The Bangalore Drama
BY: ROCANA DASA
May 31, 2011 — CANADA (SUN) — This article will address the events presently unfolding in Bangalore. In many articles in the past, I have commented on the circumstances as I see them in ISKCON Bangalore under Madhu Pandit das. These observations have been made from afar, based primarily on Bangalore temple's own published statements, along with second-hand information in the form of opinions, for the most part. These opinions are tainted or colored by the person's own political leanings and position on guru-tattva. They are from both camps: supporters of ISKCON guru-tattva coming down from the GBC's latest conception, and proponents of the latest Rtvik ideas on what Srila Prabhupada desired in terms of guru-tattva for ISKCON after his departure.
Prior to the most recent events being reported in the legal struggle between ISKCON Mumbai and ISKCON Bangalore, which have cast an unfavorable light on Madhu Pandit's position, the Rtvik camp was enthusiastic in pointing to Madhu Pandit's success. Usually describing Bangalore's success in terms of "we", and "our", the global Rtvik community has unanimously declared that success to be proof positive that the Rtviks have gotten the blessings of Sri Krsna and Srila Prabhupada for their belief in the Rtvik conclusion. But now the tide has turned, and ISKCON Mumbai, representing the whole of the GBC-run ISKCON, is pointing to these recent events as proof of their own success, which from their point of view has gotten them the same kind of divine authorization or sanction for their particular methodology for having the Sampradaya maintained. Of course, over the years, during periods when success in the legal battle seemed less certain, neither side suggested that their tenuous position might be the result of not having these spiritual blessings.
As our readers know, my personal position on guru tattva falls somewhere in between the ISKCON and Rtvik camps. I've tried to make my position clear in various manifestos and articles, laying out my understanding of Srila Prabhupada as the Sampradaya Acarya. I have continually tried to make the point that Srila Prabhupada must be understood and appreciated as a member of the very exclusive, exalted group of Sampradaya Acaryas represented on the List of 32. These transcendental personalities have essentially maintained the Sampradaya up to this point in time, making it the only Vaishnava Sampradaya to be fully active in Kali Yuga. Of course, Krsna's advent as Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu within the Sampradaya is an inconceivably important reality of the Sampradaya today, and in that sense, we are now in the Chaitanya Sampradaya.
From what I have been able to observe from a distance regarding the situation at Bangalore, the way Madhu Pandit das has been running the temple and preaching resembles a very practical application of, and validation for the Sampradaya Acarya principle. For several years now, Madhu Pandit has appeared to be applying that principle, rather than succumbing to pressure from the Rtviks to capitulate and actually perform Rtvik diksa initiations.
In addition to the fact that they have simply, and very successfully kept Srila Prabhupada at the center in Bangalore, their success has also seemed to be a result of the kshatriya or king-like leadership of Madhu Pandit das. He is no doubt a brilliant and dedicated devotee. We were surprised, therefore, to hear the bad news that Madhu Pandit had recently orchestrated and performed a mass Rtvik initiation in Bangalore. As far as I understand it, this was the first time an official institutional procedure like this has been conducted by Bangalore.
We are left to wonder why it is that for so many years prior, Madhu Pandit das had been doing what I have suggested in my presentation – essentially promoting a Siksa environment, giving Srila Prabhupada full recognition as being a Sampradaya Acarya, and encouraging devotees to simply follow him, without institutionalizing a program that puts undue emphasis on diksa, while at the same time accepting the sastric basis for diksa.
Unfortunately, for all the success he was getting in Bangalore over the years by practically employing just such a program, Madhu Pandit obviously did not adopt my philosophical perspective, or promote it as his own official position. I believe history will prove me right in my belief that the recent Rtvik initiations in Bangalore and Madhu Pandit prabhu's failure to adopt the Sampradaya Acarya philosophy, instead cementing his acceptance of Rtvik-vada, will stand as a part of Bangalore's undoing.
It appears from the documents that have been presented in the last few days regarding the lawsuit that in fact, Madhu Pandit das did try to hold the power at Bangalore, materially speaking, by engaging in certain illegal activities. Not that the GBC/ISKCON isn't cheating, too, of course. As Mahavidya das pointed out in a recent article, there are many discrepancies to be found in ISKCON in terms of how the leadership deals with their own GBC mandates for running the temples according to Srila Prabhupada's instructions. The GBC's new persona as the "ultimate and absolute managing authority" has only underscored the fact that they themselves don't follow their own dictates.
In the context of the Bangalore situation, one of the best examples of the GBC's hypocrisy is right there in Mumbai – at the Chowpatty Temple. Chowpatty is wholly and solely controlled by the Zonal Acarya, Radhanath Swami. It's not legally part of ISKCON, i.e., is not under Board control that Radhanath has no veto power over. Mumbai has been the focal point for the legal battle pressed against Bangalore, but why have they not pointed their legal machine towards Chowpatty, forcing them to also comply? Of course, we know the reason – it is that Radhanath has corralled enough power to immunize him from any such legal reactions. Like many other GBC members, as an individual leader he is above and beyond the purview of the GBC body's authority.
We must also keep in mind that Rtvik-ism and the phenomenon taking place in Bangalore are a reaction, or a by-product, of the ISKCON leaders themselves. Both Rtvik-ism and the Bangalore situation were preceded by the Zonal Acarya phenomenon, which was a huge philosophical mistake, on par with Rtvik-ism itself.
In studying the history of India, we see that over centuries, the brahmans, since the beginning of Kali Yuga, have deviated from Vedic culture and the varnasrama system. As a result of their deviations, non-Vaisnava religions have manifested, like Sikhism and Jainism. During this period, many lower caste Indians have felt less oppressed as Muslims then they would have been under the rule of the brahmans. In the same way, the Zonal Acaryas set-up their caste system in ISKCON. It's still in existence today, albeit watered down to a certain extent. Chowpatty stands as a good example.
As I understand the history of Bangalore, Jayapataka Swami who was initially the Zonal Acarya in that region, did what the other Zonal Acaryas were doing in their own zones. That is, they were traveling far and wide, initiating many disciples in areas somewhere other than the place their own main project was located. In the case of Jayapataka, his main project is undeniably Sridham Mayapur, but he has traveled all around the world making disciples. It has become common practice in ISKCON for disciples to be enticed to leave their own prabhu-datta-desa to join their Spiritual Master's main project. We had the same problem here in eastern Canada when Kirtanananda was reigning a fairly short distance away, at New Vrindaban. Many Canadian devotees, disciples of Kirtanananda, were openly enticed to go join his program in West Virginia, and this caused much difficulty for the Canadian temples.
When Madhu Pandit das took over Bangalore, he faced the same difficulty, watching the migration of his recruits being siphoned off by Jayapataka to Mayapur. For this and other reasons, Madhu Pandit took the position he felt he needed to at the time, so that his vision and plans in the local area would be protected from the pilfering of valuable local assets. Ultimately, the highest assets are the devotees who are recruited and trained to participate in the local leader's programs.
Another important aspect of the Zonal Acarya program and subsequent ISKCON policies has been the promotion of sannyasis into positions of power in the institution. If you want to become a guru, your chances are much higher if you're a sannyasi. If you want a political position in ISKCON, your chances to secure the role are much greater if you're a sannyasi. And this policy was also seriously impacting Bangalore. As a result, Bangalore under Madhu Pandit has not promoted the idea that everyone who wants a position within the society locally would first have to falsely or immaturely adopt the position of sannyasa. And this has been another reason for their success over the years. So all these influences, which ultimately came from the leaders of ISKCON, have resulted in the situation we find today.
The future remains to be seen, but in the case of Bangalore, it seems that ISKCON may have bitten off more than they can chew. Once all the appeals have been exhausted, the legal system may ultimately award them the Bangalore temple assets, but will they have the leadership, manpower, resources and vision to maintain such a huge project? Will they be able to move it forward as successfully as Madhu Pandit das has done?
One of the problems ISKCON faces is that the original cadre of manpower consisted of trained and seasoned leaders who went through Srila Prabhupada's ISKCON lila period. Many were dedicated, intelligent, and had natural leadership abilities. They were expelled, by many ways and means, by the Zonal Acaryas, who used whatever tricks they could to rid themselves of what they considered to be a big nuisance. Today, the ISKCON leaders are primarily sannyasis and GBC's who have surrounded themselves with some other bureaucratic chum-chum personalities who fancy themselves as leaders. But I have my doubts that ISKCON has leadership they can send into Bangalore to motivate, inspire and direct all the devotees in a sustained manner, ensuring that the currently established programs will continue to thrive.
Personally, I think the recent mass Rtvik initiation ceremony in Bangalore was a political tactic employed by Madhu Pandit das to create a large block of individuals initiated via Rtvik diksa. If and when the new GBC-deputed leaders arrive in Bangalore, they will be faced with hundreds of inimical devotees who, after the Rtvik initiation ceremony, will now be even more alienated than before. Their new 'initiated' status will separate and delineate them as being devotees who are 'outside' of ISKCON. They won't be considered 'in good standing' in ISKCON while they maintain the philosophy and position as Rtvik-initiates. That alone will represent a huge manpower drain for any new leaders arriving in Bangalore.
So the timing of this mass initiation event is very suspect, occurring as it did just weeks before the High Court handed down its decision. It seems to be an obvious ploy to further thwart the GBC/ISKCON and their representatives in Mumbai, who will now be faced with taking over a temple filled with all these Rtviks. We can assume that many of these devotees were well trained, and have been helping to maintain Bangalore's elaborate Deity worship, preaching programs, and other aspects of temple management, all of which are reported to be very professionally organized.
Whether or not these devotees will ever accept GBC/ISKCON leadership remains to be seen. If ISKCON ruins what has already been created in Bangalore in the name of Srila Prabhupada and Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu's Sankirtana movement, it will be another dark mark on their already smudged history. If they lay waste to the Bangalore temple – like they have laid waste to many, many temples before it – the criticism aimed in their direction will only increase. Let's not forget that in North America alone, most if not all the temples were far more successful and dynamic 30 years ago, under Srila Prabhupada's leadership, than they are today under the GBC. Now the GBC are preparing to take over Bangalore, and the world will be watching.
For the most part, our ISKCON GBC's and sannyasis are so much in maya, so much in illusion, so arrogant, that they really think they can lead vast numbers of followers without having the divine potency of a Sampradaya Acarya. Of course, they've already proven they can't do this. They can hardly even maintain Srila Prabhupada's basic program, his pre-initiation qualifications. They have not manifested the potency to motivate enough people even to maintain what Srila Prabhupada created. Now they are going to take over and maintain what Madhu Pandit das has created in Bangalore?
If ISKCON Mumbai has to rely upon the Chowpatty manpower force in order to manage the Bangalore temple -- if Bangalore comes under the sway of Radhanath Swami, the Zonal Acarya of Chowpatty and many other areas – it will be a great disservice to Srila Prabhupada. It may also prove positively that the GBC formula does not work. Because by and large, their formula doesn't work. This is evidenced by the fact that the GBC are unable to get everyone in the movement, including the powerful gurus and sannyasis like Radhanath, Bhakti Caru and Jayapataka, to show the same kind of allegiance to the GBC that they expect the rest of the movement to demonstrate.
The GBC are presenting themselves as the collective Acarya -- the collective Sampradaya Acarya -- which suggests that they're as powerful as Srila Prabhupada and can perform at the level he did during his lila period. This, of course, is a joke. It's just not happening, will not happen. These GBC's do not have the spiritual potency to inspire devotees in the temples, especially if they're not their own disciples. Radhanath is now the prime example in this regard, of a Zonal Acarya who is boldly demonstrating that he doesn't believe in the GBC system, but is instead sticking to a more traditional system – more of a Gaudiya Matha system, wherein sannyasis run their own little movements and maybe show a bit of cooperation amongst themselves from time to time.
Those of us who are not directly involved in this phenomenon are waiting to see what will become of the situation in Bangalore. Unless there is an 11th hour Supreme Court reversal in Bangalore's favor, it seems that ISKCON is going to be put under a great deal of pressure to prove themselves in this circumstance. We will all be witness to the results that unfold.
