"The ISKCON Bangalore temple does not belong to Madhu Pandit das, nor does he posses any other property in his name"
BY: SUVYAKTA NARASIMHA DASA
Aug 04, 2010 — BANGALORE, INDIA (SUN) — Recently the following shocking message is being circulated widely by Narahari Dev das (on behalf of HG Syamasundar das (ACBSP)) among the devotees in Bangalore and perhaps in India:
Dear Vaishanavas,
Hare Krsna!We have reached critical juncture in the court cases against Madhu Pandit das. Starting today the Karnataka High Court will be hearing the matter. We need all of your help to invoke the mercy of the Lord and it will just take a minimum of 15-20 minutes of your time every day by engaging in Bhagavatam reading vrata. You should read daily from two sections of the Srimad Bhagavatam, one dealing with Narasimha Lila (SB 7th Canto Chapters 2-10) and Parasurama Lila (SB Canto 9 Chapters 15-16).
The Sankalpa is “To Defeat and Destroy Madhu Pandit dasa and get back all the properties and assets he has stolen from Srila Prabhupada’s ISKCON.”
After the sankalpa you can read a few verses from each Lila for several minutes, about 20 minutes minimum. Just read the verses. You should do this for as long as the court trial is going on. (next 2 weeks)
Sent on behalf of H.G. Shyamasundara dasa,
Narahari Dev das
This message shows the continued cultist, fanatical, and extremist approach of the GBC guru camp. Instead of the intellectual sobriety, compassion and tolerance expected out of Vaishnavas in responding to theological issues, the email tries to whip up fanatic sentiments of innocent new devotees. The purported motive – to “destroy Madhu Pandit dasa” and “get back all properties”. The crime he has committed – standing up to the ISKCON’s self-appointed gurus and boldly declaring that only Srila Prabhupada is the authorized guru in ISKCON as per his own directions!
Amazingly enough, they are advocating the use of Srimad Bhagavatam to “destroy Madhu Pandit dasa”. This, when Srila Prabhupada disapproved of even using the Holy Name for a materially good purpose. In a lecture on Srimad Bhagavatam 1.10.5 in Mayapur on June 20, 1973, he says:
“Everyone who knows history of Calcutta, the plague was subsided by sankirtana movement. Of course, we do not recommend that sankirtana should be used for some material purpose, that is nama-aparadha, nama-aparadha. Shama sa bhakti kriya (?) pramana. Sankirtana, you can utilize sankirtana for some material purpose, but that is not allowed. That is nama-aparadha, because nama, the holy name of Krsna, and Krsna, they are identical. You cannot utilize Krsna for your personal, material benefit. That is aparadha.”
How are they advocating the use of Srimad Bhagavatam for a destructive purpose against a Vaishnava when Srila Prabhupada forbid it, even for a material good purpose?
A few facts to be considered. Firstly, the “property” referred to is the ISKCON Sri Radha Krishna-chandra Mandir on Hare Krishna Hill in Bangalore. This land belongs to the ISKCON Bangalore Society, formed in 1978 (much before Madhu Pandit dasa joined ISKCON) under the direction of the then GBC in charge of Bangalore. Madhu Pandit dasa does not possess any property in his name, to be “got back”! The ISKCON Bangalore temple does not belong to Madhu Pandit das, nor does he posses any other property in his name. Ironically, these accusers are actually the ones having assets created out of guru-dakshina or business ventures or other means.
Secondly, ISKCON Bangalore Society is governed by an elected GBC, functioning in line with Srila Prabhupada’s Direction of Management (DoM). The property belongs to Srila Prabhupada and is being run the way he wanted it. The GBC members of the ISKCON Bangalore Society are all dedicated devotees with a track record of responsible and committed devotional service for nearly 12 to 30 years in ISKCON.
Thirdly, the ISKCON Bangalore GBC had offered an open peace proposal to the GBC despite winning the Trial court cases (which was posted on the Sun for the information of all Vaishnavas).
The intolerance of the GBC guru camp in the face of all the above facts is unwarranted and smacks of fanaticism and intolerance to another group of Vaishnavas’ view point.
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