“My blood was boiling that the Maharaja would go so far to break my faith in Srila Prabhupada. I told my wife: Give him the beads back, and we left his room.”

Thoughts on the Narayana Maharaja Controversy
By Prithu Dasa

Wherever great souls go, they cause happiness, harmony and peace.

However it is evident by now, that wherever Narayana Maharaja goes, division develops, and due to relentless proselytizing of his followers, communities are being disrupted by sectarian strife and disharmony.

Indeed division often occurs even within one and the same family: Wives are being initiated without consultation of the husband, even parents, initiated by Srila Prabhupada, are often left in utter dismay since children are being initiated without concerns for the feelings of their parents. In fact Narayanan Maharaja sees no wrong initiating even minors.

Hostile actions like the one's in the Australian graffiti case threatening house burning and demonstrations at the Manor even at the most holy day of Janmastami speak louder than words. They are the fruits of those sharp and intensely belligerent words NM has been leveling since years now towards ISKCON and ISKCON leadership.

Even towards Srila Prabhupada, subtly or at times even overt:

No, giving the Gayatri Manta by tape as Srila Prabhupada used to is not authorized.

Deity names in New Delhi and LA are unauthorized.

As for restricting sexuality to procreation in married life by initiated householders: "I don't know where Swamiji is getting these ideas from.." (as said to Gopal Krishna Maharaja).

Initiating people on the spot no matter whether they are able to follow the 4 regs is the daily fare.

And yes: - 4 rounds are O.K. though Srila Prabhupada wanted us to chant 16. Even offering a wealthy person whom he met for the first time, first and second initiation the same day, while shrewdly stating: "I have been observing you since a very long time. So I decided that you should take first and second initiation today." (in Germany) Believe it or not: people fall for it

Not only does NM do things very differently and teaches very differently in many areas from what we have been told by Srila Prabhupada - even though he is claiming to be SP's disciple.

In light of his marginalizing or changing Srila Prabhupada's teachings, his pledges how much love he has for Srila Prabhupada ("my siksha Guru"), are merely a shallow claim.

History has shown again and again that indeed NM will say whatever works to collect followers. He even goes so far as to intensely criticize Srila Prabhupada at an opportune moment and as such engaging himself in an unprecedented case of faith breaking.

Here is just one example:

One very wealthy devotee's wife was initiated by NM in his absence and without his consent. When Narayana Maharaja suggested that he take initiation from him as well (to restore peace in the family) this man refused, already being initiated by an ISKCON guru. When this devotee said: "Maharaja you should know, that every hair on my body belongs to ISKCON and Srila Prabhupada" Narayana Maharaja retorted: "Do you know that Srila Prabhupada was selling liquor?"

The man told me: "My blood was boiling that the Maharaja would go so far to break my faith in Srila Prabhupada. I told my wife: Give him the beads back, and we left his room."

This is a first hand report heard by me and Ravindra Swarupa Prabhu during the 1999 Mayapur festival. I'll be willing to call any deity in any ISKCON temple to be my witness for what I have personally heard and described above as being the truth and nothing but the truth.

Due to Narayana Maharaja's unceasing criticism of ISKCON and ISKCON leadership (e.g. "99 % of ISKCON sannyasis are fallen"...."All the good people have left ISKCON"...."ISKCON is our enemy....” "I am targeting ISKCON..." "ISKCON is dead..."..." just a society of rules, we are a society of love"..."The real ISKCON is here...") while at the same time preaching that one should never offend the Vaishnavas, his followers lose their discretion and ability to put two and two together.

Drifting further and further away, they all too often develop a militant and belligerent attitude towards ISKCON, endlessly harassing ISKCON temples, ISKCON festivals, ISKCON members and congregational members with their mantra of the "mahabhagavata we all need to follow to be saved.” They're a menace wherever they go.

In fact with their faith in Srila Prabhupada systematically being eroded, they are a menace to themselves.

I feel very sorry for them.

Your servant

Prithu dasa Adhikary

© CHAKRA 10 March 2001

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