On my current visit to Sri Vrindavan Dhama in April 2013 I am noticing many male initiated ISKCON devotees keeping beards. Is this in accordance with Srila Prabhupada’s instructions? By carefully reviewing his instructions in his books, letters, lectures, and conversations in this regard we can understand what is his desire and thus how to please him.
Srila Prabhupada has written in a letter to Brahmananda Prabhu dated 11 October 1967 from Calcutta: Kirtanananda is the first man in our society who cleanly shaved and kept the Sikha on the top of the head and now he has begun to keep beard again. This is not good. Whatever he is doing nowadays has no sanction from me.
Read the rest on ISKCON Desire Tree at this link: Beards in ISKCON – The Hare Krishnas or the Hairy Krishnas? – Blog – ISKCON Desire Tree | IDT