A common misconception answered about the ‘dirty word’ in ISKCON’s guru issue.
By In my previous article, I presented my case of becoming and staying a full-time devotee in ISKCON Bangalore, having been introduced to ISKCON Bangalore, only after Srila Prabhupada was alone accepted as the sole Diksha Guru in the temple. In my personal testimonial, the readers could clearly find how one can naturally develop a positive and loving relationship with Srila Prabhupada. One can still receive inspiration from him and remain connected with the eternal Gaudiya Vaisnava parampara, by simply accepting and implementing the system set up according to the July 9th 1977 directive. Although it appears quite simple to do this, and solves all problems of ‘Guru issue’ clouding ISKCON today; some less-intelligent (read ill motivated) persons deliberately try to introduce incorrect understandings and introduce unnecessary doubts and objections against the simple system setup by Srila Prabhupada.
In this article, we will try to address one such misconception that is propagated with the usage of term ‘RTVIK’. The Sanskrit word ‘RTVIK’ is used heavily by both the sides who debate on the Guru issue, but the very word used to describe the guru issue has been (and still is) misused and misunderstood by nearly everyone. For the last three and a half decades, the GBC of self- appointed acharyas has led a very harsh and negative propaganda against what they defined as the ‘RTVIK system of initiations.’ ‘Rtvik’ word has been painted as a newly invented term to suit those who simply don’t want to accept the established norms of GBC on the issue. The result is the Sanskrit word, which invokes respect and honor, has been ‘demonized’. However, the word ‘RTVIK’ is found and used in Srila Prabhupada’s books and Vedic scriptures in an honorable and positive way. If we don’t properly understand the very word used on the topic, then how can we even begin to understand the very issue it has come to represent?
One common misconception spread by the party of self-appointed acharyas of ISKCON GBC is that ‘RTVIK’ is an invented term purportedly by his personal secretary at that time, HH Tamal Krishna Goswami(TKG), first during the May 28th 1977 conversation, famously called ‘The appointment tape’ and then in the July 9th 1977 directive to the institutional heads of ISKCON.
But the fact is that this word and its derivatives has been used extensively in Srimad Bhagavatam(numbering precisely 31-refer to box below for references), and used by Srila Prabhupada with respect to the system of initiations he wished to have, when he was no longer physically present. —————————————————————————————————————————— — Srimad-Bhagavatam: • Ritvik : 4.6.1 / 4.7.16 / 5.3.2 / 5.3.3 / 5.4.17 / 7.3.20 / 8.20.22 / 9.1.15 • Rtvijah : 4.5.7 / 4.5.18 / 4.7.27 / 4.7.45 / 4.13.26 / 4.19.27 / 4.19.29 / 5.3.4 / 5.3.15 / 5.3.18 / 5.7.5 8.16.53 / 8.18.21 / 8.18.22 / 9.4.23 / 9.6.3 • Rtvijam : 4.6.52 / 4.21.5 / 8.23.13 / 9.13.1 • Rtvigbhyah : 8.16.55 • Rtvigbhih : 4.7.56 / 9.13.3 —————————————————————————————————————————— —— The word ‘RTVIK’ specifically means as translated by Srila Prabhupada in Srimad-Bhagavatam (8.16.53) as "the priests recommended by the spiritual master".
Since we are discussing ‘RTVIK’ in context of the Guru issue it is relevant to understand its contextual meaning as intended by Srila Prabhupada. Rtviks are defined as the deputed priests of the spiritual master. They preside over a Vedic ritual meant for the worship of Lord Visnu (visnu-aradhana). The initiation ritual observed in ISKCON is a standard Vedic ceremony, and it may be performed by rtviks, who officiate on behalf of the Acarya. This understanding and practice was clearly established by Srila Prabhupada personally, and there should be no controversy regarding the definition or function of the rtvik priest. The new initiates offer dakshina and service to the mission of the guru, and the priests may also receive some token honor or reward for their services, according to Vedic custom. (In ISKCON Srila Prabhupada would either receive the guru dakshina personally and use it for a global ISKCON project or for his traveling expenses, or he would give money to the BBT or some other important or needy branch of his preaching mission. He never said that priests representing ISKCON should receive money or expensive gifts for their services. Nor did he say they should assume positions of absolute authority and accept worship as gurus.) lthough the word ‘RTVIK’ as such appears for the first time from TKG in the May 28th 1977 conversation (The appointment tape: Please find the relevant part of the conversation in the BOX) in context of Guru issue, it is quite evident by the way he refers to the term as if obvious, that Srila Prabhupada has referred to the word many times in context of the system of initiations in ISKCON,he intended for the time when he would no longer be physically present. —————————————————————————————————————————— ——
Satsvarupa dasa Goswami: Then our next question concerns initiations in the future,particularly at that time when you are no longer with us. We want to know how first and second initiation(s) would be conducted.
Srila Prabhupada: Yes. I shall recommend some of you. After this is settled up I shall recommend some of you to act as officiating acarya(s).
Tamal Krsna Goswami: Is that called ritvik acarya?
Srila Prabhupada: Ritvik. Yes. (Yes, ritviks) —————————————————————————————————————————— —— The way TKG refers to the word and the way Srila Prabhupada replies in affirmative very much suggests that it was a familiar word to both of them at least as it would have been referred to in previous unrecorded conversations or other means of communication such as letters etc. The meaning that is evident in the above conversation is very much that ‘RTVIK’ means ‘officiating acharya’ who performs the ceremony of initiation on behalf of Srila Prabhupada, which was later put into writing in the July 9th 1977 directive.
Furthermore, the use of word ‘Rtvik’ is continued by TKG in his correspondence with the other GBC members during that time in his letters as the personal secretary of Srila Prabhupada as shown in the box: —————————————————————————————————————————— —— July 10th – (Tamal Krsna Gosvami [TKG] quotes Srila Prabhupada in letter to Hansadutta
Swami): "I have selected you among eleven men as "rittvik" or representative of the acharya, to give initiations, both first and second initiation, on my behalf." "Srila Prabhupada has appointed thus far eleven representatives who will initiate new devotees on His behalf." (TKG's letter to Kirtanananda, July 11, 1977) July 12th– (TKG to Sucandra and Avinas Chandra and Harikesa Swami): "[handwritten] P.S. Information on the process for conducting initiations is contained] in a letter already sent to Ramesvara for xeroxing. Prabhupada] has named 11 persons, including] yourself, to act as ‘rittik’, H[is] representatives for initiating." July 19th: "Make your own field and continue to become ritvik and act on my charge." July 31st: (TKG quotes SP in letter to Hansadutta): "Make your own field and continue to become rittvic and act on my behalf.'" [letter to Hansadutta, dated July 31, 1977] —————————————————————————————————————————— —— TKG further uses the word ‘RTVIK’ and confirms the meaning intended by Srila Prabhupada in his Topanga Canyon admission when he said that there would be more ritviks added later in the future: —————————————————————————————————————————— —— "Later on there was a piled up list of people to get initiated, and it was jammed up. I said, 'Srila Prabhupada, you once mentioned about ritviks. […] Srila Prabhupada said, ‘All right, I will appoint so many…’ and he started to name them. He made it very clear that they are his disciples. […] I asked him two questions, one: ‘What about Brahmananda Swami?’. I asked him this because I happened to have an affection for Brahmananda Swami. […] Srila Prabhupada said, ‘No, not unless he is qualified’. […]Before I got ready to type the letter, I asked him, two: 'Srila Prabhupada is this all or do you want to add more?'. He said, 'As is necessary, others may be added.'" (TKG, December 3rd, 1980)
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—— There is the documented evidence of the diary of Yasodanandana das, with its original entries made directly after conversations with TKG. This diary quotes the secretary, Tamal, to say, (after departure) "they'll be ritviks, its all on tape." Another diary entry records how Gauridas Pandit das heard Srila Prabhupada say, "Tomorrow I will I will announce some ritvik acharyas who will initiate disciples on my behalf when I leave the planet." Thus we see that Srila Prabhupada and other Vaisnavas used the term 'ritvik' many times, yet it is simply amazing how the GBC of self-appointed acharyas has banned this term, 'ritvik,' somehow thinking this prohibition pleases Lord Krishna and Srila Prabhupada and their many godbrothers, and the Vaisnavas, even though our founder acharya, Srila Prabhupada, used it to implement a system of initiations after "he is no longer with us." It has also demonized any devotees professing to follow this system of initiation or advocating it.
In the next article we will try to understand what are the various incorrect meanings pasted on to the word ‘RTVIK’ currently in ISKCON and what was the actual intended rolepf ‘RTVIK’ as set up by Srila Prabhupada, in detail.
Readers are encouraged and welcomed to give in their comments and help in a healthy discussion/debate on this major theological issue in ISKCON.