The Real Narayana Maharaja

Narayana Maharaja: Out Of Sight, Out Of Mind 

Words from Srila Prabhupada:

“One must accept the words of an ācārya, a bona fide spiritual master, to clear the path for spiritual advancement. This is the secret of success. However, one’s guide must be a spiritual master who is actually an unalloyed devotee strictly following the instructions of the previous ācārya without deviation. Whatever the spiritual master says must be accepted by the disciple. Only then is success certain. This is the Vedic system.” (Cc Madhya-lila 10.17 Purport) 

“This verse describes the beginning of a schism. When disciples do not stick to the principle of accepting the order of their spiritual master, immediately there are two opinions. Any opinion different from the opinion of the spiritual master is useless. One cannot infiltrate materially concocted ideas into spiritual advancement. That is deviation. There is no scope for adjusting spiritual advancement to material ideas.” (CC Adi 12.9 Purport) 

 

NM Minimizes Srila Prabhupada

NOTICE: “Only this, only that” “Not this, Not that.” “I am this, I am that.” If these aren’t the obvious symptoms of pure ENVY, what are?

Not the Founder?

Narayana Maharaja Mathura, October 24, 1999:

“We can glorify Swamiji, Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaja. But those who are falling down, how can they glorify him? They cannot glorify him, never; they are cutting. They are establishing that he was the founder of ISKCON, but I know that he was not founder, he was one of the members of this in guru parampara. It was founded by Krishna, and first acarya was Brahma, then Narada, then Vyasa. Only he has changed the name and he has preached these things in Western countries.”

Narayana Maharaja, Murwillumbah, Australia, February 18th, 2002:

“I am the real successor of Srila Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaja, and there is no other.”

Narayana Maharaja 28th April 1999, morning speech, Caracas, Venezuela:

“Also you should know that Caitanya Mahaprabhu is the founder of ISKCON. Swamiji, AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaja is one of the prominent acaryas in this line only. He is not founder.”

But Srila Prabhupada says:

Kern: The origin of the group, where…? Who was the original founder, Your Excellency? The original founder of the group?

Prabhupāda: Which group?

Kern: This group, your group, Kṛṣṇa movement.

Prabhupāda: I am the founder, I am the founder.

(Conversation with Clergymen — June 15, 1976, Detroit)

“I am the founder-acharya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness.” (Letter to Dr. Bigelow, Allahabad, January 20th, 1971) 

Srila Prabhupada Only a servant of Mahavisnu?

Narayana Maharaja Lecture, September 19th, 1994:

“Those who are not rasika Vaisnavas, they don’t know tattva, they have not gone to association with any Vaisnava…they think that to preach whole world…the name of Krishna…and to give Gita sandesha…is the whole thing. So I want to say that your Prabhupada has given these things…only these things…and not beyond these things. Then he was only the servant of Mahavisnu, not of Krishna. A strange thing… for them who are ignorant. But those who are wise and have done initiation from any rasika vaisnava, bhava bhakta of Caitanya Mahaprabhu,… Those who have given their heart to them and have realized anything…very little…they can realize these things……At first, if any temple is going on…we’ll have to clear… the ground. The thorns are there, the trees having thorns …useless…to be cut, and to give some land… But to dig and to sweep is not everything. To dig for basement of this big temple is not everything. So Swamiji has at first cleared the atmosphere…Prepared the ground…by preaching name and the sandesh of Gita…he prepared. So very important work. Without this, without this, he could not have given these things. As Caitanya Mahaprabhu first preached the whole world Krishna name, and he wanted all Vaisnavas to understand His inner mood….Otherwise everyone cannot understand…so he has done this task and it was so necessary for that world…for all world…he has done but he has not done everything …by that doing. It was only basement…Foundation.“

Self-promotion

Narayana Maharaja, Murwillumbah, Australia, February 18th, 2002:

“Your Prabhupada, Srila Swami Maharaja, only changed the name into English. He is not the founder acarya of that eternal ISKCON. I am ISKCON. I’m not different from ISKCON. I am ‘Bhaktivedanta’ [Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayana Gosvami Maharaja]. Like father, like son. I am the real successor of Srila Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaja, and there is no other. You should know this very openly. I am Bhaktivedanta and he is Bhaktivedanta, but he received this name after did. I’m senior to him in this regard.  I’m Bhaktivedanta, and I’m also ISKCON. Don’t think that I’m out of ISKCON.”

COMPARE WITH:

Srila Prabhupada:

“If he is great personality, everyone should know. Why he is trying to explain? What is the use of explanation? If a great personality is unknown, and he has to be known by explanatory notes, then how he is great personality?” (Room Conversation — January 19, 1976, Mayapur)

Srila Prabhupada not as qualified as some of his Godbrothers?

Narayana Maharaja 28th April 1999, morning, Caracas:

“So Swamiji is one of the hands of Srila Prabhupada. It is not that Srila Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaja is also father and forefather of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Gosvami Thakura. We should try to realize all these things. He was one hand, one hand, he was one hand, and that hand was so long that it traveled [over the] whole world, that long hand. But for this you should not minimize all other acaryas who have not come here, but more qualified they were. Like parama pujyapada Sridhara Maharaja, Gosvami Maharaja, my Guru Maharaja, to whom this Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaja used to make, used to honor like siksa-guru.”

Narayana Maharaja, p.23, ISKCON Journal 1990:

“Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura has not mentioned that so many

others will do acarya, yet they have done. This is the system. So Tirtha Maharaja, Madhav Maharaja, Sridhar Maharaja, our Gurudeva, Swamiji Swamiji Bhaktivedanta Swami they all became acaryas.”

But Srila Prabhupada says:

“He never recommended anyone to be acarya of the Gaudiya Math. But Sridhara Maharaja is responsible for disobeying this order of Guru Maharaja, and he and others who are already dead unnecessarily thought that there must be one acarya. If Guru Maharaja could have seen someone who was qualified at that time to be acarya he would have mentioned. Because on the night before he passed away he talked of so many things, but never mentioned an acarya. His idea was acarya was not to be nominated amongst the governing body. He said openly you make a GBC and conduct the mission. So his idea was amongst the members of GBC who would come out successful and self effulgent acarya would be automatically selected. So Sridhara Maharaja and his two associate gentlemen unauthorizedly selected one acarya and later it proved a failure. The result is now everyone is claiming to be acarya even though they may be kanistha adhikari with no ability to preach. In some of the camps the acarya is being changed three times a year. Therefore we may not commit the same mistake in our ISKCON camp. Actually amongst my Godbrothers no one is qualified to become acarya. So it is better not to mix with my Godbrothers very intimately because instead of inspiring our students and disciples they may sometimes pollute them.”

“Just like my Guru Mahārāja did not travel all over the world, so I have got double energy than him. So you must triple energy, four times energy than me. Then actually disciple. My Godbrothers are envious because they could not do. They could not do even half of Guru Mahārāja’s work, and I am doing ten times. So therefore they are envious.” (Room Conversation — April 2, 1972, Sydney)

“Enviousness is immediately disqualification of Vaiṣṇava, immediate. He is not a human being.” (Room Conversation with Reporter of The Star — October 16, 1975, Johannesburg)

Stop distributing so many of Prabhupada’s books only?

“Now Srila Gurudeva (Narayana Maharaja) has requested that we start what he calls ‘a second revolution’ in preaching and book distribution. He wants his books distributed in the same volume, ‘not less than Swamiji (Srila Prabhupada).'”

(Gaudiya Courier, Issue 15, July 1st, 2004)

Srila Prabhupada could not complete his work?

Narayana Maharaja lecture, September 19th, 1994:

“So Swamiji has at first cleared the atmosphere. Prepared the ground…by preaching name and the sandesh of Gita… he prepared. So very important work … so he has done this task and it was so necessary for that world…for all world…he has done but he has not done everything by doing that. It was only basement.  But…we are deprived of that… he could not complete his work.”

Narayana Maharaja, Lecture given on September 19th, 1994:

“So Swamiji has at first cleared the atmosphere…Prepared the ground…by preaching name and the sandesh of Gita…he prepared. So very important work. Without this, without this, he could not have given these things. As Caitanya Mahaprabhu first preached the whole world Krishna name, and he wanted all Vaisnavas to understand His inner mood….Otherwise everyone cannot understand…so he has done this task and it was so necessary for that world…for all world…he has done but he has not done everything …by that doing. It was only basement…Foundation.”

But…that’s not what you said before, Narayana Maharaja…

Narayan Maharaja:

“All of your duties are completed. You have fulfilled everything in

your lifetime. There is no need to worry for anything.[�] Yes, you have done everything. Nothing is left unfinished.”

(Translation of Bengali conversation between Narayana Maharaja and

Srila Prabhupada from October 1977, provided by Narayana Maharaja’s own camp)

Right, this is what Prabhpada actually says:

“In my books the philosophy of Krishna Consciousness is explained fully so if there is anything you do not understand, then you simply have to read again and again. By reading daily the knowledge will be revealed to you and by this process your spiritual life will develop.” (Letter — 22/11/74)

“Everyone can become a first class speaker. Simply cram the purports of my books. The references are there, the philosophy is there. Everything is there. So if you do it, everyone will be pleased with your speaking.”

(Letter — Vrindaban 19 September, 1974)

“So we have to understand this philosophy. Everything is there in the book. So we have to read it carefully, understand it through the teacher’s or guru’s instruction.” (Lectures : Srimad-Bhagavatam 6.1.19 — Honolulu, May 19, 1976)

“I have given you everything, so read and speak from the books and so many new lights will come out. We have got so many books, so if we go on preaching from them for the next 1,000 years, there is enough stock.” (Letter — Los Angeles 16 June, 1972)

Deeper deviations

Narayana Maharaja, Hawaii, February 17th, 2001:

“Prahlada Maharaja was a very bona fide bhakta, and he never wanted anything worldly, but he could not serve Krsna. His bhakti was mixed with jnana, knowledge of the Lord’s opulence. If you have some worldly desire, or any desire, then your bhakti may be sanga-siddha bhakti or aropa-siddha bhakti, but not pure transcendental bhakti”

But Srila Prabhupada says:

“Prahlada Maharaja is the topmost example of a Vaisnava”

(Srimad-Bhagavatam 4.21.47, Srila Prabhupada purport)

“So we see practically how Prahlada Maharaja immediately attained the state of prema, he first of all followed the instruction of Brahma, then immediately he got the favor of Lord Nrsimhadeva, and after getting that he got the prema state.”

(Srila Prabhupada lecture, Mayapur, February 14th, 1976)

“Consequently, instead of accepting the results of karma and jnana,

Prahlada Maharaja simply begged the Lord for engagement in the

service of His servant.”

(Srimad Bhagavatam 5.24.25)

Srila Advaita Acarya not very qualified?

Narayana Maharaja, Los Angeles, California May 31, 2000:

“Sri Advaita Acarya…He is a part of the part of the part of the

part of Krishna. Being so far away, He can preach with kirtana, but He

cannot give Vraja-bhakti. Never. He is not qualified for this. Only Krishna

can do this.”

But Srila Prabhupada says:

“He (Advaita Acharya) delivered all living beings by offering the

gift of Krishna-bhakti (pure devotion to Krishna). He explained

Bhagavadgita and Srimad-Bhagavatam in the light of devotional service.”

(Srila Prabhupada, Caitanya caritamrita, Adi-lila 6.28)

Prabhupada’s system of Deity worship was “ignorant”?

Narayana Maharaja Murwillumbah, Australia, on January 20th , 2000:

“We see that some devotees are doing bhajana of Radha and Krishna, and also worshipping Jagannathadeva or Nrsimhadeva. Sometimes Ramacandra, Laksmana, Sita and Hanuman are also there: and Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Nityananda prabhu and Laddu Gopal are also there. Can you give them up? You can give up Jagannatha, no harm. You can give up other incarnations, but what will you do about Caitanya Mahaprabhu? What should we do? If you are serving Caitanya Mahaprabhu as well as Radha-Krishna conjugal, then it seems it will be not one-pointed. Then what should we do? Then it will not be ananya. We should try to follow ananya. We should try to be one-pointed, not having so many ista-devas. Otherwise how can you concentrate? If you are doing arcana of Radha-Krishna, and also Dvarakadhisa, Laddu Gopal, Nrsimhadeva, Mahaprabhu, Ramacandra, Laksmana and Sita, Jagganath-on the same altar-it means that you are ignorant. You have no knowledge at all.

Perhaps your guru was not so high, and he has not explained all these things. We should know all these truths. All the doubts are cleared up in our acaryas’ commentaries on Manah Siksa, and they will quickly disappear when reading their explanations. We should follow Srila Raghunatha dasa Goswami who was worshipping Caitanya Mahaprabhu. In what way? As guru. If you are doing arcana of gurudeva and Krishna, no harm. This is ananya.”

Accused of rasabhasa, inappropriateness

Svami Bhaktivedanta Aranya (leading disciple of Narayana Maharaja) June 8, 2000:

“Srila Narayana Maharaja expressed his concern over the worship of some Deities of Radha-Krishna in ISKCON Who are being addressed by the names Rukmini-Dvarakadisa, Radha-Parthasarathi, Radha-Nilamadhava, Radha-Govinda Madhava etc. Srila Maharaja never criticized names that Prabhupada gave. Rather, he questioned whether Prabhupada actually gave them… The names of the above-mentioned Deities are either rasabhasa or inappropriate… Srila Narayana Maharaja has stated that the name Radha-Partha-sarathi is rasabhasa because Srimati Radhika never leaves Vrndavan…As far as the names Rukmini-Dvarakadhisa are concerned, although they are bonafide names, they are inferior in tattva to Radha-Krishna. … Therefore to worship Dvarakadisa and Parthasarathi, Who are the vaibhava-prakasa expansions of Nandanandana Krishna, is clearly not following in the wake of Srila Prabhupada’s inner moods.”

But Srila Prabhupada says:

Acyutananda: The name of the Delhi Deities is Radha-Parthasarathi. So how do we understand? Because Partha means Arjuna. So Radha, how does Radha get there?

Prabhupada: When Krishna is Parthasarathi, Radha is out of Him? Does it mean?

Indian man: What you mean, Parthasarathi is Sri Krishna.

Acyutananda: Yes.

Prabhupada: That’s all. Yes. Radha-Krishna-pranaya-vikrtir ahladini-saktir. When He is fighting, the ahladini-sakti is there. It is not manifest.

(Morning Walk Madras, January 9, 1976)

N.M. doesn’t even agree with Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu!

Is conjugal love in separation the highest expression of bhakti?

Narayana Maharaja Sri Vraja-Mandala Parikrama, p. 45:

“Those who have not scrutinizingly studied the scripture Srimad Bhagavatam, and who have not conscientiously comprehended Sri Caitanya Caritamrita, and who have also not properly understood books like Bhakti Rasamrta Sindhu, Brhad Bhagavatamrta, Ujvala Nilamani, Krishna Karnamrta and other literatures of this nature. These people consider vipralambha, the mood of separation to be the highest level of ecstasy. Our previous acaryas also considered vipralambha to be an exalted state; but after much reflection they perceived vipralambha as a prerequisite to highlight and more fully embellish and amplify the ecstasy of reunion. If there would be only vipralambha for all of eternity what would be the use? What would be its service? Vipralambha is necessary only because it intensifies the ecstatic feelings of reunion again.”

Narayana Maharaja Sri Vraja-Mandala Parikrama, p.46:

“So you can see that the mood of vipralambha is much more complex than possibly the way you envisioned it to be before. And those who still persist in advocating that vipralambha is the highest, they do not yet have the spiritual maturity and understanding to realize that it is not possible for anything to be more elevated than Srimati Radharani and Krishna’s ecstatic loving exchanges in reuniting again.”

But Srila Prabhupada says:

“Upon hearing of these transcendental activities, Lord Caitanya said, “My dear Ramananda, what you have explained regarding the transcendental pastimes of Sri Radha and Krishna is perfectly correct, yet there is something more I would like to hear from you.” “It is very difficult for me to express anything beyond this,” Ramananda Raya replied. “I can only say that there is an emotional activity called prema-vilasa-vivarta, which I may try to explain but I do not know whether You will be happy to hear it.” In prema-vilasa there are two kinds of emotional activities–separation and meeting. That transcendental separation is so acute that it is actually more ecstatic than meeting.”

(Cc Madhya lila 8.191-197 in Teachings of Lord Caitanya)

A ‘Living guru’? Is that even a bona fide concept?

Narayana Maharaja, p.22, ISKCON Journal 1990:

“And for a newcomer, it is sure that he should be initiated by a

living guru. In the parampara system living guru is essential.”

Because Srila Prabhupada says:

“So although a physical body is not present, the vibration should be accepted as the presence of the Spiritual Master, vibration. What we have heard from the Spiritual Master, that is living.”

(SB Lecture, 13/01/69, Los Angeles)

“So we should associate by vibration, and not by the physical presence. That is real association.” (Lecture SB, 18/08/68)

Flattering disciples into leaving Srila Prabhupada:

Narayana Maharaja10 Nov. 1991 Vrindavana:

“So you should not be satisfied what you have got from him [Srila Prabhupada] at that time…. Without Raganuga Bhakti, Bhakti is not completed. So I think that you should try to enter in this raganuga Bhakti realm and you are so much qualified.”

Srila Prabhupada warns:

“The pseudo- spiritual master flatters the so-called disciple, and thereby both the master and his ward go to hell without a doubt.” (SB 1.19.37 : Purport)

What dictionary are you using?

Narayana Maharaja, p.23, ISKCON Journal 1990:

“I have not seen the word “ritvik” in our Vaisnava dictionary. We have seen no such word as “ritvik”.  In our Gaudiya Vaisnava line there is no ritvik.

Note: The word “ritvik” and its derivatives appear 32 times in the

Srimad-Bhagavatam, the most important Purana for all Vaishnavas:

Ritvik: 4.6.1 / 4.7.16 / 5.3.2 / 5.3.3 / 5.4.17 / 7.3.20 / 8.20.22 /9.1.15

Rtvijah: 4.5.7 / 4.5.18 / 4.7.27 / 4.7.45 /4.13.26 / 4.19.27 /

4.19.29 /5.3.4 / 5.3.15 / 5.3.18 / 5.7.5 /8.16.53 /8.18.21 /8.18.22 / 9.4.23 /9.6.3

Rtvijam: 4.6.52 / 4.21.5 / 8.23.13 / 9.13.1

Rtvigbhyah: 8.16.55

Rtvigbhih: 4.7.56 / 9.13.3

(Srila Prabhupada, Srimad-Bhagavatam)

The So-called Appointment Tape

Narayana Maharaja Claims Srila Prabhupada Asked Him To Guide His Disciples. Let’s look at the merit of that claim.

Narayana Maharaja Murwillumbah, Australia: Feb. 18, 2002 (eve):

“I am the real successor of Srila Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaja, and there is no other.”

Narayana Maharaja Bambra, a farm near Melbourne:

“Srila Bhaktivedanta Svami Maharaja told me in the last days ‘You should help my disciples. They are like monkeys; I could not train them so much. So always try to help them.'”

Narayana Maharaja Salt Spring Island, B.C. Canada May 2001(Morning):

His voice has been recorded on his last day. He ordered me, “Help my disciples.” After that he did not speak to anyone. You can get that cassette. Why did he order me in this way? Weeping, he requested this of me. If he had already told everything, then why did he request me in that way? If anyone does not have belief in my statements, he can acquire and hear the cassette. At that time he spoke in Bengali so that others would not understand. If he were to say that all his disciples were ignorant, that they did not know very much, and that they were imperfect, they may have become upset. For this reason he spoke so many things in Bengali. He told me, “I brought them, but I could not teach them in full.” If he had told them everything, and if they were so knowledgeable and expert, why have so many of the senior devotees, even those in the renounced order, fallen down? Where are they now? Where they are now is not ISKCON. They were not ISKCON, they are not ISKCON, and they will not be ISKCON. …If there is no need for Prabhupada’s disciples to continue hearing from a bona fide guru, then why are they falling? Why? I know more than you, much more than you.“

N.M. Salt Spring Island, Canada, April 2001, pm:

“He ordered me, ‘Help my disciples’ […] You can get that cassette.[…] If anyone does not have belief in my statements, he can acquire and hear the cassette. At the time he spoke in Bengali so that others would not understand.”

The Cassette

Translated into english by their own camp

Srila Prabhupada: Are any of my god-brothers in Vrindavana now?

Narayana Maharaja: Yes.

Srila Prabhupada: Who?

Narayana Maharaja: Van Maharaja might be there, as well as Indupati Prabhu from Caitanya Gaudiya Matha.

Srila Prabhupada: Any more?

Narayana Maharaja: Only these two at the moment.

Srila Prabhupada: Who is Indupati?

Narayana Maharaja: He comes here often.

Bhakticaru Swami: From Madhava Maharaja’s matha?

Narayana Maharaja: Yes. No one else is here.

Srila Prabhupada: Please call both of them. Van Maharaja and him.

Narayana Maharaja: This is very good proposal by you.

Srila Prabhupada: Please sit down. They will call them.

Narayana Maharaja: All right.

Srila Prabhupada: This cutting of arguments happens sometimes…

Narayana Maharaja: These are insignificant matters in such a substantial worldwide mission. A little something here and there is of no consequence. You have done this wonderful preaching work for the benefit of the whole world. There was no self-interest. You did everything only in devotional service to Krsna for benefiting all people at large.

Srila Prabhupada: It is all by your blessings.

Narayana Maharaja: You have done a wonderful thing. It is necessary to care for and preserve this mission, and see that it is managed skillfully.

Srila Prabhupada: You kindly instruct them on this matter. I’m unable to speak.

Umm…did we miss something?

“Them” only ever referred to the other Godbrothers that were coming, not to Srila Prabhupada’s disciples.

The “matter” was how cutting of arguments happen sometimes in preaching and that they shouldn’t be taken too seriously.

“Unable to speak” meant that instructing them on the matter should be done then and there, since at that time, Srila Prabhupada was having difficulty speaking.

There is nothing else to this conversation. Narayana M. followers will insist that the order is more subtle and that is indirectly implied. This is impossible to accept, though. The conversation is very clear. Furthermore, in the same conversation Srila Prabhupada goes on to say:

“Don’t fight among yourselves. I have given you my will. Execute that…”

This is significant because the Narayana M. camp says that this conversation overrules any other instruction by Srila Prabhupada given prior to this date. However, Srila Prabhupada clearly re-affirms that he has already given us his will and to execute that. Thus the final instruction either way we look at it is to follow Srila Prabhupada’s will.

Testimonials

Narayana Maharaja, the Home Wrecker

Datta dasa, Letter to Narayana Maharaja July 19, 1998:

“Last year, when my former wife asked me whether my two young sons could take initiation from you, I said no. Since I wasn’t in New Braj at the time, I asked first Gopavrindapal, and then my former wife (now initiated by you as Prema Mayi) to convey my wishes to you on that subject. First Gopavrindapal spoke with you, then Prema, then myself, when I arrived in Badger. In each case, you said more or less that “There is no problem. Whatever the father wants for his sons. This is Vedic.” I was very satisfied with your answer, and was pleased with your cooperative and considerate mood. However, you spoke with my sons later and told them that they should “chant 5 rounds a day and accept you as their guru.” To my younger son, Gaura Hari, you then said, “I will initiate you next year.”

Gaurahari dasa, Open Letter to Narayana Maharaja 08 July 1999:

“Our wonderful marriage and Guru disciple relationship has been shattered by your action and my wife’s naive sentimental approach to you for initiation. My wife and I are both suffering intense emotional trauma now because of your hasty inappropriate and insensitive actions. You took advantage of my wife’s sentiments without carefully evaluating our situation. I have already heard that two other marriages have been destroyed because of your initiating the female spouse, one of which I know for sure was against the husband’s wishes. My wife also changed from being a very close loving, friend, and wife into one of your fanatical extensions trying to help you take over the world of Srila Prabhupada’s devotees. You knew if my wife came back to me I would be affected and quite possibly become your convert. One week was not enough for her who doesn’t sufficiently know your philosophy and teachings, to adequately determine your actual devotional position.. .. You freely initiate so many people even after hardly knowing them or their background. I know of one person you recently initiated as a Brahmin and he has just previously been arrested as a sex ******** and smokes pot regularly.”

Vedavyasa prabhu, disciple of Gopal Krishna Maharaja, as told to Ravindra Svarupa prabhu, Prithu prabhu, and Gopal Krishna Maharaja:

“You know, Narayana Maharaja has been trying to initiate me since a long time… I kept avoiding him. When I went away on business at one stage Narayana Maharaja had somebody call my wife to tell her that “Narayana Maharaja wants to see her. She went and he instantly initiated her. When I came back I was most upset and in fact infuriated. So I told my wife: “Since you did this without asking me I can take sannyasa now at any time without asking you as well.”

“My wife was crying and crying and Narayana Maharaja heard about it. He passed the message that we both should see him so he would fix this problem. When we went Narayana Maharaja offered instantly that the whole situation could be resolved if I were just to take initiation from him as well. I declined his repeated coaxing, saying ultimately: “Maharaja, you should know that every hair on my body belongs to ISKCON and Srila Prabhupada”

Instantly Narayana Maharaja took my arm and said: “Do you know that he (Srila Prabhupada) was selling liquor?” My blood was boiling that he would go so far to get me to take initiation from him that he would try to break my faith in Srila Prabhupada. I instantly said to my wife: “Give him the beads back” which she did. And we rushed out of his room.” (Note: It seems that Narayana Maharaja must have been referring to the fact that in his householder days Srila Prabhupada’s pharmacy sold 100% alcohol for medical use.)”

Srila Prabhupada:

“Almost all the conditioned souls within the material world are envious. Jealous people generally turn against one who automatically attains some reputation. This is natural for jealous people. Consequently, when a devotee is fit to receive worldly reputation, he is envied by many people. This is quite natural.”  

(Cc Madhya-lila 4.147 Purport)