An iṣṭagoṣṭhī – The process of initiation

The following is a transcription of a meeting with Śrīla Bhaktivedānta Nārāyaṇa Mahārāja in Badger, California, on June 5, 2002

[In New Vraja (Badger, California), on the morning of June 5th, Śrīla Gurudeva (Śrīla Bhaktivedānta Nārāyaṇa Mahārāja) had a meeting with some of the senior devotees about book publication, book distribution, internet publication, preaching, Śrīla Gurudeva’s tour plans, and the process of initiation. Then, that evening, just before giving his nightly class on Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura’s book, Bhajana-rahasya, Śrīla Gurudeva held a short iṣṭagoṣṭhī. He called upon his secretary, Śrīpāda Vrajanātha dāsa adhikārī, to give a report of that meeting to the 500 devotees present in the New Vraja pavilion.

One of the main subjects in Vrajanātha prabhu’s report was that of initiation. As it happened with Śrīla Prabhupāda, it happened again with Śrīla Gurudeva. Śrīla Gurudeva’s representatives are travelling all over the world and preaching, and 1000s of aspiring devotees in various countries are desiring to accept Vaiṣṇava initiation from him. Many of those devotees have either met or will meet Śrīla Gurudeva in the near future, but many others have no means to take his personal darśana for some time, and they may never meet him. Therefore, to ensure that all initiations take place in an authorised way, following in Śrīla Prabhupāda’s footsteps, Śrīla Gurudeva presented a policy statement.]

Vrajanātha dāsa: The next topic discussed was initiations. It is very important that we understand this topic properly. Śrīla Gurudeva has requested that it be made very clear to all, and I hope that he may also speak one or two words on this matter. (Speaking to Śrīla Bhaktivedānta Nārāyaṇa Mahārāja) This morning, you spoke about something Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Prabhupāda and your gurudeva.

Śrīla Bhaktivedānta Nārāyaṇa Mahārāja: I want my sannyāsīs, brahmacārīs, and gṛhastha-bhaktas to preach the original mood and instructions of Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī, and as a result of our preaching, many will become ready for initiation. Therefore, to ensure that initiations are carried out according to the paramparā system, I want the proper process to be followed.

When I was with my gurudeva, and after his disappearance as well, I made up my mind that I would not accept any disciples. Until 1995, I generally did not give initiation to either Indians or Westerners, but still, I was helping those who came to me in all ways, as a śikṣā-guru. At that time, although I didn’t want to initiate disciples, some cases arose that I couldn’t avoid. ISKCON leaders obliged me to give initiation. They told so many devotees, “If you go to see Nārāyaṇa Mahārāja, we will kick you out!” and they forcibly did so. Therefore, to give shelter to those devotees, I initiated some of them, and after that, our Society (Gauḍīya Vedānta Samiti) passed a resolution stating that I should continue to initiate.

During the time of Śrīla Prabhupāda Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura, there were many very qualified sannyāsīs, such as Śrīla Śrīdhara Mahārāja, Śrīla Vaikhānasa Mahārāja, Śrīla Yāyāvara Mahārāja, my gurudeva, Śrī Śrīmad Bhakti Prajñāna Keśava Gosvāmī Mahārāja, Śrīla Mādhava Mahārāja, and others. Although they were highly qualified, they never initiated anyone during the manifest stay of their guru-mahārāja. It was not until after Śrīla Prabhupāda Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura’s departure that they began to initiate. Similarly, at the time of my gurudeva’s manifested stay, none of us ever initiated anyone. In fact, even after his passing, when the Society continued under the guidance of oṁ viṣṇupāda Śrī Śrīmad Bhaktivedānta Vāmana Gosvāmī Mahārāja, Śrīla Bhaktivedānta Trivikrama Mahārāja, and myself, although there were many qualified devotees, except for the president, Śrīla Vāmana Mahārāja, no one gave initiation for several years.

To initiate is a very weighty responsibility. Still, to continue the strict line of our sampradāya, we are doing so. I have permitted my disciples, such as Mādhava Mahārāja, Tīrtha Mahārāja, Araṇya Mahārāja, and others, to give mālās. If they try to give initiations, however, then their disciples will have no honour for them after some time, and they will also try to initiate prematurely. So this is not a good process. Therefore, I think it is best to pass this resolution: if I am not going to travel to the country of the persons desiring initiation, even in the future, then senior devotees can give japa-mālās on my behalf. But they should follow the proper process. As for initiation, I will give it by phone and through an ‘authority letter’, telling the aspiring devotee, “I am accepting you.” After that, when my preachers are in their countries, they will give them the japa and kānti-mālās (neck-beads).

I know that my sannyāsī disciples, like Mādhava Mahārāja, Tīrtha Mahārāja, Vana Mahārāja, Padmanābha Mahārāja, Bhaktisāra Mahārāja, Araṇya Mahārāja, or Āśrama Mahārāja, are not desirous to be a guru, an ācārya, while I am still physically present in this world. I have told them to take japa and kānti-mālās with them when they travel to places where I will probably never be able to go. They should not try to be an ācārya, however, thinking that they themselves are giving initiation. This mood should not be there; otherwise, it will be very bad for them, not for me. I will give initiation by phone and by letter, and I will chant on the beads of the new initiates. Then, any senior and responsible devotee should give the new initiates their mālās and whatever else is necessary.

Vrajanātha dāsa: Also, Gurudeva, sometimes they give names. This is not proper.

Śrīla Bhaktivedānta Nārāyaṇa Mahārāja: The policy should be that I will give the new initiates’ names by telephone and by letter. Phones are now available everywhere.

Vrajanātha dāsa: Yes, and also the internet. I think everyone agrees with this resolution. Are there any comments?

Pāñcālī dāsī: I would like to say that I was initiated in that way by Śrīla Prabhupāda.

Śrīla Bhaktivedānta Nārāyaṇa Mahārāja: Yes. Very good. Thank you. I should follow his example. (Śrīpāda Vrajanātha dāsa then reported on the remaining topics of that morning meeting.)

Śrīla Bhaktivedānta Nārāyaṇa Mahārāja: The present age is Kali, the age of quarrelling without any reason. I therefore request you all, especially the sannyāsīs and brahmacārīs, to be very humble. We should not quarrel among ourselves. If we are always humble and polite, we can preach everywhere, and that preaching will be stable. Otherwise, this will not be possible. We can conquer any heart with love and affection, not with control. Don’t quarrel. Peacefully discuss all subjects among yourselves. If you cannot do so, then come to me, and I will try to reconcile everything. Don’t, in any way, have any contest or quarrel among yourselves. Gaura-premānande.