GBC law re demigod worship etc. in ISKCON temples

September 26, 2005

GBC Resolutions 1996, #209

A. That the following activities are not allowed as part of ISKCON

functions, whether conducted on ISKCON property or elsewhere:

B. Satya Narayana Katha. (This is a concocted form of worship).

C. Garbha dance, when it is conducted in association with the worship of

Durga. (Garbha dance is usually performed as part of Nava-ratri, a Durga

festival. However, there are also Garbha dances in glorification of Krishna.

Temple authorities permitting a Garbha dance must be confident that the

performance is entirely Krishna centered.)

D. The reading of Tulsidasa's Rama-carita-manasa. (Ramayana readings should

be from Valmiki Ramayana, as Tulsidasa's work is tinged with impersonalism.)

E. Lectures advocating Mayavada or other offensive philosophies.

F. The singing of the Hindi arati song "om jaya jagadisha hari". (This is

a prayer for material benedictions).

2. Regarding worship of demigods:

A. Worship of demigods as independent gods is not permitted in

Krishna consciousness. However, the Nectar of Devotion says that demigods

should be respected. Worshipping demigods as Vaisnavas is authorized. For

preaching, in order to teach people the right position of the demigods as

great Vaisnavas, ISKCON temples may hold on special occasions ceremonies or

pujas respecting and worshipping demigods as great Vaisnavas, provided:

i) The worship is only as a Vaisnava (This means that the

deva/devi shall be offered: the prasadam arotika items immediately after

they are offered to Lord Krishna, Krishna prasadam flower garlands, and

Krishna prasadam foodstuffs. No independent worship is offered. Only the

chanting of Hare Krishna and Vishnu's names is done, as Lord Caitanya did in

South India.)

ii) Their status as servants of Krishna is made as clear as

possible through signs, symbols, and iconography, and

iii) Offerings are of Krishna prasadam.

B. Deities of demigods (incl. Lakshmi where no Vishnu is

established), shall not be established without permission of the GBC. Where

they are permitted or where ISKCON aquires a temple with already established

murtis of demigods, they may remain, provided they are worshipped as

Vaisnavas, as provided above.

3. It is permitted for other groups, at the discretion of the local

ISKCON authorities, to rent space in ISKCON premises, outside the temple

room, for their own ceremonies and functions, even for functions listed

above (1.A-E), provided that the public understand clearly that the function

is not being sponsored or conducted by ISKCON. However, no function on

ISKCON property shall include any activity contrary to the four regulative

principles. The GBC recommends that temples provide outside groups rental

contracts clearly stipulating the above restrictions.

June 14, 2006

krishna_susarla <krishna_susarla > wrote: Read scripture, especially Prabhupada's books, and look at the matter

objectively. We can't trust anyone else to do our thinking for us.

>>Trust in a bonafide guru and vaishnavas is a must for spiritual progress - our thinking can only lead us so far - the actions of certain personalities has no bearing on the truth - that knowledge of Krishna is obtained only through service of disciplic succession, not by simply reading books (BG 4.2, 4.34). I request you to be cautious while making such statements (whatever you level of frustration might be), because writings by senior devotees sometimes leave indelible and wrong impressions on the minds of aspirants.

I agree with you on other valid concerns that you raised.

iys

Aravind