Croatian Yatra Wants More Discussions for Female Diksha Gurus

Dear GBC members, Maharajas, prabhus and mothers,

Please accept our humble obeisances.

All glories to Srila Prabhupada!

Herewith we would like to express our concern with possibly controversial resolution regarding Vaisnavi diksa gurus which may be cause of political polarization of devotees in our society and which is

already cause of disturbance among Vaisnavas.

sruti-smrti-puranadi-pancaratra-vidhim vina

aikantiki harer bhaktir utpatayaiva kalpate

“Devotional service of the Lord that ignores the authorized Vedic literatures like the Upanisads, Puranas and Narada Pancaratra is simply an unnecessary disturbance in society.” (BRS 1.2.101)

Whereas, Srila Prabhupada stated in his Bhaktivedanta purport to Srimad Bhagavatam 4.12.32 that “ Suniti, however, being a woman, and specifically his mother, could not become Dhruva Maharaja’s diksa-guru.” , and since gamut of Srila Prabhupada’s teachings prescribes traditional role of women,

Whereas, in one letter (to Hansadutta, Jan 1969) and one conversation (with Prof. O’Connell, Jun 1976) Srila Prabhupada mentions possibility of “sons and daughters receiving the title ‘Bhativedanta’ would be able to initiate” and “If she is able to go to the highest perfection of life, why it is not possible to become guru?” respectively,

We, by signing below, do hereby request for establishment of exegetical and hermeneutical principles in ISKCON where such apparently contradictory statements of Srila Prabhupada could be reconciled and harmonized with teachings of acaryas and ultimately sastras.

If such principles aren’t clearly established there is no way ISKCON can survive united without being crippled with future challenges alike “poison issue “or ritvikism we had in the past and which are solely based on whimsical interpretation of some isolated statements taken out of context.

The goal of this petition is to emphasize the need for thorough investigation and dialogue about the issue including devotees from both sides before pressing forward with such a proposal and passing VDG resolution. These discussions should be based on the evidences from guru-sadhu-sastra, without time constraint and conclusion should settle the issue once and for all.

Your servants

Vrsabha das (SKS), traveling preacher

Ananta Sesa das (SNS), CNC Vice-chairman

Murari Gupta das (BVKS), Lika Summer Camp

Dvija-vara das (BTS), CNC member

Ananda Gopal das (SNS), Bhakti-bhavan, Varazdin

Sivananda Sena das (BVKS), TP Pula, NC member

Radhe Govinda das (ISM), traveling preacher

Divya-prabandha das (KKRS), CNC Chairman