Myth: “Worshipping nonliberated gurus is not idol worship”
Anti Ritvik Myths debunked (#25)
Myth: “Even non-liberated gurus can hear prayers of their disciples, transmit disciples’ service and offerings of food and upacaras to God through their own photos on the altar, so worshipping such gurus is not idol worship”
Truth: Non-liberated unauthorized gurus are dysfunctional in these transcendental matters and so worshipping them is idolatry, or non-working process (or even malfunctioning one).
A key function of a genuine guru is to act as real transcendental via medium between conditioned souls and the Supreme Lord. But non-liberated and unauthorized “gurus” are on the bodily material platform and unable to transmit food offerings and other services performed by their disciples to God. For such non-absolute gurus are not present in their photographs, and therefore it is pointless to put them on the altar next to Sri Krishna’s murti and images of bona fide acaryas. Quotes from Srila Prabhupada:
Prabhupāda: Yes. Those who are spiritually advanced, their photograph and ordinary photograph is different. Just like here is statue of Kṛṣṇa. He’s not different from Kṛṣṇa. The original person Kṛṣṇa and this statue of Kṛṣṇa is the same. Similarly, a spiritually perfect person and his photograph is the same. Because it is in the absolute stage. In the absolute stage there is no difference. In the material stage there is difference. Is that clear? (Bhagavad-gītā 6.40-42 class — New York, September 16, 1966) [Read More…]
Perspectives on “These kind of symptoms are seen when a man is poisoned”
December 09th, 2025
Perspectives on “These kind of symptoms are seen when a man is poisoned”
On November 8th, 1977, Srila Prabhupada said, “These kind of symptoms are seen when a man is poisoned.” That is found at the 3:47 mark of the Truth Labs Audio/Video/Text presentation- https://justiceforsrilaprabhupadafoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Version-5.mp4 Other time markers in this article refer to that same presentation from Truth Labs.
Over the decades this statement has sometimes been interpreted in something like the following way. “Srila Prabhupada isn’t saying that he is being poisoned, or even that someone said he is being poisoned. Rather, he’s just saying that someone has expressed that his, Srila Prabhupada’s, physical condition, is showing the kinds of symptoms that are characteristic of someone who is poisoned.”
We suggest that It’s productive to consider Srila Prabhupada’s words in the context of his frequent emphasis, that quality and existence is ascertained by symptoms. A few amongst many examples.
Sri-Caitanya-caritamrta (CC) Madhya-lila 24.31- “Next are explained the symptoms of love of Godhead…” [Read More…]
Question by Bhakta Derek from Scotland
I would like to receive RITVIK initiation on behalf of Srila Prabhupada. I stay in Glasgow, Scotland. Do the ‘Ritviks’ have a place in London or the UK. I would visit them and get their association. I could travel to India to receive Ritvik initiation on behalf of Srila Prabhupada.
(by Bhakta Derek)
Myth: “Srila Prabhupada’s letters to Acyutananda and Hamsaduta authorized them to become initiating gurus”
Anti Ritvik Myths debunked (#19)
Myth: “Srila Prabhupada’s letters to Acyutananda (16 May, 1972) and Hamsaduta (1 October, 1974) authorized them to become initiating gurus”
Truth: Those two disciples “created disturbances”, so Srila Prabhupada had to restrain them from becoming false gurus and actually didn’t authorize them as his successors in 1977.
Maya-GBC paper ‘Ritvik Catechism’ quotes the following letters of Srila Prabhupada:
“Sometime ago you asked my permission for accepting some disciples, now the time is approaching very soon when you will have many disciples by your strong preaching work.” (SP Letter to: Acyutananda — Honolulu 16 May, 1972)
“I have heard that there is some worship of yourself by the other devotees. Of course it is proper to offer obeisances to a Vaisnava, but not in the presence of the spiritual master. After the departure of the spiritual master, it will come to that stage, but now wait. Otherwise it will create factions.” (SP Letter to: Hamsaduta: — Mayapur 1 October, 1974)
But if we see their context and the whole picture of Srila Prabhupada’s instructions, we can only conclude that to try and use them as justification of terminating Srila Prabhupada’s ritvik initiation arrangement is incorrect interpretation.
1. Acyutananda
Srila Prabhupada wrote in the introduction to the ‘Songs of the Vaishnava Acaryas’ compiled by Acyutananda, “When I became sick in 1967, I left the United States and returned to India. Sriman Acyutananda could not remain separated from me, and therefore he joined me in Vrindavan when I was staying there.” So, with all due respect to the service of Acyutananda prabhu, let’s see what happened in India after he went there: [Read More…]
prabhupadanugas
- Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura Prabhupada Tirobhava tithi (Disappearance day)
- Narendra Modi presenting Bhagavad-gita to Wladimir Putin
- Supreme Court Order dated 25.11.2025 – Meaning, Impact and Next Steps
- Truth Serum
- Srila Prabhupada re Advent of Bhagavad Gita – Gita Jayanti
- Myth: “Non-liberated gurus and their disciples will also go to the spiritual world”
- From the Gates
- Myth: “Non-liberated diksa gurus can neutralize sins of their disciples”
- Smooth Operator
- The Future Standard For Srila Prabhupada’s Books
- Myth: “Nectar of Instruction supports nonliberated gurus”
- 4000+ changes in Nectar Of Devotion-1983 edition???
- Myth: “SP Letter letter to Janardana April 26, 1968 says conditioned souls can be diksa gurus”
- Real Vampire
- How to spot a counterfeit
- Myth: “Two kinds of diksa gurus in ISKCON acarya and junior non liberated guru”
- Gayatri-mantra
- The King
- Myth: “On May 18, 1975 Srila Prabhupada authorized his disciples as twelth link diksa gurus”
- Worshiping Govardhana Hill | KRSNA Book
- Jayadvaita/Dravida Cunningly Manipulates and Distorts Srila Prabhupada’s Original Books
- Crimes against humanity
- Myth: “Srila Prabhupada authorized 10 million diksa gurus in his lecture given on April 6, 1975”
- Bogus Conditioned soul Guru Sivarama Swami The Cheater Exposed
- Śrī Dāmodarāṣṭakaṁ (with text)
- Radha Kunda – Sacred bathing place of Srimati Radharani
- ISKCON
- Myth: “Srila Prabhupada purport to SB2.9.43 authorized diksa gurus in ISKCON”
- Clear
- Myth: “Srila Prabhupada cannot be a diksa guru now since by independent study of books of knowledge can one progress in spiritual life”
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