22 NOVEMBER 2001
1. MAYOR OF NEW YORK DEDICATES SRILA PRABHUPADA MEMORIAL
Submitted by Brahmabhuta Dasa, New York IRM
On November 18th 2001, on Srila Prabhupada’s Disappearance Day, a landmark event in the history of Vaisnavism took place.
35 years after Srila Prabhupada began the Hare Krishna Movement by chanting under a tree in Tompkins Square Park, New York, this historic fact was officially recognised by the city of New York at a ceremony in Tompkins Square Park organised by the New York IRM center. New York City officials, IRM devotees and members of the public officially honored Srila Prabhupada with the installation of a permanent historical plaque commemorating him at his tree in Tompkins Square Park. The text of the plaque is as follows:
As can be seen, the memorial has been established under the authority of the now world famous outgoing New York City Mayor, Rudolph Giuliani.
So for thousands of years to come, visitors to this famous park in New
York will get to read about Srila Prabhupada, his great contribution to
the world, and the Hare Krishna Maha-mantra. The City of New York paid
for the full cost of the plaque and installation and will always cover
the cost of its maintanance and security.
Mother Vani spoke about how Srila Prabhupada was ordered by his spiritual master to spread this great transcendental knowledge to the Western world and the congregational chanting of the Holy Name of Krishna throughout every town and village, and how this was the first place that public congregational chanting took place in the Western world. She commented on how the Hindustan Times compared Srila Prabhupada’s tree to the Bhodi Tree. But that actually the Hare Krishna Tree is even far more glorious, in that Srila Prabhupada’s tree was the location for the advent of public congregational chanting of the Maha Mantra in the Western world, which is spreading FULL enlightenment to everyone throughout the world.
Commissioner Stern spoke about his love for trees and his desire to protect them. He compared them to the lion: as the lion is the king of the jungle, the trees are the kings of the plant kingdom. He was very much appreciative that the Hare Krishna Movement as a culture would hold a majestic American elm tree in such a high regard by the loving care Mother Vani gave to it, and its position is to be considered one of the most important sacred places of pilgrimage. He acknowledged other cultures held similar esteem for trees and seemed very approving. He also noted with pleasure that Srila Prabhupada was a friend of Allen Ginsberg, since he was a close friend of Allen’s as well and included Allen on all of his committees because he liked him.
The Commissioner stated that he enjoyed his association with the devotees very much and happily noted that he thought he would be working with us for a long time.
Before he gave his speech Commissioner Stern chatted with the devotees and posed for pictures for about a half hour, which were taken by our resident IRM photographer, Bhakta Subji. He was curious to know more about who Srila Prabhupada is and the devotees answered his questions. Mother Vani gave him a first edition of Srila Prabhupada’s Bhagavad-gita As It Is. Madhusudana Prabhu had also set up a wondeful book table by the tree in question, and distributed many of Srila Prabhupada's literatures to all the guests who attended the ceremony. He also showed the Commissioner the original pictiure of Srila Prabhupada under the tree in question taken in 1966. He also gave him a maha garland that was offered to Srila Prabhupada. In fact one of our members, Mother Katie, had come all the way from Connecticut to bring gorgeous huge garlands for the tree and Srila Prabhupada.
New York IRM Founding member Arthur (Bliss) Googy Prabhu, former drummer for the renowned rock group 'The Misfits', also gave Commissioner Stern a Higher Taste vegetarian cookbook. Commissioner Stern’s eyes lit up and said he loved this food and asked,”Where is your restauraunt?” He had taken prasadam before and loved it. He laughed with delight when we told him that Srila Prabhupada called Krishna Consciousness the “kitchen religion”. We invited him to our regular Sunday Feast and Jayananda dasa (lead singer of another famous rock band - the Cro-Mags) told him soon we would be opening a vegetarian prasadam carry out. Commissioner Stern then said, ”In that case I better give you my card.” He left as the IRM devotees led an uproarious kirtan at Srila Prabhupada’s tree. As he left, Commissioner Stern told Mother Vani to please call him and keep in touch.
New York City Commissioner Henry J. Stern should certainly be remembered fondly by all Vaisnavas. Just as Srila Prabhupada said how grateful the devotees should always be of New York High Court Justice John Leahy who declared the Hare Krishna Movement to be a bona fide religion. Of that declaration Srila Prabhupada commented with great satisfaction that: “now my mission is a success”.
Due to Commissioner Stern, Srila Prabhupada’s success is now immortalised with an official monument in New York City, installed on the auspicious and holy event of his Disappearance Day. Surely Srila Prabhupada will be pleased.
After the festival in Tompkins Square Park, one hundred devotees and guests gathered a half a block away at the Sri Sri Radha Govinda Temple on Saint Mark’s Place for a maha festival glorifying Srila Prabhupada’s Disappearance Day and Govardhan puja. This also included devotees who had come from the ISKCON Brooklyn temple to attend the ceremony, but had just missed it. Visiting ISKCON Bangalore devotee Citranga Caitanya Prabhu led a beautiful Damodharastaka bhajan and Bangalore temple vice president Cancalapati dasa gave an ecstatic lecture. Afterwards there was a arotik, kirtan, Srila Prabhupada video and an oppulent feast in which Bhakta Avatra dasa's family provided 108 sweet preparations.
We would also like to very humbly and graciouly acknowledge Parks Deputy Chief of Operations Officer Margaret Asaro who was Mother Vani’s liaison to Commissioner Stern for the two and a half years that Mother Vani worked tirelessly to make her plaque proposal a reality. In the Bhagavad-Gita Lord Krishna states:
Lord Krishna as Paramatma (Supersoul) in the heart certainly utilised Margaret Asaro as His miracle maker when Mother Vani needed one to get the plaque installed. (Please see our earlier IRM newsletter, no. 29 -"City Of New York to Honour Srila Prabhupada" - in which we detailed Mother Vani's fight to have the City of New York officially honur Srila Prabhupada). It was Margaret who arranged for the IRM to get an official acknowledgement letter from the City regarding the installation of the plaque. The text of this letter is as follows:
We would also like to thank our dear friend “Harry” Greenberg, Tompkins Square Park Manager, without whose advice and willingness to help, none of this would have been possible. Also thanks goes to all the devotees who helped us in starting the Manhattan IRM Temple. It was only after the IRM temple became established in New York that Mother Vani was able to make her dream of glorifying Srila Prabhupada come true. Only then did she get the necessary encouragement and advice to convince the City to honor Srila Prabhupada. Even after the plaque was approved, a year went by with the city constantly delaying its installation. The IRM's success in getting a major Indian newspaper, “The Hindustan Times”, to run a front page story of Mother Vani’s succesful proposal to the city, was crucially influential in Mother Vani's preaching to get the Park Commissioners office to finally actually install it.
The mood of the whole event is summarised perfectly by Jayananda Das, as above-mentioned lead singer of legendary hardcore rock band the Cro-mags, who was one of the main movers behind getting the IRM temple in Manhattan established. He said that:
"The success of this event in glorifying Srila Prabhupada came about because of one factor only. And that was the world-wide co-operation of the IRM devotees putting only Srila Prabhupada in the center as the Guru. That is why today, on Srila Prabhupada's Disappearance Day, we have been successful at establishing this much needed and fitting memorial to Srila Prabhupada where so many others have failed in the last 24 years. And though today may be the day that Srila Prabhupada physically disappeared from our vision, this memorial establishes that his spiritual legacy continues,and is now permanently honored for generations to come".
Jayananda Prabhu states that since the plaque was put up he has been to the park every few hours just to see it again and again, and he still cannot believe that it is actually there, and still needs to rub his eyes. He also makes a point of taking his many friends and associates there to see the plaque.
This historical plaque installation is due to the sincere devotion of one devotee to her spiritual master, His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada, whom she never personally met. And it has been less than ten years since she even became a devotee. Mother Vani hears Srila Prabhupada every day, and every day reads his books. Through the association of the pure devotee’s vani (transcendental instructions) she has happily surrendered her life to Srila Prabhupada and Lord Caitanya’s mission. For several years now Mother Vani has swept the cobblestones around the tree and has always preached the glories of Srila Prabhupada and Lord Krishna to the people she meets at this majestic elm tree in Tompkins Square Park. Lord Krishna has now taken that devotion and immortalised it for the benefit of all humanity.
All glories to Mother Vani devi dasi’s devotion to His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada and The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Sri Krishna. All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
Commissioner Stern had specifically brought an archivist reporter and photographer with him to this event because even the City of New York considers this event so historic that they intend to officially record it in the New York City Muncipal Archives. So as well as being honoured by this memorial in the plaque, Srila Prabhupada's contribution to the world will also now be officially preserved for posterity by the City records due to their archiving this landmark event.
We will soon be posting up the many more pictures which were taken at this amazing event on our website as soon as they are properly developed. Thank you.
2. Police Recommend Charges Against False Rape Claim
We had reported earlier in Newsletter 33 about the false rape claim against an innocent Calcutta devotee which unfortunately resulted in his unjust incarceration and subsequent suicide. At that time we had also produced much evidence which proved beyond doubt that no rape had taken place, not least the medical reports which showed that there was NO SEMEN inside or on the body of the alleged victim, and also that:
*** "There is no evidence to substantiate that VG (Victim Girl) was subject to forcible sexual intercourse." ***
These were the official independent medical examination reports which have to be conducted immediately a rape claim is made.
The Police investigation however continued, since in addition to the medical reports they still had to interview witnesses, examine other evidence etc. In particular, there was the matter of what looked like a semen stain on the petticoat of the alleged victim. Having been faced with the medical evidence which indicated that no rape had actually taken place, since there was no sign of force or sex on her person, the alleged victim had then tried to claim that the semen had fallen 'outside', and that this mysterious stain on her clothing was evidence of that. The Police then sent the stain for DNA testing to one of only 2 labs in the whole of India which provide this facility. These labs are run by the central government, are out of the state and have no connection with the Police force. Such a procedure also takes time. However we are pleased to report that the Police have now finished all their investigations, the DNA testing has been completed, and they have made a final recommendation to the courts. Their conclusions are shocking. I will quote the relevant portions from the Police report:
"Investigation revealed that accused was falsely implicated in this case. [...] After completion of investigation it has transpired that the de-facto complainant falsely implicated Sureswar Das Sarkar as accused for comitting offence under section 376 [Rape], Indian Penal Code. The investigation of this case, has since been closed upon legal advice, declaring the case as 'FALSE'. As such proceeding under section 211, Indian Penal Code may be initiated against the complainant of this case. [...] F.S.L. Expert opined that human semen was detected on the exhibits seized from the complainant. DNA test report on the exhibits sent for necessary examination suggested that semen positive stains on exhibit 'A' are NOT ORIGINATED from Mr. Sureswar Das (Accused), and it appears to be originated from a male other than Mr. Suresewar Das."
In conclusion the Police report adds:
"The report of the DNA test has since been received, which may kindly be seen. The expert has opined that the semen detected on the saya (seized from the complainant) originated from a male person, other than the accused Sureswar Das. Thus it appears that the deceased accused Sureswar Das was not responsible for commission of the offence and that some one had falsely implicated him in the case. It has been transpired during investigation that Sureswar Das Sarkar was falsely implicated in this case by the complainant as the accused, not only by giving false information, but also by prefaring false charge against him for an offense punishable with imprisonment for life or imprisonment up to 7 years or upwards and also be liable to fine, maliciously, without just or lawful ground and for reasons best known to her. Upon legal advice the investigation of the case has been closed, declaring the same as false. In the circumstances, it is respectfully prayed that a proceeding under section 211(False Complaint), Indian Penal Code, may kindly be initiated against the complainant of this case Smt. Basanti Devi Dasi."
This means that not only was the devotee innocent of the crime he had been accused of, but since the stain on the alleged victim's petticoat WAS semen, but belonged to another male other than that of the accused, this semen stain had deliberately been planted there to try and falsely implicate him. An accomplice from the alleged victim's camp had obviously willingly supplied a semen sample as part of the plot to frame this innocent devotee, and in the process attack the IRM.
The Police have asked the courts above to charge the alleged victim under the Indian Penal Code for having made a false complaint, and the courts have agreed that this case should go ahead. I quote below the order issued by the court:
"Ref: Ballygunge Police Station Case No. 74, dated 29/6/2000, Under Sections 376 [Rape], Indian Penal Code State v Sureshwar Sarkar Das [The devotee who committed suicide]
Received a report from the Investigation Officer who submits investigation is completed and declaring the same as FALSE. Investigation Officer prays for proceeding against de-facto complainant Smt. Basanti Devi Dasi [The alleged victim] under section 211, [False Complaint], Indian Penal Code. Case Diary is Produced. Perused Case Diary. Issue notice upon the de-facto complainant to appear before this court on 27/8/2001 to show cause as to why the prosecution under section 211 of the Indian Penal Code will not be initiated against her." (Verdict of Magistrates Court, Alipore, 24/7/2001)
Thus the Police have not only found that there is no case of rape to answer, but also that the alleged victim had deliberately made up the charge, and therefore it should be HER, and not her phantom attacker that needs to be prosecuted. To understand the gravity of the charge against her, please note that the recommended sentence for her crime of making a false complaint will be at least 1/4 of the sentence which would have been passed had the complaint been true. In the case of rape, this means she faces between 2 to 15 years of rigorous imprisonment. The court has called for her to appear in court to produce evidence as to why she should not be prosecuted for having made a false claim. Suprisingly (or not), she has gone 'missing' with the court summons having being returned by the postal service. This means that the next step will be to issue a warrant for her arrest.
In conclusion, not only has the IRM claim that the devotee Sureswar Das was innocent been vindicated, but the circumstances of the case have also vindicated that the whole affair was simply a malicious plot from the Jayapataka Swami (JPS) camp to falsely malign myself and the IRM. For the alleged victim, who has now been proven to be a liar, was instigated in this whole plot from start to finish by the JPS camp as reported in our previous newsletter, no. 33. The fact that a semen sample was deliberately planted to falsely implicate an innocent devotee merely confirms how low the GBC will stoop to try and crush any opposition, even locking up an innocent devotee, an incarceration so unjust that he was pushed to take his own life. Please consider the facts:
Thus it is clear that the alleged victim did not act alone in this conspiracy to try and destroy an IRM devotee, and we are confident that once she is apprehended, the names of her accomplices will emerge. Our only worry is that the JPS camp will find her before the Police do, and that she does not then disappear mysteriously for good. And if that does not work, JPS has already been boasting that the Police are so incompetent that they will never be able to touch him, since he will skip the country as soon as there is the slightest danger. Because it is clear now that the net is beginning to close in on those who perpetrated this dastardly deed.
Satyam Vijayate! Truth will be victorious!
3. Newspaper Profiles Young IRM Devotee
When one of two things start happening on a regular basis, you know that the mission to preach the truth concerning Srila Prabhupada's position as the sole Diksa Guru in ISKCON is going on strongly:
Both of these facts are certainly the case with the IRM. Firstly, desperate that they are losing their artificial status as "divinely empowered Initiating Gurus", and all the financial and material benefits that go with the position, some ISKCON Gurus have resorted to physical violence and terrorist activities to stop the IRM, as we have reported in previous newsletters. The opposition has moved from the philosophical to the physical.
Secondly, following on from our extensive media coverage on the BBC, CNN World News, all the leading Indian newspapers and the Asian press in the UK, the leading Asian publisher in Europe - Gujarat Samachar - has chosen to profile a young member of the IRM in its special annual Diwali supplement. The full-page feature of 9 year-old Mandavi dasi was published last week in the lavishly produced 2001 Diwali magazine which accompanies both "The Asian Voice" and "Gujarat Samachar"newspapers. Regular readers of our newsletters will be only too aware of the platform these publications have given to us to preach the truth. Indeed, one contributor to "The Asian Voice", Mr. Ravi Patel, was banned by Bhaktivedanta Manor for saying that Srila Prabhupada is his Guru! (see previous newsletters for the full story). Unperturbed by this demonic action taken by the Manor President Vipramukhya Swami, young Mandavi wrote in her Diwali feature:
"When I was three, one of the Gurus of ISKCON tried to kick me out of the Gurukula School because of my Dad’s views about the Gurus, but there was a big fuss from the teachers so I carried on there until I was eight. Some people say that these are authorised Diksa Gurus (initiating gurus) and others, like me, believe they are not. I believe they are not because Srila Prabhupada never said they could be. I just take shelter of Srila Prabhupada who started up this whole Hare Krishna Movement." (Mandavi dasi, aged 9, "Gujarat Samachar" Diwali 2001 magazine)
Surely the Manor President would not dare to try to repeat this expulsion against a 9 year-old schoolgirl? But just in case he is considering it, we are preparing a legal defense and media circus that will make him change his mind very quickly indeed!
Mandavi's feature was accompanied by her photograph and the Hare Krishna maha-mantra in bold type. The magazine has an audited ABC circulation. According to the publisher's statement, "Founded on May 5 1972 as the first Gujarati weekly newspaper in Great Britain, Gujarat Samachar is widely read among 600,000 people all over Britain...It is the only tabloid size Gujarati/English weekly in Europe." The full text of Mandavi's article is reproduced below. All glories to the next generation of Srila Prabhupada's disciples!
GUJARAT SAMACHAR
Hinduism: Why I Love My Religion by Mandavi
My name is Mandavi, I am nine years old and I’m in year five of Little Reddings Primary School. The first school I went to was Bhaktivedanta Manor School called the Gurukula. I left because there were hardly any children and there was a school closer to where we were moving in Bushey, Watford.
I have been brought up to be a devotee of Lord Krishna. I am a strict vegetarian, no meat, fish or eggs. I have Deities of Lord Nityananda and Lord Chaitanya. I even have pictures of Krishna and Srila Prabhupada and so on all around the flat. When I was three one of the Gurus of ISKCON tried to kick me out of the Gurukula School because of my Dad’s views about the Gurus, but there was a big fuss from the teachers so I carried on there until I was eight. Some people say that these are authorised Diksa Gurus (initiating gurus) and others, like me, believe they are not. I believe they are not because Srila Prabhupada never said they could be. I just take shelter of Srila Prabhupada who started up this whole Hare Krishna Movement.
I chant Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare on wooden beads that are called Tulasi beads. I chant so that I can practise Krishna Consciousness in order that I can go back to Krishna at the end of my life. Srila Prabhupada, who is a pure Devotee of Krishna, taught all this. A Murti (model) of Srila Prabhupada is in every single Hare Krishna Temple. When I go to Srila Prabhupada’s rooms in Bhaktivedanta Manor I feel like he’s there. Srila Prabhupada is sitting at his desk with a bead bag in one hand chanting the Hare Krishna mantra and he’s reading a letter. He looks like he’s really concentrating. In his office he has pictures of Krishna all around the room. He has a couple of rooms that he owns personally. A bathroom a bedroom and his office. The deity of Srila Prabhupada makes me feel safe there.
I go sometimes to Bhaktivedanta Manor early in the morning for Deity greeting. After Deity greeting there is a special programme for children. We do colouring in Krishna Conscious pictures sometimes, and our main teacher Moksha Laxmi gives class. I like her because the only guru she talks about is Srila Prabhupada. When I get up too late to go to the Manor morning programme I just have class at home. We read from Krishna book and from the Bhagavad Gita or the Srimad Bhagavatam. Those are the main three books by Srila Prabhupada that we are working on at this stage. The types of things which I like to listen to best is Krishna book stories (Krishna’s pastimes). I really like the story of Krishna stealing butter from the Gopis who are the ladies in Vrindavan because Krishna acts very cheekily towards the Gopis and his mother and father. Of course with my mum I’m as good as gold (not!).
I want to stick with my religion that I was born in because it explains the most about God, Krishna. I’m not saying that all the other religions are wrong, they still believe in God and some of them are vegetarians. Srila Prabhupada said that Jesus, the son of Mary, was a pure devotee, so I’m not saying that the Christian’s are wrong. But my religion tells me more about God, that’s all. Many people would find it hard to believe that there is a person called God floating about in the sky with a big white beard. Whereas if someone explains more about God you’ll find that it will be much easier to understand Him. In Srila Prabhupada’s books he explains much more about God (Krishna), what He looks, what sort of pastimes he likes to do and how He created the universe.
I have been going to an Indian dance class run by a woman called Govardhana. The style of dance is called Bharat Natyam. On Janmastami at Bhaktivedanta Manor I performed two dances in front of many thousands of people. The dances were called Musheka and the Hare Krishna dance. Musheka was about Lord Ganesh who rode on a rat and loved to ask for sweets from his devotees, he wrote the scriptures, he has huge elephant ears and trunk and he wears a Brahmin thread. Lord Ganesh is an expansion of Lord Krishna who removes obstacles from our path back home to Godhead. Our dance movements tell this story.
When I first started at Little Reddings I was used to folding my hands in prayer all the time, that was how we used to sit ‘nicely’. But to sit properly in my ordinary school is to cross your arms. When I first met the Head Mistress of Little Reddings she said I was going to have a hard time fitting into such a big school, from such a little school. But actually she was wrong, I made all the friends that I have now on my first day, and they all accept me for what I am.
I was very shocked when I saw on television, live, how those two aeroplanes crashed into the Twin Towers in America. This is a perfect example of how we should just get out of this material world to go back to Godhead, since the material world is full of miseries and disappointments. Thousands of people were killed and we should be sympathetic, but they are not thinking of all the millions of animals they kill each day just for the pleasure of their taste buds. So sadly, this is how Karma works, for every action there is a reaction. That is why it is so important to spread Krishna Conscious Knowledge all over the world. Hare Krishna!
4. GBC BREAKS ‘LAW OF DISCIPLIC SUCCESSION’
For years the GBC have been arguing that the IRM's position must be wrong because it supposedly breaks the 'law of disciplic succession', which was stated by Srila Prabhupada in a letter to Tusta Krishna Das, and which reads thus:
The GBC were also very happy to accept that the restriction on initiating in the presence of one's spiritual master was an integral part of this 'law of disciplic succession', and used this as their main argument as to why devotees could not initate whilst their Gurus were present on the planet. This was stated very forcefully by the GBC in their official paper on the subject of initiation, titled 'Gurus and Initiation in ISKCON' (GII) (1995, GBC). This paper, having analysed Srila Prabhupada's quotes including the one just provided above, states very categorically that:
"From these quotations it is clear that Srila Prabhupada did not want his disciples to initiate, no matter how qualified they may be, as long as their spiritual master was present. [...] It is prudent to assume that Srila Prabhupada was speaking as the Founder-acarya of ISKCON, and that he is restricting all disciples of all gurus in ISKCON from initiating in the presence of their spiritual masters. Even though in the past spiritual masters have given disciples permission to initiate in their presence, Srila Prabhupada emphatically forbids it as a manner of general etiquette. [...] ISKCON is a unique institution in the history of Vaisnavism. We must assume that as Founder-Acarya, Srila Prabhupada had the vision to set down a law--a law suitable for that unique institution, a law we would transgress at our peril. A disciple's only duty is to worship and serve his spiritual master. His mind should not be agitated over how he may become a guru. A devotee who sincerely wants to make spiritual advancement should try to become a disciple, not a spiritual master." ("Devotees Initiating Before Their Guru's Physical Departure: An Official GBC Paper"; Part of GII, GBC, 1995)
So its extremely clear what the GBC believes:
Right? Wrong!
In an amazing U-turn, amazing even for the GBC, they have turned their *own* words on their head, and decided that it is alright for a disciple to become a Guru even whilst his own Guru is on the planet, after all! As the following sensational announcement by the GBC Chairman, Ramai Swami confirms:
Please note that whereas the GBC had previously stated quite emphatically that Srila Prabhupada had forbidden disciples to initiate whilst their Guru was on the planet under any circumstance, and that we would violate this LAW at our own PERIL, they have now said that amongst other things Maha-vishnu Swami is 'very elderly'. So that's all right then! Srila Prabhupada and the GBC both obviously forgot to mention this 'senior citizen' clause in the 'law' of disciplic succession that we would violate at our own peril!
This is more proof, if any were needed, how the GBC's philosophical position is a joke. They cannot even decide for themselves:
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