“I was horrified to read his wife's accounts of years of abuse at his hands. There are so many issues here to address that I do not know where to start.”

Editor's note: In this article, Kalavati devi dasi asks, "I would like to know if temple authorities in his GBC zonal area are going to place restrictions on his [Mahamantra's] visits to the temple?"

Harivilasa Prabhu, GBC in Mahamantra's area of Western Canada, has placed a ban on Mahamantra from visiting the temples in Western Canada, and has recommended that he be banned elsewhere. Mahamantra (SDG) dasa was seen a few days ago at ISKCON Vrindavan, India. It is not known if the authorities there know of this situation.

Hare Krsna. Please accept my most humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada!

I have no article to publish, but did want to comment on the article I read re: MahaMantra's abuse against his family.

I was horrified to read his wife's accounts of years of abuse at his hands. There are so many issues here to address that I do not know where to start.

1. The authorities at the various temples MahaMantra was associated with must have known about his abusive behavior. What, if any, intervention occurred on this poor matiji's behalf? A hand's off approach by temple authorities is not acceptable in extreme cases such as this.

2. MahaMantra's attitude towards women is symptomatic of ISKCON's misogynistic tendancies(hopefully of the past). Although things are changing within ISKCON, it is crucial that existing members as well as new devotees be trained to see everyone as a spirit soul, not a "stupid woman."

3. Because of the extreme abuse MahaMantra das has been accused of, I would like to know if temple authorities in his GBC zonal area are going to place restrictions on his visits to the temple? Statistics have shown that those with anger management problems are rarely rehabilitated or able to change their behavior. His volatile temperament places everyone at risk within the temple.

Those are just a few thoughts, for what it is worth. In any case, Chakra is doing a great service to devotees worldwide by publishing up to date information re: the various temple communities.

Your servant, Kalavati devi dasi North Carolina USA

© CHAKRA 29-Nov-2003

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