Maneka Sanjay Gandhi (also spelled Menaka; née Anand) (born 26 August 1956) is an Indian politician, animal rights activist, and environmentalist. She is a member of the Lok Sabha, the lower house of the Indian parliament and a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). She is the widow of Indian politician Sanjay Gandhi. She has been a minister in four governments, most recently in Narendra Modi's government from May 2014 to May 2019.
She also authored a number of books in the areas of etymology, law and animal welfare.
PADA: If anyone has more details on this issue let us know. Already creating a stir with a number of people in India, including my friends who run a real cow shelter. They are saying this is going to hurt all the programs of people donating to cow shelters. It will discourage support. Anyway, she is right, the number one scam in India is ISKCON. Unfortunately, this could also hurt the cows in other's programs ... ys pd
angel108b@yahoo.com
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RE: ISKCON CANCER EPIDEMIC
PADA: Yep, one woman wrote to tell me -- she spoke up, got kicked out, and when she was in a destitute and vulnerable place, then she got cancer. She says that ISKCON gives people maximum stress, to harm them ... or kill them. Cannot make this stuff up prabhus. Honest!
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RE: REVERSING THE DEITY PUJA
Kusha Dayna Fiorentino is with Sangita Bishakha Davi Dasi.
My esteemed Godsister, Yasomati Devi Dasi asked me if or when the mantra to worship Srimati Tulasi devi changed from Vishnu Bhakti to Krishna Bhakti. I never remember the mantra was changed by Srila Prabhupada, Swami BA Ashram Maharaj does not remember Srila Prabhuapda changed the mantra and here is Govinda dasi's reply on the matter:
"No, I dont remember. Somehow it has become changed. So also has the process of Deity worship become completely changed, that is, reversed. Whereas Srila Prabhupada taught us to offer first to the Spiritual Master, and the disciplic succession, and then he would offer to Krishna ("Krishna will not accept your offerings directly!") now it is the custom to offer first to the altar of Radha Krishna and then offer last to Srila Prabhupada and the disciplic succession.
I have spoken to the "Deity worship ministry" the head, Nrsimha Kavacha, and he tells me "there is no specific way that Prabhupada taught us to do the worship, on the veda base." My reply is that the Veda base did not even exist at the time of our being first taught Deity worship, so he should listen to the many senior disciples, who are ALL in agreement that this is the way we were taught. Letters exist, one I saw to Himavati (early on) and later on , one to Arundhati. They are all in agreement.
I have traced this new system to Gour Keshava who wrote me that he "standardized Deity worship" in Europe and other places. However, I question whether his standard is the same standard that Srila Prabhupada taught us--every one of us--from 1968 up to the time he left. Naturally there are many different systems of doing things, and also in different sampradayas.
However, I believe that we should do things according to Prabhupada's system, not according to some other system--even if we are perhaps inclined to some other system perhaps due to past lives. (Everyone knows that Gour Keshava is more attracted to and involved with Sri Sampradaya and likes that system of worship--no harm in that, but maybe we should consider that Prabhupada had his own way of introducing Deity worship, and since it is his Iskcon, perhaps we should follow his choice of methods.)
Recently Nagapatni visited Russia and was told to offer first to the Deities and then to Prabhupada last. Naturally, being a senior devotee, she was quite uncomfortable doing this, since it is the opposite of Prabhupada's instructions to us. I also contacted GBC Malati about this, and Malati informed me that "it is a second generation thing, but they dont expect everyone to accept it." Great. Well since they are teaching this system now all over the world, at every Iskcon temple (very evident in Alachua by the way), I question how the next generation will not accept it since it is being promoted as the only way to do Deity worship.
Moreover, since there are recorded statements by Srila Prabhupada to the effect that "you cannot offer directly to Krishna, He will not accept" (please see these texts yourself) then the next question, is, if He does not accept, is what is being passed around as Prasadam really Prasadam? If not, what is it? In my opinion, this is a huge misunderstanding that really needs to cleared up while Prabhupada's disciples are still present on the planet.
The Tulasi pranam mantra is merely an example of this. Yes, so much has been changed, and continues to be changed--from his books to the mantras (Krishno-o-o-0, Ramo-o-o-0) to the system of worship. I have written Vishva devi about this, asking her for any instructions she received.
This is something that needs to be addressed sooner than later, and the person who is waiting to hear our response is Nrsingha Kavaca. Please help to bring some light to this matter, by contacting any and all senior pujaris that may have had direct contact with Srila Prabhupada.
To answer the original question: No, to my knowledge he did not change the mantra from Vishnu to Krishna. Does anyone else know any such change that was made?
Your servant, Govinda dasi
JD: Oh I am shocked to my core. The pure devotees on the GBC are committing fraud. No way! They are taking money for a good cause ... and applying it to their bank account.
ReplyDeleteShocking!
Kidding you! Not shocked at all. Shocked if they were not stealing the cow's money. Another shoe has dropped. And we were already sitting on a pile of their shoes. No surprise!