Latest news with #SrilaPrabhupada
Hans India
17-05-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
SC verdict on ISKCON brings down curtains on 25-yr struggle of devotees
Bengaluru: The Supreme Court verdict on the ISKCON temple here has ended a long battle against 'self-proclaimed gurus,' and devotees' struggle to establish Srila Prabhupada as the Acharya of ISKCON, post his Maha Samadhi, ISKCON Bengaluru said on Friday. The apex court held that the Hare Krishna temple in Bengaluru belongs to the ISKCON Society in the city. It allowed the plea of ISKCON Bengaluru challenging a Karnataka High Court order that ruled in favour of ISKCON Mumbai over control of the iconic Hare Krishna temple and educational complex in this city. In a statement, Madhu Pandit Dasa, President of ISKCON Bengaluru, said, 'This internal ISKCON battle was against self-proclaimed gurus who claimed to be successors to Srila Prabhupada, the founder Acharya of ISKCON, without being authorised by Srila Prabhupada before his Maha Samadhi.' 'Rather, he set up a Ritvik system whereby all devotees in ISKCON at all times will be direct disciples of Srila Prabhupada,' he added. Srila Prabhupada, the Founder-Acharya of ISKCON, established a system of initiation (Diksha) in 1977, shortly before he attained Maha Samadhi. Known as the Ritvik system, initiations would be conducted through his appointed representatives. As per this arrangement, all future devotees would become direct disciples of Srila Prabhupada, who would continue to remain the Acharya of ISKCON. He alleged those in ISKCON Mumbai, in the year 2000, tried to expel the devotees of ISKCON Bengaluru because they refused to accept the 'guruship' of self-proclaimed gurus of ISKCON, claiming that ISKCON Mumbai society controls the properties of ISKCON Bengaluru society,' Dasa said. 'Today, the 25-year-old court battle has been concluded by the Supreme Court by its verdict that BDA had allotted temple land of ISKCON Bangalore society--an independent ISKCON society registered in Bengaluru, in 1988 sand the property and funds to build the temple were raised in Bengaluru,' he said. 'In essence, ISKCON Mumbai has been injuncted from interfering with the management of ISKCON Bengaluru. They can no longer expel from ISKCON, thousands of devotees who want to accept only Srila Prabhupada as the sole Acharya of ISKCON,' he added. ISKCON Bengaluru had moved the top court on June 2, 2011, challenging the high court's verdict of May 23, 2011. In the plea, ISKCON Bengaluru, represented by its office-bearer Kodandarama Dasa, contested the high court judgment that overturned a 2009 order of a local court in Bengaluru. The trial court had earlier ruled in favour of ISKCON Bengaluru, recognising its legal title and granting a permanent injunction against ISKCON Mumbai. However, the high court reversed this ruling and upheld a counterclaim by ISKCON Mumbai, effectively granting them control over the temple.
New Indian Express
17-05-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Won ISKCON's long fight for Prabhupada's legacy, says temple president Madhu Pandit Dasa
BENGALURU: After the Supreme Court ordered that the famous Hare Krishna Hill temple in Rajajinagar belongs solely to the ISKCON-Bangalore Society and not to ISKCON-Mumbai, Sri Madhu Pandit Dasa, President of ISKCON-Bangalore, said the internal ISKCON battle was never just about property — it was a long fight to uphold the spiritual legacy of Srila Prabhupada, the founder acharya of ISKCON. 'They can no longer expel thousands of devotees who wish to accept only Srila Prabhupada as the sole acharya of ISKCON,' he said, reiterating that Prabhupada had set up a Ritvik system where all devotees would remain his disciples even after his passing. The Supreme Court's verdict on Friday marks the end of a 24-year legal and ideological battle between the ISKCON societies of Bengaluru and Mumbai. The apex court upheld ISKCON-Bangalore's independent legal identity and confirmed that the temple land had been allotted to it by the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) in 1988. The court also barred ISKCON-Mumbai from interfering in the administration or affairs of the Bangalore society. What triggered the dispute was the question of spiritual succession within ISKCON after Srila Prabhupada's Maha Samadhi in 1977. ISKCON-Bangalore has long opposed the idea of self-appointed successors or 'gurus' leading the organisation. According to them, Srila Prabhupada had clearly outlined a Ritvik initiation system, under which he would remain the sole initiating spiritual master for all time, with representatives performing ceremonies on his behalf.
Hindustan Times
17-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Iskcon Bengaluru owns Hare Krishna temple, says Supreme Court
The Supreme Court on Friday ruled that ISKCON Bangalore was the rightful owner of the iconic Hare Krishna temple in Bengaluru, ending a 24-year-old legal dispute with ISKCON Mumbai over the ownership and control of the temple and its associated property. A bench of Justices Abhay S Oka and Augustine George Masih allowed ISKCON Bangalore's appeal, setting aside a 2011 judgment by the Karnataka high court that had ruled in favour of ISKCON Mumbai. The court said that ISKCON Bangalore is an independent legal entity and that the society cannot be treated as a branch of ISKCON Mumbai. ISKCON Mumbai was founded in 1966 by Srila Prabhupada and is registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860, and the Bombay Public Trust Act, 1950. It claimed that ISKCON Bangalore, registered under the Karnataka Societies Registration Act in July 1978, was its branch and that the temple property belonged to the Mumbai society. In 2001, ISKCON Bangalore filed a suit seeking declarations that it was the absolute owner of the property in question, that ISKCON Mumbai had no authority over its affairs, and that Mumbai-based office bearers be permanently restrained from interfering. In 2009, the trial court ruled in favour of ISKCON Bangalore, recognising its ownership and granted it a permanent injunction against ISKCON Mumbai. The court also dismissed ISKCON Mumbai's claim that Bangalore was merely a branch office and that the Mumbai society had rights over both properties. However, in 2011, the Karnataka high court reversed the trial court's decision, holding that ISKCON Bangalore was a branch of ISKCON Mumbai and that the temple property belonged to the latter. The Supreme Court's verdict restores the decree passed by the trial court and affirms ISKCON Bangalore's independent status. ISKCON Bangalore hailed the court's judgment. 'In essence, ISKCON Mumbai has been injuncted from interfering with the management of ISKCON Bengaluru. They can no longer expel from ISKCON, thousands of devotees who want to accept only Srila Prabhupada as the sole Acharya of ISKCON,' Madhu Pandit Dasa, president of ISKCON Bangalore, said in a statement.
India Gazette
16-05-2025
- Politics
- India Gazette
ISKCON Hare Krishna Hill temple belongs to ISKCON Bangalore, not ISKCON Mumbai: Supreme Court
Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], May 16 (ANI): The Supreme Court on Friday decreed that the famous ISKCON Hare Krishna Hill temple in Bangalore belongs to the ISKCON-Bangalore society and not the ISKCON-Mumbai society. According to an official release, the long-standing dispute between ISKCON-Bangalore and ISKCON-Mumbai began after Srila Prabhupada attained Maha Samadhi in 1977, when some ISKCON leaders claimed to be his successors, contrary to his directive establishing a Ritvik initiation system. ISKCON-Bangalore, led by Madhu Pandit Dasa, upheld Srila Prabhupada as the sole Acharya and resisted pressure to conform to the self-appointed guru system. In 2000, ISKCON-Mumbai attempted to take control of the Bangalore temple, despite the land being allotted to ISKCON-Bangalore in 1988. This sparked a 25-year legal battle, now concluded by the Supreme Court in favour of ISKCON-Bangalore. ISKCON-Mumbai society has been injuncted not to interfere with the affairs of ISKCON-Bangalore society. Speaking about the verdict, Sri Madhu Pandit Dasa, President, ISKCON Bangalore, Founder and Chairman of The Akshaya Patra Foundation, Chairman and Mentor, Global Hare Krishna Movement said, 'This internal ISKCON battle was against self-proclaimed gurus who claimed to be successors to Srila Prabhupada, the founder Acharya of ISKCON, without being authorised by Srila Prabhupada before his Maha Samadhi. Rather, he set up a Ritvik system whereby all devotees in ISKCON at all times will be direct disciples of Srila Prabhupada, the Founder Acharya.' 'However, it snowballed into a court property battle by ISKCON Mumbai, which is managed by self-proclaimed gurus, when they tried in 2000 to expel the devotees of ISKCON Bangalore from ISKCON because of refusing to accept the guruship of self-proclaimed gurus of ISKCON by claiming that ISKCON Mumbai society controls the properties of ISKCON Bangalore society,' he said. 'Today, the 25-year-old court battle has been concluded by the Supreme Court by its verdict that BDA had allotted temple land of ISKCON Bangalore society in 1988, an independent ISKCON society was registered in Bangalore, and the property and funds to build the temple were raised in Bangalore. In essence, ISKCON Mumbai has been injucted from interfering with the management of ISKCON Bangalore. They can no longer expel from ISKCON has thousands of devotees who want to accept only Srila Prabhupada as the sole Acharya of ISKCON,' he added. In 1977, just before Srila Prabhupada (Founder-Acharya of ISKCON) attained Maha Samadhi. He had set up for the future a system of initiation (Diksha) through his representatives called Ritviks. According to this system, all future devotees initiated will become direct disciples of Srila Prabhupada, and he shall remain the Acharya of ISKCON. But soon after his Maha Samadhi, his ambitious disciples in positions of leadership (mostly Westerners) disobeyed Srila Prabhupada's written directions and claimed to be the successor Acharyas of ISKCON, started initiating (giving Diksha). These self-proclaimed Acharyas accepted high ornamental seats, received honorific titles, and had songs composed to sing about them, led lavish lifestyles - all contrary to the simple life of Srila Prabhupada had led and taught. When ISKCON devotees worldwide opposed this self-proclaimed and self-appointed Acharya system, they were harassed, tormented, physically abused, expelled from ISKCON temples, and in one extreme situation, murdered (Sulochana Das, 1984). In 1999, devotees of ISKCON-Bangalore, led by Sri Madhu Pandit Dasa, refused to follow this self-proclaimed and self-appointed Acharya system, we too met with such opposition and harassment from ISKCON International leadership through the ISKCON-Mumbai society. ISKCON-Mumbai tried to take over the Hare Krishna Hill temple in Bangalore forcibly. At that time, the devotees of ISKCON-Bangalore asserted their right as the land in Rajajinagar was allotted to ISKCON-Bangalore society by the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) in 1988. This led to a court battle that has taken 25 years of struggle to establish the truth of Srila Prabhupada's order in his ISKCON institution. Today's Supreme Court order settles the matter in favour of ISKCON-Bangalore. With this verdict, thousands of devotees worldwide can peacefully accept Srila Prabhupada as the Acharya in ISKCON and practice their faith, without fear of persecution. (ANI)
News18
16-05-2025
- Politics
- News18
‘ISKCON-Bangalore Is Owner Of Temple In IT Capital': SC Ends 25-Year Battle With ISKCON-Mumbai
Last Updated: The long-standing dispute between ISKCON-Bangalore and ISKCON-Mumbai began after Srila Prabhupada attained Maha Samadhi in 1977 The Supreme Court on Friday decreed that the famous ISKCON Hare Krishna Hill temple in Bengaluru belongs to ISKCON-Bangalore society, and not ISKCON-Mumbai society. ISKCON-Mumbai society has been injuncted not to interfere with the affairs of ISKCON-Bangalore society. It has also paved the way for ISKCON-Bangalore to affirm it's stand — Srila Prabhupada is the sole Acharya of ISKCON. The long-standing dispute between ISKCON-Bangalore and ISKCON-Mumbai began after Srila Prabhupada attained Maha Samadhi in 1977, when some ISKCON leaders claimed to be his successors, contrary to his directive establishing a Ritvik initiation system. ISKCON-Bangalore, led by Madhu Pandit Dasa, upheld Srila Prabhupada as the sole Acharya and resisted pressure to conform to the self-appointed guru system. In 2000, ISKCON-Mumbai attempted to take control of the Bangalore temple, despite the land being allotted to ISKCON-Bangalore in 1988. This sparked a 25-year legal battle, now concluded by the Supreme Court in favour of ISKCON-Bangalore. Sri Madhu Pandit Dasa, President, ISKCON Bangalore, Founder and Chairman of The Akshaya Patra Foundation, Chairman and Mentor Global Hare Krishna Movement said: 'This internal ISKCON battle was against self-proclaimed gurus who claimed to be successors to Srila Prabhupada, the founder Acharya of ISKCON, without being authorised by Srila Prabhupada before his he set up a Ritvik system whereby all devotees in ISKCON at all times will be direct disciples of Srila Prabhupada, the Founder Acharya. However, it snowballed into a court property battle by ISKCON Mumbai which is managed by self-proclaimed gurus when they tried in 2000 to expel the devotees of ISKCON Bangalore from ISKCON because of refusing to accept the guruship of self-proclaimed gurus of ISKCON by claiming that ISKCON Mumbai society controls the properties of ISKCON Bangalore society. In 1977, just before Srila Prabhupada (Founder-Acharya of ISKCON), attained Maha Samadhi, he had set up for future a system of initiation (Diksha) through his representatives called Ritviks. According to this system, all future devotees initiated will become direct disciples of Srila Prabhupada, and he shall remain the Acharya of ISKCON. But soon after his Maha Samadhi, his ambitious disciples in positions of leadership (mostly Westerners) disobeyed Srila Prabhupada's written directions, and claimed themselves to be the successor Acharyas of ISKCON, and started initiating (giving Diksha). These self-proclaimed Acharyas accepted high ornamental seats, received honorific titles, had songs composed to sing about them, led lavish lifestyles – all contrary to the simple life Srila Prabhupada had led and taught. When ISKCON devotees worldwide opposed this self-proclaimed and self-appointed Acharya system, they were harassed, tormented, physically abused, expelled from ISKCON temples, and in one extreme situation murdered (Sulochana Das, 1984). In 1999, when devotees of ISKCON-Bangalore led by Sri Madhu Pandit Dasa, refused to follow this self-proclaimed and self-appointed Acharya system, we too met with such opposition and harassment from ISKCON International leadership through ISKCON-Mumbai society. ISKCON-Mumbai tried to forcibly take over the Hare Krishna Hill temple in Bangalore. At that time, the devotees of ISKCON-Bangalore asserted their right as the land in Rajajinagar was allotted to ISKCON-Bangalore society by Bangalore Development Authority (BOA) in 1988. This led to a court battle that has taken 25 years of struggle to establish the truth of Srila Prabhupada's order in his ISKCON institution. Today's Supreme Court order settles the matter in favour of ISKCON-Bangalore. With this verdict, thousands of devotees worldwide can peacefully accept Srila Prabhupada as the Acharya in ISKCON and practice their faith, without fear of persecution. In the last 25 years, the devotees of ISKCON-Bangalore group have expanded to 25 temples in India, 8 temples abroad, with over 1000 full-time missionaries (monks) and over 10,000 congregation devotees (practicing from their homes). Akshaya Patra Foundation that serves 23 lakh children every day in 17 states in the country also began from ISKCON-Bangalore temple.
