Hare Krishna to all.
I had visited Shree Vrindavan dham Ist time in my life with my family members in last month out of devotion and love for Krishna.
Honestly my experience was 50/50.
But my heart really broke when it happened to be inspected?
Here is the incident:- I went with my sister, her husband and my cousin brother to iskcon temple during evening hours. We medidate for some while and then we all 4 went to main temple area where devotees take darshan of our main deities. There was kirtana going on around which was really soothing, so we decided to dance to relish the kirtana. Also many devotees were dancing too.
We all 4 were dancing for some minutes and don't know from where the one of the lady sevadaar came from and she hold my sister's hand tightly and stopped her from dancing just because she was dancing with grp of men. This was the reason she claimed when we asked her and she was talking in very rude way with my sister.
Even she was stopping 2 girls to dance who were dancing together holding each other's hand on kirtana.
We all 3 men was got ragged with fury that we thought of logding FIR against that brutal lady, but when we took that incident to Iskcon's security officer, he apologized for what had happened. And during that incident one guy also were taking that lady's side and were threatening us for calling police.
My question is?
I have seen many videos in social media when both men and women are dancing together on kirtana holding each other's hand in iskcon Vrindavan? Nobody stopped them.
I have seen many foreigner devotees sitting together (both men and women) as well as Indian devotees doing various discussions. Nobody stopped them.
The things which upsetted me was-
Why iskcon has hired such ruthless people as their sevadaars?
Because of these people image of iskcon get distorted?
Also, i have realised now, true devotee is not the one who dresses themselves in traditional dresses or outwardly posing themselves look like devotee. A true devotee is really compassionate and respectful towars other human being.
Replies
Hare Krsna Prabhuji,
PAMHO.
Very fortunate that you went to Vrndavan with family. I am sure you would have savoured each moment and returned with lots of memories.
There is certainly one blot - the one you have mentioned in this post. Is this blot bigger than all teh good that happened in the trip? That choiceis yours prabhu.
I am not taking away even for a moment that what happened was wrong, it can hurt anyone, esp someone who has gone for the 1st time.
It is on us how we want to take it. 1) If we really want to address it, go to temple authorities of ISKCON Vrndavan and complain. Going to police would be too harsh according to me. Discussing it here is also one form of prajalpa - I mean, none of us are temple management of Vrndavan ISKCON. None of us will be able to help. If the intention of putting it here was to find out whether others had similar experience and what can be done, I appreciate.
2) Another option on how to handle the hurt - speak with Krsna and tell Him - I was hurt when I went to meet You in Your house. Maybe I have committed some aparadh for which it was a reminder to me that I need to improve my sadhana. Maybe I need to develop taror iva sahisnuna quality more. See, you can bring the concerned lady to book, what will you gain out of it? Your gain is if this incident brings you closer to Krsna. How to use every adversity as an opportunity to come closer to Krsna is an art if we all learn, we will stop complaining about any situation in life ever.
3) Please plan to go there again. Do not keep this bitter memory. Make better memories.
Haribol,
Your servant,
Radha Rasamayi DD
Hare Krsna
Stopped her from dancing just because she was dancing with grp of men.
As per ettiquette which is followed in all Iskcon temples in India and most traditional temples in India, men and women are not to dance together within temple premises.
she was talking in very rude way with my sister.
I have personally expereinced this type of rude behaviour from security guards at the same Iskcon temple. I was chastised for no reason. But I tried my best to practice tolerance at that moment. But I did not visit the temple again for many years for this reason.
She hold my sister's hand tightly and stopped her from dancing
Touching a person like this accounts to physical abuse. It should not be tolerated under any circumstances. I strongly encourage you to file a police complaint against the Temple authorities and not just the security person. When the four Kumaras were stopped at the the gates of Vaikuntha, Lord Sri Narayana personally took the responsibility of the mistake made by Jaya & Vijaya. The lord was willing to take punishment upon Himself. This is what the Lord says to the four brahmana boys.
tad vaḥ prasādayāmy adya
brahma daivaṁ paraṁ hi me
tad dhīty ātma-kṛtaṁ manye
yat sva-pumbhir asat-kṛtāḥ
To Me, the brāhmaṇa is the highest and most beloved personality. The disrespect shown by My attendants has actually been displayed by Me because the doormen are My servitors. I take this to be an offense by Myself; therefore I seek your forgiveness for the incident that has arisen. ( SB 3.16.4)
Now you have realized Me without doubt; therefore I will not hesitate to lop off My own arm if its conduct is found hostile to you. ( SB 3.16.6)
It is the duty of the the temple authorities to show responsibility in hiring the right staff. I have visited several Iskcon temples and based my own expereince the temple authorities at Iskcon Vrindavan dham are no where close to doing their duties properly. I have no doubt that they will get severe reactions for this. But I think it is also duty of visiting guests and devotees to take actions like filing a police complaint to remind them that a servant of Krsna cannot be irresponsible. This I would consider as a service to HDG Srila Prabhupada.
I have seen many videos in social media when both men and women are dancing together on kirtana holding each other's hand in iskcon Vrindavan? Nobody stopped them
This is not as per temple ettiquette. But it must be conveyed in the right manner.
I have seen many foreigner devotees sitting together (both men and women) as well as Indian devotees doing various discussions. Nobody stopped them.
Sitting together with some distance and discussing Krsna Katha among family members is allowed in temple as long as it is not disturbing aarati or any other temple program. But ettiquette is that adult men and women should not be touching each other in temple.
I have realised now, true devotee is not the one who dresses themselves in traditional dresses or outwardly posing themselves look like devotee. A true devotee is really compassionate and respectful towars other human being.
Absolutely right !
Hare Krsna
Hare Krishna bharat Prabhu,
I totally agree with what you said but now mutually we have decided to forgive that lady and incident, i believe Krishna will make her realised her mistake, but for the next time I won't tolerate such incidents.
Hare Krishna Maataji,
Don't worry i won't take any legal action against that lady, I will forgive her but now on I won't tolerate any injustice again done by a devotee towards other devotee.
There is a limit to tolerance. But I do feel that many things needs to be changed by iskcon management.