05/06/98 - 1784

Sarasvat Gaudiya Vaisnava Association

India (VNN) - by Adinath das

I recently had the opportunity to see the third gathering of the Sarasvat Gaudiya Vaisnava Association in Mayapur India.

Sripad Jayapataka Maharaj, self-appointed president of that organization, had invited senior Gaudiya Math members from other missions to attend the third function. If imitation is the most honest way of flattery, I was impressed how ISKCON tried to put up a show of open mindedness towards other Gaudiya Math missions.

Since five years ISKCON had been invited to send some member at least to observe or participate in the functions of the Visva Vaisnava Raj Sabha - World Vaisnava Association WVA-VVRS. ISKCON ignored the existence of these meetings.

Then they started their own version of the World Vaisnava Association. I observed with care all the details. Even though over one thousand ISKCON devotees from all over the world were on the premises, only some 5 to 10 attended the meeting. It was not announced and the magazine published for the Sarasvat Gaudiya Vaisnava Association was not available on any of the newsstands in ISKCON. ISKCON’s representative Sripad Jayapataka Maharaj arrived more then one hour late.

Sripad Jayadvaita Maharaj, Sripad Kavichandra Maharaj, Sripad Guru Prasad Maharaj and some others came in and out of the meeting. Many Gaudiya Acaryas and Sannyasies had come including Srila Nayananda das Babaji Maharaj the disciple of Srila Sarasvati Thakur Prabhupada and his godbrother Srila Sagar Maharaj. Committees were formed and different speeches were held. Finally a feast was served.

The Bhaktivedanta Charity Trust was holding this meeting to promote unity amongst the followers of Srila Sarasvati Thakur Prabhupada. This is very good. It would really make a big change if Iskcon would teach their members that they belong to a big family with so many branches.

The attempt to find common rules of Vaisnava respect and behavior was discussed. It was decided that some proposal has to be circulated to all leading Acaryas and Vaisnava scholars for comment. Their reply again has to be circulated to all leading members. Only after that it would be possible to discuss some commonly accepted rules if the majority agrees. It was pointed out that it was not nice to write negative in publications against other preaching Vaisnavas.

Simultaneously to the meeting in front of the ISKCON Mandir the Iskcon recruiting minister was selling magazines denouncing the preaching of Srila Narayana Maharaj.

All in all, there seems to be a long way to go. But the first step is half of the way - at least that is a Chinese proverb.