Author Archives: Chaitanya Mangala dasa

Dhanurdhara’s Post 2007 Initiations Are NOT Recognized in ISKCON by GBC & CPO

Dhanurdhara not recognized as Sannyasi or Guru by ISKCON GBC or CPO

With a quick look at the ISKCON Sannyasa Ministry List of Sannyasis it is easy to see Dhanurdhara is not on it.

2007 ISKCON Child Protection Office Clarification of Status for Dhanurdhara Swami Originally posted by Tamohara Das on Dandavats, April 25th, 2007. “Dear Devotees,Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. As the Director of the ISKCON Central Office of Child Protection, I would like to respond to the concerns about the status of […]

2006 Summary and Notes to the CPO Case of Dhanurdhara Swami Many devotees, including some of our leaders, are only vaguely familiar with the exact nature of the 1999 ISKCON Child Protection Office (CPO) decision against Dhanurdhara Swami. Some devotees have expressed that his offenses were minor, he was a scapegoat for other’s abuse, or […]

For those who may not be familiar, here is a link to Dhanurdhara’s 2006 ISKCON resignation letter. (I also included it as a photo at the bottom of this post.) I share this to remind devotees what Dhanurdhara claimed he intended to do. We can compare his public statement with what he’s actually been doing […]

Too often, in ISKCON, Bhagavad Gita verse 9.30 is misquoted, or at least quoted out of context, and misapplied. In Sanskrit, this is the “api cet su-duracaro” verse. Here’s the English translation: “Even if one commits the most abominable actions, if he is engaged in devotional service, he is to be considered saintly because he […]

ISKCON Child Protection Guidelines state: “No person, who has been determined to have engaged in severe maltreatment of children, will be allowed to remain active in a position of authority or trust within ISKCON, this includes activities such as leading kirtan, giving class, speaking publicly at any ISKCON event or representing ISKCON in official capacities.” […]

Below is Dhanurdhara’s official resignation letter: June 21st, 2006 Dear Devotees, Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. The recent suicide of Ananda, and Shakuntala’s letter, has brought renewed attention and scrutiny to my past mistakes. I deeply regret these mistakes and the harm they have caused. Though I can’t say I […]

A statement from the MVT Trustees:“MVT (Mayapur Vrindavan Trust) Trustees sought direction from the ISKCON Child Protection Office. Based on the response from CPO (Child Protection Office), Dhanurdhara Swami was asked not to enter MVT premis…

The 2018 GBC Child Protection Policy confirms Dhanurdhara has lifetime restrictions in ISKCON from holding any roles of trusted authority and in leading public worship: “No person, who has been determined to have engaged in severe maltreatment of children, will be allowed to remain active in a position of authority or trust* within ISKCON, this […]

2007 GBC Resolution 312 Part B. Positions of Leadership [Statement] RESOLVED: Whenever the ISKCON Central Office of Child Protection rules that an offense is such as to restrict a person from serving in ISKCON in positions of leadership (including but not limited to offices of GBC, minister, zonal secretary or temple officer), the restriction must […]

Here is an excerpt from a 2006 report by ISKCON’s legal counsel to the Child Protection Office and GBC: “As a result of the litigation in Texas, and the 600-plus claims filed in the bankruptcy court, we now have a vast body of information (evidence) that was not available in 1999. Although much was known […]

By: GBC Executive Committee for ISKCON News on March 15, 2020 A few weeks ago, Dhanurdhara Swami approached the GBC Executive Committee with the idea of possibly being reinstated as a member of ISKCON. The GBC EC has discussed the topic and issued a statement: “Dear Devotees, Please accept our humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. […]

February 10th, 2020 Regarding Dhanurdhara Swami, the North American GBC Council went through a process to determine how to respond to Dhanurdhara Swami’s request. We consulted the CPO, the Youth Ministry, Bhakti Centre managers and other stake-holders. We also had lengthy discussions trying to understand how Srila Prabhupada would respond to such a request and our responsibility to the […]

As a matter of community concern the CPO is issuing the following statement: Dhanurdhara Swami recently requested that the GBC consider how he could reenter ISKCON. In 2006 Dhanurdhara Swami chose to give his official resignation from ISKCON rather than comply with the requirements that would allow him to remain in ISKCON. In particular the […]

Dear Devotees and Friends of ISKCON New Vrindaban, Please accept our humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. ISKCON North American recently released a statement regarding the status of Sri Galima Dasa. That statement is presented below: “The North American Committee, comprised of North American GBC members and other leaders, maintains an unwavering commitment to […]

Statement in the matter of Sri Galima das and his relationship with ISKCON North America The North American Committee comprised of North American GBC members and other leaders, maintains an unwavering commitment to protect our ISKCON children. We honor and enforce Office of Child Protection decisions and encourage and promote proactive measures to reduce risk […]

  This is a transcript and translation of a recorded message sent (in Spanish) by Guru Prasad Swami to his disciples, regarding the online petition asking the International GBC reject Dhanurdara Swami’s request to be reinstated in ISKCON. —————————————————————————- “Hare Krishna.  Please accept my blessings. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.  I am in the middle […]

Second Generation Drift From Hare Krishna Movement Many In The U.S.-born Second Generation Are Leaving The Cloistered Life For More Mainstream Pursuits. By Kristin Holmes, INQUIRER STAFF WRITER Posted: January 16, 1995 Gabe and Rupa Deadwyler, brothers born and raised in the Hare Krishna movement, recall their first unsteady steps outside the tightly prescribed lifestyle […]

ECOV: A CALL TO SERVICE IN NEW VRINDABAN Originally posted by Chaitanya Mangala on Brijabasi Spirit 03 April 2013 At the start of 2013 ECOV began asking devotees to share their ideas for projects they’d like to make happen in New Vrindaban. We are repeating this request and reminding everyone that ECOV is open to funding projects in and […]