BY: SURESH VAGJIANI
Nov 19, 2010 — LONDON, ENGLAND, UK (SUN) — I recently came to know about the survey that Sitaram das has been circulating to selected individuals from the community around the Bhaktivedanta Manor. This request prompted me to share my opinion and experience.
The first thing I noticed is how the intent of this survey is unclear. In the years past, Sitaram aka Sanjay Tanna, has been responsible for banning devotees from the Manor who did not tow the party line, whatever it may be from time to time.
On one hand the Manor management tries very hard to maintain an appearance of a tolerant Hindu temple, on the other hand they ban any individual who contradicts or criticises their autocratic and authoritarian cultish ways.
Some years back on a visit to Bhaktivedanta Manor, Sitaram asked me to follow him into a room, where Mahavidya prabhu and Dwarkapuri were waiting. Sitaram showed me a letter explaining the reasons why I was no longer welcome at the Bhaktivedanta Manor. Basically the reasons were because I had been classed as a sympathiser of the ‘Ritvik’ camp that gives importance and relevance to Srila Prabhupada. I fell into the category of individuals no longer welcome at the Manor.
After reading the letter, I agreed to leave the premises. Despite the fact that I was polite, civilized and did not offer any resistance, Dwarakapuri and Mahavidya started to verbally attack me. Sitaram then asked them to escort me out of the temple.
I did not understand the necessity or purpose of this behaviour. I dread to think what would have occurred if I had refused to leave. Most likely they would have physically forced me to leave. This would not have been the first time they have assaulted ‘unwelcome’ visitors to the temple, including whole families who have been unceremoniously walked off the premises.
This is the same Mahavidya prabhu who is now a regular contributor to the Sampradaya Sun, and who is now questioning current practises at the Manor which not long ago, he protected with unquestioning, aggressive loyalty for many years, many times.
It is ironic to see now how Mahavidya prabhu himself is now facing the brunt of the same policy he once enforced. It would seem that those on the ‘inside’ are wearing special glasses that allow them to filter out certain things and spiritualise wrong doings.
I’d like to point out the hypocritical double standards of the Manor management. Around the same I was escorted off the property, Sivarama Swami, the guru of Sitaram and some of his godbrothers, such as the current Temple President of the Manor, Sruti Dharma, were covertly associating with Narayana Maharaja – one of the groups that was supposedly on the banned list.
In my particular case, I believe that personal revenge prompted Sitaram to ban me. At the time, Sitaram was the person in-charge of university preaching in and around London. I had arranged for Yaduraj prabhu (a Ritvik) to come and hold a program at my university. Sitaram somehow felt that he had some sort of ownership or monopoly over the university preaching. He informed me that he would be having a meeting with the Manor management to resolve my transgressions.
The irony of it all is that in the very recent past, the Manor management have harboured criminals. What I find most concerning is that these same people and the same system still run the show and still continue to harbour individuals with dubious pasts.
In the same way gurus cannot be voted in, a spiritual institution cannot be run based on the popular opinion of the public. This is the way politicians are chosen. As Mahavidya suggests, resolving the difficulties at the Manor would be very easy — all they would need to do is read Srila Prabhupada’s instructions on how HE wanted his institution to be run, instead of gathering opinions.
I am curious to know what will happen to the results of this survey? Who will get to see them? Does Sitaram offer any guarantees that any changes will be implemented, and who decides what feedback to implement?
To have any value, a survey needs to be carried out by an independent body. How can Sitaram, who has himself behaved in ways that have nothing to do with Vaisnava principles, let alone basic gentlemanliness, and is on the payroll of the Manor, offer any semblance of objective impartiality?
Unfortunately, of recent at the Manor, the teachings, instructions and wishes of Srila Prabhupada no longer seem to be of any significant relevance. The only rule that dictates the law is the golden rule — he who has the gold makes the rules.
Suresh Vagjiani
I am not of the Ritvik persuasion, but the Strongarm techniques of these persons are not anything new, neither is their deviation from Srila Prabhupada’s instructions and desire for the management of our Temples and Communities.. All the Management including the Pujaris, I believe are paid Salaries. This is directly against Srila Prabhupada’s instructions and means that Bhakti Yoga is not being performed by them. Rather this is Business and protection of Vested Interests is paramount to the Materially Attached. Would any of them be repared to continue their “Service” without renumeration as Srila Prabhupada dictated? Srila Prabhupada told us thet if we worked 24 hrs for Krsna that Krsna would provide for us all our necesities. We worked as such and this Movement grew and Flourished… Since His physical departure ISKCON has been hijacked by self interested parties who care little for the Spiritual welfare of the devotees what to speak of the conditioned souls who are suffering only for want of the Lord’s Mercy. The manor is little more than a Hindu Temple. I was there last year and was speaking to the guests who had come on Sunday. One man approached me and asked for advice as he was inspiried by hearing me speak. I asked him if he chanted the Mahamantra. He said that he did not. Why? I asked. He told me that no one had told him he should chant. I discovered that although he had been attending the manor for years he had never been Preached to other then to engage his money in donating for this and that.. Others I also fould had never been regarded as other than financial assets. All of these “Hindus” are simple being exploited for their wealth. The previous Managers have purchased houses and property which they enjoy from the proceed of Samkirtana… All of this is simply materialisim…..
Bhajahari das (ACBSP) says something similar, Bhajahari Murphy: Yes – I was banned for around 10 years for the same beliefs as yourself Suresh prabhu. Ultimately Krsna is in control and what goes around comes around. Mahavidya physically attacked me, ripped my neck beads off and threw me into the bushes for speaking to him about Ritvik……sigh. Truth will out eventually
Pamho, agtACBSP
I feel very sorry to hear about that Suresh prabhu, that’s why the only temple I visit is Iskcon Bangalore. That’s safe, that’s the real Iskcon, that SRILA PRABHUPADA left for everyone in the final order.
Of course they are criminals, I don’t live far from the BVM but I stopped to go there since long time, less trouble and distractions by following sadhana bhakti at my own place.
By the mercy of guru, sadhu and sastra, SRILA PRABHUPADA gives more enlightenment through the 5 main daily devotional activities of the sincere sadhaka bhakta.
I was kicked out too from Soho Temple in West End many years ago, sadhu sanga is ok but should be as HG Madhu Pandit prabhu does by following the instructions of SRILA PRABHUPADA in Bangalore temple.
Then all the good qualities will be bestow upon us as the devotees are getting by follow a bonafide representative of HDG ACBSP like HG Madhu Pandit prabhu ki jay!
ys Seva das, Haribol