After enduring immense hardships during his voyage on the cargo ship, Srila Prabhupada had
to face further difficulties in the early days of ISKCON—this time from some of the very
disciples who had been entrusted with important responsibilities. As Srila Prabhupada’s
health declined, certain individuals attempted to take advantage of the situation and sought
to assert control over the movement.
In this episode, explore how Srila Prabhupada confronted these challenges and how he
addressed them with clarity, authority, and uncompromising stance to siddhanta.
Many conspiracies emerged during this year to minimise the position of Vishwaguru Srila
Prabhupada, even by some of his senior disciples, while attempts were made by those outside
ISKCON to take control of the movement.
Learn more about these disturbing events in this episode and share it with others.
After the tumultuous year of 1970, 4 sannyasi disciples hatch a new philosophy in ISKCON New
Vrindavan that "Srila Prabhupada is God!"
If Srila Prabhupada is Krishna, we cannot understand Srila Prabhupada, so we need a
via-medium to understand Srila Prabhupada and that is one of godbrother of Srila
Prabhupada.
Learn what impact this had on the movement in 1970, and how Srila Prabhupada dealt with this
issue created by his senior sannyasi disciples.
Srila Prabhupada appointed 12 devotees as GBC in 1970 to govern the various aspects of the
movement. However, considering Srila Prabhupada to be an ordinary person, they began
pursuing their own personal plans and attempted to centralise control of the movement
through zonal authority.
How did Srila Prabhupada respond when this offensive mentality surfaced among his leaders?
Episode 4 reveals how Srila Prabhupada protected the movement at a critical moment,
corrected serious deviations, and restored its original purpose and direction.
As the movement expanded in the 1970s, some leaders within ISKCON began to believe that they
understood the expansion of the movement better than Srila Prabhupada. Acting on this
misconception—mistakenly assuming that Srila Prabhupada’s age impaired his judgment—they
went ahead and cancelled an important sale agreement for the temple project in Juhu.
Learn how Srila Prabhupada corrected this highly offensive attitude in his disciples and
once again saved the movement from going in the wrong direction.
The minimisation of Srila Prabhupada’s authority and instructions in matters of leadership
and management continued during this year.
This outlook led to decisions being taken independent of Srila Prabhupada’s direct guidance,
setting a precedent that challenged the very foundations he had established.
This episode sheds light on the serious challenges Srila Prabhupada had to face in 1973. The
conduct of some leaders during this time foreshadowed the difficult and turbulent era that
would unfold in the movement after 1977.
In the year 1974, Bali Mardan became the Temple President of the New York Temple. He becomes
close to a woman known to be the next heir to Toyota Automobiles and marries her, even
though she appeared to be the age of Bali Mardan’s mother.
Following this, both begin to control the movement and make many changes to the system and
practices established by Srila Prabhupada. Later, when Srila Prabhupada becomes aware of
these things, he advises the devotees not to surrender without intelligence but with
intelligence.
This episode reveals the immense pain, concern, and responsibility Srila Prabhupada had to
endure to protect his mission.
In the year 1975, Tamal Krishna Goswami formulates plans to take over ISKCON, envisioning a
scenario where Srila Prabhupada hands over the entire management of ISKCON to him and
Karandhara.
The members of the GBC fail to safeguard the spiritual lives of the devotees, remaining
preoccupied with positioning themselves as the next acharya and diksha gurus.
Learn how Srila Prabhupada endured this difficult period and strongly emphasised the unity
of devotees, reminding us that only united preaching has real impact, while division leads
to failure.
In this concluding episode of chapter 1, devotees make a plan to read the intimate pastimes
of Radha and Krishna by forming private groups in hopes of cultivating spontaneous love for
the Lord.
At the same time, Tamal Krishna Goswami begins an aggressive recruitment campaign, drawing
brahmacharis from different temples, weakening established centers, and and urges
householders to distance themselves from temple-based dependence. Before the internal
tensions could fully crystallize, Srila Prabhupada intervenes and resolves the emerging
crisis.
It was in 1976, Srila Prabhupada said, “Tamal has ruined my movement”.
In mid-1977, Srila Prabhupada’s health begins to deteriorate, and makes it clear that he
wants to spend his remaining days in Vrindavan.
Soon after the disappearance of Srila Prabhupada, there was great disorder and chaos whose
most intense phase lasted for almost a decade, and the same chaos continues in ISKCON till
today in a morphed form of the original chaos which shook ISKCON to its very roots.
Learn what the GBC was ordered to follow with regard to first and second initiation when
Srila Prabhupada is no longer physically present. Hear the recollections of his disciples
regarding these instructions—and understand whether he appointed regular initiating gurus or
ritviks.
In mid-1977, Srila Prabhupada’s health took a serious turn, and he made it clear that he
wanted to spend his remaining days in Vrindavan.
Soon after the disappearance of Srila Prabhupada, there was great disorder and chaos which
lasted for almost a decade, and the same chaos continues in ISKCON till today in a morphed
form of the original chaos which shook ISKCON to its very roots.
Learn what Srila Prabhupada ordered the GBC to follow with regard to first and second
initiation when he is no longer present. Hear the memories of his disciples regarding these
instructions—and examine whether he appointed regular initiating gurus or ritviks.
In this concluding episode of Chapter 2, uncover the disturbing and distressing final days
of Srila Prabhupada.
The ISKCON gurus move forward with their plans to gradually take control of ISKCON in
various ways. One of their key strategies is to gain control of the financially powerful arm
of ISKCON — the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust (BBT). With the creation of another organization,
BBT International (BBTI), widescale changes to Srila Prabhupada’s books begin.
It also examines the mystery surrounding more than 250 recorded tapes of Srila Prabhupada on
important topics that disappeared, with no clear explanation of where they went.
The ISKCON gurus continue altering the initiation system, the standards of living in a
Krishna conscious lifestyle, and even the philosophy presented in Srila Prabhupada’s books,
among other changes.
The GBC’s three tactics of control were to intimidate those who opposed the unauthorised
guru system. If intimidation did not work, they attempted to bribe them. And if bribery also
failed, they expelled them from ISKCON despite those devotees having committed no
fault.
In this episode, learn about the various concoctions and deviations introduced by the ISKCON
gurus.
In this episode, we explore how Kirtanananda Swami proposed major cultural changes within
ISKCON, including efforts toward westernization, proposals that received approval from the
GBC at that time.
Examine statements from Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami, where he questions the necessity of
extensive glorification of the spiritual master.
Additionally, we look at the case of Devamrita Swami, who continued to accept worship from
disciples even while expressing uncertainty about aspects of Srila Prabhupada’s teachings as
presented in his books.
These documented instances collectively reveal the position and functioning of the GBC and
diksha gurus.
In the concluding episode of Chapter 3, we examine what happened to the devotees when
certain GBC members and senior leaders declared themselves as the next acharyas after His
Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.
Sulochana Prabhu undertook efforts to investigate and document evidence exposing the
unauthorized guru system, intending to present it through a book titled *"The Guru
Business".* This effort was soon curtailed, and he ultimately paid with his life.
Three methods of control continued to be imposed upon devotees—intimidation, bribery, and
expulsion—against those who questioned or challenged the system.
The number of Srila Prabhupada’s disciples, once around 4,500+ before 1977, declined
drastically. What led to this change, and how did it unfold?
The answers to these questions are covered in the concluding episode of Chapter 3.
Chapter 4 of ISKCON Files explores the phase when senior disciples of Srila Prabhupada began
questioning the self-appointed diksha guru system within ISKCON.
In this Episode 1, we see how the ISKCON GBC gurus allegedly used institutional and
strategic methods to silence senior disciples who opposed the unauthorised diksha guru
system.
Senior devotees like Yashodananda prabhu, Puranjana prabhu, and Guru Kripa prabhu called for
an open and serious debate. Despite their strong philosophical challenges and repeated
efforts to bring clarity, their voices were gradually sidelined and suppressed within the
institution.
Watch the full episode to understand what really unfolded.
In Episode 2 of ISKCON Revolts Against the Diksha Gurus, learn about the first ritvik
initiation in ISKCON after the physical departure of Srila Prabhupada.
Rameshvara prabhu, in the ISKCON Los Angeles temple, had to conduct an initiation ceremony
as per the directions of the self-appointed diksha guru system. Realizing his unqualified
position, he does something which the GBC cannot accept.
On several occasions, he finds himself in a dilemma over whether to follow the ritvik
initiation system or the self-appointed diksha guru system.
Jadurani mataji, who notices deviations in the system followed by Rameshvara, challenges it
on several occasions, only to be expelled from ISKCON in the long run.
ISKCON Bangalore
Sri Radha Krishnachandra Temple,
Hare Krishna Hill,Chord Road, Bengaluru
560010,Karnataka, India.
Phone: +91-80-23471956
