Introduction—proceedings against ISKCON

Śrīla Bhaktivedānta Swāmī Mahārāja, the founder-ācārya of the International Society for Kṛṣṇa Consciousness (ISKCON) was a former resident of Calcutta in his naravat-līlā (human-like pastimes). At that time he married and had children. That was before he entered the sannyasa-aśrama (renounced order) in 1959. In l965 at the advanced age of seventy, he left India, went to the Western countries, and then performed a miracle. He took the mission of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, the mission of Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī, and in a most remarkable way established ISKCON throughout the whole world. He also created an international book distribution branch, the Bhaktivedānta Book Trust (BBT). After more than a decade of pioneer preaching in the Western world, as well as extensively cultivating residents of his native India, Śrīla Swāmī Mahārāja departed from this world. In November 1977, in Vṛndāvana, he entered the eternal pastimes of his beloved Śrī Śrī Rādhā Mādhava.

A few years later, his son from his previous aśrama, inspired by others, began legal proceedings against ISKCON . He claimed that his father, Abhaya Charan De was not a Brahmin but a Vaiśya and therefore according to the social caste system, could not take sannyāsa. He said that only a Brahmin can take sannyāsa. He further claimed his father was a businessman who went to the West for business purposes only and that ISKCON was a family business enterprise. As such, after his father’s demise, being the hereditary son, he was now the rightful heir and owner of ISKCON`s property. This was the case that was brought against ISKCON after the departure of Śrīla Bhaktivedānta Swāmī Mahārāja. Aware of the imminent danger, ISKCON conveniently transferred the case from Calcutta High Court to Bombay High Court.

Śrīla Gurudeva said, “An ISKCON leader came and told me, `If you don`t give evidence, his son will take all of ISKCON, all over the world`. He told me that I should go immediately to Bombay. I told him that I want to serve Śrīla Swāmī Mahārāja, so I will go… I want to always serve the mission of Śrīla Swāmī Mahārāja.”

Despite his fragile health, Śrīla Gurudeva went alone. The ISKCON leaders bought him a flight ticket so he could quickly come from Delhi to Bombay. He was given accommodation at the Juhu temple in Bombay. For a considerably long time Śrīla Gurudeva would regularly go, right after breakfast, to the court. He was the star witness in proving that Śrīla Bhaktivedānta Swāmī Mahārāja had legitimately taken sannyāsa, the renounced order from an authorized sannyāsa guru, and that he had no connection with his previous family life. Both Śrīla Bhakti Prajñāna Keśava Mahārāja, the sannyasa-guru and Śrīla Bhaktivedānta Swāmī Mahārāja had departed from this world, so it was only Śrīla Gurudeva, who had performed the ceremonial rites of sannyāsa for Śrīla Bhaktivedānta Swāmī Mahārāja who remained the sole eye-witness.

At great lengths Śrīla Gurudeva quoted in court and powerfully explained śāstric evidences from the scriptures pertaining to the fact that one is a Brahmin not by birth but only and solely by qualification thereby smashing the false ideology and malpractice of the Smārta Brahmins. He also elaborated in great detail the order of the tridaṇḍī-sannyāsa.

He emphasized that Śrīla Swāmī Mahārāja was duly initiated in a bona fide Vaiṣṇava line and as such is beyond the designation of caste and creed. Vaiṣṇavas are superior to Brahmins and therefore are qualified to accept this sannyāsa order regardless of their birth.

He continued to explain in court the authenticity of the Brahmā Mādhva Gauḍīya Sampradāya, about the glories of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, about the ācārya of our line Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura whose seniormost disciple was Śrīla Bhakti Prajñāna Keśava Gosvāmī Mahārāja and the validity of the sannyāsa order awarded in this disciplic line.

The judge, the lawyers and all the other officials were greatly impressed by Śrīla Gurudeva who was, as always—pure-hearted, honourable and unequivocally attached to the absolute truth and pure bhakti.

All this was done by Śrīla Gurudeva to protect Śrīla Bhaktivedānta Swāmī Mahārāja’s movement. Śrīla Gurudeva never hesitated to assist and freely gave his testimony for the sake of Śrīla Bhaktivedānta Swāmī Mahārāja’s movement. This evidence was crucial in this case to save ISKCON from being taken away.

The ISKCON leaders came begging Śrīla Nārāyaṇa Gosvāmī Mahārāja (Śrīla Gurudeva) to help because they knew that he was the only one qualified to give such evidence. In this way, it was Śrīla Gurudeva who saved their Śrīla Prabhupāda’s movement from being taken by the biological son born in Śrīla Bhaktivedānta Swāmī Mahārāja’s previous aśrama.

By the time this portion of the court hearing was over, Śrīla Gurudeva’s health had badly deteriorated. Śrīla Gurudeva however never once complained about his poor health and between courts hearings, also gave extensive courses as requested by the ISKCON leaders on the confidential teachings of the Gosvāmīs. Somehow the ISKCON leaders didn’t take notice of his declining health needs and sent Śrīla Gurudeva all alone, even though by now he was seriously ill, all the way from Bombay (Mumbāī) to Mathurā by train.

When we went to pick up Śrīla Gurudeva at the Mathurā railway station, we were shocked to see how weak and frail he looked and how sick he had become. It took Śrīla Gurudeva weeks to recuperate fully; with love and attention we provided Śrīla Gurudeva with proper nourishing foods and medicines and gradually nurtured him back to health.