BY: MAHAPURUSHA DASA
Jul 05, 2012 USA (SUN) — With deep regret and after much deliberation, I must sadly report the vicious attack of a female devotee by Ravindra Svarupa dasa. The incident occurred over a month ago and I was personally informed of the attack by the victim. Several other congregants were also informed of the attack by the victim. He has also “bragged” about the incident to several others, which is, in itself, deeply disturbing and suggests severe moral and ethical degradation. The devotee was assaulted in the pujari room as she was about to perform Deity service.
The devotee was running late for the offering and Ravindra Svarupa dasa verbally attacked her, screaming at her she was a terrible and offensive devotee and then violently kicked her in her buttocks. The victim has been obviously terrified. I and several other senior devotees have been working to help her. But after lengthy discussions and soul searching, we feel that the only way to address the issue is to make it public.
We are demanding the immediate resignation of Ravindra Svarupa dasa from all positions of authority within ISKCON in accordance to ISKCON’s zero tolerance abuse policy. This is obviously a severe abuse of power, especially considering that the devotee is one of his disciples. As a professional educator, I have a professional duty to report all incidences of abuse. If this were to happen at my job, he would be arrested, fired and promptly sued. I feel that not only should Ravindra Svarupa be subjected to the same level of accountability as anyone else, but being in a position of spiritual leadership makes the incident even worse. I am also planning on contacting the police as well as social services.
This incident has weighed heavily on my heart. Being an initiated disciple of Ravindra Svarupa makes this letter even harder to write. I have, unfortunately, witnessed many examples of abuse of power by Ravindra Svarupa throughout my years of association. I do not believe in any way that this incident or any others represent the character of a balanced person, what to speak about the actions of a Vaishnava Guru.
I am writing this letter publicly to induce the GBC to act appropriately, swiftly and thoroughly, especially considering ISKCON’s previous problems of abuse. The handling of this incident is being watched carefully by other senior devotees as well and I am also willing to report this incident to the general press. Nothing less than his immediate resignation and removal from ISKCON leadership and properties will be accepted.
I am also writing this letter to inform my dear Godbrothers and Godsisters. I feel they have a right to know about this incident and have the right to make up their own minds about how to personally deal with it. I am also writing this letter as a personal plea to the devotee community to help this individual victim. She is an amazing devotee and absolutely does not deserve to be treated like this. She is living in total fear of retribution and has been systematically harassed and threatened with being thrown out. Being a full time servant of Krishna, she has very little material resources and I am imploring the community of devotees to help her.
I am praying that the Lord will touch Ravindra Svarupa’s heart and reveal to him the need of total repentance and contrition. The fact that he gloated about the incident is so horrifying to me. I have personally forgiven him for the horrible things he perpetrated against me. The subject of these actions are outside the scope of this letter. One of the hardest things is to forgive someone who doesn’t feel bad about what they have done. I believe that once the Lord reveals the heaviness of the material world alongside His own Magnificence and Glory, it is easy to see how anyone could do anything. Especially considering when power, money and prestige are involved.
We are all ultimately “victims” of the material energy and those who transgress the Laws of Nature and God unfortunately suffer more personally than any suffering they cause others. I believe that everyone, what to speak of Srila Prabhupada’s disciples, are there to teach us what to do and also what NOT to do. Unfortunately, Ravindra Svarupa dasa has chosen to teach me the heart wrenching lessons of the latter.
Mahapurusha Dasa, Don’t waste your time thinking that the gbc will do something about it. They won’t ! Ravindra Svarup is their long time friend and a close buddy. They will just ignore it or put the blame on the victim or threaten to kick you and the victim out of iskcon if you don’t stop making ‘ noise ‘ about Ravindra Svarup. This is the guy who in his grandfathers age , they say , was running around with a 16 or seventeen year old girl. And you say you are his disciple.
Go and file a report to the police about the abuse . Let the police launch an investigation. If there is a probable cause let them arrest him and put him behind bars.
As it is iskcon is just a karmi society now. They build temples,collect money and live a comfortable karmi life in the name of spirituality. Srila Prabhupada wanted his disciples to become, from fourth class karmis to first class devotees. Most of his disciples failed to pass the grade. And thats why you have people like Ravindra Svarup doing this kind of abuse as a pastime.
Hare Krsna.
pamho prabhus agtACBSP,
all these strange events regarding unqualified leaders in iskcon where disciples are victimized by guru hoaxers are meant to wake people up. To understand that they are following a teacher who is less advanced in wisdom than the disciple!
Yes, report it to police straight away – even karmi people get immediate support to punish offenders.
Of course he should resign at once, is he still there? And if it is so it is not for too long because whoever gets such kind of bad reputation can’t go on on cheating.
I’m surprised to see how all these so called spiritual leaders can attract someone to spiritual life with their heart full of low class qualities?
Anyway this misbehaviour of so called senior devotees is realy low class. I mean nobody wants to get cheated like that while following all rules and regulation of spiritual life.
Problem is that a lot of newcomers in Krishna consciousness do not know the real story what SRILA PRABHUPADA instructed regarding the continuation of his ISKCON movement.
But senior devotees are supposed to know that Prabhupada did not appoint diksa-gurus but ritviks.
Thank you to let us know about another unacceptable offense by so called spiritual leaders of fiskcon.
Hopefully a lot of sincere devotees can understand by seeing the misconduct of Ravindra and turn their devotion to the original diksa-guru of iskcon, Srila Prabhupada.
You will never get betrayed by HIM, wake up fiskcon devotees, the missing bona fide link is, Prabhupada!
yes let the media know and REPORT this to the police,however this one incidence will quickly be pushed under the filthy miskon rug,this is the truth.
So basically there are no witnesses to the socalled crime?
Sounds like there is a power struggle in the temple and some devotees want an excuse to get Ravindra Svarupa out.
I don’t buy this letter. There have never been complaints in the past against this guru. And now this writer Mahapurusha is claiming he also has suffered for many years. Why didn’t you do something before? Why now?
Where is the proof? Convenient it happened in the pujari room with no witnesses.
It’s sad that Iskcon’s own people try to tear down their own leaders just to gain power. If he had truly abused anyone, they would have went to the cops already, not blowing hot air on the internet.
And this happened over a month? Why did they wait so long to say something? I question the people running this temple, not the guru or pujari.
Very convincing letter, but too biased for me. I want proof.
As for this devotee who MAY have been abused…..she needs to get a job!
Why should the devotees pay for her living expenses?
GO GET A JOB! Now that she cut her life line with the guru, she wants another sugar daddy to pay her way?!
The guru may have a comfortable life in the temple, but so do the pujaris!
If this pujari is so terrified, then leave the temple or go to the cops! Why stay there and why wait to report it? If she was brave enough to go to the temple and complain, she can go to the cops and stop this socalled monster from abusing others?
This letter makes no sense.
Why is it a wonder that someone like this black snake Ravana Swarup das can kick some innocent lady mercilessly?
This animal was caught twice on the video exhibiting his rage. Once when he called Sanat’s wife Linda a slut and his child a bastard. There are so many copies of this video on the net Nancy so stop defending proven criminals. You want proof , go look for it before you start blabbering here!
On the other occasion he angrily attacked the devotee who was distributong BTP. That video can also be found on the net. Since you are defending him I will not extend you the courtesy of sourcing those videos for you.
These so called brahmanas and paramahansas of ISKCON surely don’t have an equal vison. NEITEHR do their blinded followers like Nancy.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQBEsKWBKg0
Fast forward to 4:39 and you will hear ISKCON “pure devotee guru representative of Vaishnava sampradaya” calling children bastards and women a slut. Is that your proof enough that this demon is not even human and what to speak of being a Vaishnava guru?
I love Srila Prabhupada. He still has control for the sake of spreading Radha Krsna’s Love! He still has the keenest sense of humor known to this Earth! Jai Srila Prabhupada!