“It appears that you have made a blunder, there is no worship of Lord Shiva in Ujjain, that you have claimed, of Bhakti Charu Swami. It is false [...] so an apology to Maharaj is a good way foward.”
- Balgopal Das, Gauranga Jewellers, Durban, South Africa
Editor replies:
The photographs and accompanying report below, from which our story was taken verbatim, clearly document HH Bhakti Charu Swami (“BCS”) worshipping Lord Shiva in ISKCON Ujjain, India:
“You also can see some pictures of Maha Shiva Ratri which was celebrated wonderfully at ISKCON Ujjain with our beloved Bhakti Charu Maharaja. Maharaja has announced fasting for all of us for this day.”
(“Shiva Ratri Celebration in Ujjain”, BCS website, posted March 20th, 2008)
Furthermore, the latest report from ISKCON Ujjain proves that the worship of Lord Shiva is now an established practice there:
BCS Istagosthi, Sunday 14 February, 2010
Ujjain update 14th February, 2010
“[...] We also celebrated Shivaratri at the temple by offering devotees the opportunity to bathe the Shiva linga [...] Also a statue of Shiva was beautifully decorated under the supervision of H.G. Amole bhata Pr and placed in the garden where it was depicted how mother Ganga is flowing from the head of the lord and this drew a lot of devotees in the evening.”
