Mahavidya das: Putting ISKCON’s Marriage Rules in Perspective

“Going Berserk”

BY: MAHAVIDYA DAS (ACBSP)

Feb 21, 2011 — UK (SUN) —

I received a phone call from one concerned devotee.
Apparently I am supposed to have gone “berserk” at the Civic offices during the local planning public enquiry re: Bhaktivedanta Manor.
I had visions of myself running around naked except for a dash of body paint here and there (not a pleasant sight), ripping off arms and legs, beating the former owners with the soggy ends and tearing out hearts.
Sadly this was not to be…
Instead I had to be content with submitting a written rebuttal to the Theological aspect of the planning application of Bhaktivedanta Manor.
During the Bhaktivedanta Manor presentation of their case, I was obliged to hear His Divine Grace AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada’s ISKCON society referred to as “Hindu” over 30 times.
I then lost count…

Gauri das, although present, did not seem able to present his piece. (I wonder why not?)
It was instead read out by HG Sruti dharma das (SRS).
Still… I did get a memento of this glorious occasion in the form of a photo taken in the Civic Council chamber of Gauri das, who is not sure if he represents ISKCON or not,
(HG Sruti dharma das who won’t say what Gauri das’s position is),
and…
HG Pranabhandu das (SRS), Bhaktivedanta Manor financial somebody and mountaineer,
along with Mr. David Altaras QC, ISKCON’s barrister.
I presented my submittal to all the concerned parties in the Civic chambers, including the ISKCON legal team.
Here it is…

Dear sir or madam,
please allow me to introduce myself.
In 1971 I met devotees of the ISKCON movement commonly referred to as the Hare Krishnas.
In 1973 I was initiated into ISKCON by HDG AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.
That took place at Bhaktivedanta Manor where upon I received the name of Mahavidya das.
I spent 10 years of my time in ISKCON in the Republic of South Africa.
During that time, specifically 1986 to 1989, I was a head priest at our ISKCON Durban temple.
One of my duties there was to perform weddings.
I would like to address certain points raised in relationship to the present planning appeal being presented by ISKCON.

I would like to address the paper presented on behalf of ISKCON by Gauri das entitled Theological aspects.

May I first refer to the Conclusion submitted by Gauri das, no 31 page 8.

Gauri das has written:

“The council, in the way that it has handled and refused our planning application, appears to be making moral and value judgements on our religious tradition. When it comes to what may constitute appropriate or inappropriate religious ceremony and practise, I consider this to be the privileged reserve of the theology and the theologians of the religious tradition itself. For Councillors or others to make value judgements in this area, based upon implicit and unexpressed socio-religious habits and presumptions, which are alien to the tradition itself and potentially in conflict with it, is bad practise.”

The purpose of my submission is to bring to the attention of this public enquiry certain points that Gauri das, and the management of Bhaktivedanta Manor have omitted or misrepresented about the institution of HDG AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, hereafter referred to as ISKCON and Srila Prabhupada respectively. Gauri das and the management he represents are in fact guilty of “bad practise”.

The first point I would make perfectly clear is that ISKCON is the institution of Srila Prabhupada.
He is the Founder-Acharya of ISKCON.
This is a very important point for us to remember.
Srila Prabhupada is also considered a Sampradaya-Acarya.
According to Vaisnava theology this makes him the supreme authority in ISKCON.
His word is final in all circumstances …that is if one considers himself or herself a member of ISKCON.

I have noticed that the word “Hindu” and “Hindu temple” are very frequently used by Gauri das throughout his paper
Bhaktivedanta Manor is regularly advertised as a “Hindu temple” by the management.
In fact ISKCON temples are now registered as Hindu temples.

However… and this is the sticking point…

Point 1

The Founder-Acharya of ISKCON Srila Prabhupada, NEVER wanted His ISKCON to be advertised as a “Hindu” institution,
or…
that ISKCON represents the “Hindu” religion.

Let’s hear for ourselves what Srila Prabhupada says…

Please refer to…
The Science of Self-realization,
printed and distributed by ISKCON.

The passage is entitled,
Krishna consciousness: Hindu cult or Divine culture?
The author is Srila Prabhupada.

“There is a misconception that the Krishna consciousness movement represents the Hindu religion………
Sometimes Indians both inside and outside of India think that we are preaching the Hindu religion, but actually we are not…..One will not find the word Hindu in the Bhagavad-gita. Indeed, there is no such word as Hindu in the entire Vedic literature………
……people should not think we are preaching a sectarian religion …..
The Krishna consciousness movement has nothing to do with the Hindu religion or any system of religion….
One should clearly understand that the Krishna consciousness movement is not preaching the so-called Hindu religion.”……

This same vein of theological understanding is repeated many times in Srila Prabhupada’s books, letters, lectures and conversations.
Point 2

Did Srila Prabhupada want ISKCON advertised as a “Hindu” temple?

Let us hear once again from the founder of ISKCON…

These quotations are taken from Srila Prabhupada’s letters.

Siksamrta Volume 2
Preaching to the Indian community.

“Of course, there are many Indians who may be delighted to have a Hindu temple there, but we are especially interested in something else. Our plan is not to sponsor the Hindus or any other group. Our real purpose is to spread Krishna consciousness.”

SPL toYamuna 27 05 1969

“I am not very interested to establish a Hindu temple, perhaps you know from the very beginning i never described my movement as Hindu religion.”

SPL to Mukunda 10 06 1969

“We should not anymore think in terms of Hindu society. If we limit ourselves to Hindus, then there will be many competitors like Christians, Mohammedans Buddhists and so on. but if we preach the philosophy of Krishna consciousness in right earnest, it will be accepted throughout the whole world.”

SPL to Sriman Bankaji 13 03 1970

“We must avoid the risk of a separatist movement, unity is our purpose; just like in London where the Indians are starting their own Radha-Krishna temple. We want to avoid skin disease and the Indian people are like the tannery expert.”

SPL to Sriman Hariprasad Badruka 05 03 1973

Point 3

Now let us address the subject of weddings in ISKCON.
Once more we understand Srila Prabhupada is the Founder-Acharya of ISKCON… to those who claim to be His followers,
Srila Prabhupada’s word is final.
I myself am a married man and I have performed weddings.
Does ISKCON and Srila Prabhupada encourage sacred marriage?
Most certainly… but within certain parameters as set out by the Founder-Acharya.

Let us once more hear what Srila Prabhupada has to say.
These quotations are also taken from Srila Prabhupada’s letters.

“Uninitiated couples cannot be married by us. We shall not take the responsibility of an ordinary marriage maker. Our practise is to help devotees for advancing in Krishna consciousness.”

SPL to Jaya Gopal, 11 01 1970

“Regarding using our temple for marriage ceremonies for the Hindu community, if they contribute something to the temple they can use the temple and perform the marriage with their own priest, but we cannot take responsibility for marrying others who are not initiated by us.”

SPL to Upendra 25 05 1970

This one is specific to Bhaktivedanta Manor…

“You can allow the sacrifice in the Manor for Mrs. Mehta, but as with the weddings they must pay for the room (don’t have it in the temple room.) She can bring her own brahmanas”.

SPL to Patita Uddharana 03 02 1975

And finally…

“concerning marriages in the Bombay centre as a means of income, if it does not disturb the daily routine, then it can be done. However, the marriages cannot take place before the deity in the temple.”

SPL to Surabhi 20 05 1976

It is very clear…

ISKCON under the direction of Srila Prabhupada, only has a religious obligation to marry initiated devotees.
ie, only those persons taking specific vows at the time of initiation.

ISKCON has no obligation whatsoever to marry anyone else.
If they wish to marry on ISKCON property it is seen as a “means of income”.

Conclusion

Srila Prabhupada wanted His ISKCON institution to be non-sectarian.
Please do not misunderstand…
Hindus are welcome in ISKCON, as are people from all faiths and all walks of life.
I myself am from a Christian background, I have Hare Krishna friends from Jewish and Muslim backgrounds.
I also have friends from Hindu backgrounds.
We are supposed to be non-sectarian.
ISKCON has a cultural background with “Hinduism” but it ends there.

As for weddings…

As per Srila Prabhupada’s instructions, only initiated devotees have a right to ask to marry in front of the Deities in the temple.
No one else.
However…
Should the temple management wish to hire out space outside of the temple to outside parties, yes that is permitted.
But… the outside party must bring their own priests and contribute financially.

For Gauri das to say

“confusing this as some promotional strategy or crude profiteering is ill conceived and offencive.”

is a extremely offencive in itself, if one considers that the present management have broken every instruction of Srila Prabhupada in this regard.
Srila Prabhupada himself speaks about weddings as “a means of income”, but within the established parameters.

Please consider…
At present…
anyone is married in front of the Deities in the temple room at Bhaktivedanta Manor.
If the space is available, or is made available as in a marquee, you can be married there.
A well paid ISKCON priest will happily marry anyone…
You just have to pay the price.
A tremendous amount of effort is put into advertising wedding services.
because…
everyone involved in the weddings is paid.
Gauri das and the other members of the Bhaktivedanta Manor management instituted this commercial enterprise.
The submitter of this appeal, Symasundar das and his wife and children have all benefited financially having been at one time on bonuses or commission.
One of the other Bhaktivedanta Manor managers, Kripamoya das, boasts on his website of having performed over 400 weddings. He even recommends his fee (or daksine as it is called) of £250.00.
This is small compared to the £600.00 one gentleman was obliged to pay…and this is just for the priest.

Frankly… I am shocked to even see this mis-representation of ISKCON and Srila Prabhupada, especially coming from Gauri das on behalf of the Bhaktivedanta Manor management.
Gauri das has mentioned that he was temple president at Bhaktivedanta Manor from 2006 to 2008. (see Introduction part 1.)
He somewhat tactfully does not explain why he was obliged to be removed from that position.
In 2008,due to the testimony of 17 former students, ISKCON’s own Child Protection Office found him guilty of

“being responsible for inappropriate and excessive corporeal punishment, a behaviour contrary to ISKCON policy and Vaisnava behaviour.”

According to the restrictions imposed upon him were that

“Gauri das may not serve in a position of leadership in ISKCON temples or projects for 3 years from the date of this decision. This includes positions such as temple officer, department head etc.”

ISKCON CPO report July 1 2008

[Edited slightly for readability]

Footnote

I have enclosed a picture of a “car blessing” at Bhaktivedanta Manor.
I apologise for the lack of quality, it looked much better on the camera.

I must also state I have been expelled from Bhaktivedanta Manor for daring to present the above quotes and similar ones relating to ISKCON finances and the salaries the management award each other.

Any documentation is available on request.

ys
Mahavidya das
Mr. Michael Keith Powell
Borehamwood