Srila Prabhupada

A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, founder-acharya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, was born in 1896, in Calcutta, in a Vaishnava family. His father, Gour Mohan De, named him Abhay Charan. His father’s only wish was that, Abhay should become a devotee of Srimati Radharani. Abhay studied under British colonial rule, finally going to university to read chemistry. At university, he became a supporter of Gandhi’s movement to gain independence for India. In support of this, he would only dress in white handloom cloth, woven in India and furthermore, he declined to accept his degree from the university. Abhay married and went into business with a small pharmaceutical unit to support his wife and family. He met his spiritual master, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Goswami, for the first time in Calcutta in 1922. Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati, took a liking to Abhay and told him to devote his life to teaching Vedic knowledge; more specifically to preach Lord Chaitanya’s message to the English speaking world. Although, Abhay accepted Srila Bhaktisiddhanta within his heart as his spiritual master, it was not until 1932 that he became initiated. He then received both Harinama and mantra diksa at his initiation.

In 1936 Srila Prabhupada wrote to his spiritual master requesting if there was any particular service that he could render. Srila Prabhupada received a reply to that letter containing the same instruction that he had received in 1922: ‘Preach Krishna consciousness to the English speaking world.’ His spiritual master passed away from this world two weeks later; thus leaving these final instructions engraved on Srila Prabhupada’s heart. These instructions were to form the focus of Srila Prabhupada’s life. Srila Prabhupada wrote a commentary on the Bhagavad-gita and assisted the Gaudiya Matha in its work. In 1944, during the Second World War, when paper was scarce and people had little money to spend, Srila Prabhupada began a magazine called Back to Godhead. Single-handedly, he would write, edit, oversee the layout, proof-read and sell the copies himself. This magazine is still being published today. In 1950 Srila Prabhupada adopted the vanaprastha (retired) life; thus retiring from home and family life, in order to devote more time to his studies. In 1953 he received the title Bhaktivedanta from his God brothers. He travelled to Vrindavana, where he lived very humbly at the Radha-Damodara temple. He spent several years there studying the scriptures, and writing.

In 1959 he took sannyasa, the renounced order of life. It was then, while staying at Radha-Damodara temple that he started on his masterpiece: translation and commentary of the Srimad-Bhagavatam in English. He also wrote Easy Journey to Other Planets. Within a few years, he had written three volumes of English translation and commentary for the first canto of Srimad-Bhagavatam. Once again, single handedly, he bought the paper and gathered funds, to print the books. He sold the books himself and through agents in the larger Indian cities. He now felt ready to carry out his spiritual master’s orders and decided to start by taking the message of Krishna consciousness to America , convinced that other countries would follow suit. Obtaining free passage on a freight ship, called the Jaladuta he finally arrived in New York in 1965. He was 69 and practically penniless. All he possessed was a few copies of the Srimad-Bhagavatam and forty rupees. He had had a very difficult voyage, suffering two heart attacks. Having arrived in New York he didn’t know which way to turn.

After a difficult six months, preaching here and there, his few followers rented a storefront and apartment in Manhattan. Here, he would regularly give lectures, hold kirtanas and distribute prasadam. People from all walks of life, including hippies, were drawn here; in search of that missing element from their lives and many became part of ‘Swamiji’s’ following. As people became more serious, Srila Prabhupada’s followers used to hold regular kirtanas in the parks. The lectures and Sunday feast days became renowned. His young followers eventually took initiation from Srila Prabhupada, promising to follow the four regulative principles and chant 16 rounds of the Hare Krishna mantra daily. He also reinstated the Back to Godhead magazine.

In July 1966, Srila Prabhupada established the International Society for Krishna Consciousness — ISKCON. His aim was to use the society to promote Krishna Consciousness throughout the world. In 1967, he visited San Francisco and started an ISKCON society there. He then sent his disciples all over the world to spread Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s message and open new centers in Montreal, Boston , London , Berlin , and other cities in North America, India , and Europe . In India , three magnificent temples were initially planned: Vrindavana, the Krishna Balaram temple with all its ancillary facilities; Bombay , a temple with an educational and cultural centre; and in Mayapur, a huge temple with a Vedic planetarium. Srila Prabhupada produced all of his books, bar the three written in India within the next eleven years. Srila Prabhupada slept little and would spend the early morning hours writing. He would write almost daily between 1:30 and 4:30 a.m. He dictated his text, which his disciples then typed and edited. Srila Prabhupada would translate the original texts from Sanskrit or Bengali, word by word, and gave a complete commentary.

His works include Bhagavad-gita As It Is, the multi-volume Srimad-Bhagavatam, the multivolume Chaitanya-Charitamrita, The Nectar of Devotion, Krishna: The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Teachings of Lord Chaitanya, Teachings of Lord Kapila, Teachings of Queen Kunti, Sri Isopanisad, The Nectar of Instruction, and dozens of small books. His writings have been translated into over fifty languages. The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust, established in 1972 to publish the works of His Divine Grace, has thus become the world’s largest publisher of books in the field of Indian religion and philosophy. espite his heavy literary schedule, Srila Prabhupada did not let his writing stand in the way of his preaching. In just twelve years, despite his advanced age, he travelled across the world fourteen times on lecture tours that took him to six continents. His days were filled with writing, teaching his followers and the public, and with guiding his growing society, until the day he departed from this world.

Before departing from this world, Srila Prabhupada gave many instructions to his disciples to follow in his footsteps and to continue the preaching and spreading of Krishna Consciousness all over the world. He departed from this world on November 14, 1977. In the short time he spent in the West, he preached continuously, established 108 temples, wrote more than sixty volumes of transcendental literature, initiated five thousand disciples, founded the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust, and began a scientific academy (the Bhaktivedanta Institute) and other trusts related to ISKCON. Srila Prabhupada was an extraordinary author, teacher, and saint. He managed to spread Krishna consciousness all over the world, through his writing and preaching. His writings comprise of many volumes and are the basis of Krishna consciousness for all his disciples and for the public at large.

Srila Prabhupada’s ISKCON Bangalore –A historical overview (1965-1977). Part 1 - The Early Days

Hare Krishna, Under the leadership of Madhupandit Dasa with enthusiastic support from the sincere devotees of ISKCON Bangalore, the temple on Hare Krishna hill has earned the reputation of being one of the best temples of ISKCON in more than one way. An architectural marvel and a corporate style of management while retaining the devotional essence makes it a unique spiritual center that is the apple of the eye of true followers of Srila Prabhupada. It is today, unfortunately, caught in a storm that its envious detractors have brewed while subjecting the haven of Prabhupadanugas and its inmates to maligning attacks, some direct but mostly veiled, and unjustified character poaching. It is therefore appropriate to recall the events, like they say ‘beginning from the beginning’,  that have lead to the current stalemate between two groups – one group that Has buried Prabhupada as a posthumous historical entity and the other that Has kept His Divine Grace’s legacy alive both in spirit and action. The former is represented by the ISKCON Mumbai gurvaparadhis and the latter is represented by ISKCON Bangalore Prabhupada Dasas. 1965

• Srila Prabhupada, on the order of His spiritual master HDG Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur sails to the western world for preaching Krishna Consciousness

1966

• ISKCON is registered by Srila Prabhupada in New York
• Establishment of 108 ISKCON spiritual centres worldwide within 11 years

Around the year 1976

• Devotees from different parts of India and the world initiate activities of ISKCON in different parts of South India like Bangalore, Hubli, Madras, etc.
• Sankirtans in the streets, enrolling Life Members, arranging programs in the houses, and arranging large public programs in pandals are now being conducted

Around September or October of 1976

• Srila Prabhupada summons Shankabrit das to Bombay
• Srila Prabhupada appoints Shankabrit das as the President of ISKCON-Bangalore, and also appoints one of his senior men, Balimardan dasa, as the first GBC to oversee all activities on his behalf in South India.
• Srila Prabhupada separates Andhra Pradesh from the rest of South India and asks Shankabrit das if he could also revive the preaching in Madras, as Bhavabhuti das had recently left Madras and the centre was closed.
• Subsequently, Shankabrit das initiates the preaching activities in Madras, Thiruchirapalli and Trivandrum.

GBC meetings of March 1977 at Mayapur

• Attended by Srila Prabhupada
• Hansadutta Goswami is appointed the GBC of South India and Sri Lanka, replacing Balimardan das.

Post March 1977

• Hansadutta Goswami is authorized by a GBC resolution to open a preaching centre in Bangalore.
• At this time Sri Shankabrit das is already actively involved in the preaching activities in Bangalore.
• Some of the GBC’s call for a meeting with Srila Prabhupada to discuss regarding preaching in south India and Srila Prabhupada confirms that Sri Shankabrit Dasa should continue his preaching activities in Bangalore.

Nov 1977

• Srila Prabhupada winds up his pastimes in the physical realm in November 1977.
• GBC (self-appointed, as revealed later) takes over as next acharyas of ISKCON much against the clear instructions of Srila Prabhupada.
• Srila Prabhupada is however forever transcendentally alive through His books, as per His own instruction, guiding His sincere followers.

All Glories To Srila Prabhupada Hare Krishna Hill Ki Jai Dr Jagadeesh TG www.doctor-soul-healer.blogspot.com www.twitter.com/drjgdsh www.folknet.in Please find time to also log on to www.iskconbangalore.org www.akshayapatra.org www.madhupanditdas.info

Srila Prabhupada’s ISKCON Bangalore - A historical overview : 1978-1990.   Part 2 - The Conception of a Marvel-to-be

Hare Krishna, In continuance of my earlier article “Srila Prabhupada’s ISKCON Bangalore – A historical overview (Part 1): (1965-1977)”, which dealt with events that led to the conceptualization of a ISKCON temple in Bangalore, this follow-up article de-briefs the historical events from there-on and terminates by leading upto the beginning of the constructions of the temple on the Hare Krishna Hill located on the West of Chord Road in Rajajinagar. The divine plan that Srila Prabhupada and Lord Krishna had destined had thus begun to take a ‘concrete’ shape.  The road map bulleted here in will clearly help all readers to visualize the dedicated efforts of some serious and faithful followers of Srila Prabhupada. May 8, 1978

• The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) Bangalore is incorporated

1978

• A grand Ratha Yatra of Lord Jagannath is held for the first time on MG Road, the most prestigious road of Bangalore city.

o   The Ratha Yatra is inaugurated by Sri Gundu Rao, the Transport Minister.

• A three-day festival is also conducted near the present Chinnaswamy Stadium, next to the Gandhi Park, and nearly one lakh people attend!!!

1979

• Hansadutta Goswami is replaced by HH Jayapataka Swami as the GBC of South India

1983

• Madhu Pandit Dasa becomes involved in overseeing the activities of ISKCON in Bangalore, along with his responsibilities in Trivandrum temple.

1984

• Madhu Pandit Dasa to meets  Shankabrit Das who is in now in Tirupathi
• Shankabrit Das formally resigns and the new management headed by Madhupandit Dasa, takes over the reigns.

Around September 1987

• ISKCON Bangalore is operating now from a rented house in the city with a handful of devotees.
• Under the able and dynamic leadership of the Temple President, Sri Madhu Pandit Dasa, ISKCON Bangalore applies for a 7-acre hillock from the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA).

o   The BDA had earlier described it as “karaab land” (waste land) as it was a huge piece of monolithic rock and could not be converted into sites.

• The BDA sanctions the land at a cost of Rs. 11 lakhs to be paid in 90 days.
• With practically no resources in hand, the team of devotees manage to collect the sum partly with the help of some donors and partly through loan.

September 1988

• On Lord Balarama’s appearance day the Deities of Krishna Balarama are now moved to a temporary shed on this land.
• The master plan of the project on the Hare Krishna Hill is conceived by Sri Madhu Pandit Dasa, a qualified civil engineer from IIT (Mumbai).

o   The initial concept as it stood from outside was conceived by Sri Jagat Chandra Dasa who is a product engineer from IIT (Mumbai). o   The unique combination of glass and gopuram, blended modern and traditional elements is finalized on the blue-print. o   The original simple temple design is estimated to cost Rs.10 crore o   Considering the nature of the sloping rocky hillock, this unique concept was further developed architecturally into the present design as it stands by Sri Madhu Pandit Dasa and Bhakti Lata Devi Dasi

• The entire team of devotees of ISKCON Bangalore is strongly motivated by an intense desire to make this a grand and memorable temple, to be completed and offered to His Divine Grace A C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.
• Various fund raising schemes are launched to engage the people in this devotional endeavor.
• Apart from the life membership scheme, sponsors of gopuram, kalashas and vimanas were enrolled
• Temple construction begins in full swing by the year 1990.

All Glories To Srila Prabhupada Hare Krishna Hill Ki Jai Dr Jagadeesh TG www.doctor-soul-healer.blogspot.com www.twitter.com/drjgdsh www.folknet.in Please find time to also log on to www.iskconbangalore.org www.madhupanditdas.info www.akshayapatra.org

Srila Prabhupada’s ISKCON Bangalore - A historical overview : 1990-1997. Part 3 - The Jewel in the Crown of ISKCON World

Hare Krishna, With the first 2 parts of this series tracking the events that depicted the major historical landmarks that are etched in the annals of the making of ISKCON Bangalore, this article intends to track the major  milestones in the events that unfolded in the concrete realization of the uniquely designed temple complex upto the point of the formal inauguration by the President of India of that period.

• The Logistics in the construction of the temple complex between 1990 and 1997 stood at a total of

o   10 million man-hours o   600 skilled craftsmen o   32,000 cubic meters of stone o    131,250 tones of cement and o   1,900 tones of steel that has been used. §  The architecture is a combination of traditional Karnataka and modern styles to give the aesthetic style as well as the best of latest scientific technology. §  The whole construction is carried out by the ISKCON Construction Department.

• The Deities in the main sanctum sanctorum are standing on complete piece of stone column of about 90 feet height.

o   This ensures that the main altar and sanctum sanctorum will last for thousands of years. o   As you stand at the entrance of the temple the total height from the road level is 200 feet.

• The Gopurams are made with special technology using Ferro cement.

o   It is for the first time that this technology has ever been used for temples. o   The basic structure is a main frame of steel and wire mesh covered with cement and concrete of around 6 inch that adds to the dynamics of the structure. The rest is stone and mortar. o   The unique glass clad connections to the four gopurams makes the temple stand out from the rest of the conventional ones. o   The glass specially imported from the US is sea blue 6 mm heat strengthened glass.

• The Kalashams - The 36 feet high and 18 feet base, intricately designed and gold plated kalasham is placed on top by a chain pulley from the floor level to the top about 150 feet high.

o   This is an engineering feat considering the risk of lifting 1.5 tons of gold plated kalasham going over a glass canopy to a height of 150 feet.

• The cost - The original simple temple design started in 1990 and estimated to cost Rs.10 crore has now given way to a more stunning, unique architectural model that today represents a fusion between majestic traditional styles and bold new aesthetics eventually cost Rs.32 crores.

o   More astonishing is the fact that all these funds were raised from within Karnataka alone.

• The prathistha ceremonies or Deity installation ceremonies is conducted in the month of April 1997.

o   Yajnas are held for continuous 45 days non-stop. o   On 31st May 1997, the President of India, Dr. Shankar Dayal Sharma inaugurates the Sri Radha Krishna Chandra Temple and Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu Cultural Complex. The unique feature of ISKCON Bangalore which was spearheaded by His Grace Madhu Pandit Dasa as the President and which was ably deputed by the Vice-President His Grace Chanchalapathi Dasa, was the fact that the designers dared to dream big and dared to dream differently than the conventional. Keeping an eye on conventional and local sentiments and not compromising on that front the authorities managed to also incorporate some unique features that would make this structure not just a devotees paradise but also a world renowned architectural marvel. Thus the beginning of a new era in the history of ISKCON had just unfolded.  Ahead lay what the Chinese call as ‘interesting times’. All Glories to Srila Prabhupada Hare Krishna Hill Ki Jai Dr Jagadeesh TG www.doctor-soul-healer.blogspot.com www.twitter.com/drjgdsh www.folknet.in Please find time to also log on to www.iskconbangalore.org www.madhupanditdas.info www.akshayapatra.org

Srila Prabhupada’s ISKCON Bangalore - A historical overview : 1997-2010. Part 4 - Leading the way in the ISKCON World in all fronts.

Hare Krishna, The magnificient temple complex at Hare Krishna Hill began functioning formally on 31 May 1997 with a ceremonious opening that spanned 45 days as mentioned in the preceding article. What would then follow was a philosophical jolt to the practices in ISKCON since the departure of the Founder-Acharya Srila Prabhupada. Read on to know what happened. 2001

• Several hundreds of fanatic disciples of the self-proclaimed 'gurus' make a vain attempt to physically storm Bangalore temple and throw out the devotees of ISKCON Bangalore and take illegal possession of the temple property.
• In defense of this ISKCON-Bangalore is obliged to file a suit being OS No.7934/01 seeking an order of injunction restraining ISKCON Bombay Society and others from interfering with our possession of the temple property.
• The Trial Court does not grant the injunction, but an appeal filed before the Hon’ble High Court grants the injunction sought for.
• The said order is confirmed by the Honorable Supreme Court.

By the year 2004

• Shankabrit das, Ananta Padmanabha das, Amiya Vilas das (now Swami) and Purnabrahma das have all become involved in different activities other than that of ISKCON Bangalore.
• Around this time, the representatives of ISKCON Mumbai meet them and want them to file certain statements about ISKCON Bangalore.

o   Without paying much attention to the above facts, they sign a few papers, which were later filed in the courts by ISKCON Mumbai.

o   Later they realize that the statements presented in the courts did not accurately represent the facts of the matter. April 18, 2009

• ‘ISKCON-Mumbai has no ownership rights over the Radhakrishna temple in Bangalore’ - rules city civil court.

o   The Fifth Additional Bangalore City Civil Court declares ISKCON-Bangalore as the absolute owner of Radhakrishna temple at Rajajinagar o   Orders ISKCON-Mumbai not to interfere in the affairs of the Bangalore body. o   After months of trial, Judge K S Balakrishna rules in a 350 page judgement ISKCON-Bangalore is an independent body and owner of Radhakrishna temple, Hare Krishna Hill and other properties. o   The court passes a permanent injunction against ISKCON-Mumbai against interfering in the affairs of ISKCON-Bangalore This ruling again reiterated the fact that ISKCON Bangalore, under the leadership of Sriman Madhu Pandit Das, is on the path shown by Krishna, separate from the corrupt ISKCON Mumbai Society and its GBC leadership.

GENESIS OF THE DISPUTE – Pseudo-self-proclaimed Gurus v/s Srila Prabhupada The genesis of the dispute was the difference that arose between the devotees of the two parties on the issue of spiritual succession in ISKCON after founder-acharya Srila Prabhupada's death. He had before his death, noted that none of his disciples (mostly young westerners) were qualified to occupy the spiritual post of acharya. Hence, he didn't name a successor but gave a written directive that he would remain acharya of International Society of Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) in the future as well. The years that followed 1999 have been years of intense torment and testing for the devotees of ISKCON-Bangalore. The self-proclaimed 'gurus' under the support of ISKCON-Mumbai (which is represented and controlled by the self-proclaimed 'gurus'), have left no stones unturned in their ferocious attempts to destroy the lives and spiritual pursuits of the devotees of ISKCON-Bangalore. When the grapes turned sour for the self-proclaimed 'gurus', they quickly turned the tables around. They started projecting to the public, the struggle against the flawed guru system by the devotees of ISKCON-Bangalore, as strife for personal gain. Next, the self-proclaimed 'gurus' began to malign the character of Madhu Pandit Dasa, who has been leading this struggle against the current guru system, in an attempt to discredit the position he advocates. They have described the struggle as a battle for “personal gain” and an attempt to “siphon off funds and assets to trusts of family members”! Damaging attempts have been made in the media, among our supporters, government officials and the general public to tarnish and taint the cause of the devotees of ISKCON Bangalore. ISKCON-Bangalore has always attracted well-educated full-time devotees from cultured backgrounds. These missionaries have given up promising and lucrative careers and bright futures to pursue the spiritual path taught by Srila Prabhupada. Since 1999, they are in the midst of the struggle, come what may, to question and sort out the wrong practices of the ISKCON guru system. Much to the dismay and horror of the devotees of ISKCON-Bangalore, they have had to face unimaginable trauma caused by the self-proclaimed ‘gurus’ and their fanatical disciples who jumped into action. The self-proclaimed ‘gurus’ tried to drive them away from the Bangalore temple, malign them within ISKCON and in public, challenged their right to serve in ISKCON. They even went to the extent of threatening some of their lives (Madhu Pandit Dasa and others) ! Ironically before 1999, the GBCs praised Madhu Pandit Dasa and others, for their service to the movement in developing the Bangalore temple project since 1984. Until the devotees of ISKCON-Bangalore started questioning the flawed self-proclaimed ‘guru’ system, and Madhu Pandit Dasa was regarded as “an asset to our leadership in ISKCON,” and appreciated for “maintaining excellent standards ethically and morally.” Added to this, the self-proclaimed ‘gurus’ are unable to come to terms with the stellar growth of ISKCON-Bangalore's activities all over India, especially through the Akshaya Patra program, which is feeding about twelve lakh children everyday! This has been possible only by the blessings of Their Lordships Sri Sri Radha Krishna-chandra and Srila Prabhupada Thanks goes to devotees worldwide who have stood by the ISKCON Bangalore devotees in their decade long struggle to reinstate Srila Prabhupada in the center of ISKCON in spite of severe hardships. LET THE RESULTS SPEAK. Phalena pariciyate. If preaching is an activity that can be judged by the results, then ISKCON Bangalore should occupy the first position in the world. How is this possible, unless the activities are blessed by the Lord? *I have put some excerpts from ‘Struggle for truth article’ posted on the website of the same name and it has been presented here briefly as-it-is as I am well informed about its authenticity. All Glories To Srila Prabhupada Hare Krishna Hill Ki Jai Dr Jagadeesh TG www.doctor-soul-healer.blogspot.com www.twitter.com/drjgdsh www.folknet.in Please find time to also log on to www.iskconbangalore.org www.madhupanditdas.info.