Recently a devotee objected to the validity of the Ritvik system based on the following contentions: 1) SP would introduce a totally new system to the parampara, and 2) If somehow Krishna wanted this introduced, then SP surely would have given us extensive instructions on how to do it and what it means. He did neither.
This is my reply: Dear prabhu. Hare Krishna. By your own logic Srila Bhaktisiddhanta also introduced something 'New’ in the parampara. 1) He asked his disciples to form a GBC, something that no other Acharya in our parampara has ever done, and 2) He did not ask any of his disciples to initiate but to work under the direction of the GBC and wait for the "self-effulgent" acharya to manifest.
Both these ideas were totally unprecedented and therefore were not accepted by his disciples, albeit for the same reason the GBC did not accept Srila Prabhupada's order on initiations. (Not traditional). They (the disciples of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta disobeyed his order and created chaos in the institution. The Gaudiya Math broke into many factions and each disciple became an acharya thus disintegrating the institution he worked so hard to build.
Srila Prabhupada did the same. He formed a GBC and did not ask any of his disciples to initiate but to act on his behalf. These are the facts.
Introduction of different means, to carry on the work of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu is the prerogative of the Acharya. The Acharya, being a Nitya Siddha, is in direct contact with the Lord and they receive instructions and are thereby authorized by the Lord to accept way and means by which the Parampara is maintained. They make tradition, as the meaning of tradition is a time-honored practice or set of such practices which starts at some point, a custom to be carried
on through generations or until some other tradition is created.
There is no change in the principle of the Parampara but the details differ from one Acharya to the next. Srila Prabhupada did give us extensive instructions especially when the GBC asked for guidance on what to do about initiations 'especially at a time when he was no longer with us'.
He sent a document to all the officers of his institution directing them to follow the system of initiations he adopted for his institution. How more extensive instructions do we need to convince us that Srila Prabhupada, knowing he was about to leave this miserable world, did in fact establish the system of initiations to be carried on until Sri Krishna makes arrangements for carrying on the Parampara?
When did we question Srila Prabhupada about whether what he introduced in Iskcon was indeed "traditional"? Can you imagine what he would have said to such an audacious fool?
Yet, on this count (Ritvik initiations) the GBC decided to question the validity of the order and rejected it because it is not traditional.
Was chanting 16 rounds traditional?
Was giving brahmana initiation to westerners traditional?
Was giving brahmana to women traditional?
Was allowing women to worship the deities in the temple traditional?
The list goes on and on.
There is no plausible reason not to follow the order of the spiritual master because – "It is not traditional." The repercussions of the offense committed are there for everyone to see. The Hinduization of Iskcon, the continuous fall down of anointed gurus by a disobedient GBC, the fragmentation of Iskcon into feudalism. Gurus having their own separate institutions, the Gopi bhava club and….. where do we stop?
What say you prabhus?