Quotes, Facts and Figures
BY: MAHAVIDYA DAS (ACBSP)
Apr 13, UK (SUN) — My thanks to all the Sampradaya Sun contributors for their recent comments and feedback regarding myself and Bhaktivedanta Manor. As always, they give me impetus for further thought and reflection. It would be simply tedious to go back over 4 years of detail, however I have been asked to re-cap on some of the major points.
The first of many being those weddings.
Here is what His Divine Grace AC Bhaktivedanta Swami wrote.
These quotes are all taken from Siksamrta, a compilation of Srila Prabhupada's letters.
The UK ISKCON management, the Bhaktivedanta Manor management, and all the priests involved have all been given copies over the last 2 years.
"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 Krsna consciousness."
Srila Prabhupada Letter to Jaya Gopal, January 11, 1970
Straightforward, would you not think?
Srila Prabhupada is very explicit.
What part of "Uninitiated couples cannot be married by us"
is difficult to understand?
Srila Prabhupada wrote this letter…
"As a matter of fact, we should not allow anyone to hold any function in our temple other than Vaisnava principle"
Srila Prabhupada Letter to Hamsadutta, October 10, 1968
Again, very explicit and straightforward.
Then we have this letter…
"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."
Srila Prabhupada Letter to Upendra, May 25, 1970
Once again Srila Prabhupada says:
"We cannot take responsibility for marrying others who are not initiated by us".
However Srila Prabhupada makes a concession. (In my opinion, as a fundraiser for the temple.)
"If they contribute something to the temple they can use the temple and perform the marriage with their own priest".
Once again, "bring their own priest".
Here we have Srila Prabhupada giving very explicit instruction regarding sacrifices at 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".
Srila Prabhupada Letter to Patita Uddharana das, February 3, 1975
For those unfamiliar with Bhaktivedanta Manor, "the room" is one of the other 2 large rooms on the ground floor.
Once again Srila Prabhupada says,
"She can bring her own brahmanas"
And
"Don't have it in the Temple room"
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".
Srila Prabhupada Letter to Surabhi, May 20, 1976
Once again, Srila Prabhupada is very explicit.
"the marriages cannot take place before the deity in the Temple"
So why does the Bhaktivedanta management continue?
They have many reasons, the principal one being
££££££££££££££££££££s.
According to the UK Charities Commission, the income from weddings in 2007 was £390,000.
Everyone involved gets paid. At one point they were receiving bonuses or commission per wedding.
Shyamasundara das, the manager, does very well with his family all involved.
Kripamoya das also has a significant stake in this enterprise.
Visit his website, "The Vaisnava Voice".
Have a look for weddings.
Kripamoya prabhu openly boasts of having performed over 500 weddings.
He also "suggests" a donation of £250 a pop.
(for Kripamoya.)
One parent recently told me Kripamoya prabhu charged him £600. (Again, that's just for Kripamoya das, not the entire wedding.)
Add up the figures…
So lets sum up:
They marry uninitiated devotees...
Srila Prabhupada says not to.
They perform these ceremonies in the Temple room...
Srila Prabhupada says not to.
They perform these ceremonies in front of the deity of Srila Prabhupada.
And then,
they wonder why we complain.
