Personality of Godhead, but Prahlāda Mahārāja challenged him, saying that Hiraṇyakaśipu was not God, and began to glorify the Supreme Personality of Godhead, declaring that the Lord is all-pervading, that everything is under Him, and that no one is equal to or greater than Him. Thus he requested his father to be submissive to the omnipotent Supreme Lord.
The more Prahlāda Mahārāja glorified the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the more angry and agitated the demon became. Hiraṇyakaśipu asked his Vaiṣṇava son whether his God existed within the columns of the palace, and Prahlāda Mahārāja immediately accepted that since the Lord is present everywhere, He was also present within the columns. When Hiraṇyakaśipu heard this philosophy from his young son, he derided the boy’s statement as just the talk of a child and forcefully struck the pillar with his fist.
As soon as Hiraṇyakaśipu struck the column, there issued forth a tumultuous sound. At first Hiraṇyakaśipu, the King of the demons, could not see anything but the pillar, but to substantiate Prahlāda’s statements, the Lord came out of the pillar in His wonderful incarnation as Narasiṁha, half lion and half man. Hiraṇyakaśipu could immediately understand that the extraordinarily wonderful form of the Lord was surely meant for his death, and thus he prepared to fight with the form of half lion and half man. The Lord performed His pastimes by fighting with the demon for some time, and in the evening, on the border between day and night, the Lord captured the demon, threw him on His lap, and killed him by piercing his abdomen with His nails. The Lord not only killed Hiraṇyakaśipu, the King of the demons, but also killed many of his followers. When there was no one else to fight, the Lord, roaring with anger, sat down on Hiraṇyakaśipu’s throne.
The entire universe was thus relieved of the rule of Hiraṇyakaśipu, and everyone was jubilant in transcendental bliss. Then all the demigods, headed by Lord Brahmā, approached the Lord. These included the great saintly persons, the Pitās, the Siddhas, the Vidyādharas, the Nāgas, the Manus, the prajāpatis, the Gandharvas, the Cāraṇas, the Yakṣas, the Kimpuruṣas, the Vaitālikas, the Kinnaras and also many other varieties of beings in human form. All of them stood not far from the Supreme Personality of Godhead and began offering their prayers unto the Lord, whose spiritual effulgence was brilliant as He sat on the throne.”
— Ref: Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam » Canto 7: The Science of God » CHAPTER EIGHT: Lord Nṛsiṁhadeva Slays the King of the Demons » Summary
Saturday, 10 May 2025 [Māyāpura, West Bengal, India Time]
Disappearance Day of Jayananda Prabhu
Today marks the disappearance day of Jayananda Prabhu. He was such a beautiful devotee, the perfect servant of Srila Prabhupada, and friend to all. His disappearance was glorious as stated in a letter to Ramesvara das shortly after he left his body:
Letter to Ramesvara — New Delhi 11 May, 1977:
“Jayananda’s death is glorious. It is very good that he had stated, what is the use of such a useless body, better to give it up. He has left his body very wonderfully, and he has been transferred to Vaikuntha. I have already sent a condolence letter for publication in Back To Godhead. Everyone should follow the example of Jayananda. I am very proud that I had such a nice disciple. If possible Jayananda’s picture should be hung in the ratha of Lord Jagannatha, and in all of our temples a day may be set aside for holding a festival in his honor, just as we do on the disappearance day of the other great Vaisnava.”
A personal letter by Srila Prabhupada to Jayananda Prabhu
Letter to Jayananda — Mayapur 26 February, 1977:
My dear Jayananda,
Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated February 21st, 1977, and I thank you for the check as well as the nice sentiments you have expressed. In the beginning you also gave me $5,000 and now again you have sent.
This body is today or tomorrow finished. We should not be very much bothered about the body. Trees also live for thousands of years but that does not mean a successful life. A successful life is one of Krishna consciousness. By the grace of Krishna from the very beginning you are a devotee and that is the real profit of your life.
I thank you for your check, but I would prefer that you may require the money for your treatment. So if you like I can return it. But I hear that you have some income. I pray to Krishna for your more advanced Krishna conscious life.tk
About a sadhu it is said, “jiva va mara va,” a sadhu may live or die, it doesn’t matter. While living he is engaged in Krishna Conscious business and when dying he goes back home back to Godhead.
Hoping this finds you improving in your health.
Your ever well-wisher,
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami
ACBS/tkg
Letter to Jayananda — Bombay 5 May, 1977:
My Dear Jayananda,
Please accept my blessings.
I am feeling very intensely your separation. In 1967 you joined me in San Francisco. You were driving my car and chanting Hare Krsna. You were the first man to give me some contribution ($5000) for printing my Bhagavad-gita. After that, you have rendered very favorable service to Krsna in different ways. I so hope at the time of your death you were remembering Krsna and as such, you have been promoted to the eternal association of Krsna. If not, if you had any tinge of material desire, you have gone to the celestial kingdom to live with the demigods for many thousands of years and enjoy the most opulent life of material existence. From there you can promote yourself to the spiritual world. But even if one fails to promote himself to the spiritual world, at that time he comes down again on the surface of this globe and takes birth in a big family like a yogis’ or a brahmanas’ or an aristocratic family, where there is again chance of reviving Krsna Consciousness. But as you were hearing Krsna-kirtana, I am sure that you were directly promoted to Krsna-loka.
janma karma ca me divyam
evam yo vetti tattvatah
tyaktva deham punar janma
naiti man eti so’ rjuna
[Bg. 4.9]
Krsna has done a great favor to you, not to continue your diseased body, and has given you a suitable place for your service.
By Damaghosa dasa, Narasimha dasa and Yasoda nandana dasa
“The real master commands, ‘You must do this,’ and the real servant immediately obeys the order.” (SB 7.10.6)
The greatest danger to our movement will come when we manufacture and create our own process for worshiping the deities
“… I have given you everything already, there is no need for you to add anything or change anything. Why you are asking these things? Who has given you such freedom? Pujari should operate entirely under the supervision of temple president and GBC, not independently. The greatest danger to our movement will come when we manufacture and create our own process for worshiping the deities. So, don’t ask any more new questions, whatever is going on, follow it just to the exact standard as I have given you, that’s all.”
Srila Prabhupada letter, January 4, 1973
We should always be very careful to give full respect to those who have so carefully handled this Divine Fruit of transcendental knowledge before us. Even a slight change will spoil it
“One who understands and appreciates the disciplic succession is certainly advanced, and we should always be very careful to give full respect to those who have so carefully handled this Divine Fruit of transcendental knowledge before us. Even a slight change will spoil it. That is why I have always been so careful to give you only those things which I have heard from my Guru Maharaja.”
Vrndavana, India, August 1967, Letter to: Devotee & Hamsaduta
If one does not chant in the process, then gradually it degrades. The offense will increase.
Rāmeśvara: Just like this Alice Coltrane. She has done her small part. She made this record album with Govinda Jaya Jaya and Hare Kṛṣṇa.
Prabhupāda: That is… That will be a good thing. But when he (she) does it properly it will be more effective, because there is… If one does not chant in the process, then gradually it degrades. The offense will increase. There is chance.
Brahmānanda: We want to bring them to the process.
Prabhupāda: Yes, that is the ultimate. That is stated by Rūpa Gosvāmī,
yena tena prakāreṇa / manaḥ kṛṣṇe niveśayet sarve vidhi-niṣedhā syur / etayor eva kiṅkarāḥ
that “Somehow or other, bring him to chant Kṛṣṇa or to become little Kṛṣṇa conscious. Then, when he’s little purified, then the vidhi-niṣedhāḥ…” He’s not rejecting the vidhi-niṣedhāḥ. Vidhi-niṣedhāḥ means regulative principles. It is not rejected, that… But when he’s a little purified, this vidhi-niṣedhā syur etayor eva kiṅkarāḥ. Just like one… First of all, let him become rich, get some money. And then, when he has got money, he can keep some servant, some assistant, some secretaries, like that. First of all, earn money.
Rāmeśvara: So, one step at a time.
Prabhupāda: Yes. But organized business means there must be so many men, secretary, manager. That is regulated. So, in the beginning, “All right, bring some money somehow. Then I shall…” So, you cannot reject this organization because he’s chanting. Then what is the use of writing so many books, the nāma-aparādha and other discussions, if anyone can chant?
Rāmeśvara: So, it definitely has to lead them to that.
Prabhupāda: Yes. So, we must come to that point. In the beginning you may be very liberal: “All right, chant.” We do like that, and I have done it. There is no regulation. But that does not…, that it should be neglected. He should be given affirmed, “By simply, whimsically chanting this…” No, that is not.
Hari-śauri: Niyamāgraha.
Prabhupāda: Yes. Don’t make it cheap. It has got a science. It has got a form.
Rāmeśvara: I’ve seen in some articles they have written to defend our society from the attack of deprogrammers, sometimes one argument they give is that meditation and chanting are being studied by scientists, and they are finding the effects to be good. Now…
Prabhupāda: Effect will be good. And if we do it properly it will be first class.
Rāmeśvara: Now, these scientists, they are studying Hare Kṛṣṇa meditation, but they’re also studying some other processes which are not authorized. And they are…
Prabhupāda: That is the defect.
Rāmeśvara: And they’re stating that in general, to meditate, to chant mantra, this is good, this is healthy for the mind.
Prabhupāda: That’s all right. The thing is that some way or other, if you are near the fire, you’ll get some heat, but there is a process how to take heat.
Rāmeśvara: Oh, yes.
Prabhupāda: That you cannot reject. “Because I am getting little heat, it is sufficient,” that is sahajiyā.
Srila Prabhupada Māyāpura Room Conversation with Artists and About BTG. February 25, 1977
“Unless one is under the shelter of a realized spiritual master, his understanding of the Supreme is simply foolishness” quote from TLC
Srila Prabhupāda: Unless one is prepared that “I am accepting somebody as my spiritual master. I must accept whatever he says,” if there is any doubt, that “I cannot accept his words verbatim,” then one should not accept him as spiritual master. That is hypocrisy.
Srila Prabhupada Lecture, Los Angeles, California. July 13, 1971
The order of worshiping is first Spiritual Master, and then Lord Caitanya, then Radha Krsna (as in the mantras or Bunde aham prayer) …Your confidence to do whatever you are instructed by the Spiritual Master is very encouraging
Yes, it is nice that you are worshiping Lord Caitanya along with Radha Krsna. That is alright. Lord Caitanya should be placed to the right side of Krsna. There is nothing special for His worship, but you may continue as you are doing now. The order of worshiping is first Spiritual Master, and then Lord Caitanya, then Radha Krsna (as in the mantras or Bunde aham prayer) …Your confidence to do whatever you are instructed by the Spiritual Master is very encouraging. Yes, this is the method of the Vedic injunction, staunch faith in Spiritual Master and Krsna makes one perfect in spiritual understanding.
Srila Prabhupada Letter to Himavati, April 1, 1970
But Kṛṣṇa is so kind that He has appeared in your temple and He is accepting. According to the rules and regulation, if you offer, He will accept.
He is mentioning especially vegetables, grains, fruits. But not that everyone can offer Kṛṣṇa all these things. No. He says yo me bhaktyā prayacchati. He does not accept anything from the hands of a nondevotee. Therefore, the non-initiated student cannot offer Him.
He doesn’t accept. He says especially yo me bhaktyā prayacchati. He must be devotee. … Kṛṣṇa is giving you chance. It is very difficult to approach Kṛṣṇa, but Kṛṣṇa is so kind that He has appeared in your temple and He is accepting. According to the rules and regulation, if you offer, He will accept. This is the process of Deity worship.
Srila Prabhupada Lecture, Los Angeles, California. June 14, 1972
You should know that the value of accepting a bona fide spiritual master is more than we can calculate. It is not a mere formality
I am very glad to hear you are following my instructions by chanting 16 rounds daily. In order to chant offenselessly, so that the chanting will have the greatest effect, one must avoid the four sinful activities. You have asked “How serious would it be for me if I should miss the golden opportunity to become your initiated disciple?” You should know that the value of accepting a bona fide spiritual master is more than we can calculate. It is not a mere formality. Of course everyone is encouraged to chant Hare Krishna, but until one gives up sinful activities and becomes determined to serve Krishna through His representative then the firm fixing up of devotional service will not take hold, and there is every chance that one will fall prey to all sorts of material desires and have to come back again in the next life—and one cannot guarantee that he will be born in the form of life he may desire.
Srila Prabhupada Letter. February 12, 1974
We should not accept food, (only) prasādam. If anyone wants to give us food, then he must arrange for cooking food and offering to the Nārāyaṇa, to the Viṣṇu, Kṛṣṇa. Then we can take
In every house of a brāhmaṇa there was Nārāyaṇa-śilā. Still some rigid brāhmaṇas, they worship. So Caitanya Mahāprabhu even, He did not accept prasādam from a non-Vaiṣṇava brāhmaṇa. He must be brāhmaṇa, at the same time, Vaiṣṇava. Then He would accept. So this regulation we should follow. We should not accept food, (only) prasādam. If anyone wants to give us food, then he must arrange for cooking food and offering to the Nārāyaṇa, to the Viṣṇu, Kṛṣṇa. Then we can take. This is the… Otherwise we… Bhuñjate te aghaṁ pāpā ye pacanty ātmā that is, we are eating sin, That’s all. Therefore, we must suffer. We should be careful. … People who are cooking for eating oneself, that cooking, that eating is simply sinful. Without prasādam, whatever we eat, Bhuñjate te aghaṁ pāpā. This is parātma-niṣṭhā, that we should not accept anything which is not offered to Viṣṇu, or Kṛṣṇa.
Srila Prabhupada Lecture. Calcutta, India. January 26, 1973
“Kṛṣṇa becomes obliged to the loving spirit of the devotee and not exactly to the service rendered. No one can serve Kṛṣṇa completely. He is so complete and self-sufficient that He has no need of any service from the devotee. It is the devotee’s attitude of love and affection for Kṛṣṇa that makes Him obliged.”
(Nectar of Devotion, Chapter 40)
If an avaiṣṇava offers food in the name of mahā-prasāda, it should not be accepted. Such food cannot be prasāda because an avaiṣṇava cannot offer anything to the Lord
The word apavitra anna refers to food that is unacceptable for a Vaiṣṇava. In other words, a Vaiṣṇava cannot accept any food offered by an avaiṣṇava in the name of mahā-prasāda. This should be a principle for all Vaiṣṇavas. When asked, “What is the behavior of a Vaiṣṇava?” Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu replied, “A Vaiṣṇava must avoid the company of an avaiṣṇava [asat].” The word asat refers to an avaiṣṇava, that is, one who is not a Vaiṣṇava.
Asat-saṅga-tyāga,-ei vaiṣṇava-ācāra (Cc. Madhya 22.87). A Vaiṣṇava must be very strict in this respect and should not at all cooperate with an avaiṣṇava. If an avaiṣṇava offers food in the name of mahā-prasāda, it should not be accepted. Such food cannot be prasāda because an avaiṣṇava cannot offer anything to the Lord. Sometimes preachers in the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement have to accept food in a home where the householder is an avaiṣṇava; however, if this food is offered to the Deity, it can be taken. Ordinary food cooked by an avaiṣṇava should not be accepted by a Vaiṣṇava. Even if an avaiṣṇava cooks food without fault, he cannot offer it to Lord Viṣṇu, and it cannot be accepted as mahā-prasāda.
Sri caitanya-caritamrta Madhya-Lila, 9.53–purport
Vidura, a cottage, so He went there. And Vidura being in ecstasy was offering Him some banana. So, he was so overpowered by ecstasy that instead of giving the fruit banana, he was giving the skin, and Kṛṣṇa was eating
You can worship Kṛṣṇa anywhere, but you have to learn how to worship. What is that learning? Bhaktyā, that is the method. Therefore, Kṛṣṇa says patraṁ puṣpaṁ phalaṁ toyaṁ yo me bhaktyāprayacchati [Bg. 9.26]. This patraṁ puṣpam is not important thing. The important thing is bhakti, devotion. That is wanted. Without bhakti, if you offer Kṛṣṇa very big plate, Kṛṣṇa is not hungry to take your food. He’ll not accept it. He’ll not accept anything if you do not offer with your love, bhaktyā, love and serving spirit: “My dear Kṛṣṇa, You are so opulent. I have nothing to offer You because You have got everything. But I have tried to collect the things to my best power, so I am offering You. Kindly take it.” This is mantra. This is mantra.
Don’t require much mantra. That meekness, that humbleness, “Kṛṣṇa, I am most insignificant. I have nothing to give You, …Vidura invited Him, and Kṛṣṇa did not to go Arjuna’s house…, I mean to say, Duryodhana’s house, very palatial building. Vidura, a cottage, so He went there. And Vidura being in ecstasy was offering Him some banana. So, he was so overpowered by ecstasy that instead of giving the fruit banana, he was giving the skin, and Kṛṣṇa was eating. So, when he came to his senses he saw that “I have given only the skin, and Kṛṣṇa is eating.” So, this is bhakti. This is bhakti. Kṛṣṇa wants that. Kṛṣṇa can eat anything, either you give the pulp or skin, He can eat anything because He is all powerful and everything is equal to Him.
Srila Prabhupada Lecture. Los Angeles, California. December 13, 1973
If the spiritual master is not bona fide…
Prabhupāda: Then there is no question of mantra. There is no question of worshiping Deity. These are all bogus things.
Devotee (3): In regard to worshiping arcā-vigraha form, you have explained that if one receives a mantra from a spiritual master who is not bona fide, that mantra has no effect. So, I would like to ask if one is worshiping a Deity and his spiritual master is not bona fide, so that Deity cannot be considered the Supreme Lord?
Srila Prabhupāda: Well, first of all, thing is if the spiritual master is not bona fide, how his mantra can be bona fide? Your statement is contradictory. If you say the spiritual master is not bona fide, then how his mantra becomes bona fide? If he is bona fide, then his mantra is bona fide.
Devotee (3): Then why is he giving instruction to worship the Deity? If the spiritual master is not bona fide, then is the Deity also not bona fide?
Srila Prabhupāda: I do not follow. What does he say?
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: His idea is that if one receives a mantra from a spiritual master, if the spiritual master is not bona fide…
Srila Prabhupāda: Then there is no question of mantra. There is no question of worshiping Deity. These are all bogus things. If you are not… Just like here is a young medical man. If he has not received instruction from a bona fide medical college, so what is the value of his medical, being… That is… What is called? What is the technical name?
Devotee (4): Quack.
Srila Prabhupāda: Quack! (laughter) (pronounces like “quark”)
Devotees: Quack.
Srila Prabhupāda: A quack is not a medical man; however he may show all red bottles, white bottles.
Srila Prabhupada Conversation. Surat, India. December 23, 1970
Dear Balai dasi
My Dear Balai dasi,
Please accept my blessings. Thank you for your letter of Jan. 8, 1968, and I have noted the contents carefully.
Regarding your questions: Yes, leave Krishna’s plate for 15-20 minutes or more, not more than half an hour. After offering the plate, the balance in the pots should be distributed immediately. The plate can remain on the altar while the rest is being distributed.
Any initiated girl can take part in preparation of prasadam, and even a boy who is not initiated cannot take part.
Srila Prabhupada Letter. January 25, 1968
Yes, you may say the prayer to the Spiritual Master 3 times, and also the Namo Brahmanya . . . prayer 3 times, when offering Prasadam. That is very nice to say the mantra 3 times. Also, you may, after offering to the Spiritual Master, offer to Lord Caitanya by saying the prayer, Namo Maha Badanyaya . . . 3 times, and then offer to Krishna thrice.
Letter to Balai San Francisco 22 March, 1968 68-03-22 New York
My Dear Balai dasi,
Please accept my blessings. …
Yes, Sri Tulasi is the eternal consort of Krishna, and the most pure devotee, and therefore, the Tulasi plant is worshiped by Vaisnavas.
Yes, you may say the prayer to the Spiritual Master 3 times, and also the Namo Brahmanya . . . prayer 3 times, when offering Prasadam. That is very nice to say the mantra 3 times. Also, you may, after offering to the Spiritual Master, offer to Lord Caitanya by saying the prayer, Namo Maha Badanyaya . . . 3 times, and then offer to Krishna thrice.
So far the singing of the prayers to the Spiritual Master is concerned, there is no limitation on how many times it is sung. But it should be done three times daily, and morning it is required. Yes, you may say this prayer at noon Prasadam if it is possible, and sing again in the evening. And you may sing other prayers as you learn them also.
Srila Prabhupada Letter to Balai devi dasi. March 22, 1968
Whatever is offered to the Deity actually it goes through the Spiritual Master. The Spiritual Master offers to Lord Caitanya, and Lord Caitanya offers it to Krishna. Then Radha Krishna eats, or Jagannatha eats, then Caitanya Mahaprabhu eats, then the Spiritual Master eats, and it becomes Mahaprasadam.
“Regarding your question about offering Prasadam, whatever is offered to the Deity actually it goes through the Spiritual Master. The Spiritual Master offers to Lord Caitanya, and Lord Caitanya offers it to Krishna. Then Radha Krishna eats, or Jagannatha eats, then Caitanya Mahaprabhu eats, then the Spiritual Master eats, and it becomes Mahaprasadam. So, when you offer something, you think like that and chant the Gayatri mantra, and then everything is complete. At last, ring the bell, take out the plate and wipe the place where the plate was kept.”
Srila Prabhupada Letter. June 16, 1969
The order of worshiping is first Spiritual Master, and then Lord Caitanya, then Radha Krsna (as in the mantras or Bunde aham prayer).
Prabhupada’s system for offering arati
Regarding taking Lord Jagannatha to your next center, that will not be very good because you already do not have enough devotees to engage in Arcana. Unless there is a Deity worshipper available, we may worship Panca-tattva and Guru. That can be done by all initiated students whether they are once or twice initiated. Before an altar with pictures of Lord Caitanya, Pancatattva and Acaryas, everyone can offer Aratrik and Bhoga.
Yes, it is nice that you are worshiping Lord Caitanya along with Radha Krsna. That is alright. Lord Caitanya should be placed to the right side of Krsna. There is nothing special for His worship, but you may continue as you are doing now. The order of worshiping is first Spiritual Master, and then Lord Caitanya, then Radha Krsna (as in the mantras or Bunde aham prayer). Your confidence to do whatever you are instructed by the Spiritual Master is very encouraging. Yes, this is the method of the Vedic injunction, staunch faith in Spiritual Master and Krsna makes one perfect in spiritual understanding.
Srila Prabhupada Letter. April 1, 1970
Therefore, our first duty is to worship Caitanya Mahaprabhu. We keep the Deity. In the first we offer our obeisances to Caitanya Mahaprabhu along with His associate, and then, Guru-Gauranga, then we offer Radha-Krishna or Jagannatha.
Srila Prabhupada Lecture [Sb. 6.1.10], Los Angeles, California. June 23, 1975
Regarding the means of worship, our Vaisnava process is first offer respects to the Spiritual Master, then Lord Caitanya, and then Lord Krsna
So Krsna when He is with His brother and sister, He is Jagannatha, and when He is with His village girl-friends that is Radha-Krsna with Gopis. So, whomever you worship, it is the same, but if you like to worship Jagannanth you can continue it and it is as good as worshiping Radha-Krsna. Krsna has so many forms, and which ever form you worship it is all the same, but you should worship that form which you like most.
Regarding the means of worship, our Vaisnava process is first offer respects to the Spiritual Master, then Lord Caitanya, and then Lord Krsna. Vyasa is the Spiritual Master, therefore the Spiritual Master is the representative of Vyasa. Therefore, the Spiritual Master’s seat is called “Vyasasana.”
Srila Prabhupada Letter May 15, 1970
Actually, one has to offer the plate to his guru, and he’ll offer his guru, he offers his guru, his guru. In this way it will go to Krsna. That is the process
Srila Prabhupada: Not a special plate. The process is that whatever we offer to the deity, that is offered to guru. And guru offers to his guru. In this way, goes to Krsna. We don’t directly offer to Radha Krsna. No. We have no right. Neither he accepts in that way.
The pictures of the acaryas, why there are? Actually, one has to offer the plate to his guru, and he’ll offer his guru, he offers his guru, his guru. In this way it will go to Krsna. That is the process. You cannot directly approach Krsna or other subordinates to Krsna. That is not possible.
Srila Prabhupada Lecture. Gorakhpur, India. February 15, 1971
The process is that everything is offered to the Spiritual Master, and the Spiritual Master is supposed to offer the same foodstuff to the Lord. When a thing is offered to the Spiritual Master, he immediately offers to the Lord. That is the system
Regarding your 2 questions: For offering prasadam simply prayers to the Spiritual Master is sufficient. The process is that everything is offered to the Spiritual Master, and the Spiritual Master is supposed to offer the same foodstuff to the Lord. When a thing is offered to the Spiritual Master, he immediately offers to the Lord. That is the system, and as we come by parampara system, it is our duty to go through the right channel—namely, first the Spiritual Master, then Lord Caitanya, and then Krishna. So, when we chant prayers, we do this, Bande ham Sri Guru . . . and gradually to the Goswamis, then to Lord Caitanya, and then to Radha Krishna. That is the praying system. But offering the prasadam to present everything before the Spiritual Master whose picture is also in the altar, means that the Spiritual Master will take care of offering the foodstuff to the Lord. Therefore, simply by chanting the prayer to the Spiritual Master, everything will be complete.
Srila Prabhupada Letter. May 28, 1968
Therefore, we should worship Radharani first. That is our business. Instead of offering directly one flower to Krsna, you just put it in the hands of Radharani
… please Radharani…” Radharani is presented, the original pleasure potency, always absorbed in thought of Krsna. So, anyone who comes before Radharani to serve Krsna, oh, She becomes so pleased, “Oh, here is a devotee of Krsna.” She immediately recommends, “Krsna, oh, here is a devotee. He is better than Me.” This is Radharani. I may be a, not devotee. I may be most fallen rascal. But if I try to reach Krsna through Radharani, then my business is successful. Therefore, we should worship Radharani first. That is our business. Instead of offering directly one flower to Krsna, you just put it in the hands of Radharani: “My mother Radharani, Jagan-mata, if you kindly take this flower and offer it to Krsna.” “Oh,” Radharani says, “Oh, you have brought a flower?” Krsna said, patram puspam phalam toyam yo m ebhaktya prayacchati, but don’t offer Krsna directly. Just offer through Radharani. It will be very much appreciated by Radharani.
Srila Prabhupada Lecture, London, England. September 5, 1973
The process is that whatever we offer to the deity, that is offered to guru. And guru offers to his guru. In this way, goes to Krishna. We don’t directly offer Radha Krsna. No. We have no right. Neither He accepts in that way. The pictures of the acaryas, why there are.
Tamala Krishna: Then we serve prasadam. And how many men would you say we should prepare for? One hundred?
Prabhupada: That you make arrangement. You know how many people are coming. Why you are asking me?
Tamala Krishna: So ordinary prasadam at noontime and feasting prasadam…
Prabhupada: Feasting means puri and halava and a vegetable and a chutney. That’s all. Four things. Make simple.
Tamala Krishna: And Prabhupada? Do you want us to offer feast to your Guru Maharaja at noontime? A special plate of feast?
Prabhupada: Not a special plate. The process is that whatever we offer to the deity, that is offered to guru. And guru offers to his guru. In this way, goes to Krishna. We don’t directly offer Radha Krsna. No. We have no right. Neither He accepts in that way. The pictures of the acaryas, why there are.
Actually, one has to offer the plate to his guru, and he’ll offer his guru, he offers his guru, his guru. In this way it will go to Krishna. That is the process. You cannot directly approach Krishna or other subordinates to Krishna. That is not possible.
Tamala Krishna: So, may we offer you a special feasting?
Prabhupada: As you do, that is all right. The process is this. Not you or you. That is the process. Then, all right
Srila Prabhupada lecture. Gorakhpur, India. February 15, 1971
We begin from our first disciplic succession
We begin from our first disciplic succession. Vande ‘ham sri-guroh sri-yuta-pada-kamalam sri-gurun vaishnavamsh cha. Vande ‘ham sri-guroh sri-yuta-pada-kamalam. “I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of my guru, spiritual master.” Vande ‘ham sri-guroh sri-yuta-pada-kamalam sri-gurun vaishnavamsh cha. And then, his guru, his guru, his guru, they’re all Vaishnavas. Vande ‘ham sri-guroh sri-yuta-pada-kamalam sri-gurun vaishnavamsh cha. Sri-rupam. Then we offer respect to Sri Rupa Gosvami. Rupa Gosvami. Vande rupa-sanatanau raghu-yugau sri-jiva-gopalakau. All the Gosvamis, six Gosvamins. Vande rupa-sanatana… Sagraja. Sa agraja. Agraja means elder brother. Sanatana Gosvami was the elder brother of Rupa Gosvami, and Rupa Gosvami accepted him as his spiritual master. Sri-rupam sagrajatam saha-gana-raghunathanvitam. Associated by Raghunatha. There are two Raghunathas: Raghunatha dasa Gosvami and Raghunatha Bhatta Gosvami. Sa-jivam, with Jiva Gosvami. This is the process. Vande ‘ham sri-guroh sri-yuta-pada-kamalam sri-gurun vaishnavamsh cha sri-rupam sagrajatam saha-gana-raghunathanvitam tam sa-jivam. Then we go to Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s status: sadvaitam savadhutam. That is also…
First of all, Advaita Gosañi, then Nityananda Mahaprabhu, Prabhu. Mahaprabhu is applicable only to Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Others, all prabhus. Ekale ishvara krishna ara saba bhritya [Chaitanya-charitamrita Adi 5..142]. Krishna, and He has got innumerable servants. Krishna is Mahaprabhu, and all others, they are prabhus. And the spiritual master who has got many prabhus to abide by his order, he is addressed as Prabhupada. This is the system. So sadvaitam savadhutam parijana-sahitam krishna-chaitanya-devam. After offering all these obeisances to Gosvamis, to guru, and Advaita, Nityananda, then you come to Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Then Sri Radha. Not Krishna directly. Sri-radha-krishna-padan saha-gana-lalita-sri-vishakhanvitamsh cha. Radha-Krishna means they are always associated by the gopis, of whom Lalita-Vishakha are the chief out of the ashta-sakhis.
Srila Prabhupada lecture, Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.2.2, London, England. August 10, 1971
The Importance of Bhakti in Offering to Krishna
The important thing is bhakti, devotion. That is wanted. Without bhakti, if you offer Kṛṣṇa very big plate, Kṛṣṇa is not hungry to take your food. He’ll not accept it.
This patraṁ puṣpam is not important thing. The important thing is bhakti, devotion. That is wanted. Without bhakti, if you offer Kṛṣṇa very big plate, Kṛṣṇa is not hungry to take your food. He’ll not accept it. He’ll not accept anything if you do not offer with your love, bhaktyā, love and serving spirit: “My dear Kṛṣṇa, you are so opulent. I have nothing to offer You because You have got everything. But I have tried to collect the things to my best power, so I am offering You. Kindly take it.” This is mantra. This is mantra. Don’t require much mantra. That meekness, that humbleness. Srila Prabhupada lecture. December, 13 1973
… You cannot make Kṛṣṇa must. That is not possible. So Kṛṣṇa will see how much you have love for Him. Then He will accept
He is self-satisfied, pūrṇa. But if His devotee offers Him something with love and affection, then He accepts. So, do not think that “We have made such nice, sumptuous plate for Kṛṣṇa. Kṛṣṇa must eat.” No. There is no such thing, “must.” You cannot make Kṛṣṇa must. That is not possible. So Kṛṣṇa will see how much you have love for Him. Then He will accept. Otherwise He’ll reject. Therefore, it is forbidden, those who are nondevotee, those who are not initiated, those who are not chanting regularly, their offering to Kṛṣṇa will not be accepted. We must be very careful. We must know our position, whether I am sincerely following the principles of devotional service. Then Kṛṣṇa will accept. Yo me bhaktyā prayacchati. The real thing is bhakti. So, either you offer Kṛṣṇa prayers or you offer foodstuff, everything must be along with bhakti, devotion, love. Then Kṛṣṇa will accept. Srila Prabhupada Lecture. May 6 1973
By offering our foodstuffs to Krishna with love and devotion, Krishna says he will accept and it becomes spiritually purified because He is the supreme pure. So love and devotion to Krishna is the purifying agent and nullifies all the bad effects of this age of Kali yuga. Simply let us offer to Krishna with love and devotion and chant the Hare Krishna Mantra, and our very existence will become purified. Srila Prabhupada letter. January 28, 1971
And a nondevotee cannot offer anything Kṛṣṇa. Kṛṣṇa is not poor. Kṛṣṇa has not come here, He is very hungry, He has come here to eat your puri and rasagullā. No. (laughter) (laughs) Don’t think like that.
Now, this is the most important work, bhaktyā. Because without bhakti… The real process is bhakti. Bhaktyā mām abhijānāti [Bg. 18.55], Bhagavad-gītā says. Here also, it is said that “Don’t read just like a academic scholar.” No. That will not benefit you. It will benefit you, but it will take long, long time. Because without bhakti, God cannot be captured. Without bhakti, God cannot be captured. Everywhere you will find that. Kṛṣṇa says in the Bhagavad-gītā, yo me bhaktyā prayacchati. Patraṁ puṣpaṁ phalaṁ toyaṁ yo me bhaktyā prayacchati. Patram [Bg. 9.26], a little flower, little leaf. Suppose I am very poor man. I cannot arrange for puri and rasagullā for Kṛṣṇa. Then what my offering will be? No, there is no opportunity for offering Kṛṣṇa? No. Kṛṣṇa says, “You can offer Me a little flower, a little leaf, a little water.” That’s all. Who cannot secure it. Any part of the world, anywhere a person can offer to Kṛṣṇa, “Sir, I have no means. I have secured these things.” Now, Kṛṣṇa says, “Yes, that’s all right.” Patraṁ puṣpaṁ phalaṁ toyaṁ yo me bhaktyā prayacchati [Bg. 9.26]. “This bhakta, one who offers Me in devotion and love.” That is the main ingredient. And a nondevotee cannot offer anything Kṛṣṇa. Kṛṣṇa is not poor. Kṛṣṇa has not come here, He is very hungry, He has come here to eat your puri and rasagullā. No. (laughter) (laughs) Don’t think like that. But Kṛṣṇa is so kind that He has come before you to accept whatever you can offer with devotion. That is the point. Yo me bhaktyā prayacchati, tad aham aśnāmi. “I eat.” Kṛṣṇa says. Kṛṣṇa is a liar? He’s God, He says that “I eat.” You cannot say that Kṛṣṇa does not eat. Kṛṣṇa says “I eat.” Who are you to say that Kṛṣṇa does not eat? Sometimes this atheist class, the rascal class, they say that “You are offering food. Why? Kṛṣṇa is not eating. It is there.” No. Kṛṣṇa eats. But His eating is not like your eating. That is the difference. Pūrṇam, pūrṇasya pūrṇam ādāya pūrṇam evāvaśiṣ… [Īśo Invocation]. He will eat everything and it will keep everything. If I give, I am given a plate, I eat everything, then remains nothing. But when Kṛṣṇa eats, He eats everything and remains everything. Therefore, it is prasādam. Therefore, it is prasādam.
Srila Prabhupada Lecture. Srimad-Bhagavatam [Sb.1.3.29] Los Angeles, California. October 4, 1972
Pure Devotion Required
So, the importance is stressed on the bhakti, the devotion. Krishna does not accept anything unless one is a pure devotee of Krishna
Please accept my best wishes. I am in due receipt of your letter dated nil with enclosed drawings, and I thank you very much. Regarding prasadam, Krishna does not accept any foodstuff offered by a person who is not a devotee. In the Bhagavad-gita it is stated: patram puspam phalam toyam.yo me bhaktya prayacchati (9:26) So the importance is stressed on the bhakti, the devotion. Krishna does not accept anything unless one is a pure devotee of Krishna. How to become a pure devotee of Krishna, you have to chant Hare Krishna and follow the four regulative principles of no meat eating, intoxication, illicit sex, or gambling, and you have to follow a guru who is expert in the science of devotional service. If you are serious about understanding Krishna consciousness, you can live with us for some time in one of our centers with your father’s permission and learn the science and do the needful. Srila Prabhupada Letter. October 14, 1974
Krishna Accepts Through Love
No. There is no such thing, “must.” You cannot make Kṛṣṇa must. That is not possible. So Kṛṣṇa will see how much you have love for Him. Then He will accept
That’s the fact. That is the fact. Kṛṣṇa says in the Bhagavad-gītā: yo me bhaktyā prayacchati. Patraṁ puṣpaṁ phalaṁ toyaṁ yo me bhaktyā prayacchati [Bg. 9.26]. Kṛṣṇa says that “A little flower, little water, little fruit, that’s all, if somebody offers Me with devotion and love, then I eat.” Kṛṣṇa is not hungry. Kṛṣṇa is not hungry. He is self-satisfied, pūrṇa. But if His devotee offers Him something with love and affection, then He accepts. So do not think that “We have made such nice, sumptuous plate for Kṛṣṇa. Kṛṣṇa must eat.” No. There is no such thing, “must.” You cannot make Kṛṣṇa must. That is not possible. So Kṛṣṇa will see how much you have love for Him. Then He will accept. Otherwise He’ll reject. Therefore, it is forbidden, those who are nondevotee, those who are not initiated, those who are not chanting regularly, their offering to Kṛṣṇa will not be accepted. We must be very careful. We must know our position, whether I am sincerely following the principles of devotional service. Then Kṛṣṇa will accept. Yo me bhaktyā prayacchati. The real thing is bhakti. So, either you offer Kṛṣṇa prayers or you offer foodstuff, everything must be along with bhakti, devotion, love. Then Kṛṣṇa will accept.
Srila Prabhupada lectures. Srimad-Bhagavatam [Sb. 1.8.44] Los Angeles, California. May 6, 1973
Preserving the Disciplic Succession
We should always be very careful to give full respect to those who have so carefully handled this Divine Fruit of transcendental knowledge before us. Even a slight change will spoil it
Vrndavana, India August 1967 Letter to: Devotee & Hamsaduta
“One who understands and appreciates the disciplic succession is certainly advanced, and we should always be very careful to give full respect to those who have so carefully handled this Divine Fruit of transcendental knowledge before us. Even a slight change will spoil it. That is why I have always been so careful to give you only those things which I have heard from my Guru Maharaja.”
On Bona Fide Spiritual Master
Well, first of all, thing is if the spiritual master is not bona fide, how his mantra can be bona fide? Your statement is contradictory. If you say the spiritual master is not bona fide, then how his mantra becomes bona fide?
Devotee (3): In regard to worshiping arca-vigraha form, you have explained that if one receives a mantra from a spiritual master who is not bona fide, that mantra has no effect. So, I would like to ask if one is worshiping a Deity and his spiritual master is not bona fide, so that Deity cannot be considered the Supreme Lord?
Prabhupada: Well, first of all, thing is if the spiritual master is not bona fide, how his mantra can be bona fide? Your statement is contradictory. If you say the spiritual master is not bona fide, then how his mantra becomes bona fide? If he is bona fide, then his mantra is bona fide.
Devotee (3): Then why is he giving instruction to worship the Deity? If the spiritual master is not bona fide, then is the Deity also not bona fide?
Prabhupada: I do not follow. What does he say?
Tamala Krsna: His idea is that if one receives a mantra from a spiritual master, if the spiritual master is not bona fide…
Prabhupada: Then there is no question of mantra. There is no question of worshiping Deity. These are all bogus things. If you are not… Just like here is a young medical man. If he has not received instruction from a bona fide medical college, so what is the value of his medical, being… That is… What is called? What is the technical name?
Devotee (4): Quack.
Prabhupada: Quack! (laughter) (pronounces like “quark”) 701223SB.SUR Lectures
The Order of Making Offerings
In a message dated 3/29/2009 2:34:30 A.M. Pacific Daylight Time, jay.greg@gmail.com writes: (Gaura Keshava das)
In ISKCON Srila Prabhupada instituted another order offering the items to the guru first. In this case the item cannot technically be offered afterwards to the Lord having first been enjoyed by the guru. This is technically not correct. Therefore, we must in this case follow sastra and adapt our worship method to the one followed by all Vaisnava sampradayas. The doctrine or principle of worshiping the guru first is correct but the technicality of HOW that is to be done is incorrect……By the way this system is followed in most temples in Europe where I standardized the deity worship in the 1980’s. It is not followed in some temples like LA because some Prabhupada disciples find it difficult to accept and they have no experience of the correct technical details as practiced in India
Note: So, in this letter above to some of us, Gaura Keshava explains why he and others took it upon themselves to change the order of making offerings he admits that Srila Prabhupada himself instituted in his organization. Below is the actual proof of how to make offerings by the organizations actual Acarya himself, Srila Prabhupada!
Madhudvisa dasa’s Response
Madhudvisa dasa says: October 18th, 2011 at 6:00 am (Edit)
Hare Krishna Gaura Kesava Prabhu
You are mistaken Prabhu. I know a great deal about ISKCON history and I know what Srila Prabhupada has taught us about Deity Worship. The changes you have made to the ISKCON Deity Worship system COMPLETELY DESTROY the whole principle Srila Prabhupada teaches us for making offerings to the Deities. This destruction of the Deity Worship system is one of the greatest problems in ISKCON and it is essential that this issue be resolved otherwise we cannot even eat the bhoga that is offered to the Deities in the ISKCON temples in this bogus way you have concocted.
You know Prabhu that Prabhupada teaches us that all offerings are to be made to the spiritual master as it is the position of the spiritual master to accept the offerings from the disciples and in turn he will offer the same to his spiritual master and in this way the offerings go from the disciples to Krishna via the disciplic succession. This is the fundamental principle that ISKCON is built on and you have completely destroyed this fundamental principle in the Deity Worship process.
What makes you think that you are more intelligent than Srila Prabhupada? You have tried to “standardize” the Deity Worship in ISKCON and bring it in line with what they do in the Gaudiya Matha. But Prabhu we are not the Gaudiya Matha, we are Prabhupada’s movement and he has forbidden us from even visiting the Gaudiya Matha temples and from reading their books and has declared that they have disconnected themselves from the disciplic succession and called them ‘asara’, useless, even in writing in his purports to Sri Caitanya Caritamrta… And you have gone to the Gaudiya Matha to learn about Deity Worship and you are so bold as to throw Srila Prabhupada’s Deity Worship system out the window and install the Gaudiya Matha Deity Worship system in ISKCON.
We are servants of Srila Prabhupada and we accept his orders and his instructions on how to worship the Deities. You think you are so intelligent and know so much more than Srila Prabhupada and you think the he gets it completely wrong when he teaches us about Deity Worship so you “fixed it.”
And whoever in ISKCON approved of this is just as much to blame.
You believe that you have the power to directly offer the bhoga to Krishna and Krishna will accept it directly from you and then you will offer that “Krishna prasadam” to Srila Prabhupada. Even though Srila Prabhupada repetitively explains that Krishna does not accept like this. We offer to our spiritual master and he offers through the disciplic succession and then everything goes to Krishna. Not that you can directly offer to Krishna.
You have no idea about the history yourself Prabhu. Prabhupada wanted Pradumnya to make a ‘short cut’ version of Arcana Paddhati before 1977 and a number of letters about this. So, he wanted this book in his physical presence, but a very short-cut version. Somehow it seems Pradyumna did not do it, or at least did not complete it, and the service was later done by Jaya Tirtha and that ‘Arcana Paddhati’ was accepted as the standard deity worship manual in ISKCON from that point on. So, this original ISKCON ‘Arcana Paddhati’ describes the Deity Worship process as Srila Prabhupada teaches it.
You openly admit that your teachings oppose the teachings of Srila Prabhupada. You are effectively claiming that you have corrected Prabhupada’s mistakes and brought the ISKCON Deity Worship System in line with the Gaudiya Matha. In your mind the Gaudiya Matha is right and Prabhupada is wrong. I am also sure that you do not agree with Srila Prabhupada when he says the Gaudiya Matha is disconnected from the parampara and is useless… Srila Prabhupada informs us that the Gaudiya Matha changed Bhaktsiddhanta’s books after his departure and I am sure they also encountered this ‘problem’ with offering bhoga to so many bogus gurus so they changed the Deity Worship system also. You can be sure that what Srila Prabhupada is teaching is bona fide and in line with the actual teachings of Srila Bhaktsiddhanta and what the Gaudiya Math is teaching is not.
You clearly disagree with Srila Prabhupada’s direct instructions in regard to Deity Worship and you have replaced them with something else. This is your ticket to Hell and you will take the other ISKCON devotes with you who follow your bogus Deity Worship instructions.
“The process is that whatever we offer to the Deity, that is offered to guru. And guru offers to his guru. In this way goes to Kṛṣṇa. We don’t directly offer Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa. No. We have no right. Neither He accepts in that way. The pictures of the ācāryas, why there are? Actually, one has to offer the plate to his guru, and he’ll offer his guru, he offers his guru, his guru. In this way it will go to Kṛṣṇa. That is the process. You cannot directly approach Kṛṣṇa or other subordinates to Kṛṣṇa. That is not possible.”
We have to follow the instructions of Srila Prabhupada. You are claiming Prabhupada’s instructions–when it comes to Deity Worship– are wrong. So where does that put you?
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy! Madhudvisa dasa
Prayers for Offering Food to Krishna
Say three times
nama om vishnu-padaya krishna-preshthaya bhu-tale srimate bhaktivedanta-svamin iti namine namas te sarasvate deve gaura-vani-pracarine nirvisesha-sunyavadi-paschatya-desa-tarine
I offer my respectful obeisances unto His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, who is very dear to Lord Krishna, having taken shelter at His lotus feet.
Our respectful obeisances are unto you, O spiritual master, servant of Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Goswami. You are kindly preaching the message of Lord Chaitanyadeva and delivering the Western countries, which are filled with impersonalism and voidism.
Say three times
namo maha-vadanyaya krishna-prema-pradaya te krishnaya krishna-chaitanya namne gaura-tvishe namah
O most munificent incarnation! You are Krishna Himself appearing as Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. You have assumed the golden color of Srimati Radharani, and You are widely distributing pure love of Krishna. We offer our respectful obeisances unto You.
Say three times
namo brahmanya-devaya go-brahmana-hitaya ca jagad-dhitaya krishnaya govindaya namo namah
My Lord, You are the well-wisher of the cows and the brahmanas, and You are the well-wisher of the entire human society and world.
You can also chant the Pancha Tattva and Hare Krsna mantras
krishna bada dayamay, karibare jihva jay, sva-prasadanna dila bhai sei annamrita pao, radha-krishna-guna gao, preme dako chaitanya-nitai
O Lord, this material body is a lump of ignorance, and the senses are a network of paths to death. Somehow, we have fallen into this ocean of material sense enjoyment, and of all the senses the tongue is most voracious and uncontrollable; it is very difficult to conquer the tongue in this world. But You, dear Krishna, are very kind to us and have given us such nice prasadam, just to control the tongue. Now we take this prasadam to our full satisfaction and glorify Their Lordships Sri Sri Radha-Krishna, and in love call for the help of Lord Chaitanya and Lord Nityananda.
The Proper Process for Offering to the Deities
From Krishna.org:
“The process is that whatever we offer to the Deity, that is offered to guru. And guru offers to his guru. In this way goes to Kṛṣṇa. We don’t directly offer Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa. No. We have no right. Neither He accepts in that way. The pictures of the ācāryas, why there are? Actually, one has to offer the plate to his guru, and he’ll offer his guru, he offers his guru, his guru. In this way it will go to Kṛṣṇa. That is the process. You cannot directly approach Kṛṣṇa or other subordinates to Kṛṣṇa. That is not possible.”
This is the system Srila Prabhupada teaches us for offering bhoga to the Deities. We are to first offer it to Srila Prabhupada and he will offer it to his spiritual master and in this way, it will go to Krishna through the disciplic succession. When Srila Prabhupada disappeared ISKCON changed the system and started offering to the new 11 zonal acharyas instead of to Srila Prabhupada. This system was still in place in ISKCON up till the mid 90’s but after so many of the “acharyas” fell down the ISKCON devotees no longer wanted to accept “prasadam” that was offered to ISKCON gurus as it was obvious many were not pure devotees and also the guru of the pujari was not the guru of many of the devotees in the temple and they did not like the idea of accepting prasadam offered to someone else’s guru. So, the GBC came up with a new system for offering prasadam to the Deities. And this new system is described in this book on page 30 which reads:
“Note: It should be understood that by the mercy of the spiritual master, Srila Prabhupada, we are able to engage in the service of the Lord in His arch-vigraha, like offering bhoga and therefore we ask his permission first in order to be able to serve. Then at the end, after the offering, we meditate that Srila Prabhupada and your spiritual master, where appropriate, are taking taking the remnants both in Krishna-lila and Gaura-lila after all the associates have taken.”
This is unfortunately completely bogus, a complete concoction. Srila Prabhupada warned us in a 1973 letter to Dhruvananda:
“The greatest danger to our movement will come when we manufacture and create our own process for worshiping the deities. So, don’t ask any more new questions, whatever is going on, follow it just to the exact standard as I have given you, that’s all.”
The most essential part of worshiping the Deities is the process of making offerings to Them and unfortunately this change by ISKCON turns the whole Deity Worship process Srila Prabhupada gave us on its head. It is very unlikely that the bhoga is being accepted by the Deities when offered in this concocted way.
So please replace the last paragraph on page 30 of the Deity Worship Manual with:
“The process is that whatever we offer to the Deity, that is offered to guru. And guru offers to his guru. In this way goes to Kṛṣṇa. We don’t directly offer Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa. No. We have no right. Neither He accepts in that way. The pictures of the ācāryas, why there are? Actually, one has to offer the plate to his guru, and he’ll offer his guru, he offers his guru, his guru. In this way it will go to Kṛṣṇa. That is the process. You cannot directly approach Kṛṣṇa or other subordinates to Kṛṣṇa. That is not possible.” Srila Prabhupada lecture. Gorakhpur, India. February 15, 1971
ISKCON’s System for Offering Aratik
Offering Procedure for arotik
While standing on an asana and ringing a bell, present the incense first to your spiritual master by waving it in three or four graceful circles, and then present it to Srila Prabhupada and Lord Caitanya in the same manner.
Then, with the consciousness that you are offering it on behalf of your spiritual master and with the blessings of Srila Prabhupada and Lord Caitanya, offer it with the full number of circles (listed below) to the main deity.
After offering the incense to the main deity, offer it as prasada to the Lord’s associates in descending order, and to the guru-param-para—senior to junior. This may be done with seven or three circles for each personality, depending on time allowance.
Some Conclusions
So in the two procedures of offering bhoga and Aratik- Iskcon differs (basically) only in the way they offer aratik to the Deities. And as shown above this aratik procedure is incorrect and actually offensive to the guru param para and the Lord Himself.
If you accept their guru system (which we don’t) then that is also incorrect, putting conditioned souls’ pictures on an altar filled with bona fide pure devotees which on that account of both systems of offering bhoga and aratik is wrong in Iskcon. Why they do this?? Who knows why they do what they do anymore. I don’t think even they know anymore there are so many contradictions they come up with.
Here is one answer from Srimad Bhagavatam:
When one deviates from his original consciousness, he loses the capacity to remember his previous position or recognize his present one. When remembrance is lost, all knowledge acquired is based on a false foundation. When this occurs, learned scholars consider that the soul is lost. Srimad-Bhagavatam 4.22.31
Thursday – Mohinī Ekādaśī: This is a special Ekādaśī day. Fasting from grains, cereals, and beans is observed. Observing Ekādaśī is highly recommended by Śrīla Prabhupāda, as it is meant for increasing remembrance of Kṛṣṇa through hearing and chanting.
Friday – Rukmiṇī Dvādaśī: This day marks the appearance of Śrīmatī Rukmiṇī-devī, the principal queen of Lord Kṛṣṇa in Dvārakā. She is the goddess of fortune and the eternal consort of the Supreme Lord. Her marriage with Lord Kṛṣṇa is described in the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (Canto 10, Chapters 52–54).
Saturday – Disappearance Day of Śrīla Jayananda Prabhu: Śrīla Prabhupāda referred to Jayananda Prabhu as a modern-day saint and instructed that his photograph should always be placed on the Ratha-yātrā cart. Śrīla Prabhupāda confirmed that Jayananda Prabhu attained the spiritual world by his sincere service and devotion.
Sunday – Nṛsiṁha Caturdaśī (Appearance Day of Lord Nṛsiṁhadeva): This is the divine appearance day of Lord Nṛsiṁhadeva, the half-man, half-lion incarnation of the Lord, who appeared to protect His devotee Prahlāda Mahārāja and annihilate the demon Hiraṇyakaśipu. Fasting is observed until dusk (sunset), followed by a feast in honor of the Lord’s appearance.
Monday – A Day of Multiple Auspicious Events:
Appearance Day of Śrī Mādhavendra Purī: He is the grand spiritual master of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and the first in our Gauḍīya line to express the mood of divine separation (vipralambha-bhāva), thus introducing the sweetness of madhurya-rasa in the disciplic succession.
Disappearance Day of Śrī Parameśvarī Dāsa Ṭhākura: An intimate associate of Lord Nityānanda and considered the fifth gopāla among the twelve cowherd boys who descended with the Lord. It is said in Caitanya-caritāmṛta (Adi 11.29), “One who remembers the name of Parameśvarī Dāsa will attain love of Kṛṣṇa very easily.”
Appearance Day of Śrī Śrī Rādhā-Ramaṇa Devajī: This is the day when the Deity of Rādhā-Ramaṇa, manifested from a Śālagrāma-śilā by Śrīla Gopāla Bhaṭṭa Gosvāmī, self-manifested in Vṛndāvana. He continues to be worshiped with great devotion to this day.
Appearance Day of Śrīnivāsa Ācārya: A prominent disciple of Śrīla Gopāla Bhaṭṭa Gosvāmī and Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī, he played a vital role in preserving and distributing the Gosvāmīs’ writings. He converted King Vīrabhūma (Bīr Hambir) to Vaiṣṇavism.
Krishna Phula Dolā and Śālila Vihāra: A transcendental summer festival for the pleasure of Śrī Śrī Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa. The Deities are placed on a flower-decorated swing (phula dolā) and taken on a boat ride (śālila vihāra), celebrating Their water pastimes.
Tuesday, 06 May 2025 [Mayapura, West Bengal, India Time]
Appearance Day of Srimati Sītā-devī
Appearance Day of Srimati Jāhnavā-mātā
Disappearance Day of Śrī Madhu Paṇḍita Goswami
1)Appearance Day of Srimati Sītā-devī
“Sītā-devī is the origin of all potencies of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Cit-śakti. Parāsya śaktir vividhaiva śrūyate. The Supreme Personality of Godhead has got many potencies, multipotencies, and one of the potency is hlādinī-śakti, pleasure potency. That pleasure potency is Sītā, Rādhārāṇī, Lakṣmī-devī. This has been described by Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī, rādhā kṛṣṇa-praṇaya-vikṛtir hlādinī-śaktir asmād ekātmānāv api deha-bhedaṁ gatau tau (CC Adi 1.5). These are described, that the Kṛṣṇa’s pleasure potency, Rādhārāṇī, is Kṛṣṇa. But to take pleasure They became two. Ekātmānāv api deha-bhedaṁ gatau tau. They became divided into two: Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa. Again, Śrī Caitanya, prakaṭam. When Kṛṣṇa came as Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, the Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa combined together. Therefore the devotees of Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa or Caitanya Mahāprabhu, they worship śrī-kṛṣṇa-caitanya rādhā-kṛṣṇa nahe anya, they say. This is a fact. So Lord Rāmacandra is also Kṛṣṇa. Sītā-devī is also expansion of Rādhārāṇī. They are the same tattva.”
(Srila Prabhupada Lecture, Vrindavan, October 3, 1976)
“Mother Sītā was very submissive, faithful, shy and chaste, always understanding the attitude of her husband. Thus by her character and her love and service she completely attracted the mind of the Lord.”
(Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 9.10.55 | 1975 Edition)
Srila Prabhupada: “As Lord Rāmacandra is the ideal husband (eka-patnī-vrata), mother Sītā is the ideal wife. Such a combination makes family life very happy. Yad yad ācarati śreṣṭhas tat tad evetaro janaḥ: whatever example a great man sets, common people follow. If the kings, the leaders, and the brāhmaṇas, the teachers, would set forth the examples we receive from Vedic literature, the entire world would be heaven; indeed, there would no longer be hellish conditions within this material world.”
nityānandera—of Lord Nityānanda Prabhu; gaṇa—followers; yata—all; saba—all; vraja-sakhā—residents of Vṛndāvana; śṛṅga—horn; vetra—cane stick; gopa-veśa—dressed like a cowherd boy; śire—on the head; śikhi-pākhā—the plume of a peacock.
TRANSLATION
All the associates of Lord Nityānanda were formerly cowherd boys in Vrajabhūmi. Their symbolic representations were the horns and sticks they carried, their cowherd dress and the peacock plumes on their heads.
PURPORT
Jāhnavā-mātā is also within the list of Lord Nityānanda’s followers. She is described in the Gaura-gaṇoddeśa-dīpikā, verse 66, as Anaṅga-mañjarī of Vṛndāvana. All the devotees who are followers of Jāhnavā-mātā are counted within the list of Śrī Nityānanda Prabhu’s devotees.
“In the Bhakti-ratnākara Chapter Twelfth, it is stated that a few miles from Navadvīpa is a place called Śāligrāma that was the residence of Sūryadāsa Sarakhela. He was employed as a secretary of the Mohammedan government of that time, and thus he amassed a good fortune. Sūryadāsa had four brothers, all of whom were pure Vaiṣṇavas. Vasudhā and Jāhnavā were two daughters of Sūryadāsa Sarakhela.”
Madhu Pandita Goswami, a disciple of Śrī Gadādhara Paṇḍita, established the temple of Śrī Śrī Rādhā-Gopīnatha in Vṛndāvana, India. Before Śrīnivāsa Ācārya, Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura, and Śyāmānanda Prabhu went to bring the books of the Gosvāmīs from Vṛndāvana to Bengal, Madhu Paṇḍita Goswāmī blessed Śrīnivāsa Ācārya by giving him a garland from the Śrī Gopīnatha Deity.
The Gopīnatha Deity was originally installed by Vajranābha, the grandson of Lord Kṛṣṇa, 5,000 years ago. The Deity was rediscovered at Vaṁśī-vaṭa by Paramānanda Bhaṭṭācārya, who then entrusted the Deity to Madhu Paṇḍita. In 1670, the original temple was desecrated by the soldiers of Aurangzeb, and a new temple was subsequently constructed just behind the old one. The original Gopīnatha Deity was sent to Jaipur for safekeeping, where He remains today. The current Deity in the Vṛndāvana temple is a pratibhu-mūrti (replica), which is considered non-different from the original Deity.
We celebrate the disappearance of Srila Jayananda Prabhu, I share this glorification of Jayananda Prabhu. This great devotee is the example of the perfect disciple of Srila Prabhupada. This great devotee will be a great inspiration for future generations of devotees of Srila Prabhupada and Krishna.
Just as I understand, the essence of this great soul is that all he did was for Srila Prabhupada to be happy, and he never did anything that displeased Srila Prabhupada. He was not a politician, I like him, he is my friend, he was humble, tolerant and everyone’s friend, and never criticized anyone.
Srila Prabhupada said that I am very proud to have had a disciple as good as Jayananda prabhu, everyone should follow his example. This great devotee enjoyed serving Srila Prabhupada and Krishna and the whole world, and that is the perfection of Krishna consciousness. That can only be done when one has awakened his great love for Srila Prabhupada and Krishna. As I understand it, only people who have sacrificed their lives to make Srila Prabhupada happy can receive the mercy of Krishna.
If you want see a video about Jayananda Prabhu this is the link:
