While most of the Rtvik faithful* see Madhu Pandit Dasa as their patron saint and gloriously carrying on the Rtvik crusade we have always maintained that this case has nothing to do with Rtvikism but rather with fraud on the part of Madhu Pandit Dasa to maintain proprietorship of ISKCON’s (reg. Mumbai 1971) property.
Madhu Pandit Dasa has simply used the Rtvik controversy as a convenient expedient to carry out his crimes as it gives him ready made supporters who think he is benefiting them but rather he is cynically using them as useful idiots for his own purposes. Basically speaking Madhu Pandit Dasa has defrauded both ISKCON (reg. Mumbai 1971) and the Rtviks.
Those are pretty strong statements but we are prepared to back it up with solid evidence. The proof of it is fairly easy once you know the history. First we should note that in Madhu Pandit Dasa’s Original Suit (OS) #2180 page 9, paragraph 10 dated March 15, 1999 Madhu Pandit Dasa makes the following statement in his sworn affidavit (click to get #2180 as PDF, 6 MB):
“In or about June 1998 some of the members of the Bangalore branch including the plaintiffs [Madhu Pandit Dasa] came across certain documents including the last will and testament of Srila Prabhupada, tapes (sic) recording of his conversation with his close disciples in the spiritual order and writings which clearly indicated that initiation of a member into the movement was to be done as per ‘Rtvik’ system.”
This would lead one to believe that Madhu Pandit Dasa never heard of Rtvikism before and first heard about Rtvikism around June 1998 and from this sudden revelation of previously unknown knowledge from that point onward became a Rtvik “true believer” as it were. This is what Madhu Pandit Dasa wants everyone especially the Rtviks to think so that they will unwittingly support him in his crimes. He needs someone shouting down anyone who criticizes him. But as we have always maintained and will continue to maintain this is just a smokescreen for his crimes.
Madhu Pandit Dasa was well aware of Rtvikism as far back as 1995 (and earlier) as can be seen from the following text from “Sri Guru Mukha Padma Vakya” that he wrote in which he relates how by “divine revelation” he was shown that Rtvikism was bogus. So not only was Madhu Pandit Dasa aware of Rtvik “philosophy” at least fours years before the time he said in his sworn affidavit (more perjury) but was convinced it was wrong. However, when Rtvikism could be used to achieve his megalomaniac ambitions he cynically embraced it.
So we ask: does Madhu Pandit Dasa no longer believe that Lord Krsna mystically answered his prayer regarding the nature of Guru? Does Madhu Pandit Dasa still believe that Lord Krsna exists? In our opinion Madhu Pandit Dasa doesn’t care a whit about these things he only cares about what will keep him in a position of power and prestige:
Sri Guru Mukha Padma Vakya
Volume 4 No. 1 & 2
April 1995On the path of faith in Sri Guru
Cherished Memories
(A personal recollection by Madhu Pandit Dasa)…Para 20 Page 74
Faith reconfirmed
Storms broke out and shook ISKCON in the matter of present spiritual masters for many years. However, when I looked at Srila Acharyapada, I could see that every moment in his functioning as a guru, he was flawless. In all my years of associating with him, he has acted as guru. Every moment. Guru –heavy.
One Mayapur festival everyone was discussing the issue on present spiritual masters – even bhaktas. The theory that everyone is a direct disciple of Srila Prabhupada and that the present gurus are only ritviks was very prevalent. Many senior devotees were pushing this theory. Some of the devotees of the fifty-men committee also spoke to me. Since confusion was everywhere, I was also being dragged into thinking about the same issue. When many senior devotees were themselves confused about this, I wondered how I could settle it with my own analysis. Somehow, I didn’t approach Srila Acharyapada, although that would have been the best thing to do.
One day after the Bhagavatam class I went before the Deities, Sri Sri Radha Madhava and stood in the centre, facing Them. I was intensely thinking: Was Srila Prabhupada the direct guru, as many devotees were saying? How can I resolve this conflict, at least for myself? Mentally, logically, I could not. I thought, only Krishna could resolve it in some inconceivable way.
As I was engrossed in these thoughts, leaning against the platform before the altar, I felt someone grip my right arm and pull me aside from where I was standing. I turned around in surprise.
There stood Srila Acaryapada!
I immediately stepped back to make place for him. He was carrying Srila Prabhupada’s murti in his hands and had come to return him to the altar. I was right in the way.
Instantly everything fell in place. Srila Acharyapada, with Srila Prabhupada in his hands, stood transcendentally before me in his rightful place. I could see that Srila Prabhupada was in his hands. He was my link to Srila Prabhupada and the Deities. Srila Acharyapada, my spiritual master, in the transcendental via media. This was confirmed.
This was no coincidence. It was not guru puja time. Srila Prabhupada was not returning to the altar after the routine guru puja. Srila Acharyapada had taken him on a tour of the new expo that was opened that day. And among the many devotees who crowded in front of the alter leaning against the entire length of the platform, Srila Acharyapada had chosen to pull me aside. Krishna was mercifully indicating to me that Srila Acharyapada is the way to Srila Prabhupada and Himself.
Riding on the boat of faith.
This incident before Sri Sri Radha Madhava made me cling on more tightly to the lotus feet of Srila Acharyapada.
Although I am so fallen, with uncountable shortcomings and frailties, the mercy of faith received causelessly is propelling my devotional life everyday. It is only on the boat of faith that I can safely and successfully cross over the ocean of this material world.
( Madhu Pandit Dasa is serving as Temple President and Project Director in ISKCON, Bangalore. He was initiated in 1981 by Srila Acharyapada.)
<end quote>
A PDF (700 kb) containing the images of Madhu Pandit Dasa’s original text can be found on the preceding link. Requires latest version of free Acrobat reader.
In conclusion we reiterate that Madhu Pandit Dasa was well aware of Rtvikism for many years and had rejected it but cynically embraced Rtvikism as an expedient smokescreen to hide his real motivation for stealing the property of ISKCON (reg. Mumbai 1971). He has completed duped the Rtviks into thinking he is sincere just to get their support and to rationalize his own criminal behavior.
* Some staunch Rtviks like Sattvik Dasa and others who personally know Mahu Pandit Dasa have seen through his deception.
Please visit www.ISKCON-BDA.org to find out more details of Madhu Pandit Dasa’s frauds.
It really hurts me that some direct or indirect successors/followers or Yugpurush Srila Prabhupada can stoop so low for some property worth only a fewcrores of rupees which they are going to lose anyway, once
their soul leaves their body. Instead, if they would have stuck to the path
shown by Srila Prabhupada, they would have gained permanant place in the Lotus feet of Srila Prabupada and in the Lotus feet of Lord Krishna.
This return just cannot be measured in terms of money.
May Lord Krishna and Srila Prabhupada give good sense to THEIr followers
and may they unify in THEIR service
Hare Krishna
He uses ISKCON’s name, he uses Ritvik’s name, he uses government, all for his PERSONAL materialistic gains.
Is there anybody whom he doesn’t want to use to satisfy his unlimited greed for control, power, recognition and money???? That is sick. I am able to see his subtle body and he is completely sick. It will affect his gross body as well. he accumulated lots of very very bad karma. And those who are supporting and protecting him are self destructive.
He can save himself only if he bow down his head in front of ISKCON devotees and public in general, and beg sincerely forgiveness. If not, Krsna and SP will not help him.
I know Madhu Pandit Das well.
Probably longer than anyone else in ISKCON
He is impulsive, brilliant, easily misled and is even a person who flip-flops between theories that are in total contradiction when it comes to Guru, etc. But NO ONE can accuse him of being motivated by money or property. no way. Above all, he is a devotee.
Jagat Candra Das
Cochin
as i heard Krishna will never see any of his devotees get blasphemed but here i am seeing people are blaspheming a devotee is it a real Krishna conscious? then nobody is following a proper Krishna conscious i think so!!!
my sincere request is instead of spending money intelligence and energy in blasting devotees and fighting each like an animal why cant u utilize to spread Krishna conscious this will make more and more soul refine them self this is a correct service i think so!!!!!!!!!!!!1
Jagat Chandra wrote that Madhu Pandit Das has been oscillating on Guru issue. Was it oscillating or using the situation, issues and persons for MPD’s personal advancement?
What about Design of the Bangalore Temple at Hare Krishna Hill? From 1988 till 1996 Madhu Pandit acknowledged that it was Jagad Chandra alone who designed the temple complex. But at the time of inauguration of the temple in 1997 it was Madhu Pandit assisted by Bhakti Lata who designed the temple? NO acknowledgement to Jagad Chandra.
Till completion of the Temple construction Jagad Chandra was needed so there was need to acknowledge Jagada Chandra’s contribution but after completion Jagad Chandra was not needed so no need to acknowledge his contribution. Same is true with his Guru( Ritvik) HH Jaya Pataka swami.
And what about 60 young dedicated devotees who toiled hard from 1988-1998 to convert the rocky hillock of Hare KrishnaHill into beautiful Temple complex, which brought Madhu pandit Das unprecedant glory & fame?
Till construction they were needed to bring in funds and give free service to build the complex. But after completion of the construction of the temple in 1997 and funds started flowing in the temple and many more were quing up to join due to the attraction of the Temple complex these about 60 odd devotees were not needed rather some of them started claiming their rightful share in the glory of building the temple which was not acceptable to Madhu Pandit and still worse some of them had started asking questions about Temple finances, Bhakti Lata and Jai Chaitany relationship, Jai Chaitanya’s stealing funds to build bunglow in Kerala etc.
How dare these about 60 devotees, who toiled hard for so long can claim share of the Glory which must by Madhu pandit’s alone and still worse ask for accountability. So they had to be discarded and not given any chance to claim such a glory.
So Jagad Cahndra you are wrong it is not oscillating nature but caluculted use and throw policy of Madhu Pandit Das
Krishnapriya wrote:
Dear Mataji, this site and http://www.ISKCON-BDA.org are simply presenting what Madhu Pandit and his cadre has done. What he has done is not pretty. That is not our fault but his. We are providing a service to the devotee community so that they will not be in ignorance and later lament “why you didn’t warn us about him?” It seems that it is a case of killing the bearer of bad news. We are telling you the truth, you don’t like it, so we are the ones at fault.
One thing Mataji perhaps you didn’t notice but Madhu Pandit has made a career in the last 10 years of do nothing but blaspheme devotees.
You please tell that to Madhu Pandit Dasa, he is the one who has filed all the law suits and is wasting money and commiting offences.
This is a good article but it seems to me it leaves out an important point. Why did Madhu Pandit Dasa return to Rtvikism if he had already rejected it years ago? What I have been able to pick up from devotees who were around at the time 1996-98 (I was not in Bangalore then) is that Madhu Pandit Dasa was a good devotee with many good qualities but he had a very strong penchant for being heavy handed in his management style. He was very strict with the temple devotees almost to a fault. This is not necessarily bad; one needs good discipline in the ashrama. But what really created problems was his desire to control everything and everyone. I guess you could say he was a “control freak” in the classic sense of the term. It was not enough for him to control those in the ashrama he also wanted to control every movement every breath of the congregational devotees who were living outside the temple. It got to the point that he demanded that congregational devotees had to ask his permission to travel to other temples or practically to do anything. He wanted to micro-manage their lives. It just became unbearable. It got to the point that the congregational devotees and Madhu Pandit Dasa began butting heads with each other. Each in turn approached Jayapataka Svami the GBC for Bangalore for assistance.
When Jayapataka Svami came to Bangalore and understood the situation he naturally sided with the congregation as it was obvious that Madhu Pandit Dasa was going well beyond his limits as temple president. This drove Madhu Pandit Dasa into a rage. He felt betrayed by Jayapataka Svami. Madhu Pandit Dasa had been Jayapataka Svami’s biggest fan and now he didn’t get Jayapataka Svami’s support when he needed it most in controlling what he deemed to be a revolt by the congregation. Deeply imbittered by this experience Madhu Pandit Dasa thought somewhere in the back of his mind “why should I listen to Jayapataka Svami. Why should he be the guru? I can be the acarya.” Then he began to figure out how to get rid of Jayapataka Svami and put himself in as the main man. He reinvented himself reversed his stand on Rtvikism and the rest is history.
So the real reason that Madhu Pandit Dasa took up with Rtvikism has nothing to do with any type of philosophical conviction but rather it is a means to achieve the type of abolute power and control that he craves. End of story.
As I said at the beginning I was not in Bangalore at the time and just recounted the essence of what I have heard from others who were here. Perhaps others who were here at the time can fill in some of the details.
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