Image: still from a video shared with Akincana Gocara
In a phone video recorded at ISKCON’s Bhaktivedanta Ashram in Govardhan, the ashram’s temple president, an ISKCON initiating guru, says he is “completely against” women giving class from the vyasasana as diksa-gurus and promises to stand with the opponents of female diksa-gurus whatever the GBC decides.
GOVARDHAN, India — A video of about a minute and a half, shared with Akincana Gocara on 29 October 2026, shows Asita Krishna Swami, temple president of ISKCON Govardhan’s Bhaktivedanta Ashram, declaring his opposition to female diksa-gurus (FDG). Asked by a devotee recording the video to “say something”, he answers in Hindi that “matajis should never become gurus”.[1] The video was sent with a note identifying the speaker; the devotee who recorded it is not named, and the date of the recording is not known.
The devotee holding the phone introduces the scene: “Hare Krishna. Maharaja, Govardhan Ashram”, and says that the Maharaja is very concerned about the possibility that FDG is passed.[1] Asita Krishna Swami then speaks:
“Prabhuji, I support it fully. Matajis should never become gurus. Matajis giving class from the vyasasana — I am completely against this.”
Asita Krishna Swami, video recorded at Govardhan (translated from Hindi) [1]
He goes on to say that it would bring heavy criticism, and that “we will not be able to show our faces” before others. He adds that he does not attend many meetings, but prays to the Lord and to his guru:[1]
“We are with you. Whatever you decide, and whatever fight you have to make, we will make it.”
Asita Krishna Swami (translated from Hindi) [1]
The devotee closes the video: “Maharaja is very concerned. If FDG passes in the GBC, he will fight with us; he will be with us.”[1] The clip does not say who “you” refers to.
According to his biography on ISKCON Leaders, Asita Krishna Swami received harinama initiation from Gour Govinda Swami in 1995 and second initiation from Tamal Krishna Goswami in 1996, and has served at the Bhaktivedanta Ashram in Govardhan since late 1994. The GBC named him the ashram’s temple president in 2010; he accepted sannyasa from Sivarama Swami at the ashram in 2017, and has been an initiating guru in ISKCON since Kartik 2022.[2]
The GBC held its 2026 Mid-Term General Meeting the week of 19 October at Govardhan Eco Village in Wada, Maharashtra, and devoted days of it to Vaishnavi diksa-gurus (VDGs). Its published resolutions made no decision on the question; instead they set up a formal “Dialogue” on siksa, diksa and Vaishnavi diksa-gurus for December 2026 and January 2027, and a moratorium on all initiations from 1 December 2026 until Gaura Purnima 2027.[3] During the meeting, Bhakti Raghava Swami and Bhakti Vikasa Swami asked the GBC not to force a decision on female diksa-gurus.[4]
Asita Krishna Swami’s words in this report are a translation of informal, partly indistinct Hindi speech recorded on a phone; Akincana Gocara has made the original recording available above.
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