OPEN LETTER
Russian Vaishnava News(RVN)
OPEN LETTER
by Indradyumna das (Tue, 3 Jul 2001)
Dear Maharajas and Prabhus.
Please, accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to Sri Guru and Sri Gauranga!
Param Vijayate!
My name is Indradyumna das.
I am initiated disciple in Sri Gopinath Gaudiya Math. You can see my visit card
(in Russian, there is photo) and brief biography on the following Internet
address: //hari-katha.org/raznoe/raznoe/id/biography.htm
As you may be know, from 1 till 4 of June 2001 Samara (central Russia, Volga river) was visited by acarya and president of Sri Gopinath Gaudya Math Srila Bhakti Bibudha Bodhayan Maharaj with the preaching mission. During the public programs in the town�s hall and darshans in the flat Srila Bhakti Bibudha Bodhayan Maharaj and his companion Srila Bhaki Sarvasva Govinda Maharaj were brilliantly preaching the Sriman Mahaprabhu�s teaching.
One of the point of their preaching in the public hall was that Srila Bhakti Bibudha Bodhayan Maharaj was speaking highly of preaching activity of ISKCON around the world, of prominent role of founder acarya of ISKCON jagat-guru His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.
Srila Bhakti Bibudha Bodhayan Maharaj was also publicly asking Vaishnavas from ISKCON who were in the hall during our program to invite on his behalf Srila Niranjana Maharaj (ISKCON guru) to take part in our program. Unfortunately we couldn�t do that due to some valid reason: Srila Niranjana Maharaj would be arriving to Samara only on the 4th of June, but on this date our public program would be finished. It�s necessary to note that their meeting nevertheless took place in the flat where Srila Niranjana Maharaj had stopped at. The meeting was held in heart and amicable atmosphere on the 4th of June. Srila Niranjana Swami, Srila Bhakti Bibudha Bodhayan Maharaj and Srila Bhakti Sarvasva Govinda Maharaj were participating in that meeting.
The report about the preaching program published (in Russian, there are photos) in Internet on the following site: //hari-katha.org/news/i/samara_sbbbm2001.htm
I was the organizer of the program in Samara. Due to contributions of many devotees (most from Sri Gopinath Gaudya Math, some from ISKCON and some from all over the world) we were able to rent public hall in the center of the city, to rent ether time on the local radio station, to make advertisements in mass media and on the city�s stands. The programs passed successfully with sufficient number of people.
Before Maharajas arrived to Samara I had visited ISKCON temple in Samara. It was on the 27 May (Sunday) 2001. I was distributing invitations to the forthcoming public program of Sri Gopinath Gaudya Math to everybody. There is some tradition in all the Gaudia Vaishnavas� organizations all over the world to come and to humbly invite each other on different programs of their organizations. And there is nothing blamable in that. After shot period of time I was strictly prohibited to continue the distribution of invitations. The prohibition was put on by Saranagati prabhu (disciple of Srila Lokanath Swami) � president of ISKCON Samara�s temple. Then I apologized to him and to other devotees for disturbances from my side. Saranagati prabhu and bhakta Tarlan insistently asked me to leave the temple and I followed their order. With all this going on there was not any menaces either from their side or mine. Also I was refraining from verbal preaching and was not transgressing the public order. My mistake was that I had not co-ordinated my actions with the temple�s official leaders before I�ve begun to distribute the invitations.
On the 24 of June I came to the ISKCON Samara�s temple to participate on the Sunday program as a listener. I was not preaching to anybody anything. After some time the temple president Saranagati prabhu asked me to not visit ISKCON temple any more. I have asked him about the reason of such a decision taking into consideration that I had promised him to not invite people in ISKCON Samara�s temple to the programs of Sri Gopinath Gaudiya Math in Samara. Saranagati prabhu said me that Sriman Krishnacandra prabhu (disciple of Srila Niranjana Swami, ISKCON, senior devotee of Samara�s temple, brahmin) was in correspondence with and was talking with Sriman Vaidyanath prabhu (ISKCON Leader in Russia) and that Sriman Vaidyanath prabhu interdicted me to visit ISKCON temple in Samara. Same day (24th June 2001) I�ve addressed for clarification for Sriman Krishnacandra prabhu. And then Sriman Krishnacandra prabhu answered me that Sriman Vaidyanath prabhu �have nothing to do with it�. Then Sriman Krishnacandra prabhu said me that when I was attending ISKCON Samara�s temple and was inviting people to come and meet Vaishnavas � that was �treachery� from my side, that I was blasting the faith of the people. Then I humbly apologized that I had disturbed the minds of Vaishnavas of ISKCON Samara�s temple. Then I humbly promised that I�d never come to ISKCON Samara�s temple so as not to disturb the minds of devotees by my only presence.
Also I want to say that Ananda Puri prabhu (disciple of Bhaktivaibhava Swami, ISKCON, plenipotentiary of BBT in Samara) was presenting during my talk with Sriman Krishnacandra prabhu. And Ananda Puri prabhu said that I had hardly offended by my words acarya and founder of ISKCON Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. I was vastly astonished and striked by his words. Then I asked him about �When did I do that and what did I say specifically, and what are the evidences of that?� Then Ananda Puri prabhu said me that some devotees of ISKCON Samara�s temple came to him and let him know that I had been criticizing Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada by my words. Then I asked Ananda Puri pradhu to call the people�s names who had charged me. I wanted to clarify the situation. I wanted to call those man (or group of people) to clarify the situation together, to clear up the mess. Then Ananda Puri prabhu refused to do this and began to scream at me and say that �you�re scoundrel!�. After such words from his side I have apologized to them for appeared misunderstanding with my person. Then I said to him and to Sriman Krishnacandra prabhu and I�m saying it again one more time �Never, in no circumstances I (Indradyumna das) was criticizing Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada and I�m not going to do that in future in any place ever�. More to say, I told in the presence of Sriman Krishnacandra prabhu and Ananda Puri prabhu and I�m repeating it again that I consider Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada nama-acarya, sakti-avesha-avatara, pure devotee of Lord Krishna, and I consider all written by him as the clear explanation of siddhanta in strict accordance with the teaching of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura and Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura. Finally I have apologized one more time for disturbances and left the territory of ISKCON Samara�s temple.
I hope that my imperfect action will not encumber Vaishnavas in their practice of chanting Hare Krishna mantra.
So to say, that the up said decision of ISKCON temple�s governing body haven�t badly affected on realization of preaching programs (nama-hatta) in my flat. The programs are leaded by Sriman Vajra prabhu (more then 15 years in ISKCON, brahmin, disciple of Srila Prabhavishnu Swami Maharaj, congregational member, former temple president of ISKCON Saransk�s temple � town near Samara). The nama-hatta program is held on Sundays. Some initiated devotees from ISKCON and other open hearted people are coming and taking part in it. After our program some of them are going to ISKCON temple to the Sunday program.
And to say, our doors (for darshan and public programs) were opened to everybody on the 1-4th of June. Many devotees from ISKCON have visited our programs. Many of them rendered us irreplaceable service in preparation and organizing of the preaching program. I�m very thankful them for this. Please, everybody bless them for successful bhajan.
Also I�m very thankful to Srila Niranjana Swami and to Srila Bhakti Vikash Swami (ISKCON) who are the clear example of non-fanatical behavior and understanding. On the 25th September in 2000 I organized the radio program with Srila Bhakti Vikash Swami on local radio and he was preaching nicely the teaching of Sriman Mahaprabhu. Thank you.
Please, again and again forgive me for disturbances and bless me for the chanting of the Holy Name. I�m only unworthy servant and trying to be servant of servant of servant of those who are preaching the glory of Hare Krishna.
Your unworthy follower Indradyumna das.
PS
If you like, you can read (in English) one of the recent interviews of Srila
Bhakti Bibudha Bodhayan Maharaja //hari-katha.org/news/i/i_sbbbm_e.htm