Combined Response of the International GBC and Bureau of ISKCON-Mumbai
Mayapur to discuss the matter and their final conclusive reply was communicated to ISKCON- Bangalore in a letter dated March 9, 2013 (Enclosure-1 page 16).
During March 2013, the International GBC and Bureau of ISKCON-Mumbai met in Sridham Mayapur to discuss the matter and their final conclusive reply was communicated to ISKCON- Bangalore in a letter dated March 9, 2013 (Enclosure-1 page 16).
In this communication the International GBC refused to accept the only demand of ISKCON- Bangalore: That only Srila Prabhupada be revered as the guru or Acharya of ISKCON in the ISKCON Sri Radha Krishnachandra Temple on Hare Krishna Hill.
No one else should occupy the revered position of Acharya of ISKCON and all the devotees made in the temple will be initiated by the ritviks or representatives of the Acharya as per the institutional directive of the Founder-Acharya of ISKCON, Srila Prabhupada, dated July 9, 1977.
As per the directive, devotees so initiated will be regarded as the disciples of Srila Prabhupada.
This has been the single point cause for the dispute with ISKCON-Mumbai. (see Background to the Issue) In other words the self-appointed current gurus of ISKCON wanted to initiate disciples for themselves in the Bangalore group of temples instead of initiating them as disciples of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada as per his July 9, 1977 directive (see directive).
In addition, the International GBC offered to make some of the senior devotees of ISKCON- Bangalore regular gurus!
They had miserably failed to understand the foundation of ISKCON-Bangalore’s cause which has always been theological in nature. They were unable to reinstate Srila Prabhupada in his actual spiritual position in ISKCON, as ISKCON-Bangalore had been pleading.
How can one become a regular guru? This is the actual subject of contention, since Srila Prabhupada has repeatedly taught – that one can become a regular guru only when the
predecessor guru specifically orders a certain disciple to become one. And Srila Prabhupada did not order anyone: One should take initiation from a bona fide spiritual master coming in the disciplic succession, who is authorized by his predecessor spiritual master. This is called diksha-vidhana. (Srimad Bhagavatam purport to verse 4.8.54 by Srila Prabhupada)
Comment: This is an important reference in the Srimad Bhagavatam that confirms the principle that one can become a bona fide spiritual master when he is authorized by his predecessor spiritual master. And it is well established that Srila Prabhupada did not authorize anyone to become such an initiating spiritual master, but explicitly and clearly ordered eleven of his senior disciples to act as ritviks or representatives of the Acharya and conduct initiation.
Srila Prabhupada: When I order, “You become guru,” he becomes regular guru. That’s all.
(Recorded room conversation on May 28, 1977, between Srila Prabhupada and the then GBC members on the process of initiation when Srila Prabhupada is no longer physically present on this planet).
Comment: On this important occasion, Srila Prabhupada has clearly stated that when he gives a specific order to a certain devotee (When I order, “You become guru,”) to become a guru, he becomes a regular guru. After five months of this conversation, Srila Prabhupada disappeared from this world. And it is historically well established that Srila Prabhupada did not order any of his disciples to become a regular guru but explicitly and clearly ordered eleven of his senior disciples to act as ritviks or representatives of the Acharya and conduct initiation.
Conclusion Although ISKCON-Bangalore accepted all the demands of ISKCON-Mumbai to give the temple property on the Hare Krishna Hill under the full ownership and control of ISKCON-Mumbai along with all the properties of the Bangalore group of temples – ISKCON-Mumbai and the International GBC failed to meet the demand of ISKCON-Bangalore to accept the practice that Srila Prabhupada shall be the only Acharya and initiating guru for the devotees of ISKCON-Bangalore group of temples.
Further the International GBC has invited the senior devotees of ISKCON-Bangalore group also to join them in becoming self-appointed Acharyas or regular gurus.
ISKCON-Bangalore has firmly rejected this offer in a letter dated March 14, 2013 (Letter to International GBC and Bureau, Enclosure-2 page 18) as they do not want to join this act of disobedience to Srila Prabhupada and perpetrate the moral and financial corruption current in ISKCON.
This mediation process and it’s failure clearly establish that the basis of the dispute between ISKCON-Mumbai and ISKCON-Bangalore is the theological issue of whether Srila Prabhupada can be the Acharya of his institution after his physical disappearance from this world, or his disciples should become self-appointed Acharyas, although Srila Prabhupada did not appoint or order anyone to become a regular guru.
The Bluff of ISKCON-Mumbai Exposed