Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
My mother became a life member of Iskcon in 1974 at the Hyderabad temple in South India. She was a physician who provided free medical treatment to the devotees at the temple. I grew up going to the temple every day and rendering service to Their Lordships until 1983 when I got married to Godruma Prabhu.
Srila Prabhupada was very pleased with the service rendered by my mother and would always request to speak with her whenever he visited the temple, In 1976 he stayed at the temple for quite a few days and everyday my mother and I would go and have his darshan. He had several conversations with us (some of which are mentioned in Hari Sauri prabhu’s books) and gave us quite a few instructions.
My father and mother were living in different cities on account of their work. During one conversation Srila Prabhupada had questions about my father’s beliefs. My mother told him that my father worshipped Lord Shiva and Srila Prabhupada said: “Your husband is not very intelligent as he does not follow the Bhagvad Gita”, When one worships Sri Krsna then that worship is complete and there is no need to worship anyone else. He looked at me and told me I should listen to my mother and continue rendering service at the temple. He went on to say that this Krsna consciousness movement simply advocates worship of Lord Krsna and none other.
During his stay there were several incidents where he would be challenged about the relevancy of worshiping demigods. Srila Prabhupada never compromised his beliefs and there were a few incidents where the person who was arguing with him had to be escorted out of the temple.
I am surprised to see that the Alachua temple will be celebrating Shivaratri this year.
As our GBC we look to you to provide the guidance and leadership we need to continue improving our Krsna Bhakti.
Please let me know why you are sanctioning this ceremony to take place in Srila Prabhupada’s temple.
Thank you.
Your servant,
Visnupriya dd
TAMOHARA'S RESPONSE
Dear Vishnapriya Prabhu,
Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
Thank you very much for your letter and concern. I value your opinion highly, as a dedicated servitor of Sri Sri Radha-Syamasundara. Of course, I agree that Srila Prabhupada was very clear that as Vaisnavas, we do not worship demigods. Sometimes, I have seen certain temples go a little too far in this direction for the benefit of cultivating their Indian congregation.
I also asked the temple management about this, to make sure we were not doing anything inappropriate. Apparently, there have been small ceremonies for Sivaratri in past years. As you are probably aware, this is a popular Holiday among the Indian congregation, and they pointed out that it is an opportunity to bring them to the temple, so they can learn the true position of Siva, as a great devotee of Vishnu, or Krishna.
This was my point: We must be clear that any worship of Siva is clearly discussed and taught as worship of the devotee of Krsna. We know from Srimad Bhagavatam that Siva is the greatest Vaisnava.
In one lecture, Srila Prabhupada said,
"What to speak of minor demigods, even big demigods just like Lord Brahmä, Lord Siva... You can worship. Vaisnava is ready to give respect even to the ant. And why not Lord Siva? And why not Lord Brahmä or any other demigods? They offer. But they offer in which way? As servant of Krsna."
There is much evidence in our Vaisnava tradition that Lord Siva is respected as a great devotee. Even Lord Caitanya would visit Siva temples and offer respects. But the understanding is that Siva is the greatest Vaisnava.
From a Third Canto Purport:
Lord Çiva is the ideal husband, not in the sense of riches or sense gratification, but because he is the greatest of all devotees. Vaiñëavänäà yathä çambhuù: Çambhu, or Lord Çiva, is the ideal Vaiñëava. He constantly meditates upon Lord Räma and chants Hare Räma, Hare Räma, Räma Räma, Hare Hare. Lord Çiva has a Vaiñëava sampradäya, which is called the Viñëu Svämé-sampradäya.
In this particular ceremony at our temple, the actual worship will NOT be in the temple. I agree that temple worship should be reserved for our Vaisnava deities. They will hold the ceremony in a small tent outside. Also, the figure of Siva will be offered water, flowers, etc, that are all prasadam from Radha-Syamasundara, clearly establishing that Siva is a devotee of Krsna, and accepts his remnants. Further, the lecture will clearly distinguish respect for Siva as a devotee from worship of Krishna as the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
I hope that all of these provisions will make our position very clear to guests, and there will be no mistake that we are worshiping Siva on an equal level as God. I think I share your concern that these things be done very carefully and clearly. We do NOT want to become a Hindu temple. We are clear, and must remain clear, in our philosophy and worship.
Let us see how this goes. I think it will be done very tastefully and be satsifying to everyone. If not, we will certainly change this in this future. Thank you again for expressing your concern that our worship be appropriate and proper.
your servant,
Tamohara das
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