Puri priests up in arms against ISKCON The whole thing stinks of hypocrisy

[Vigraha]

Puri priests up in arms against ISKCON

 

Puri priests up in arms against ISKCON Ratha Yatra dates burn an effigy of the Founder/Acarya

The priests at Jagannath Temple here are again up in arms against the International Society of Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), which, despite facing flak from different quarters last year, is again likely to celebrate Rath Yatra on different dates at various places in the country.

A number of priests and cultural enthusiasts under the banner of Sri Jagannath Sena, a local cultural outfit, staged a demonstration in front of the world famous 12th century shrine on Tuesday protesting against the proposed untimely celebration of annual Rath Yatra by ISKCON authorities at different places, including New Delhi and Ludhiana. The angry priests even burnt the effigy of Srila Prabhupada, the Founder/Acharya of ISKCON. ISKCON is likely to observe Rath Yatra at different places in next couple of months, said some of the agitating priests.

“Time and again the ISKCON society is flouting our tradition and norms. Last year too they did not pay heed to our protests and went ahead with celebrating Rath Yatra on different dates at various places in the country,” said Priyadarshan Pattanaik, the national convener of the Sena.

“Even though Jagannath temples exist in every nook and cranny of the world, the Jagannath Temple at Puri is the real abode of Jagannath. And going by the age-old tradition, the annual Rath Yatra of the Lord is observed on asadha sukla dwitiya that falls in June and July in the Gregorian calendar,” Pattanaik maintained.

Expressing solidarity with the priests, Mayapurchandra dasa, a former ISKCON devotee from Italy said the Krishna followers should abide by the precept of Hindu religion and calendar. ” ISKCON should celebrate Rath Yatra on the same day as observed here. But burning the effigy of Prabhupada is condemnable,” Mayapurchandra said.

Priests reproached the Jagannath Temple administration for doing little to stop such practices by ISKCON. “The shrine authorities last time had promised to take legal action against the ISKCON authorities after the latter underplayed the warnings made by the former. But the Jagannath temple officials turned back from that promise. This bolstered ISKCON to observe Rath Yatra once again on different dates,” said an agitating priest, Somnath Khuntia.

Surprisingly, the temple Chief Administrator, Sailendra Narayan Sarangi, parried the issue saying “I have no idea about it”. He even did not reply whether he will take up the matter again with the ISKCON authorities. Temple PRO Laxmidhar Pujapanda said the Gajapati Dibyasingha Deb requested the ISKCON body to celebrate Rath Yatra on the same date, akin to Puri.

We encourage ISKCON leaders, all disciples and followers of Srila Prabhupada to immediately express their outrage via petitions and personal complaints to Puri Temple administrators and officials. Please direct your letters, faxes and phone calls to the following individuals.

Gajapati Maharaja Dibyasingha Deb Chairman, Sri Jagannath Temple Managing Committee Sri Nahar, Puri 752001 Phone 1: 91-674-2511166 Phone 2: 91-6752-222829 Fax: 91-674-513842

E-mail: gajapati@dte.vsnl.net.in Mr. Suresh Chandra Mohapatra, IAS Working Chairman Shri Jagannath Temple Office, Puri Phone 1: 91-6752-223002 Phone 2: 91-6752-222002 E-mail: jagannath@ori.nic.in

Mr. Bhaskar Jyoti Sarma, IAS Collector & Deputy Chief Administrator Shri Jagannath Temple Office, Puri. Phone (Office): 91-6752-222033 Phone (Residence): 91-6752-222034 Fax: 91-6752-223939 E-mail: dmpuri@ori.nic.in

Sailendra Narayan Sarangi Chief Administrator, Jagannatha Puri Temple E-mail: sarangis@ias.nic.in

In a related story from ‘The Hindu’:

Protest against proposed car festival by ISKCON

Staff Reporter, THE HINDU

Puri: A number of servitors of Jagannath Temple and cultural enthusiasts of Puri on Tuesday took to the street protesting the proposed car festival to be organised by International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) in New Delhi on November 23.

They were enraged over untimely celebration of the festival. Servitors burnt effigy of Srila Prabhupada, the founder acharya of ISKCON. Shouting slogans against the organisers, these servitors threatened not to allow the ISKCON followers to Puri.

“Ratha Yatra is usually celebrated in the month of June and July. Since Puri is the real abode of Lord Jagannath, the festival timing should be followed by everyone in and outside the State. So celebrating Ratha Yatra on an unscheduled date is anti-Hindu,” said Priyadarshan Patnaik, national convenor of Jagannath Sena, a local outfit.

The State government and the Jagannath Temple Administration (JTA) should take action against ISKCON authorities and prevent organisers at New Delhi from celebrating the Rath Yatra. Reacting to the development JTA’s public relation officer Laxmidhar Pujapanda said Dibyasingh Dev, scion of Puri Royal family, had requested other State government not to allow celebration of Car Festival on any unscheduled date. Despite the protest last year, ISKCON had celebrated the car festival in New Delhi. It had evoked sharp reactions among servitors and other die-hard followers of Jagannath cult.

However, Bhubaneswar unit of ISKCON had disassociated from the whole controversy. Chief of ISKCON, Bhubaneswar Golak Mohapatra said, “we are not part of the decision taken at New Delhi. We will follow the rituals of Jagannath Temple at Puri. We have even passed a resolution to this effect.”

Dear Gajapati Maharaja Dibyasingha Deb,

My respects to you. Jaya Jagannatha!

My name is Danavir Goswami, a member of ISKCON and disciple of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.

You may recall that a few years ago I organized the tour of Druze leaders that journeyed from Israel to Jagannatha Puri to meet you. They enjoyed their visit very much.

I have heard that under your jurisdiction an effigy of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada was recently burned by those claiming to be followers of Lord Jagannatha. I find it almost unbelievable.

Millions of persons around the world, such as myself, had never heard of Lord Jagannatha before Srila Prabhupada and his ISKCON movement brought the Rathayatra Chariot festivals to our cities. Now we worship Lord Jagannatha, Baladeva and Subhadra with great devotion and love.

Srila Prabhupada was a great devotee of Lord Jagannatha in modern history—how then could such a saintly person’s image be defamed in Puri itself?

I do not suspect that you were a party to the effigy burning, however since this great atrocity has taken place under your supervision, I urge you to use your powers to the fullest extent to punish those who are responsible for the act. The world awaits your decision and action so that this heinous act is rectified.

May Lord Jagannatha guide you and empower you to take the correct action in this matter. I will be very thankful to hear it and see it so that such a demoniac action is never performed again in Jagannatha Puri.

Wishing you well,

Danavir Goswami

(Rupanuga Vedic College Inaugural President)

Rupanuga Vedic College/Polestar

5201 Paseo, Kansas City, Missouri 64110

Tel: (407)413-9406, Fax: (816) 924-5640, Mob: (407) 407-575-7187

E-mail: danavir.goswami@pamho.net Website: www.rvc.edu

Skype: DanavirGoswami

Hare Krsna,

Please accept my humble obeisances. All Glories to Srila Prabhupada.

In addition to the above numbers i have got the mobile number of the secretary of Gajapati Maharaj, Mr. Mohanty (00 91 94337315541). I called him up and showed my displeasure of whatever happened in Puri. You can call him up also. He also gave the fax number of the committee office (91 6752 220100). You can additionally fax on this number also apart from the above numbers.

Time to rise for Prabhupada.

your lowly servant,

vibhava krsna das.

by vibhavakrsna das on November 15th, 2008

This can be turned into a positive opportunity to glorify Srila Prabhupada. If we organize a large group of devotees from all over India to travel to Jagganath Puri and have continuous Hari Nam it would surely attract attention of the media. Also leading life members could approach the media as well a their local politicians to protest this affront to Srila Prabhupada and his Iskcon movement.

I wish I was there in India to help. Don’t let this opportunity pass to make everyone know that we are all loyal to Srila Prabhupada and won’t tolerate this insult to our Founder Acarya

Imagine if an effigy of the prophet Mohammad was burned. What kind of reaction would we expect from his followers?

 

The following is by Pusta Krishna das

Dear Suresh Chandra Mahapatra, Dandavats. I was very saddened to hear the envious behaviour of some of the pandas which led to the burning of the form of His DIvine Grace AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupad in front of the Jagannath Temple.

 

By every standard, he was Lord Nityananda and Lord Chaitanya-devas personal emissary in this era of the Kali Yuga. The acts of your underlings therefore mark a most regrettable time. We know that Sri Jagannath will protect His beloved bhaktas.

 

Such position is beyond appointment by any other people, who might profess closeness or proximity to the absolute Truth. The Truth rather will descend in His own way, at His own time, and cannot be stopped by any type of human politics.

Thus, I expect a rather severe reaction to come to those unfortunate souls who have participated in these acts, or who have supported them passively. It is the end of an era of dignity for the sevaites of the Holy Jagannath Temple in Puri.

 

Throughout the world, the glories of Lord Jagannath have been proclaimed by ISKCON through the will of Srila Prabhupad. The first Rathayatra in the west was in San Francisco Golden Gate Park in 1967 and has taken place each year since then. I participated in the first Rathayatra in South Africa, and in many similar celebrations throughout the world.

 

I led the kirtan of the Hare Krishna Mahamantra in July 1976 when the first Rathayatra went down the Fifth Avenue in New York City with Srila Prabhupad present which proclaimed the grand success of Srila Prabhupad’s preaching work in the West.

Lord Jagannath has graced Trafalgar Square in London and every major venue in the world. How can the pandas fail to see how the millions of Krishna bhaktas throughout the world have served Lord Jagannath so sweetly, affectionately, and sincerely?

 

Never mind what day of the year, northern or southern hemisphere… how amazing all of this is by the grace of Srila Prabhupad! Who could fail to appreciate this? Only a stone-hearted person, that is who. Woe unto the misguided? Now, once one has offended a great vaishnava, there is only one way to amend this state, as exemplified by the example of Durvasa Muni and Ambarish Maharaj in the Puranas.

One must go to the offended person and beg his forgiveness. Since Srila Prabhupad is now in Goloka Vrindaban with Sri Sri Radha Krishna, Baladeva and the eternal family of Sri Krishna, I suggest the final method for purging of false pride from the pandas and the faithful servitors of Lord Jagannath. Open the doors of the Jagannath Temple once and for all to bhaktas and visitors from around the world.

 

Allow Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s family of devotee’s entry to have darshan of Lord Jagannath, Subhadra, and Baladeva. This can be the only way to appease His Divine Grace AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupad, and to alleviate the envy that has overwhelmed the hearts of many pandas. This is no game. The very survival of devotion of these pandas rests upon this decision… otherwise they are doomed to be chased by Sri Sudarshan Chakra of Lord VIshnu, and will not be able to hide in any place, even Vaikuntha.

Otherwise, the world family of devotees must consider you and your fellow pandas as being quite irrelevant and a disturbance to the progressive path of bhakti.

 

We are not dependent upon entry into the divine darshan hall of Sri Jagannath-deva for our bhakti to proceed, as we are all followers of the mood of Sri Chaitanyadeva who taught that service in separation is superior to union. Rather, the bhakti creeper of the pandas is now at risk of being cut-off thoroughly by maha-vaishnava-aparadha.

The prayers of such pandas cannot reach to Lord Jagannath Who will be deaf to such blasphemy, and the chanting to and decoration of the Lord’s form will not please such Lord who claims that there is no one more dear in this world than one who teaches saranagati to the bhaktas… His Divine Grace AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupad is foremost amongst such contemporaries.

 

The choice is yours, bu t we shall carry on with our service to Sri Sri Guru Gauranga regardless of any decision by the panda sevaites of Sri Jagannath Temple. Rather, your devotion and its receipt by the Lord is at risk.

With respect for your position,

Pusta Krishna das Physician, Surgeon, and bhakta

 

The whole thing stinks of hypocrisy and arrogance!

 

What’s going on is obvious, the Puri Temple devotees and managers feel that ISKCON is taking over what they believe if their festival of Ratha-yatra. they are probably fearful that Lord Jagannath will be made more famous by ISKCON than their Puri festival (well, that already happened thanks to the wonderful causless mercy and humility of Srila Prabhupada.

To understand how the Puri pujaris and managers felt about the 'new ISKCON kid on the block', just look at some ISKCON Temples reaction when Gaudiya math Temples started in there area, some ISKCON Temples even 'patented' the name Hare Krishna so the Gaudiya math could not use the term 'Hare Krishnas'

The whole thing stinks of hypocrisy and arrogance!

I believe Bhakta Bob summed it all up 45 years ago, 'The times ar achanging'

The Puri Preists should be honoured ISKCON is spreading the glorious of Lord Jaganath and ISKCON should be honoured that the Gaudiya math is spreading in the West because that is ALSO Srila Prabhupada's credit and mercy on everyone including the Gaudiya and all Hindus in India and around the world

[yogesh]

These Puri Priest saying Lord Jaganath (Lord of the Universe) can only be manifest in Puri. Then why is the Lord called Jaganath??

 

Trying to subdue the celebration of Lord Jaganath. But the Lord is more powerfull and will not be chained by these Bandits. They have kept so many people out of the temple because they are not Indians/Hindus born in India and now they want to keep the people of the world from having the mercy of Lord Jaganath's Darshan.

 

No one can stop the Lord from coming to every country of the World to give his devotees Darshan of mercy.

And May The Lord's Chariot ride from country to country across the Globe.

 

All Glories to Lord Jaganath, Baladev Subhdra's Rathyatrs processions

 

Hare Krsna

 

All glories to the devotees for bringing the Lord's Mercy to the people of the World.

All Glories to Sirla Prabhupada for allowing us the people of the world to get the mercy of the Lord.

 

Jay Jaganath

Jay Sirla Prabhupada

[Vigraha]

Do Not Violate Jagannath Culture and Tradition" - Puri King

BY: DEBABRATA MOHAPATRA

 

Nov 16, JAGANNATHA PURI, ORISSA — The scion of Puri Royal family, Gajapati Dibyasingha Deb, has appealed to the ISKCON body not to violate the Jagannath culture and tradition by celebrating Rath Yatra untimely at different places in the country and abroad.

 

The King's reaction came a few days after the priests and cultural enthusiasts here protested the seasonal deviation in celebrating Rath Yatra. They were piqued at ISKCON's proposed Rath Yatra to be observed on different dates, at various locations. Priests and locals under the banner of Jagannath Sena demonstrated in front of the Jagannath Temple and burnt the effigy of Srila Prabhupada, the Founder of ISKCON. The sena's national convener, Priyadarshan Pattanaik, gave a memorandum to the 12th century shrine Chief Administrator to take legal proceedings against the violators.

 

Jagannath Sena's burning of the effigy evoked sharp reactions from ISKCON society members across the world. Krishna followers were hurt at the "insane" behaviour of the Sena activists. "The activists should not have burnt the effigy of Srila Prabhupada. This is an insane act by the Sena men. God will not forgive them," said an ISKCON devotee here.

 

"This is sad that ISKCON has flouted Jagannath Tradition of celebrating Rath Yatra, which is celebrated on asadha sukla dwitiya that falls in June and July mostly," Dibyasingha Deb said.

 

Last year also, Rath Yatra was celebrated on different dates by the ISKCON society at many places. "In fact we had sent letter to the Governing Body of ISKCON to stop untimely celebration of Rath Yatra on different dates. They had also pledged us to abide by the Jagannath tradition. But I don't know what went wrong this time," the Puri Maharaja said.

 

"However, we have again sent letter to the body to stop such activities. Even we have asked the state government to take some action. If this does not yield any result, we may take legal action. But we will wait till the reply from the ISKCON body," Dibyasingha Deb said.

 

Glimpses of Ludhiana Rath Yatra

 

BY: BHAKTA KAPLISH

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Nov 16, LUDHIANA, INDIA (SUN) — Lord Jagannatha Ratha Yatra festival concluded with great devotion and dedication in Ludhiana. About five Lakh devotees from India and abroad participated in this festival of chariot. The route of the parade was beautifully decorated and Sankirtan parties recited melodious kirtana. The six kilometer parade route was covered in eight hours.

 

His Holiness Gopal Krishna Goswami Maharaj, GBC and BBT Trustee, offered arati to the deities of Jagannatha, Baldev and Lady Subhadra. Mr. Prem Kumar Dhumal, Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh state of India, was the chief guest.

 

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Among others who participated in the parade were His Holiness Vedavyasapriya Swami Maharaj, His Holiness Pravodha Nand Maharaj, HG Mahaman das (ACBSP), Zonal Secretary HG Vaiyasaki das (ACBSP), HG Makhan Lal Prabhu, (ACBSP), HG Sarvabhauma das, HG Mohan Rupa das, Temple President of ISKCON New Delhi main temple, HG Vidurpriya das, Co-Temple President ISKCON Ludhiana, HG Sakshi Gopal Das, Temple President, ISKCON Kurukshetra, HG Akinchan Priya das, along with devotees from ISKCON Chandigarh, devotees from ISKCON Vrindavan and ISKCON New Delhi, devotees from U.SA., Russia, Uzbekistan, Ukraine, HG Bhaktivinode das, HG Krishan Kanti das, Ex-Temple President of ISKCON Chandigarh, and book distribution parties from New Delhi and Kolkatta.

 

To see more pictures please visit our website.

 

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Reconciliation? A Letter to Puri Officials

 

 

BY: JAGABANDHU DAS

 

 

 

Nov 15, FORT WHITE, FLORIDA (SUN) —

 

 

Respected Venerables; Please excuse me. Sorry to bother you.

 

 

I was very sorry to hear of the Sri Ratha-yatra scheduling disagreement which has taken place between the various sevaites of Sri Jagannatha Dev.

 

 

 

If we consider the story from Srimad-Bhagavatam about Maharaj Amburish and the offense against his lotus feet by Durvas Muni, along with Lord Vishnu's advice to Durvas Muni: cannot the grave offense to Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada and his worldwide followers

 

 

possibly become ameliorated by the earnestly appealed for forgiveness by the offenders, who voluntarily with profusely apologetic fervor might then escort the palanquin-carried murti of Sri Jagannatha Dev's universally- acclaimed, exalted and dearmost servitor Srila Prabhupada into the sanctorum of Sri Jagannatha Dev's own temple in Puri, for a maha guru-puja offering to His Divine Grace in the Divine Presence of Lord Jagannatha, Lord Baladev and Lady Subhadra, thereby giving hopeful opportunity for the offenders to become rectified and redeemed by recompense fulfilled?

 

 

 

 

In this way, the global family of Sri Jagannatha Dev, regardless of particular specific institutional affiliation might become pacified and aspirantly re-united in concerted action for that one genuinely mutually beneficial aim of prolifically promulgating truly universal Love of Godhead throughout the world.

 

 

To give dishonor, honors no one.

 

 

Humbly,

 

the lowly Jagabandhu das

 

 

 

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[Amlesh]

Which is which, Lord Knows.

[theist]

 

Puri priests up in arms against ISKCON Ratha Yatra dates burn an effigy of the Founder/Acarya

 

What the #^*@! Forget these slobs. Mundane religionists and demons.

[bhaktajan]

Oooh!

 

Theist said, "#^*@"!

 

Oops now I said, #^*@! [Duh! I said it again.]

 

 

......................................................

This is what I do --I wear a common cricket cap with a patch sown-on --on the front, above the visor [with the face of Krishna's Jagannatha Rupa] that looks exactly like this:

 

But the eyes don't follow the other passengers on the train.

 

Try it yourself and you'd be a walking reminder of Jagannatha's (Krishna's) Face.

[13thMonkey]

Look, I have no problem with the dates issue. Frankly I think its good to have multiple dates and locations so people can attend multiple events. But set that aside, I'd have no problem sticking to a traditional date.

 

EXCEPT.....

 

We have our own temples and deities. Many Iskcon devotees are not allowed in to the Puri temple. Fine. You have your temple. Exclude us and run your festivals the way you see fit.

 

We'll have our temples and run our festivals the way we see fit. They don't want to bring us in, to see us as part of a larger family, then fine. You go your way and we'll go our way.

[Nrsinghadev]

Dandavats,

 

reading this ghastly bit of news, I cannot but see the Lord's hand in this. It seems to me that Lord Jagannath has provoked these ignorant people into causing an intolerable offense to one of His dear devotees, just like He previously stirred up the dormant demonic nature of Kamsha by speaking to him.

By burning this effigy they have offended an entire community of devotees, thus by comitting this grave Vaisnava aparadha against Srila Bhaktivedanta Prabhupada, a pure devotee of the Lord, this group of ignorant priests has verily signed their own death sentence, paving their own road to hell.

 

A pure devotee of the Supreme Lord will not take offense to this, but it should be understood that it is the duty of the disciple of that pure devotee to take offense to this grave aparadha of burning an effigy of Srila Bhaktivedanta Prabhupada. This insult is basically a call to arms for any disciple of Prabhupada; actually for any Gaudiya Vaisnava. By this I don't mean we should become violent, but certainly some action has to be undertaken.

 

The example is given nicely in the life of Jiva Goswami, who felt offended when Sri Vallabhacarya corrected some of writings of Jiva Goswami's guru Srila Rupa Goswami, and thus rebuked and defeated Sri Vallabhacarya with sound arguments. As elucidated by Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayana Maharaj during a lecture:

 

Did Srila Jiva Gosvami do the right thing when he defeated the arguments of Sri Vallabhacarya and defended his Gurudeva?

 

[Devotees:] He was right.

 

[srila Narayana Maharaja:] But what about his Gurudeva, Srila Rupa Gosvami? Was he right or wrong?

 

[Devotees:] He was right.

 

[srila Narayana Maharaja:] How is that? If Srila Jiva Gosvami did the right thing, then Srila Rupa Gosvami must be wrong. How can Srila Rupa Gosvami be right?

 

[Devotee:] Because he is Guru, he has the qualification that he can correct…

 

[srila Narayana Maharaja:] This is not a good argument.

 

[Devotee:] Srila Rupa Gosvami is Guru. He is:

 

trnad api sunicena

taror api sahisnuna

amanina manadena

kirtaniyah sada harih

 

["One can chant the holy name of the Lord in a humble state of mind, thinking himself lower than the straw in the street. One should be more tolerant than the tree, devoid of all sense of false prestige and ready to offer all respects to others. ln such a state of mind one can chant the holy name of the Lord constantly." (Sri Siksastaka 3)]

 

Srila Rupa Gosvami wants to respect everyone without desiring respect for himself. But Srila Jiva Gosvami could not tolerate that his Gurudeva was criticized.

 

[srila Narayana Maharaja:] This is not the answer. This logic is not correct.

 

[Devotee:] Srila Rupa Gosvami sent Jiva Gosvami away because he wanted to increase Jiva Gosvami's love by making him feel separation.

 

[srila Narayana Maharaja:] No. The answer is that Srila Rupa Gosvami wanted to respect Sri Vallabhacarya, but his disciple, Jiva Gosvami, disrespected him. This was wrong. Srila Rupa Gosvami considered, “Sri Vallabhacarya may think, ‘Rupa Gosvami is not openly disrespecting me, but he is disrespecting me through his disciple.’" Therefore, some blame might come to Rupa Gosvami. By punishing his disciple, Jiva Gosvami, Srila Rupa Gosvami was giving respect to Sri Vallabhacarya.

 

Actually, Srila Rupa Gosvami was right and Srila Jiva Gosvami was also right. A disciple should not tolerate anything against his Gurudeva. Thus, both the guru and disciple were right. Srila Rupa Gosvami wanted to respect Sri Vallabhacarya, and he did.

[Baobabtree]

Namaste all.

 

I can't help but laugh when I hear these kind of things. Do these priests think that some how they have a monopoly on God? How sad. I pray these people come to their senses soon, and repent for such acts of bigotry and foolishness.

 

Aum Namah Shivaya

Jai Jagannath Swami

Jai Shri Krishna

[theist]

 

I can't help but laugh when I hear these kind of things. Do these priests think that some how they have a monopoly on God?

 

Yes exactly! They think that. It is a common illusion of all ritualists & religionists to think that God only dwells in my house/temple. Or if He has some presence in your church He is much more present in my mosque/temple church.

 

These Puri characters seem to be taking this madness to a new level though.

[13thMonkey]

Its classic games of politicians. They try to incite anger at some "enemy" and feign some grievances. They are just looking for attention to make themselves feel special.

 

Ignore these guys. Let them rant and rave. What can they do? Devotees will continue to hold their Ratha Yatras and worship the Lord. And they'll keep foaming at the mouth and burning cloth dolls. Who cares? They look like fools - and when a fool acts foolish its best to just sit back and laugh.

[Amlesh]

Jai Sri Krishna.

Jai Sri Jaganatha Swami.

 

That's why I prefer a temple when there is no one around but at the same time I do miss the genuine crowd.

 

Krishna teaches tolerance and peace, and here devotees are up for the contrary.

[radha_das]

According to hindu calander, we must held every festival on the exact date and time which is mentioned in the scriptures.

 

In Puri every year, Temple organizes Jaggannath Rathyatra on the very particular day and time.

 

According to ISKCON members and gurus Rathyatra is the only chance when they do get together and collect fund on the name of KC.

 

Why dont you (ISKCON people) celebrate Janmastami any other day? Why dont you celebrate holi or diwali or Radhastami any other day? Why dont you celebrate Prabhupad disappearance thru out the year in the various cities?

Infact, once I personally went to Watford temple in UK. and ISKCON temple was celebrating Dusherra 5 days later. When I asked them. they said, "this time Dusheera came on working day. Not many people would have come, so we changed the date"

Are you runing the Temple of Lord? Where is the Gaudiya Mood (Bhaav)? If you guys say, you are the followers of SIX Goswamis and Seven Temples, do anyone from there break the rules? Temple should take care His Lord first because it is HIS residence. You are not allowed to change the dates because devotees wont participate in the festival.

You guys are actually ruining our culture on the name of KC. You guys should read lawbooks of our Sanatan Dharma. If your Prabhupad did anything, it doesnt mean we should also follow him and change our scriptures' quotations and rules. He(prabhupad) was only the guru not the GOD.

 

Puri priests are right with their points. They are not stopping you. They just want you to celebrate Rathyatra on the same day and time (according to the scriptures)

[Amlesh]

Welcome to the jungle.

 

Though my dear Guru Srila Prabhupada is not here.. even then we get to hear hihihaha on Him.

 

When you people will start assuming your responsibilities and see properly [see the mirror] whom to blame for some unwanted consequences.

 

It's really bad to jump to some conclusion when something is apparently not taking its normal course and quickly drag Srila Prabhupada in all that.

 

These days, we cannot really associate Srila with Iskcon, even though He is the founder.

[gHari]

First they murder sheep. Now they murder Prabhupada. Jagannatha has clearly divorced Himself from them.

 

When we try to steal God's glory for ourselves, these things happen, and we are held up for the world to laugh at. Their false-egos have made fools of them all before the world.

 

No one can own God. Only humility and Jagannatha can save them now from the darkest of hells.

[bhaktajan]

 

 

 

Search for the Hidden Treasure

 

Since no one can trace the history of the living entity’s entanglement in material energy, the Lord says that it is beginningless. By beginningless it is meant that conditional life exists prior to the creation; it is simply manifested during and after the creation.

Due to forgetfulness of his nature, the living entity, although spirit, suffers all kinds of miseries in material existence. It should be understood that there are also living entities who are not entangled in this material energy but are situated in the spiritual world.

Concerning man’s search for the ultimate goal of life:

Caitanya Mahäprabhu relates a story [from the commentary of Madhva which occurs in the Fifth Canto of Çrémad-Bhägavatam] about the astrologer Sarvajïa and a poor man who came to him to have his future told.

When Sarvajïa saw the horoscope of the man, he was at once astonished that the man was so poor, and he said to him, “Why are you so unhappy? From your horoscope I can see that you have a hidden treasure left to you by your father.

However, the horoscope indicates that your father could not disclose this to you because he died in a foreign place, but now you can search out this treasure and be happy.” This story is cited because the living entity is suffering due to his ignorance of the hidden treasure of his Supreme Father, Kåñëa.

That treasure is love of Godhead, and in every Vedic scripture the conditioned soul is advised to find it. As stated in Bhagavad-gétä, although the conditioned soul is the son of the wealthiest personality—the Personality of Godhead—he does not realize it. Therefore Vedic literatures are given to him to help him search out his father and his paternal property.

The astrologer Sarvajïa further advised the poor man: “Don’t dig on the southern side of your house to find the treasure, for if you do so you will be attacked by a poisonous wasp and will be baffled. The search should be conducted on the eastern side where there is actual light, which is called devotional service or Kåñëa consciousness.

On the southern side there are Vedic rituals, and on the western side there is mental speculation, and on the northern side there is meditational yoga.”

Sarvajïa’s advice should be carefully noted by everyone. If one searches for the ultimate goal by the ritualistic process, he will surely be baffled. Such a process involves the performance of rituals under the guidance of a priest who takes money in exchange for service.

A man may think he will be happy by performing such rituals, but actually if he does gain some result from them, it is only temporary. His material distresses will continue. Thus he will never become truly happy by following the ritualistic process.

Instead, he will simply increase his material pangs more and more. The same may be said for digging on the northern side, or searching for the treasure by means of the meditational yoga process. By this process a person thinks of becoming one with the Supreme Lord, but this merging into the Supreme is like being swallowed by a large serpent.

Sometimes a large serpent swallows a smaller one, and merging into the spiritual existence of the Supreme is analogous. While the small serpent is searching after perfection, he is swallowed. Obviously there is no solution here.

On the western side there is also an impediment in the form of a yakña, an evil spirit who protects the treasure. The idea is that a hidden treasure can never be found by one who asks the favor of a yakña in order to attain it. The result is that one will simply be killed. This yakña is the speculative mind, and in this case the speculative process of self-realization, or the jïäna process, is also suicidal.

The only possibility then is to search for the hidden treasure on the eastern side by the process of devotional service in full Kåñëa consciousness.

Indeed, that process of devotional service is the perpetual hidden treasure, and when one attains to it, he becomes perpetually rich. One who is poor in devotional service to Kåñëa is always in need of material gain.

Sometimes he suffers the bites of poisonous creatures, and sometimes he is baffled; sometimes he follows the philosophy of monism and thereby loses his identity, and sometimes he is swallowed by a large serpent. It is only by abandoning all this and becoming fixed in Kåñëa consciousness, devotional service to the Lord, that one can actually achieve the perfection of life.

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CC Adi 7.20-21:

"The characteristics of Kåñëa are understood to be a storehouse of transcendental love. Although that storehouse of love certainly came with Kåñëa when He was present, it was sealed. But when Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu came with His associates of the Païca-tattva, they broke the seal and plundered the storehouse to taste transcendental love of Kåñëa. The more they tasted it, the more their thirst for it grew."

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CC Adi 7.24:

"Although the members of the Païca-tattva plundered the storehouse of love of Godhead and ate and distributed its contents, there was no scarcity, for this wonderful storehouse is so complete that as the love is distributed, the supply increases hundreds of times."

 

 

 

PURPORT

 

A pseudo incarnation of Kåñëa once told his disciple that he had emptied himself by giving him all knowledge and was thus spiritually bankrupt. Such bluffers speak in this way to cheat the public, but actual spiritual consciousness is so perfect that the more it is distributed, the more it increases. Bankruptcy is a term that applies in the material world, but the storehouse of love of Godhead in the spiritual world can never be depleted. Kåñëa is providing for millions and trillions of living entities by supplying all their necessities, and even if all the innumerable living entities wanted to become Kåñëa conscious, there would be no scarcity of love of Godhead, nor would there be insufficiency in providing for their maintenance. Our Kåñëa consciousness movement was started single-handedly, and no one provided for our livelihood, but at present we are spending hundreds and thousands of dollars all over the world, and the movement is increasing more and more. Thus there is no question of scarcity. Although jealous persons may be envious, if we stick to our principles and follow in the footsteps of the Païca-tattva, this movement will go on unchecked by imitation svämés, sannyäsés, religionists, philosophers or scientists, for it is transcendental to all material considerations. Therefore those who propagate the Kåñëa consciousness movement should not be afraid of such rascals and fools.

[Priitaa]

Oh, there is so much I could say here my head is spinning, yet not. The fact is, we are 'not' trying to follow 'their' traditional Hinduism, but Prabhupada's transcendental teachings. If Prabhupada said we can have Ratha Yatra on different dates (which he did), so we do like that. To burn an effigy of him is ridiculous, won't change our minds in the least (therefore making it more ridiculous), as well as a white elephant offense. Of course it would be great if there was a way to wake them up so they won't make such an offene, but I can't think of any. And as one poster mentioned, they are jealous.

[Baobabtree]

 

First they murder sheep. Now they murder Prabhupada. Jagannatha has clearly divorced Himself from them.

How can they murder Prabhupada? Even if they had indeed killed Srila Prabhupada's physical body, he would just end up where he is now, in the hoyl dham of Goloka, and they could never destroy the teachings and legacy of such a great acharya. I myself had once been very critical, and spiteful towards Prabhupada, however I realize my foolishness, to even think of criticizing a great scholar, devotee, and renunciate like Srila Prabhupada.

 

Jaya Srila Prabhupada

Jaya Shri Krishna

Jaya Jagannatha Swami

Om Namah Shivaya

[Jahnava Nitai Das]

Today their complaint is ISKCON holds ratha yatra on the wrong day. Next their complaint will be that there should only be Panda priests serving Jagannatha in ISKCON temples, and untouchables shouldnt be allowed to have His darshan, as is "Jagannatha culture".

 

The fact is they are simply irrelevant people. They are best simply ignored.

 

Further, it should be noted that even India does not have a universal calendar. Different states celebrate festivals on different days, based on different calendars. The Kartik month of North India is one month before the Kartik month of south India. There are even differences in the calendars of Vaishnavas and Shaivites, and Sri Vaishnavas and north Indian vaishnavas.

 

So this illusion that there is an exact perfect date for all of India (what to speak of the world) is false.

 

ISKCON does not follow "panda culture" and ISKCON has no interest in following their culture in the future. ISKCON is the organization that has spread the worship of Lord Jagannatha throughout the world. They really don't need advice and guidance from ritualistic priests who have abused their powers for hundreds of years and have destroyed Hinduism (through untouchability, sati, devadasi, etc.)

 

In summary, anyone who thinks there is something called a "Hindu calendar" needs to educate themselves about the various calendars of India and their histories.

[ignore stereotypes]

 

Today their complaint is ISKCON holds ratha yatra on the wrong day. Next their complaint will be that there should only be Panda priests serving Jagannatha in ISKCON temples, and untouchables shouldnt be allowed to have His darshan, as is "Jagannatha culture".

 

The fact is they are simply irrelevant people. They are best simply ignored.

 

Further, it should be noted that even India does not have a universal calendar. Different states celebrate festivals on different days, based on different calendars. The Kartik month of North India is one month before the Kartik month of south India. There are even differences in the calendars of Vaishnavas and Shaivites, and Sri Vaishnavas and north Indian vaishnavas.

 

So this illusion that there is an exact perfect date for all of India (what to speak of the world) is false.

 

ISKCON does not follow "panda culture" and ISKCON has no interest in following their culture in the future. ISKCON is the organization that has spread the worship of Lord Jagannatha throughout the world. They really don't need advice and guidance from ritualistic priests who have abused their powers for hundreds of years and have destroyed Hinduism (through untouchability, sati, devadasi, etc.)

 

In summary, anyone who thinks there is something called a "Hindu calendar" needs to educate themselves about the various calendars of India and their histories.

 

 

theist : What the #^*@! Forget these slobs. Mundane religionists and demons.

 

When we try to steal God's glory for ourselves, these things happen, and we are held up for the world to laugh at. Their false-egos have made fools of them all before the world.

 

 

ghari: No one can own God. Only humility and Jagannatha can save them now from the darkest of hells.

 

 

13monkeys : They try to incite anger at some "enemy" and feign some grievances. They are just looking for attention to make themselves feel special. Ignore these guys. Let them rant and rave. What can they do? Devotees will continue to hold their Ratha Yatras and worship the Lord. And they'll keep foaming at the mouth and burning cloth dolls. Who cares? They look like fools - and when a fool acts foolish its best to just sit back and laugh

 

Yes I agree, frankly I just ignore them, don't even acknowledge their existence. Due to their naive polluted materially contaminated tradition in Puri, they see and think what they want to see and believe. For hundreds of years the Puri Priests have seen Lord Jagannath as Indian or Hindu and not 'The Lord of the Universe' which includes Englismen, Americans, Europeans, Russians Africans, Chinese, South East Asians, Soth Americans and Candians

 

However unfortunately, there are even some ISKCON devotees that are also like this, who are also proud and self rightious like this (especially Down Under), who are so affraid of the many karmi polluted so called devotees who follow Narayana and Govinda Maharaj's version of Vaishnavism. Such people have no idea what a REAL humble caring devotee of Lord Caitanya is.

 

Presently, we are in a typical primitive pioneering backward selfish mundane Spiritual culture, it is therefore a good thing puri managers have acknowledged ISKCON because their barbaric dispay of violence only bringS ISKCON into everyones lounge room via Newspapers and TV in INDIA.

 

In time the real mature Spiritually advanced ISKCON of Srila Prabhupada, that presently we are a long, long way from, due to immaturity and the pollution of materialism among present day sannyais and gurus, will manifest eventualy as genuine prideless selfless devotees. Soon, genuine Vaisgnavas will shine through the present primitive troublesome, juvenile, adolescent version of ISKCON in 2008.

 

So how will we know?

 

Great devotees who are lined up waiting for the right krsna conscious moment in time, will take birth when they feel safe in proper non materialistic non judgemental selfless REAL devotee families and as children, they will NOT go to karmi schools but will PREACH to EVERYONE, even to the most fallen of fallen.

 

Vigraha : What’s going on is obvious, the Puri Temple devotees and managers feel that ISKCON is taking over what they believe if their festival of Ratha-yatra. they are probably fearful that Lord Jagannath will be made more famous by ISKCON than their Puri festival (well, that already happened thanks to the wonderful causless mercy and humility of Srila Prabhupada.

To understand how the Puri pujaris and managers felt about the 'new ISKCON kid on the block', just look at some ISKCON Temples reaction when Gaudiya math Temples started in there area, some ISKCON Temples even 'patented' the name Hare Krishna so the Gaudiya math could not use the term 'Hare Krishnas'

The whole thing stinks of hypocrisy and arrogance!

I believe Bhakta Bob summed it all up 45 years ago, 'The times ar achanging'

:The Puri Preists should be honoured ISKCON is spreading the glorious of Lord Jaganath and ISKCON should be honoured that the Gaudiya math is spreading in the West because that is ALSO Srila Prabhupada's credit and mercy on everyone including the Gaudiya and all Hindus in India and around the world

Our only friend is the Spiritual Master and Krsna in the heart. His real dedicated devotees, who really only want to save EVERYONE on this planet, are very rare.

Those non-judgemental non-materialistic devotees, who don't foolishly send their kids to the slaughterhouse karmi schools, are the only devotees one should seek out for assocation.

[Kulapavana]

Iskcon devotees think: We are better servants of Lord Jagannatha!

Puri temple priests think: We are better servants of Lord Jagannatha!

 

Genuine competition of the eager servants or jest an ego trip? Hard to tell... we will judge by the results. Will the service increase? Will more people be inspired to serve Lord Jagannatha?

 

Lord Caitanya did not organize harinama protests to get Haridasa Thakura admitted to the Puri Temple - He praised Thakura's humility. Maybe that is the real lesson: humility. Iskcon very often comes across as arrogant. Maybe this is another lesson from Krsna to teach us more humility. IMHO Iskcon leaders should sit down with the Puri pandas and work out a mutually acceptable compromise. Just like Lord Chaitanya an Kazi. He convinced Kazi with His humility, thoughtfulnes, wisdom, and kindness. It is not just a story - it is an instruction to be followed by all His followers.

[AncientMariner]

Until the international bankers are exposed for their crimes against humanity and educated people form an army to repel them I don't think any real spirituality of any sort will flourish in any meaningful way. They use intelligence agencies to destoy grass roots movments and virtually all the grass roots movements on the Earth infight with each other and battle for power on their own ego trips.

[radha_das]

 

Today their complaint is ISKCON holds ratha yatra on the wrong day. Next their complaint will be that there should only be Panda priests serving Jagannatha in ISKCON temples, and untouchables shouldnt be allowed to have His darshan, as is "Jagannatha culture".

 

The fact is they are simply irrelevant people. They are best simply ignored.

 

Further, it should be noted that even India does not have a universal calendar. Different states celebrate festivals on different days, based on different calendars. The Kartik month of North India is one month before the Kartik month of south India. There are even differences in the calendars of Vaishnavas and Shaivites, and Sri Vaishnavas and north Indian vaishnavas.

 

So this illusion that there is an exact perfect date for all of India (what to speak of the world) is false.

 

ISKCON does not follow "panda culture" and ISKCON has no interest in following their culture in the future. ISKCON is the organization that has spread the worship of Lord Jagannatha throughout the world. They really don't need advice and guidance from ritualistic priests who have abused their powers for hundreds of years and have destroyed Hinduism (through untouchability, sati, devadasi, etc.)

 

In summary, anyone who thinks there is something called a "Hindu calendar" needs to educate themselves about the various calendars of India and their histories.

 

 

Jahanva, you must read and understand how we follow all festivals in India before comment on this calendar topic.

We have two type of calculation.

1. According to Sun

2. According to Moon

 

We follow festivals according to the place also. Example- If Mathura is celebrating janmastami on 21 August then whole India would follow that. Same like this, When Jagannath Yatra held in Puri, whole India follow Rathyatra festival on the very day.

[radha_das]

The main fight is between ISKCON and rest of the Sampradayas. there is nothing to do with Puri and Yatra.

 

The main fight is between the discipline devotees and indiscipline devotees. Discipline devotees can adjust anywhere as like Good people. But Indisciple devotees like ISKCON cant adjust with any other Sampradayas. Because drunkers only can feel heaven in the bars not in the good society. Such like this, ISKCON cant adjust with others.

 

Last 1000s of year Hindus are following scriptures rules. But their Prabhupad changed the rules for them. Not a single guru is authentic to change the rules. And Hinduism doesnt want outsiders. There was no need to change the rules for foreigners. They (foreigners) are not our father.

[gHari]

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Does someone believe that Lord Jagannatha in Toronto Canada is not the Lord of the Universe?

 

If we can see that Jagannarha is Jagannatha, then it is His decision and His decision alone to stroll down Yonge Street Toronto with His devotees. No one can stand in the way of that juggernaut.

 

Jaya Jagannatha.

 

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