03/14/98 - 1693

Sridhara Swami Maharaja

USA (VNN) - by Narasimha das

Sometimes devotees blame Sri Sridhara Deva Goswami Maharaja for Iskcon's deviation from Srila Prabhupada's final order on initiations in ISKCON. This accusation is unjustice.

In truth, certain members of the GBC hatched their own plan for deviation, and I feel this was not so much with reference to the bad example of the Gaudiya Matha. It's amazing how history repeats itself, in spite of warnings, as Yasodanandan prabhu showed us in his incredible analysis sent to Puru prabhu.But we can't blame other Vaisnavas for our own negligence.

As a matter of historical fact, and to defend His Holiness Sri Sridhara Swami Maharaja (the personal friend and long time associate of His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada), I offer the following as points of historical fact that should be noted by all Vaisnavas.

When the GBC first went to Sridhara Maharaja, they had already installed themselves as Acharyas in ISKCON. They only went to him to help bolster their positions. More or less the first thing that Sridhara Maharaja said was, "What did Swami Maharaja say to do?" When they replied that Srila Prabhupada had appointed them as gurus, his reply was, "I don't think so." He knew of Srila Prabhupada's opinion on guru appointments. Later when they went to him, he tried to advise the GBC gurus to take a more humble role, and reduce their ritual status in ISKCON. It was then that the GBC labeled him as an enemy of ISKCON.

Please post this letter so devotees don't make unnecessary offenses mentally to a pure devotee. Thank you. I hope this letter meets you well. Hare Krishna!

Your servant,

Narasimha das
(336) 593-3315