Jan 28, 2013 — USA (SUN) — Welcome to the camp of Ritviks, and while we're at it, welcome to the world of sahajiyas, too. Oh, it starts innocently enough, this tendency to think of Krishna consciousness as a cheap thing. How many devotees have repeated these words:
"After all, I'm just watching a sweet and ootsie-cutsie cartoon, Little Krishna, the Darling of Vrindavana. What harm could there be in that? Oh, I know that this movie was made by the Bangalore Ritvik temple, but so many people go there and it's really successful and has a lot of money and all that. Besides, I'm not dressing as a gopi and dancing around with some blooped refugee from the ex-Gaudiya Math. Hey, it's just a cartoon and my kids love it. I mean, what are they going to watch otherwise, Batman?"
Well enough, then, Prabhu. I hear you loud and clear. But think about the words of introduction at the beginning of Little Krishna, the one which credits Madhu Pandit das as the Executive Producer and his sidekick Chanchalapati das as the in-charge of design and research. Here, let me spell out those words for you in case you conveniently blinked and missed the cartoon's openly Mayavadic rendering of the great sages of Bharatavarsha into a fable. Ready now? This is from the movie:
"The stories and the treatment expressed herein are well and thoroughly researched and are based upon 5,000 year old fables from India's rich cultural heritage. The Serial is presented here in good faith for for ¬¬viewer's enjoyment and entertainment."
Did you have a good look at that, Prabhu? Krishna and His devotees are fabled characters, eh? You have devoted your life to some fable? If that is a fact, then the cult de-programmers of the 70's were right about you. You are a member of a cult based upon some conceived mythological characters. Have a look at the definition of "fable"from the online dictionary:
1. a short tale to teach a moral lesson, often with animals or inanimate objects as characters; apologue: the fable of the tortoise and the hare; Aesop's fables.
2. a story not founded on fact: This biography is largely a self-laudatory fable.
3. a story about supernatural or extraordinary persons or incidents; legend: the fables of gods and heroes.
4. legends or myths collectively: the heroes of Greek fable.
5. an untruth; falsehood: This boast of a cure is a medical fable.
Think about it, Prabhu. Do any of those definitions of 'fable' sound like Lord Shri Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead and Speaker of Bhagavad Gita, Who is being presented as some cartoon character, some myth, some invented personality whose exploits are merely meant for the purpose of teaching moral tales?
OK, you argue, Shrila Prabhupada approved of the idea of Krishna conscious theater, and even discussed the possibility of animation. Great. But is Little Krishna something that would please His Divine Grace? Not by a long shot. In fact, Krishna's representative would be apalled. Prabhupada could never be pleased at seeing a whole cadre of people he never initiated claiming to be his disciples while calling Krishna a fable. Which is what Ritvikism boils down to loud and clear, as seen on the authority of Little Krishna. The truth is that Srila Prabhupada's reaction to this outrage would be more like the one he communicated to devotee/artist Caruhasa dasa:
My dear Caruhasa das,
Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated July 26th 1974 with the enclosed slides. I appreciate your interest in making the Krishna book film but it is not important for now. I therefore think that you could use your talent better if you work with Yadubara. In Hawaii I understand that he is making TV programs. So you can go and help with him. I do not care very much for these filmings because by presenting Krishna in this way it makes it something like fantasy. It is better to have people to read my Krishna books what I have written so that they can understand Krishna fully. I think you can understand this.
I hope this meets you in good health.
Your ever well wisher,
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami
ACBS/bs/ps
In the letter above, Shrila Prabhupada specifically draws attention to Shriman Yadubara das, whose films made devotees and tens of thousands of life members for ISKCON. Hence we can see how a film is presented is the criteria. One must be linked to the sampradaya by genuine self-surrender to the pure devotee Spiritual Master. Not that any hodge podge can concoct whatever he likes and claim that it is authorized. This is the principle, do any damn thing for Krishna, but make sure that it is Krishna conscious and thus pleases Shri Guru.
And still you say, "Well, so what?" Right, Prabhu. So what? Well, here is that so what. See the video below and see if you can recognize an influence from Little Krishna on the adorable re-writing of Old MacDonald Had A Farm.
How do you like it when some newcomer, who is obviously influenced by the Little Krishna cartoon, casually hums "Little Krishna Had a Pig"? Do you think that there might be a paucity of genuine Krishna conscious somewhere? When did Krishna ever have a pig? Of what use are pigs to the Vrindavana goshala of Nanda Maharaja? But in myths I suppose that and everything else is possible. In myths, cows and pigs are equal because God becomes a cheap moral fable and a cartoon.
Remember the fourth regulative principle of devotional service, Prabhu? Mental speculation or gambling upon the Absolute Truth is endless. It is the cause for our billions of re-births in billions of universes since time immemorial. Stopping that vicious cycle means stopping mental speculation in the form of Ritvikism, sahajiyaism and other self-induced creations.
And think about this. These shameful concoctions like the cartoon Little Krishna or Little Krishna Had a Pig are the stuff that passes off as preaching a mere one generation after the disappearance of the Founder-Acharya of ISKCON. If devotees allow this disease to spread, then Prabhupada's work will be finished.
