ISKCON UK Promotes Narayana Maharaja

[Guest guest]

Dear Prabhus, Hare Krsna. PAMHO. AG 2 SP.

 

In an amazing about turn, the temple authorities at Bhaktivedanta Manor have

facilitated HH Narayana Maharaja, on his current UK tour. This action

constitutes an amazing flip-flop, in that the followers of Narayana Maharaja

were banned from even entering the Manor, with prominent notices to that

effect posted up in the temple. However Narayana Maharaja has now been

allowed to hold a program in Srila Prabhupada's personal quarters, which

were packed out to the rafters with ISKCON members and outsiders alike. Many

came out commenting on the significance of Narayana Maharaja preaching

sitting next to Srila Prabhupada, in Srila Prabhupada's own room. Narayana

Maharaja commented during the meeting, looking at Srila Prabhupada's murti,

that Srila Prabhupada is smiling. This series of events convinced many that

therefore Srila Prabhupada must be speaking through Narayana Maharaja.

 

This has led to a civil war breaking out around the Manor, with one group of

ISKCON supporters going so far as stating that the 'Manor is in maya' for

not preventing Narayana Maharaja from holding a program there. It has also

confirmed for many the long held suspicion that many in positions of power

in ISKCON are sympathetic to Narayana Maharaja.

Indeed one such well-known convert here in the UK is Jagattam Dasi, a

Former Bhaktin leader, and one of the most senior female devotees in the UK

yatra. She is openly preaching the glories of HH Narayana Maharaja, and

recently went on Narayana Maharaja's tour of Holland. Ironically Mother

Jagattam is also the wife of Ajamila das, another leader in the UK, who had

recently been selected to represent the GBC in the recent debate on CHAKRA.

Maybe it is just a coincidence that the person who turned a blind eye to

Narayana Maharaja's program, Manor temple president, HH Vipramukhya Swami,

is also the editor of CHAKRA. This had

led some to comment that Ajamila would be better off preaching closer to

home, rather than trying to take on all the ritviks half-way across the

world. Evidently Ajamila's strong arguments in support of the GBC have

not even convinced his own wife. It appears that Ajamila and Vipramukhya are

reaping the benefits of preaching the 'living (physically present) guru'

philosophy - which states that Srila Prabhupada's guidance alone is

insufficient. Naturally they should not be surprised when people flock to

that person whom they perceive as being the most attractive physically

present Guru on the planet. Indeed so strong is their message for the

'physically present' Guru, that even Prabhupada disciples, whom the GBC

claim have an 'exemption clause' from the need for a 'physically present'

Guru, have also been drawn to the need for such a 'physically present' Guru.

It seems that they have bought the GBC arguments that such a Guru is needed,

but not bought the arbitary 'exemption clause'.

 

Vipramukhya Swami has tried to dissipate the furore following the program

by claiming that he was powerless to act since Narayana Maharaja's group

forcibly took over the Manor. However no one is buying

such a patethic excuse since Vipramukhya Swami has not displayed such

weakness when ritviks are concerned, who are still banned from the Manor by

HH Vipramukhya Swami, and indeed are immediately escorted from the Manor by

the Police.

 

This is just the latest in a series of incidents that is confirming for

many, that the merger of the various Gaudiya Matha branches and ISKCON,

possibly with Narayana Maharaja as the acarya, is not far away. With huge

attrition from ISKCON's ranks to the Gaudiya Matha, it seems that ISKCON

have realised that a policy of co-operation with the Gaudiya Matha, will

actually be mutually beneficial. The scenario that some have proposed is

that ISKCON gurus continue to give diksa, with Narayana Maharaja installed

as a prominent siksa Guru. This would allow the ISKCON gurus to keep their

status and money, rather than losing them altogether, as is happening now,

once persons seek shelter from Narayna Maharaja, and other Gaudiya

vaisnavas. This 'siksa-guru' proposal has already been floated, ironically

by former rasika bhava disciples of Naryana Maharaja, though the proposals

only lay out the groundwork for greater emphasis on 'living siksa' over and

above diksa, and very cleverly do not allude at all to the Gaudiya Matha.

 

We have also already seen the close co-operation between the GBC and the

Gaudiya Matha over the IRG court case. Indeed a merger would make sense

since they are very well matched in their disdain for the IRG position

that Srila Prabhupada is the only Guru. We also saw how HH Tripurari

Maharaja gave the main address at the recent annual BBT meeting, where he

was applauded for his call that the BBT print books from other Gaudiya

vaisnavas besides Srila Prabhupada. And of course we already know that the

most senior men in ISKCON were for many years taking rasika bhava lessons

from Narayana Maharaja, though they now appear to have externally renounced

their former guru, to hold onto their positions in ISKCON.

 

It will be interesting to see what further repercussions ensue from the

rigorous preaching of the 'living guru physically present philosophy'

promoted by Ajamila and the GBC.

 

Ys, Chandra

 

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