Prabhupada Meant “Woman,” Not “Mother,” as the Reason – A Shastric Analysis According to śāstric injunctions, there is no difference between śikṣā-guru and dīkṣā-guru, and generally the śikṣā-guru later on becomes the dīkṣā-guru. Sunīti, however, being a woman, and specifically his mother, could not become Dhruva Mahārāja’s dīkṣā-guru. ( SBContinue Reading
ISKCON Vaishnavi Gurus: A Critical Examination of Vedic Principles The debate over whether Vaishnavis should become diksha gurus has spanned 25 years within ISKCON. In this direct and uncompromising presentation, Mahashakti Das examines the fundamental Vedic principles regarding stri-dharma, the nature of renunciation, and why the proposal for female dikshaContinue Reading
Misuse of Principles and Details in the Vaishnavi Diksa-Guru Debate Rupa Goswami’s Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu distinguishes between unchangeable principles and adjustable details, but is this distinction being applied correctly in the Vaishnavi diksha guru debate? In this incisive analysis, IISB examines how the “principles vs. details” framework can be misused to dismissContinue Reading
Behavior Backed by Instructions Must Be Followed Is behavior alone sufficient evidence for establishing spiritual principles? In this second installment of the IISB response series, Krishna Kirti Das addresses Hridayananda Maharaja’s attempt to dismiss behavioral evidence by establishing the crucial distinction between anukaran (imitation) and anusaran (genuine following). When behavior aligns with words, weContinue Reading
Krishna Kirti Das, Conveyor of the ISKCON India Scholars Board, offers a critical analysis of Hridayananda Das Goswami’s recent rebuttal to Sivarama Swami regarding the controversy of Vaishnavi diksha-gurus. Krishna Kirti posits that Hridayananda Maharaja employs a rhetorical tactic of “problematizing” ( raising complications to obscure a position that isContinue Reading
In a recent and uncompromising interview with Prachyam, His Holiness Bhakti Vikasa Swami traces his transformative journey from a dissatisfied youth in a Roman Catholic family in the UK to becoming a dedicated disciple of Srila Prabhupada. Maharaja recounts his early skepticism of “Indian gurus” and his desperate search forContinue Reading
Hotel booking fraud hits Mayapur in pilgrim season As the pilgrim season peaks, ISKCON Mayapur has issued a serious warning regarding a coordinated online accommodation scam targeting devotees. Fraudsters have created convincing fake websites and WhatsApp channels mimicking official ISKCON facilities—such as Prabhupad Village, Gada Bhavan, and Gita Bhavan—to swindleContinue Reading
From Ghats to Temples: How Spiritual Tourism Revives India’s Cultural Heart A recent feature in Hindustan Times explores the profound impact of spiritual tourism on India's art, music, and heritage. The article includes an insightful interview with Yudhistir Govinda Das, Director of Communications at ISKCON India, who explains how mindfulContinue Reading
A transcription of this lecture is available on the IISB website: Transcript – On Vaiṣṇavī Dīkṣā-gurus – Part 2Continue Reading
Report on Survey Soundness Author: Krishna Kirti das, Convenor of the ISKCON India Scholars Board Contact: convenor@iisb.co.in | https://iisb.co.in Background My name is Krishna Kirti das, Convenor of the ISKCON India Scholars Board. I hold an MS in Statistics, and this report summarizes my professional opinion on the soundness ofContinue Reading