The vitiated caste system of present India is never sanctioned by the scriptures. But the caste system is made by God according to quality and work of the subject and it was never designed for the benefit of accidental birth right. Thus whatever is made by God cannot be destroyed by man. Destruction of the caste system as contemplated by some exponents, is therefore out of question.
Sanction (Letters)
Correspondence
1947 to 1965 Correspondence
Letter to Gandhi Memorial Fund -- Calcutta 5 July, 1949:
Mahatmaji started another spiritual movement known as the temple entry movement and he wanted to give this facility to everyone irrespective caste distinction. The temple worship is another kind of spiritual cultural movement for the benefit of the ordinary class of people. He himself installed the deity of Sri Radha Krishna at Noakhali when he was there and that is also very significant. The theistic temples all over India are actually the different centres as are the churches and mosques all over the world. These sacred centres were meant for diffusing spiritual education and by this process of spiritual culture the disturbed mind could be trained up in concentration for higher duties which every human being must do. By such education in practice can help man in realizing the existence of God without whose sanction, according to Mahatma Gandhi, "not a blade of grass moves."
Letter to Sri Biswambhar Goswami -- Shanti Kutir, Vrindaban 25 December, 1956:
The attention of Government is now turned to the side of reforming the religious activities of Indian sadhus and Sannyasis and they are now going to enact some statutes in this connection. Of course nothing is possible without the sanction of the Supreme Will of Sri Krishna but still man-made laws must have defects as the lawmakers are deficient in four primary principles of a conditioned soul.
1966 Correspondence
Letter to Mr. A. B. Hartman -- New York 14 January, 1966:
The thing is that Government of India is very strict in getting money from India for expenditure in foreign country. But because the Prime Minister was due to come here and he was personally known to me, I expected to get his special sanction for this purpose and the copy of the letter which I sent him is also enclosed herewith for your reference.
Letter to Bon Maharaja -- New York 20 January, 1966:
Please accept my humble dandabats. I beg to thank you for your kind letter of the 14th instant. I am very glad to learn that your first part of Bhakti Rasamrita Sindhu is now out and shall be glad if you send me one copy so that I can show to persons who are interested in my Srimad-Bhagavatam. I am also glad to learn that you are now thinking of New York on receipt of my letter and it may be that you have to come here again if there is the Radha Krishna Temple as contemplated. The money is there, the Deities are there, the house is there, the men are there but the sanction is not there. Your residence was somewhere near the Columbia University I think.
Letter to Bon Maharaja -- New York 20 January, 1966:
So I am trying to open a temple here because Srila Prabhupada wanted it. Kindly therefore help me in this direction as far as you can. I am thankful to you for taking so much trouble in taking the estimate of deities. But before having the Deities there is great stumbling block of Exchange difficulty. My money in India is ready but I must have the exchange, by special sanction of the Government of India. I was so hopeful to get it because Lal Bahadur Shastri was known to me and he was to visit America. I arranged an interview with him during his visit in America through the Embassy here but his sudden death has put me into great difficulty. As soon as the temple is started, I am sure to get help locally but to start the temple I must have Indian money first. I am therefore asking your cooperation and help in this connection. I am requesting you to see Dr. Radhakrishnan and get me the sanction for Indian exchange for this cultural mission.
Letter to Bon Maharaja -- New York 20 January, 1966:
He is more or less acquainted with the activities of the Gaudiya Math preachers like your holiness, Srila Tirtha Maharaja and he know me also in this connection. We are all sincere workers for respiritualising the whole world situation and Dr. Radhakrishnan being man in the line and being in the highest position of the Indian Government, he must help us in this critical moment. It is not personal but for the welfare of the entire humanity and considering all these he may be kind enough to sanction this exchange immediately so that I may start it without delay.
I strongly wish that I may take possession of the house for the temple on the day of Srila Prabhupada's Abhirva Teethi and if your holiness will at once see Dr. Radhakrishnan and take the sanction, I think my desire to take possession of the house on the above mentioned date will be possible.
Letter to Sir Padampat Singhania -- New York 20 January, 1966:
Please accept my greetings and blessings of Sri Sri Dvarakadhisa Maharaja. With thanks I beg to acknowledge receipt of your kind letter dated 14th January 1966 and I have noted the contents very carefully. The two points of difficulties as shown by you are quite right because without sanction of the Government we cannot proceed a step even in this connection. And as pointed out in my last letter I have full responsibility for this. I was almost certain to get this sanction from our Late Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri who was personally known to me in connection with my publication Srimad-Bhagavatam. He was to come here in America and in New York on the 4th of February next and I arranged for an interview with him by negotiation with the local consulate General. The copy of the letter addressed to our late Prime Minister is also enclosed herewith for your perusal.
Now as soon as I came to know about the sudden death news of Shastri, I thought of the President Dr. Radhakrishnan as the next man to get the sanction because he is also personally known to me. I have already approached him through some mutual friend to get this sanction and I am awaiting the result sooner or later. And as soon as I hear of the sanction, I shall at once let you know the result.
Letter to Sir Padampat Singhania -- New York 20 January, 1966:
The labor charges here is not less than 12 dollars a day i.e Rs 60/ per day. Besides that you cannot get a vacant land in the New York city. You have to purchase a constructed house then dismantle it and then construct a Temple of your liking. I know it very well that by Grace of His Lordship Sri Sri Dvarakadhisa and by the mercy of Laksmiji Rukmini devi, your honour is quite competent to spend even crores and crores for this purpose but we must remember the difficulty of Exchange. At this stage of critical hours the Government will hardly allow us to spend such huge amount. If they at all sanction the exchange they may allow for lakhs only and therefore I have suggested the estimate as seven lakhs only.
Letter to Sir Padampat Singhania -- New York 20 January, 1966:
Now taking for acceptance that Dr. Radhakrishnan will give us the exchange sanction, we have to decide whether to pay outright cash or to accept the proposal of installment. You may decide this in the meantime. And as soon as I receive the news of sanction, I shall let you know. If your man is to come here you may let me know the name and occupation of the persons so that I may arrange for his no objection certificate without which passport will be issued. I will have to find out some sponsor for him otherwise no P form will be issued. So pending the sanction let us be prepared for all these paraphernalia. In the future if circumstances changes, and we get the opportunity for spending more money, at that time we can sell of this or keep it as the circumstances allow.
Letter to Tirtha Maharaja -- New York 4 February, 1966:
Kindly accept my humble dandabats, I am in due receipt of your kind letter of the 1st instant and I am glad to note that you will get the Exchange sanction on receipt of the letter of the donor. The donor is a big business magnet of India and as required by you I am enclosing here with the letter of Sri Padampat Singhania of the J.K. Organizations, Kamla Tower, Kanpur dated 14th January 1966 which will speak for itself. I think you may also know the gentleman and he is competent to spend any amount for a nice temple of Sri Sri Radha Krishna in New York.
Letter to Tirtha Maharaja -- New York 4 February, 1966:
Please therefore immediately take steps in this direction and if need be you may personally see Dr. Radha Krishna because he is sympathetic with the Gaudiya Math workers as they are sincerely trying to respiritualise the whole world. He is also personally known to me but because I am out of India it is not possible for me to see him.
As you will know from the enclosed letter of Sir Padampat Singhania, he is prepared to spend any amount for this purpose, you can get sanction as large an amount as it is possible. Minimum ten lacs of rupees.
Letter to Mr. Dharwarkar -- New York 16 February, 1966:
Due to my absence from India the printing works are suspended and now I wish to begin it again on hearing from you. The thing is that I am trying here to establish one Temple of Sri Sri Radha Krishna and one big industrialist of India has promised to pay for the cost. But there is difficulty of Indian exchange. So I am trying to get the exchange sanctioned through some friends in India and if I get the sanction then I shall remain here for many more days. So in my absence I wish that you may take charge of selling the books in India. Please let me know if there is any possibility of your taking such charge. So far my experience is concerned this publication can be introduced in all colleges and universities of India. If you have successfully worked out the business in your own Maharastra province as it is recommended by the Director of Education, then it will be possible for you also for other provinces.
Letter to Sir Padampat Singhania -- New York 18 March, 1966:
As I told you before the matter was entrusted to two responsible gentlemen in India. One is my godbrother Sripada B.V. Tirtha Maharaja the President of Caitanya Research Institute Calcutta and the other is one influential officer in the All India Congress Committee in New Delhi. Both of them are very responsible men and they are trying very sincerely to their best capacity to get the exchange sanctioned. But till now there is no hopeful signal from both of them.
Letter to Sumati Morarjee -- New York 27 April, 1966:
I shall try my best to get the sanction for the temple Exchange and if I am unable then I shall open the Radha Krishna worship and Sankirtana in the rented house as I am now doing. The present flat is about 100' X 25' and there is ample place even to have a room for the deities of Radha and Krishna. When returning from India I shall bring with me the deities either from Jaipur or from Vrindaban along with other things required and I shall start the temple in rented building.
Letter to Mangalaniloy Brahmacari -- New York 16 May, 1966:
You will be glad to learn that Sir Padampat Singhania of Kanpur was approached by me in correspondence, as he was known to me before, to erect a Radhakrishna Temple in New York and he has agreed to take up the work very nicely provided there is sanction of Indian exchange. Srila Tirtha Maharaja promised me all help to get this exchange sanctioned by seeing the President and the Finance Minister as he is supposed to have some influence over them. This correspondence is going on since January 1966 with Sripada Tirtha Maharaja but his last letter appears to me very disappointing. Now He asks me to go back to India and try for the sanction with his joint effort from the Deputy Controller of Exchange in Calcutta. Srila Tirtha Maharaja has definitely assured me that the exchange will be sanctioned on submission of plans and expenditure of the proposed temple.
Letter to Mangalaniloy Brahmacari -- New York 16 May, 1966:
This is purely cultural programme for spreading the Hindu culture and if the Hindus have no such scope for spreading their culture then what is the meaning of independence? These points are to be raised and I think there must be some provision for such cultural propaganda because the Government has its own cultural ministry and they are spending millions and billions for this purpose. Please try for this first and foremost and if we are successful in getting the sanction then other things will follow automatically on this cultural programme. I hope you will follow the idea because you have done so many practical work in the mission. I want to know simply whether the Deputy Controller of Exchange is actually in power to sanction such exchange as to open Hindu temples etc in the foreign countries.
Letter to Ministry of Finance (India) -- New York 28 May, 1966:
So this is a cultural mission for enlightenment of the entire human society and New York is the best centre for distributing such cultural knowledge because it is the Head Quarter of the United Nations. We shall erect such a nice cultural Hall and Temple and everything is ready at this opportune moment. Kindly therefore give your sanction for this noble and sublime activities of Indian original culture still going strong.
His Excellency Dr. Radhakrishnan the President of India knows me personally and if need be you can take reference from him about me.
Kindly help me by your early sanction of release of Exchange and I shall await your favorable reply per return of post with interest.
Letter to Mr. I. N. Wankawala -- New York 11 June, 1966:
I am holding classes of Sankirtana and discourses on the Bhagavad-gita and Srimad-Bhagavatam and I very glad to inform you that they are chanting the holy name of God "Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare" with great devotion. There is some attempt for opening one Radha Krishna Temple in New York and Sir Padampat Sighania of Kanpur has promised to build up the temple. I am trying for the Indian Exchange sanction and if it is sanctioned, I hope one temple of Sri Sri Radhakrishna will be first built in New York. I am also trying for the temple otherwise if the Exchange is not sanctioned.
Letter to Mangalaniloy Brahmacari -- New York 23 June, 1966:
Now I would request you to see the Finance Minister or the President immediately and get the Exchange sanctioned. There is provision for such exchange sanction but it requires special sanction from the Finance Ministry. So we have to convince only the Finance Minister that for spreading the culture of Bhagavad-gita or the science of Krishna Consciousness this cultural propaganda from India's side has to be done.
Letter to Madhava Maharaja -- New York 1 August, 1966:
I hope that you are aware of the correspondence which I had been exchanging with Sriman Brahmacari Mangalaniloy and you also know it that I am desiring to get him here in United States of America for my assistance. You may also know that I am trying to construct a Temple of Sri Sri Radha Krishna in New York specially and I was trying to get exchange from the Government of India. I am very sorry to inform you that the Government of India Finance Ministry has expressed its inability to sanction Exchange Release from India but the Indian Embassy in America at Washington W.C. has directly sanctioned to raise funds from the Indian residents in America and directly from the American citizens.
Letter to Nripen Babu -- New York 15 December, 1966:
They are going purchasing house in New York and as soon as the house is purchased I shall establish in New York a Temple of SRI SRI RADHA KRISHNA for the first time. Sir Padampat Singhania of your city of Kanpur was ready to spend lakhs of rupees for this temple in New York but Govt. of India did not sanction exchange from India. So I am trying locally to start the temple and most probably I shall be successful to start one not only in New York but also one in California and the other in Montreal (Canada) in both cities there are my disciples who are already working there. I hope you will be pleased to learn about considerable success in my preaching activities.
1967 Correspondence
Letter to Jadurani, Rayarama -- San Francisco 11 February, 1967:
My dear Rayarama, Please keep in touch with Mr. Leo Ypstantin. One Indian gentleman who is here for the last five years as permanent resident, suggests that if my students and admirers submit application to the visa department submit that they want me for their benefit they sanction Permanent Resident Visa: Several other organizations the __ mothers my students as admirers, __ papers have appreciated my work. Why not adopt this procedure before the expiring of my tentative period. Please consult Mr. Ypstantin and let me know his opinion.
Letter to Nripen Babu -- San Francisco 18 March, 1967:
Any way please try to save temple of Jiva Goswami because in very near future many people all parts of the world will come to see the Temple and Samadhi of Jiva Goswami and Rupa Goswami. If you get court permission to sell the land there will be no objection for purchasing __ so far I know that your maternal uncle and cousin brother are also ___ in the temple. Sunderlalla son (the Vakil at Mathura) told me like that when negotiation was going on for lease. But I think if court sanction is obtained it will be quite alright.
Letter to Kirtanananda -- New York 13 April, 1967:
I understand that you are going to take sanction of India Govt for distribution of the literatures. But the present India Government has a phobia against anything which is religious fervour. The best thing would have been to have one small stall for ourselves from the Exposition authority without any cooperation of the Indian Pavilion. Then we would be able to function independently. If we distribute our Prasadam, our literature, try to sell our books and other literatures and go on playing our records and sell them, I think that will be proper utilization of our Krishna Conscious energy. If possible try to work on this line. When I think of Indian Government I become at once hopeless on account of the secular procedure.
Letter to Brahmananda -- Vrindaban 22 August, 1967:
Regarding Gargamuni's marriage, I have already sanctioned it. Perhaps you did not receive the letters containing all instructions. I repeat: the bride and groom should sit before the Deity Lord Krishna or Jagannatha and you should ignite the fire to offer clarified butter; simply chant Hare Krishna, all of you, and offer the butter to the fire with the word SAHA. The bride and groom should exchange their garlands, and the groom should promise never to forsake his wife, and the wife should promise to serve the husband for all her days. Then when there is opportunity, I shall further bless them personally.
Letter to Satsvarupa -- Delhi 6 October, 1967:
Regarding Manuscripts you can hold on till my arrival or next letter in this connection. The thing is that there is regular negotiation with M/s MacMillan Co for taking up the publication. Brahmananda in his recent letter has informed that the sanction is awaiting the President's signature. So let us wait a few days more for the final word.
Letter to Brahmananda -- Calcutta 11 October, 1967:
Kirtanananda is the first man in our society who cleanly shaved and kept the Sikha on the top of the head and now he has begun to keep beard again. This is not good. Whatever he is doing nowadays has no sanction from me. And he has deliberately disobeyed me by not going to London. Now he appears to be out of my control and therefore I advise you not to follow his principles unless he shows practically something wonderful. I gave him a chance to do this in the matter of opening a Branch in London but he has failed to do it. Now let him show first of all that by seeing his newly grown beard he has been successful to have many Americans following him and our financial condition has improved, then try to follow his instruction. Otherwise reject all idle talks. A Krishna conscious person must be seen by ears and not by the eyes or in other words one should try to know the depth of realization by Krishna conscious person and not see the beard which has become the practice of the Hippies.
Letter to Damodara -- Calcutta 13 October, 1967:
I have not sanctioned these methods. In my opinion, Clean shaved Brahmacharies & Grhasthas in saffron robes look like angels from Baikunta. Translation of prayers into English is good & if somebody dresses like nice American gentleman without any robes, I have no objection; but every one of my disciples must have the flag & marks of tilak on forehead. This is essential. Besides that, nobody should do anything without my sanction.
Letter to Damodara -- Calcutta 13 October, 1967:
You have written to say that a devotee can do anything for Lord Krishna; this is right provided such action is sanctioned directly by Krishna or his Bona fide representative. The idea of film making is very good & any propaganda medium can be utilized for Krishna Consciousness. In future if you get opportunity we can produce many films of life of Lord Caitanya, scenes from Bhagavad-gita & Srimad-Bhagavatam.
Letter to Jadurani -- Calcutta 13 October, 1967:
I am very sorry to inform you that Kirtanananda is playing the part of a foolish man after his return to N.Y. & it is necessary for me to play the part of a thunderbolt for his nonsense activities. He has unnecessarily instructed something to Damodara which is not sanctioned by me. Since he has developed this nonsensical attitude so much so that he is dictating something which is not sanctioned by me, all his instructions should be neglected. Please inform this to all centers.
Krishna can be present simultaneously everywhere. He lives in His abode Vaikuntha & still he is all pervading. Krishna is never limited by space & time, therefore he can manifest Himself in Casual Ocean as well as in Vaikuntha.
Letter to Brahmananda -- Calcutta 14 October, 1967:
For the time being he has cut all link with me, therefore any instruction given by him is unauthorized & should at once be rejected. He has no right to dictate as he has without my sanction. Whatever is to be done will be executed when I return. He is too much puffed-up nonsensically therefore you should copy this letter & forward to all centers that Kirtanananda has no right to dictate anything to the Society in this way. I am very sorry that he is exploiting his present position as a sannyasi. I have no objection if members of the Society dress like nice American gentlemen; but in all circumstances a devotee cannot avoid tilak, flag on head, & beads on neck. These are essential features of a Vaisnava. Hope you are well.
Letter to Brahmananda -- Calcutta 11 November, 1967:
Let us stick to the publication of BTG more and more nicely and publish some Vedic literatures like Srimad-Bhagavatam, Caitanya Caritamrta, etc. I've received one telegram from Mukunda, reading as follows: SWAMIJI BRAHMANANDA AND I AGREE YOU START IMMEDIATELY ADVISE EXACT ARRIVAL—MUKUNDA in reply to this, I may say that I am expecting my P-Form sanctioned and most probably I shall be starting sometime next week. If I stop in Tokyo for a day to probe if there is any possibility of starting a center. From Tokyo I shall let Mukunda know by telegram when I am exactly arriving in San Francisco. From San Francisco I shall try to go to see our two new centers, namely Los Angles and Sante Fe.
1968 Correspondence
Letter to Rayarama -- Los Angeles 11 January, 1968:
Please accept my blessings. I thank you very much for your letter of January 3, 1968, on ISKCON PRESS stationery. It is so nice and attractive and all the credit goes to you and your assistants. Please convey my sincere thanks to your two assistants, Jaya Govinda and Purusottama, for their sincere service in the cause of Krishna Consciousness. Please take it for granted that I have sanctioned for all your schemes.
Letter to Acyutananda -- Los Angeles 1 March, 1968:
Please accept my blessings. I have received your letter addressed to Mukunda and Guru das, in which you write to say that I may send you a telegram sanctioning your return. This means that you have become very much anxious to return back to USA, and I have become very much anxious to return back to USA, and I have also already sanctioned it, in reply to your last letter post-dated Feb. 21. The real thing is that you are feeling alone, and because you are so to say, child, you have become nervous.
Letter to Brahmananda -- Los Angeles 1 March, 1968:
Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated Feb. 27, 1968, and I have already sent one letter a few days ago to Acyutananda sanctioning his coming back, in consideration of his deteriorated health. Today also I am writing one letter to him, the copy of which is enclosed herewith, which will speak for itself. This Maya will attack the body always, because the body itself is the source of all troubles. We try to make a solution of our misfortunes, but at the same time we want to keep this body. People do not understand the simple truth that if anyone wants real happiness, he has to get out of the entanglements of this material body, which is only possible by practice of Krishna Consciousness.
Letter to Sri Krishnaji -- Los Angeles 1 March, 1968:
I am therefore training local boys and girls for kirtana and very soon we shall be out on world tour with this kirtana party. In India, however, many rich business men maybe ready to spend this amount to spread the kirtana movement. But the Govt. will not allow us to spend Indian money in such fashion without special sanction. I have written to authorities at the Govt. of India for sanction, but I have received no reply til now. You assured me that you would be able to get such sanction from Dr. Zakir Hussein but you are now silent on this format. Why not take sanction from him for this purpose and I will arrange money from India.
Letter to Mukunda -- San Francisco 26 March, 1968:
Please accept my blessings. I am sorry I am delayed to reply your letter dated March 14, 1968, which I received over a week ago. I am very glad that you are repentant even for some action which is not sanctioned by me. This attitude is very nice and improves one in progressing on the path of devotional service. The Rakhi Bandhan ceremony observed by you under instruction of Prasad isn't approved by our Vaisnava rituals. Of course, such ceremony is observed among the Hindu community as a socio-religious convention.
Letter to Brahmananda -- Allston, Mass 3 May, 1968:
Now, it is understood that Acyutananda is on the safe side, and you might have noted that my friend Seth Dalmia has sanctioned for him 100 Rs. per month through the Dalmia trust. So I shall have less anxiety for him from now. Now, if he can open a center with cooperation of Hit Sharan, then we can send any number of Brahmacaris there. Later developments we shall have to wait. In the meantime, as I have already advised you, you please arrange to send 1000 Mahamantra records (by seaship) as free gifts for Indian friends and the documents may be sent to the following address: Seth Jayadayal Dalmia; 4-Scindia House; New Delhi-1; India. This may be done immediately and the price $500.00 may be paid to Mr. Kallman in cash. Mr. Kallman formerly supplied us at 50c per piece which we meant for selling, but this time we are now distributing free. So he should have reduced less than 50c; if not, let him not charge more than 50c. Because this 1000 records we are taking from the old stock. When he manufactures the new stock we shall pay him as he desires.
Letter to Pope Paul VI -- Montreal 3 August, 1968:
Because on account of predominance of these principles at the present moment, duration of life, strength, and memory of the human being is decreasing. The human society is gradually degrading in the matter of religiosity, and justice; and "might is right" is gradually taking the place of morality and justice. There is practically no more family life, and the union of man and woman is gradually degrading to the standard of sexuality. I understand it from reliable sources that people are trying to get Your Holiness' sanction for contraceptive method, which is certainly against any religion of the world. In the Hindu religion, such contraceptive method or abortion is considered equivalent to murder.
Letter to Satsvarupa -- Montreal 8 August, 1968:
Regarding collection from the public: I think you should take special license or permission from the authority because as a religious society, we can collect in such a way. Simply the authorities have to be informed that we are a serious institute for spreading God consciousness, and that we are not professional beggars. This method of chanting in the park, distributing Prasadam, and selling our literature and making some collection, is just the way by which we can make both propaganda and maintain our institution. So this process must be continued with necessary sanction from the authority. I think there will be no difficulty in getting such sanction.
Letter to Satsvarupa -- Montreal 8 August, 1968:
By such unrestricted association of young boys and girls, is gradually turning them to be victims of the hippy and communist philosophy. So far I have considered it is very difficult to turn the people's face toward spiritual advancement. There is so much protest all over the world in the Catholic church on account of the Pope's refusal to sanction the contraceptive method. Even if you change the locality, you cannot expect very good audience. But still, wherever we may remain, we have to chant and distribute Prasadam, and I think the best method is to do it in the public parks.
Letter to Krsna Devi -- Montreal 21 August, 1968:
But there cannot be any hard and fast rules that only children who are grown up, 7 or 8 years old, can be admitted and no other children can be admitted. That is not possible, and I am not going to sanction any such rule. Rather I shall welcome a baby from the very beginning, so that the transcendental vibration may enter into its ear, and from the very beginning of its life, it becomes purified. But of course, the children cannot be allowed to disturb in the meeting by crying; and that is the mother's responsibility to keep them comfortable, and not to disturb the meeting.
Letter to Satsvarupa -- Seattle 9 October, 1968:
Please accept by blessings. I have received your letter without date, stating about the situation in Boston. On the statement of your letter, I can understand that it is a political situation. Of course, although everything includes in Krishna Consciousness, we do not wish to take part directly in controversial politics. We can take part in politics only which is sanctioned by Krishna.
Letter to Dinesh, Krsna Devi -- Los Angeles 19 November, 1968:
Regarding Kallman: The contract is in New York, there in a file, but this Mr. Kallman has failed to abide by the contract. He printed 10,000 copies of the record, but he did not pay a single cent. Although the contract was that he would pay me 15 cents per record. You can consult your father what is the position. I think Mr. Kallman has broken the terms of the contract, but Brahmananda told me that he has taken a letter from Brahmananda adjusting this account. Of course, Brahmananda had no power to adjust this account without my sanction.
Letter to Satsvarupa -- Los Angeles 31 December, 1968:
Strictly we should avoid publishing these confidential topics in Back To Godhead. This is dangerous for the conditioned soul. Although such Krishna lila can do some good to the mundane people in the long run, to understand the philosophical aspects of Bhagavad-gita and Srimad-Bhagavatam in the beginning is essential and will make for good stride in spiritual life. I do not know why Rayarama has asked you to send such article. It is not to my sanction. We shall be very careful about mundane sex life. That is the pivot center of conditioned life. You are intelligent enough and I hope that Krishna will help you in these matters.
1969 Correspondence
Letter to Hamsaduta -- Los Angeles 16 January, 1969:
Regarding your question about my Guru Maharaja, I never told anyone that He was one of the eight saktis. I do not know how you got this news. According to Vaisnava principles, nobody should think or imagine somebody as Krishna, Radharani, or Their associates. Everyone should aspire to follow the footprints of such associates. If somebody thinks that somebody is Radha or Krishna that is not sanctioned by the Vaisnava philosophy. So far as I know, my Guru Maharaja's position was one of the assistants of the manjaris. For the present, it is better not to discuss on these confidential things of a higher level, but you are always welcome to put your genuine questions for an answer. Otherwise, how will you know things as they are?
Letter to Rayarama -- Unknown Place 18 January, 1969:
What about Washington? I am anxious to know if Brahmananda met the Ambassador of U.S.A., Mr. B. K. Nehru, with my books. If so how he was received and what talks were exchanged. He is very important man for our future activities. Please ask Brahmananda to write about Ambassador Nehru & the MacMillan contract. Gargamuni may be informed that I am in receipt of his letters regarding marriage with Karunamayi. I have already sanctioned the urge in Brahmananda's letter. I hope Brahmananda has already managed the affairs nicely. Convey my blessings to all my sons & daughters.
Letter to Nara-narayana -- Los Angeles 23 January, 1969:
Now I have also read in your letter under reply that you are successfully engaged in Sankirtana Party activities in New York, and this too is encouraging to hear. So I think that you should be encouraged in this connection, but one thing is that your Sankirtana activities may go on as long as you are working under the sanction of Brahmananda, and he finds there to be no difficulties with this additional temple's activity. Sankirtana is very important service, so as far as Brahmananda feels there is no inconvenience upon other important engagements, you may continue in assisting the organizing of the New York temple's Sankirtana Party.
Letter to Tirtha Maharaja -- Los Angeles 7 February, 1969:
But you could not do anything. The same Dr. Radhakrishnan is now Patron in this celebration. Sri Visvanatha Das knows me very well. Sri Hanuman Prasad Poddar knows very well about my preaching work in this part of the world. Will you induce them to cooperate in my humble attempt? There are many friends in India who will be prepared to construct each a temple here, if the government sanctions exchange. But I don't think the government will sanction changing its policy, even though the retired Presidents or Governors might request this. If it is possible though, please try to do it now, and you will see that we have a center in each and every town and village of the world, as it was predicted by Lord Caitanya. You may please bring the following facts to the notice of the Patrons of the celebration when the session begins.
Letter to Janardana -- Los Angeles 2 March, 1969:
If a Christian believes in God let him love God prominently rather than loving matter. If we wish to criticize Christian faith we can do so, and we can prove that hardly there are any sincere Christians. In the ten commandments we see Lord Jesus Christ advised "Thou shalt not kill," but this killing process is still prominent among Christians as well as any other religious group. So much so that it is simply horrible. Recently, the head of the Christian people, the Pope, declined to sanction the killing process in the embryo, namely contraceptive methods. We can see that so many Christians revolted. Apart from this killing process within the embryo, there is also killing process in the slaughterhouse and in so many ways. I do not know how a Christian can violate this important commandment of the Bible, "Thou shalt not kill." So in this way, if we want to criticize we can, but it will simply increase our enemies. Better let us try to invoke the dormant transcendental emotion by chanting and dancing.
Letter to Madhusudana -- Hawaii 10 March, 1969:
Please accept my blessings. I thank you very much for your letter of March 5th, and you can take it from me that I give you clear sanction to get yourself married to Kancanbala dasi, at the earliest possible date. From her side, her mother has agreed, and from your side, I have agreed. So Kancanbala is an ideal girl, Krishna Conscious, and I want that some ideal families of Krishna Consciousness should be established in your country, so that people can see that our movement is not one sided or dry. So we do not want dry renouncers.
Letter to Sudama -- Columbus, Ohio 8 May, 1969:
The proposal that you shall have a cart moving in the Japanese Fair with Deities, kirtana and selling books is very, very nice proposal. If you can get sanction for it, it will be a very nice thing. I thank you very much for your constant and sincere efforts, and surely Krishna will bless you more and more for this. I have received one letter, sent along with beads of the girl, Jill, and I will send them back to her, initiated upon by me, very soon.
Letter to Gopala Krsna -- New Vrindaban 26 May, 1969:
I do not know why you had wanted permission from your father. In the material world everyone is interested in pound-shilling-pence. Your parents must be thinking that upon your being initiated you shall become a mendicant and the pound-shilling-pence you are sending will be stopped, and they will suffer materially. But you can assure them they will be better off materially after you are initiated. Anyway, now I do not know what to do with you. Shall I wait till you get sanction from your parents, or shall I initiate immediately? In my opinion, because you wanted permission of your parents, you should wait at least for such time when your parents will permit you. But if you are strongly desirous, then you can disregard your father's desire and make advancement in Krishna Consciousness. On hearing from you I will do the needful.
Letter to Sir -- New Vrindaban 27 May, 1969:
I am in due receipt of your telegram as well as your letter dated May 20, 1969, and I have noted the contents carefully. I do not know why you are so much worried about your son's accepting brahmanahood. Anyway, rest assured that your son will not be initiated in brahmanahood at least for one year henceforward, unless he is so prepared with your sanction. Brahmanahood is not so easy job that one can be turned into a brahmana all of a sudden. We initiate our students into brahmanahood only after seeing their behavior for at least one year, especially with reference to the following principles: 1) one must not indulge in illicit sex, 2) one must not eat anything nonvegetarian, 3) one must not take any intoxicants, including coffee, tea or cigarettes, and 4) one must not take part in gambling.
Letter to Prabhas Babu -- Los Angeles 2 July, 1969:
The price of one year subscription to Back To Godhead is $5.00, and in exchange of such one year subscription he is accepting a mrdanga and a few pair of karatalas. He has already collected a few mrdangas, and very soon he will have to dispatch them to our various centers. So please let me know whether or not you shall be able to get sanction from the Reserve Bank of India for this exchange policy of accepting goods of the value of one year's subscription. I hope the above is clear and you will do the needful.
Letter to Satsvarupa -- Los Angeles 5 August, 1969:
I have also received another letter by Special delivery. So everything is Krishna's Grace. Take the risk for Krishna but do everything very diligently. I sanction it.
Letter to Jayapataka -- Tittenhurst 16 October, 1969:
I am surprised that such bogus letters have come from parties claiming to belong to our centers. Our disciple Krishna das is in Germany, not in Montreal. Anyway, such irresponsible letters dispatched from our temples must be stopped immediately. I shall be glad to hear from you about this by return of post. If somebody is unauthorizedly using our stationeries and writing letters to responsible quarters, with no sanction from us, then such persons must be avoided.
Letter to Arundhati -- Tittenhurst 2 November, 1969:
Regarding crying, when someone cries during kirtana, this crying is crying of the soul. But if anyone tries to imitate such crying to get some adoration, that is a bodily function. Regarding you final question, Krishna is the Cause of all causes. That is a fact. But we being subordinate to Krishna, sometimes we create our cause under Krishna's sanction only. Just like a child may persist in trying to do something, but unless the mother allows he cannot do it. Another example is that a criminal is put into jail by the trying judge; this is caused by the judgement of the court, but it is actually caused also by the criminal person. I hope this will meet you in good health.
1970 Correspondence
Letter to Raktaka -- Los Angeles 9 January, 1970:
Regarding your marriage, I have all sanction for it, but I do not know what is the legal implication. Besides, that, the girl is not initiated. But if she is working very obediently in the Temple, there is no impediment in your being married with her and she may be initiated later on. I am sending herewith back the beads of Labangalatika duly chanted by me. Please offer my blessings to the twelve inmates who are living in the Temple at present and especially to the newcomers. Please try to convince them to take part in the Sankirtana Party either within or outside the Temple. So, on the whole, you have got my approval for the marriage and you can do the needful.
Letter to Hitsaranji -- Los Angeles 2 February, 1970:
If some of your men or the shipping agents' men will see her in Bombay (because I think the packages will be shipped via Bombay) then I am sure she will sanction free carriage of the packages. But I may instruct you, if somehow or other this Scindia Steam Navigation Company delays the matter, you may advise your shipping agents to dispatch without delay. We will pay the shipping charges here if your Trust is legally unable to bear the cost of sending the Murtis to America.
Letter to Bhagavan -- Los Angeles 24 February, 1970:
evananda will inform you of this matter by phone tonight after 9:00 p.m. So there will be no difficulty.
I have all my blessings for the girl for being married to Naranarayana, for whom I was very much anxious to get him a good wife. So I have full sanction for his marriage, and you can perform the ceremony on my behalf. I am sure under your care they will be trained as good husband and wife, following your example, and be happy in life in Krsna Consciousness.
Letter to Dinadayadri -- Los Angeles 26 February, 1970:
I am very happy to know that you are to be married with Sriman Nara Narayana and this is very nice. Both of you please accept my full blessings and sanction for your marriage. Work together for your mutual advancement in Krsna's service and be increasingly joyful in your Krsna Consciousness life. This is my desire.
Please take continued guidance from Bhagavan das and from your good husband and from other senior devotees and learn our philosophy very nicely.
Letter to Tamala Krsna -- Los Angeles 4 March, 1970:
Marriage or no marriage, that is not our problem. If we find it suitable that by marrying one will be able to serve better, than by not marrying, then one must marry—that is our principle. So as you are thinking that accepting Jyotirmayi as your wife you will be happy and your duties in Krsna consciousness will be enthused, then I have got all sanction, and you do it.
Letter to Manager of Bank of Baroda, M. M. De -- Los Angeles 18 March, 1970:
Please transfer at least Rs. 1000 to the above account without delay, pending the Reserve Bank's sanction. And after being sanctioned, you can transfer the balance of Rs. 4000.
Letter to Sridama -- Los Angeles 10 April, 1970:
I am very glad that you are going to marry Manmohini Dasi and I have got my full sanction and blessings for this unity. Nanda Kisora and his wife and yourself and your wife, four together, organize the center in Providence which is already wonderful and by your propaganda of Krsna Consciousness it will be heavenly.
Letter to Acyutananda -- Los Angeles 11 April, 1970:
I think you will have to take a formal sanction from the Reserve Bank of India on my behalf, and Mr. Ghosh knows it well. If it is necessary to take sanction, I have enclosed herewith the application which you may use if necessary.
Letter to Satsvarupa -- Los Angeles 11 April, 1970:
ry nice. I am sending $2,400 next week as Advaita has requested.
Regarding the proposed marriage of Manmohini and Sridama, Yes, I have already sent Sridama sanctioning this marriage and offering my blessings. Subala has already got practical experience, he has performed two marriage ceremonies and he has sent me a xeroxed copy of the procedure which I have approved. I am enclosing herewith one copy and you can perform the wedding in your temple. Everyone, at least all the presidents, should be experienced in performing marriage ceremonies.
Letter to Gurudasa -- Los Angeles 16 April, 1970:
Regarding Digvijaya and Pritha, if you have decided to get them married as fit match, then I have all my blessings and sanction.
Letter to Satsvarupa -- Los Angeles 16 April, 1970:
Regarding permission to marry Manmohini and Sridama, I have sent you one letter dated 11th April which I hope you have received by now. So in that letter I have already informed you that I have written to Sridama sanctioning his marriage and offering my blessings. I also enclosed one copy of procedure for the marriage ceremony to be performed by yourself in your temple. If you have still not received the letter and copy, ask Subala to send you one by air post. His instructions for performing the ceremony are personally approved by me.
Please offer my blessings to Srimati Jadurani and to all the other boys and girls there.
Letter to Manager of Bank of Baroda -- Los Angeles 18 April, 1970:
I hope by this time you have received sanction for transferring Rs. 5,000 from my above account to the United Bank of India Ltd., 157/B Dharmatalla Street, Calcutta 13, for credit of savings account of Sri M. M. De.
Please therefore transfer the account on receipt of this letter.
Letter to Hamsaduta -- Los Angeles 26 April, 1970:
Umapati has already selected the French girl, Ilavati, as his wife, so I am sanctioning this marriage because it will be help for the French language work. So for Haripriya Dasi Krsna will give very soon a nice husband. Best thing will be for her a German husband who can help us in our German language work.
Letter to Damodara Maharaja -- Los Angeles 13 May, 1970:
So I do not know what to do in this connection. The money is there, the sanction is there, the land is there, and still if it does not take place, I shall understand it that this is not the desire of Srila Prabhupada. In the meantime, I have also advised my previous son, Sri M.M. De, to see you in this connection, and if possible to purchase the land in his name for the time being. So if he sees you, then please help him in purchasing the land.
Letter to Rupanuga -- Los Angeles 15 June, 1970:
So it was Krsna's grace that He saved you from a dangerous position. This dangerous position is dangerous if it does not go away after its appearance for a while. But if it goes away, then it is friend. A devotee's angle of vision being that everything is emanating from the Supreme, danger is not danger—that is the conclusion of Srimad-Bhagavatam. A devotee takes danger as also mercy of Krsna because in everything there is a purpose of Krsna and without His sanction nothing can take place.
Letter to Nirmal Babu -- Los Angeles 24 June, 1970:
Sometimes some of our friends donate a pair of Radha Krsna Deities for our different temples, but the Reserve Bank of India takes too much time to sanction the free gift. In this way I am put into great trouble. So I am seeking you help if something can be done that if somebody gives us free gifts of Deities the Government shall not object to it.
Letter to Satsvarupa -- Los Angeles 25 June, 1970:
The title for the Second Chapter of Second Canto, "The Lord in the Heart", is alright. In the cover picture, the footmark on the chest of the Lord should not be painted.
Regarding the Deities, although we were formerly advised that they were to be dispatched, we have just received news that they have been delayed in India pending some Government sanction. So you will be informed of Their arrival in due course.
Letter to N.C. Chatterji -- Tokyo 21 August, 1970:
The Murtis which are donated for being established in my different centers are still held up under different pleas, so to undo this deadlock we have to take some immediate measure. I was very much encouraged when you promised to see the Prime Minister of India and other Ministers in this connection. Kindly therefore get this matter sanctioned without delay.
Letter to Karandhara -- Bombay 13 November, 1970:
Regarding affairs of Temple management, financial distribution, etc., it is not necessary that you keep me informed of all the details. Regarding marriages, the correct way is that you should first get the marriage sanctioned by me and then perform the ceremony with my blessings.
I shall be expecting the posters and pictures soon; they will be very useful to our propaganda work.
Letter to Tirthapada -- Bombay 13 November, 1970:
I have seen the news-cutting and I am very glad that Upananda and Anne are now married happily in Krsna Consciousness Please offer them my full blessings to work together in mutual cooperation for advancing Krsna consciousness. However, in future, if you kindly take sanction for such marriages beforehand, that will be in proper way.
1971 Correspondence
Letter to Hrdayananda -- Los Angeles 5 July, 1971:
Please accept my blessings. I beg to thank you very much for your letter dated 2nd July, 1971 and have noted the contents carefully. You will be glad to know that I have consented to initiate your good wife, Elaine, as well as Bill Schoenbart, and have given them spiritual names Anangamanjari Devi and Radhaballaba Das, respectively; their beads and letters are enclosed herewith. So far as Radhaballaba getting himself married, you must first discuss with him that this marriage business is not a farce, but it must be taken very seriously. There is no question of divorce, and if he will promise not to separate from his wife, then my sanction for the marriage is there; otherwise not. Recently too many couples have been drifting into maya's waters, and it is very discouraging. So if he will agree on these points, then you can perform the marriage with my blessings.
Letter to Bhagavan -- Los Angeles 7 July, 1971:
The two marriages recommended by you may be performed at that time as well, but only after having sufficiently counselled the respective devotees. This marriage business should not be taken as a farce, but is a very serious matter. Recently so many couples have been cast adrift by the waves of maya's influence. That is hard to check, but still the devotees must realize the responsibilities of household life. And there is no question of separation. Too much this has been happening and I am very much displeased. So if they are promising not to separate under any circumstances, but to work cooperatively in the service of the Lord, then my sanction is there for their marriage, and my blessings as well. Otherwise not.
Letter to Vaikunthanatha -- London 6 September, 1971:
I am sending herewith, please find, complete plans for a temple there in Trinidad, drawn by Rancor Prabhu here in London. So as soon as you receive the deed you should give these plans to the government, get them sanctioned and begin construction. In the design you will find a portion especially meant for my residence. So it will be a great pleasure for me to go there and live with you for some time. Since 1965 or before that there was a plan for me to go to Trinidad. I had some correspondence with one Mr. Kuldap. I do not know if you have met this gentleman. He was very anxious to get me there. At that time it was not possible for me to go there. Now, by Krishna's grace, if you arrange for my going there it will be very nice.
Letter to Visnujana -- Calcutta 4 November, 1971:
Please accept my blessings. I understand from Kirtanananda Maharaja that there is a nice scheme for travelling sankirtana party. So I think that your joining them will be super-excellent scheme and I have my full hearted sanction for your joining the party if you like.
Letter to Kirtanananda , Vrindaban Candra, Silavati -- Calcutta 6 November, 1971:
Without offering to the Deity nobody can be supplied, but after the offering if there are so many men and more is required then how can it be stopped?; In Vrindaban dhupa is offered without a flower sometimes, but either way is all right. If a flower can be offered, then that is nice; generally sandalwood paste is offered on the forehead, but on other parts of the body is all right; Kumkum powder should be offered on the feet.
My sanction is there for Prisni dasi receiving Gayatri mantra. It should be done by the tape method; Karandhara has a tape of me reciting gayatri mantra and he knows the proper procedure also. Arrangements can be made.
Letter to Sridama -- Delhi 17 November, 1971:
Regarding Prayag Devi Dasi, yes, a woman requires protection. But normally we regard that any unmarried woman with children should take security of the temple—that is more secure than the protection of Krishna—and be satisfied with her children. Marriage is simply a license for having sex, so we are not very fond of sanctioning unnecessary sense gratification. However in this case, if you think the match is favorable for their advancing nicely in Krishna Consciousness, then I shall agree with your judgement. One thing is, there should be a formal contract signed by both parties at each marriage, voting that there will be no separation and that man and wife will work cooperatively in Krishna Consciousness.
1972 Correspondence
Letter to Svati -- India:
So you should not be too much concerned. Do not be too much worried—forget the past, do not be attached to it for we are only thinking of how we may now please the Supreme Personality of Godhead and the devotees are always optimistic for the advancement of their spiritual progress. So in the meantime there is no question of any more marriage by you so you will become freed from the entangling grip of maya which means sex life. Just see, so many people are suffering so much just for a little sex life. I am so much disturbed by problems caused by sex life that I am not going to sanction any more marriages. Our devotees must do it at their own risk from now on and they must provide their own income for living together outside the temple or if they live in the temple they must live separately.
Letter to Yajnesvara -- Bombay 2 January, 1972:
If one has appreciation for the spiritual master then he must follow the instructions of the spiritual master, and that means he is supposed to worship the deity in a certain way, like that. It is not possible to love the spiritual master without loving God. Your next question was about the free will, whether we have it or not? If one is not intelligent enough for making for making decisions, then all decisions shall be sanctioned by the spiritual master. Neophyte means no independent decisions, no free will, that means surrender. But when he is trained up then automatically he gets his freedom. Just like a small child can only eat such things which are sanctioned by his parents, not by his own discretion.
Letter to Vamanadeva -- Jaipur 21 January, 1972:
Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter of 1-3-72, and I am pleased to note that you are happy to be engaged in working on the new ISKCON school in Dallas as maintenance man and carpenter, I have no objection if GBC men have approved your closing of Oklahoma City center and moving to Dallas. Actually, I have appointed them to act on my behalf, so it is their responsibility now to sanction such matters and make decisions of management.
Letter to Himavati -- Madras 14 February, 1972:
Anyone who is trained can be secretary, that is not such important position as preaching and training younger devotees from your experience. But that is up to your husband to decide if you will be his secretary. And you should not worry, he'll never be given Sannyas without your sanction. There is no question of giving him Sannyas, so why you are asking? Yo do not want separation from his good company, that's all right, my only point is, in your absence, who will manage? That is my only fear.
Letter to Jadurani -- Calcutta 18 February, 1972:
Suzanne Brezinski has requested initiation, but Rupanuga has not sanctioned. Ask him this point.
Letter to Harsarani -- Mayapur 28 February, 1972:
Henceforward, anyone proposing to marry must produce some outside income and live outside the temple, they must know this in advance and be prepared to carry such burden. Let them be married, but at their own risk. I cannot sanction anymore. My Guru Maharaja never allowed, but when I came to your country it was a special circumstance so I gave concession, but I am not so much inclined anymore, so I shall not sanction, but they may marry on their own risk of knowing that such arrangement is always troublesome.
Letter to Kirtiraja -- Mayapur 28 February, 1972:
One must be convinced that sex-life without exception means trouble, therefore he is able to stop it at the thinking stage by not allowing it to be felt, much less willed and acted. I am so much disgusted by this troublesome business of marriage, because nearly every day I receive some complaint from husband or wife, and practically this is not my business as sannyasi to be marriage counsellor, so henceforward I am not sanctioning any more marriages, and those who want to marry must know in advance and be prepared to make outside income to support wife and home separately from the temple, and in the temple husband and wife shall live separately, that must be or what is the meaning of spiritual society like ours? I made a concession, but how can I encourage something which has proven to be so much trouble?
Letter to All ISKCON Temple Presidents -- Sydney 8 April, 1972:
"Atreya Rsi das was selected to be the Secretary for GBC and receive all correspondence including monthly reports." I never appointed Atreya Rsi member of the GBC, and I do not know how he can be appointed Secretary to GBC without my sanction. "He was also appointed to be on the Management Committee with Karandhara for the purpose of supervising ISKCON business and implementing the decisions reached by GBC." This has very much disturbed me.
Letter to Giriraja -- Tokyo 23 April, 1972:
"Read KRSNA, the Supreme Personality of Godhead" Available in all bookstores 3 Volumes - Rs. 15 So far funds from USA, if need be we shall help. The program should be that you take from the USA as much money as you want in the shape of books, and the whole amount can be engaged in building and construction work. For example, Krsna books cost 75 cents for 3 copies, so if USA has sent you the books at cost price, you can make profit by selling at $2. That is $1.25 profit per set, and you haven't got to pay back even the cost. This arrangement will be nice, otherwise in case of emergency, the other arrangement can also be adopted. If we get our plans sanctioned, automatically we will get customers for our flats. But we must get all these occupants as devotees, and you can consult with Indira regarding this matter. There are many devotees who are prepared to accept.
Letter to Cyavana -- Honolulu 10 May, 1972:
Our point is that in the house or skyscraper we shall simply accommodate for occupants either guests or purchasers. So these purchasers must be a devotee, that is, no intoxication, no gambling, no meat or fish, like that. There are many families in Bombay, they want such association, to live with us, attend arati, prasada. This is a very important item. As soon as you get sanction, you can raise funds. People will be willing to pay in advance. In this connection, Indira has promised to help. You may send me her address and I shall write to her in this matter. Take her as one of our persons, she will be of tremendous help.
Letter to Giriraja -- London 8 August, 1972:
how many are our initiated members. Our initiated members must be in the majority, and if any deed has to be prepared then I shall send you the wordings. If not, verbally is all right. If they want to make any documents, that must be approved by me. The idea is that no one should enter into the management without any sanction. If they pay lump sums then they can be on the committee, but our majority must be there. We have had bad experience in Nairobi due to carelessness in forming the management committee, therefore I am advising you in this way.
Letter to Satsvarupa -- Los Angeles 24 August, 1972:
It is not that we should remain separate from them as they are sincere souls and there is no objection if they want to remain separate from the white people and pursue this Krishna consciousness way of life, but I must be convinced by you that everything is being done properly before I shall be glad to give them the final sanction. As soon as hearing from you in this regard, I shall be glad to give them due initiation and my blessings so that they may continue in their own way. I am sending a copy of this letter to them and you may go there immediately to see what is the situation there. Enclosed please find copy of their latest letter to me. Their address in Cleveland is 1739 Lakefront, East Cleveland, Ohio, 44112. Meanwhile, I look forward to seeing you all my nice disciples in New Vrndavana by the end of this month. Hoping this will find you in good health,
Letter to Upendra -- Los Angeles 13 September, 1972:
Please accept my blessings. I have received your letter dated Wednesday, 6th September, 1972, and I am very glad to hear that you and your good wife want to go to Perth, Australia, for opening one ISKCON center. There is no doubt about it that I shall sanction your endeavor in this respect. I am always praying that my disciples will gradually increase our war against maya on all fronts. But I do not think it is necessary to take money from Karandhara for opening that center. From our experience we have found it is always in the long run more stable and better situation if local people can be persuaded to help from the very beginning.
Letter to Dr. Karan-Singh -- Los Angeles 18 September, 1972:
Now we are prepared to bring thousands of visitors to your country, but we need also your help and cooperation to do this in proper manner. Now we have created interest all over the world in Krsna and Vrndavana, for instance the Air India is using the Krsna theme in their advertising campaign, so we have created this atmosphere of interest in Krsna in the Western countries, and I think that cooperatively we may work together to increase the foreign tourism in our country of India. What will be the arrangement for foreigners to see the temples, will they be allowed or what is the situation for government sanction for foreigners to see the temples?
Now I am returning to India in middle of October, and I am coming first to Vrndavana and New Delhi for holding our second annual Bhagavata-dharma Discourses and Hare Krsna Festival, and if Krsna desires it, we may meet again at that time.
Letter to Cyavana -- Los Angeles 22 September, 1972:
I have heard from Rsi Kumar also that South Africa is first class field in Africa for preaching. Now you say the basic expenditures are finished and we have got very nice place there, now concentrate on making men into devotees and recruiting especially the African boys for helping us preach all over the continent of Africa. That is very good news that you have sent more than $1,200 to Karandhara, now you may order as many more books as you require from him and take similar sanction from the government for repaying him.
1973 Correspondence
Letter to Madhukara -- Bombay 4 January, 1973:
So I have introduced this marriage system in your Western countries because there is custom of freely intermingling male and female. Therefore marriage required just to engage the boys and girls in devotional service, never mind distinction of living status. But our marriage system is little different than in your country, we do not sanction the policy of quick divorce. We are supposed to take husband or wife as eternal companion or assistant in Krsna consciousness service, and there is promise never to separate. Of course if there is any instance of very advanced disciples, married couple, and they have agreed that the husband shall now take sannyasa or renounced order of life, being mutually very happy by that arrangement, then there is ground for such separation. But even in those cases there is no question of separation, the husband, even he is sannyasa, he must be certain his wife will be taken care of nicely and protected in his absence. Now so many cases are there of unhappiness by the wife who has been abandoned by her husband against her wishes. So how can I sanction such thing? I want to avoid setting any bad example for future generations, therefore I am so much cautiously considering your request.
Letter to Ravindra Svarupa -- Bombay 5 January, 1973:
. So if someone is hearing us singing on the street, or if he is purchasing one book and if he reads sincerely, these two activities are the same. So if there is any occasion of necessity, if there are not very many men available or if there is prohibition by the municipal authorities, something like that, we may assign everyone for distributing our literatures, there is no loss for that. But it is always better if there are also some devotees chanting loudly on the street. If there is even one man to two men or a small party who are chanting Hare Krishna, that will increase also the book sales. So if there are sufficient men, and if we have got sanction by the authorities, it is always better to have at least a small party chanting along with as many distributers of books as possible.
Letter to Sudama -- Calcutta 26 January, 1973:
You have my sanction to take with you Gaura Nitai deities. Carefully worship Them, attending to Them with regular aratis and bhoga offerings. Be very careful to maintain a strict standard of worship, and whenever you arrive at a temple you can place the Deity on the altar.
Letter to Rupanuga -- Sydney 14 February, 1973:
Wherever there are individuals there is bound to be difference of opinion. Therefore for this purpose I have formulated the GBC. Therefore any new programs or proposals or discrepancies should be submitted before the Governing Board Commission and then their conclusion should be submitted to me for the final approval. In other words I am requesting you as my senior men not to tax my brain with so many details but simply come to a conclusion amongst yourselves and then present this final conclusion for my sanction. In this way I will be free to concentrate on my translation of Srimad-Bhagavatam.
Letter to Bhakta dasa -- Calcutta 4 March, 1973:
Yes, you have my sanction for installing the new Deities with the cooperation of Karandhara and/or Sudama Maharaja (I think he is there on the West coast). They know how to do it. The more you can decorate the Deities soberly, not fanatically, the more you become decorated with all honors. At the present moment, civilized man has forgotten how to decorate, therefore this mini-skirt—the business of the trees—to remain naked. Human being means to be decorated, like Krsna is decorated, not naked.
Letter to Hariprasada Badruka -- Mayapur 13 June, 1973:
The difficulty is, unless we have legal possession of the land, how can we get municipal sanction for the construction. Under the circumstances, if Sriman Pulla Reddy donates the back portion of the land as promised and gives us legal right to construct the temple, we can then immediately get sanction from the municipality and begin construction. I am sure that within one year the construction will be complete and the Deity moved to the proper temple. At that time, if Mr. Pulla Reddy thinks it proper, he can donate the front portion also. Otherwise we shall vacate that portion without any doubt. This much I can promise to Mr. Pulla Reddy. So, he may kindly gives us legal right for constructing the temple.
Letter to Makhanlal -- Mayapur 22 June, 1973:
You have asked about whether nuclear devastation on this planet would effect the Sankirtana Movement. No, there is nothing that can stop the Sankirtana Movement because it is the will of God Himself, Lord Caitanya, that His Holy Name be heard in every town and village. Neither can the demons devastate this planet independent of the will of Krsna. Nothing happens without His sanction. If Krsna wants to kill someone no one can save Him, and if Krsna wants to save someone no one can kill him.
Letter to Sudama -- Bhaktivedanta Manor 4 September, 1973:
My sanction for the deities in the touring van is still there. But I have heard that sometimes the deity falls down, so these things are objectionable. Touring and book distribution, side by side, this is the main business. The general public will not be very much interested to see the deity, it is our personal business. When you contact with the mass of people Sankirtana is the main business. So considering all these point you do the needful, I have no objection.
Letter to Bhagavan das -- Bombay 29 September, 1973:
Please accept my blessings. Herewith please find one letter from Mr. Khilnani father of Anita, and the contents will speak for itself. I wish that the marriage will be suspended for the time being unless the father agrees to this marriage. According to the Vedic system marriage takes place according to the sanction of the parents, although this is not being followed strictly at the present moment.
Letter to Jadurani -- New Delhi 8 November, 1973:
Regarding the arati ceremony of Svayambhuva Manu, better to have the men and women separate. That is the Vedic system. Not like in the West of co-education, because intermingling of men and women was not at all sanctioned. If he is performing arati, how can he sit in a throne or asana?
The young girls on the bank were worshiping Siva linga. It is made from earth collected from the Ganges bank. There was no deity of Durgadevi. These Siva lingas are placed right on the Ganga bank without any throne, wherever there is a suitable place.
Letter to All Centers -- Los Angeles 13 December, 1973:
First of all, Srila Prabhupada never sanctioned or encouraged this program of buying or selling jewels. Furthermore, Srila Prabhupada does not want us to purchase jewels and gems for decorating the Deities in our own Temples. Expensive gems and jewelry will only attract thieves and rogues. It was because of the jewels in Indian Temples that the Mohammedans invaded India, destroying the Deities and Temples and plundering the jewels. In previous ages, when people were honest and pious kings maintained law and order, then the Deities and Temples were decorated with costly jewels but in this age it is not advised.
Letter to Tamala Krsna -- Los Angeles 13 December, 1973:
Just now I was reading Krsna Book. It is very interesting and entertaining and written so even a child can follow. In our childhood days we were reading one book, "Folk Tales of Bengal". It was very widely read, especially by children. So why not introduce the Krsna book for the same purpose? You may get some sanction from the Minister of Education. It is a very nice book for student study—they will get our cultural idea and learn to read English.
Letter to Tamala Krsna -- Los Angeles 13 December, 1973:
Now your most important business is to finish with Mrs. Nair all matters, especially the income tax certificate and to get sanction from the Municipality for all our plans. See to these matters above all else.
Thank you for appreciating this Krsna Consciousness more and more. Carry on faithfully with Krsna, work with greater and greater enthusiasm and be blessed.
Letter to Tamala Krsna -- Los Angeles 21 December, 1973:
He has advised that we take sanction for our school from different branches of the Indian Government such as the educational department, the social welfare department, and the cultural department. He says that we must approach them on the platform of wanting to present and develop this school for its educational and cultural value but not to place any stress on any religious import. Otherwise we shall not get any support from the government.
Letter to Tamala Krsna -- Los Angeles 21 December, 1973:
So in this way we also must take government support by tactfully presenting a solid and organized proposal. I want very much that this project should be initiated immediately and followed through with all necessary attention and endeavor. Now I have given some hint and I am turning the matter over to you for execution.
I am standing by to hear from you whether or not we have obtained municipal sanction for our plans for our Juhu Beach scheme.
Letter to Tamala Krsna -- Los Angeles 24 December, 1973:
I am only anxious for the municipality sanction and Mrs. Nair's income tax certificate. Please __ this immediately. Gargamuni has written a long letter so many __. When you go to Calcutta see what is the matter. Let me know what you have done.
1974 Correspondence
Letter to Tejiyas -- Los Angeles 2 January, 1974:
In that way we will have a good recommendation for introducing our books to all kind of libraries. When I was alone in India I got this sanction and introduced my books in so many libraries and schools. There is one American Library of Congress which used to take 18 copies of my books as soon as they were published. If you try you will get also an order for 18 copies of all our books. This open order was published in my picture advertisement for the Bhagavatam. So please try in this way to get our books circulating among the educated classes. I wish you to go ahead full speed to print Bhagavad-gita there.
Letter to Ravji Ganatra -- Mayapur 6 March, 1974:
Since you have gone we have not gone an inch forward. They have gone and made application for the police commissioner to give sanction, but it is still lying there and they do not say yes or no. There is no sanction as yet. Our position is not clear. I require your help very much. Things are standing in the same position as when you left.
I was in Bombay myself for 10 to 12 days. Now I am here in Mayapur on account of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's birthday anniversary. I arrived here March 1st. By the end of March I will be again in Bombay, and by that time you will come back and help us in this matter. More when we meet.
Letter to All ISKCON Centers -- Vrindaban 14 March, 1974:
The BBT can authorize a center to print, as in the case of foreign translations, with the agreement that when the foreign printing becomes financially solvent they will pay royalties to the BBT. But all printing of ISKCON literature must be by the BBT or under their sanction and approval.
Letter to Riktananda -- Bombay 29 April, 1974:
Your proposal to come to Vrindaban and serve the deities in our new Krsna Balarama temple is approved by me. We require many first class devotees to make the temple alive with transcendental bliss, so as your departure is also sanctioned by Jayatirtha, you make your plans and come to Vrindaban at your convenience.
Letter to Ksirodakasayi -- Bombay 11 May, 1974:
I have invested about 20 lacs in this property and already the routine devotional service, deity worship and sankirtana is going on, but at present the police commissioner has denied us sanction to build our big temple according to our plans, and also the status quo is threatened as I do not think the boys can manage the buildings and land which we own here. Potentially things can be very wonderful here but it requires strong management which I think you can do. So consider my proposal seriously and I hope you will be able to come and lead management of Hare Krsna Land.
Letter to Acyutananda -- Geneva 31 May, 1974:
It appears there is good chance we may get permission for our men to enter Jagannatha Puri temple if we can present the right documents. My idea is that you present the enclosed statement proving our men are bona fide Hindus to Swami Cinmayananda who you say is sympathetic to us on this point. Have him copy this statement on his own letterhead and sign it. In addition, take a similar signed certificate from Mr. Sujya Narayana Rajooa who is the Endowment minister of Andra Pradesh and who came to receive us at Tirumala. I think with signed statements from these two this will be enough and that we do not have to get the government sanction. So if you can take these statements from these two men it will be an important achievement for our society. Try for it in earnest and Krsna will help you.
Letter to Tripurari -- Vrindaban 8 August, 1974:
Your program of adding six more men to your party is approved by me. Yes, the advanced men can distribute the big books, and the new men the smaller ones. Your entire program is approved by me. By the grace of Krsna, you can teach others at the temples to distribute the books and perform Deity worship, and distributing prasadam. You do this work with my full sanction. Yes, I have seen the bus of Visnujana and Tamala Krsna Maharajas, and it is very nice.
Letter to Hamsaduta -- Vrindaban 7 September, 1974:
Now you publish in German language all our books and distribute. Krsna will help you in every respect. The BBT collection should be spent 50% for publishing and 50% for construction of temples. At the present moment the Mayapur-Vrindaban projects are going on, so as soon as there is an excess of money it should be utilized here. Not a single farthing should be invested in any business enterprise. Formally it was so done without any sanction. So be careful. Regarding printing, you can print in U.S.A. or any other country. U.K. also has big presses, I have heard that Belgium is also good. Also Holland, and Germany is also good.
Letter to Jadurani -- Mayapur 9 October, 1974:
5. Regarding asking me questions, yes you can ask, but unless it is sanctioned by me, you cannot act on it.
I hope this meets you well.
Letter to Giriraja -- Mayapur 17 October, 1974:
Please accept my blessings. I have received the report of Bombay from Gargamuni Swami that things are being mismanaged. Why you are building this road without my sanction? This road will spoil the whole scheme. Why are you letting the dictation of the municipality spoil the whole thing? This road must be stopped at any cost. Fight in the court if required.
Letter to Giriraja -- Mayapur 19 October, 1974:
Regarding the road, if by sacrificing the wide road we have gotten the sanction of constructing according to the layout plan, then there is no harm.
Regarding construction, begin something. Begin little, little, so it can be understood that we have begun. At least one foot high walls should be built up on all buildings. That should be done.
Letter to Bhagavan Prabhu -- Mayapur 18 October, 1974:
Please accept my humble obeisances. I am in due receipt of your letter dated September 30, 1974 and have noted the contents. I have not received any telegram from you, but I understand that you will be coming in about a weeks time. Srila Prabhupad confirmed upon my suggestion that you go straight to Bombay first. In this connection Srila Prabhupad said the following: "So far I have studied there is a clique of some enemies to acquire the land and spoil the whole scheme. So we have to save ourselves. Even if there is no sanction to build further buildings, we should maintain what we have got. We should not let anyone infringe on our rights. The book distribution program must be thoroughly organized."
Letter to Gargamuni -- Bombay 31 October, 1974:
Please accept my blessings. Regarding the registration of ISKCON Calcutta center as a separate entity, it should be clearly understood by you that the registration cannot be applied for unless my express sanction is there. No papers should be filed without my permission. Any papers you may draw up must be submitted to me first before filing.
Letter to Subala -- Bombay 25 November, 1974:
Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated November 13, 1974 and have noted the contents. Regarding your registration, it should be clearly stated that no property can be sold or mortgaged without my express sanction. I am glad to note that you have got three brahmacaris there. Train them up nicely.
Letter to Vipini -- Bombay 19 December, 1974:
I want that my books be distributed in huge quantities, and thus we will be able to thoroughly convince the majority of the population especially there in America. But finances are also needed. Therefore for further direction you please contact the GBC men and they will give you consultation. The more one preaches the more he becomes expert and the more he is able to convince others.
Concerning your marriage ceremony that is to be sanctioned by the temple president or GBC.
1975 Correspondence
Letter to Bhagavan -- Tokyo 27 January, 1975:
Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your telegram reading as follows (dated Jan. 25th, 1975): NEED SANCTION LETTER FROM PRABHUPADA FOR MANAGING OTHER EUROPEAN TEMPLES FORWARD TO PARIS GERMANY—BHAGAVANDAS. So far our movement is concerned, actually it is not a so-called religion movement. People throughout the whole world are more or less disgusted with the man-made religious systems. Therefore the government of different states is gradually banning the preaching of religion.
Letter to Giriraja -- Honolulu 4 February, 1975:
Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of the two copies of the Governors' letters but nothing from you. I do not know how far you have advanced in the matter of constructing of the building as sanctioned by the municipality. I hope everything is going on nicely there and please send weekly reports as I am anxious to know.
As advised by Sri M. Channa Reddy, have you seen the Chief Minister or not? If you've seen him, let me know the result. But I think the Governor is personally examining our case. So, what is the use of seeing the Chief Minister.
Letter to All Temple Presidents -- Honolulu 6 February, 1975:
Please accept my blessings. Recently in Germany the government, police and church have started heavy persecution against our movement by arrests, investigation, and blocking our monies in the bank. By unfair and slanderous newspaper and television propaganda, they have ruined our reputation and turned the general public against our movement. We cannot sit down and be idle. Even killing of our devotees has been attempted in Berlin by shooting. Hamsaduta prabhu has formulated a plan for protesting at all German Embassies all over the world. This plan has my sanction. He will be contacting you in this connection. Please co-operate with him fully.
Letter to Mantrini -- Mayapur 8 April, 1975:
Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated March 26th, 1975 and have noted the contents. In order to start the proposed project in your letter you must have full sanction of the GBC. Then I will approve of it, if they approve it. Do not try to start any project independent of the GBC. I want that everyone will co-operate nicely with the GBC. Please follow all of the rules and regulations very carefully and chant at least 16 rounds daily.
Letter to Prof. O.P. Goel -- Perth, Australia 10 May, 1975:
By the by, I be to request you to see His Excellency, Sri Aliyavar Jung, the governor of Maharashtra in connection with our temple construction, the sanction for which is pending in his hand. The Governor of U.P., Dr. Channa Reddy, approached him on my behalf on December 18th, 1974, the copy of the letter is enclosed herein.
Letter to Mahamsa -- Perth, Australia 10 May, 1975:
Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your telegram which read as follows: MISSED YOUR GRACE BY HOURS AGREEMENT DRAFT FOR FARM LAND SENT TO YOU PLEASE SANCTION RS 30,000 URGENT TRANSFER TO PREPARE FOR UTILIZING THIS MONSOON -MAHAMSA SWAMI. But, I have not received the draft copy as informed by you. Regarding the money, rs. 30,000, of course, if need be, it must be paid, but one thing is that you must be very careful that our temple portion must be completed by Janmastami so that the Deity can be moved there.
Letter to Hamsaduta -- Perth, Australia 11 May, 1975:
Please accept my blessings. I have received one telegram from Mahamsa Swami which reads as follows: MISSED YOUR GRACE BY HOURS AGREEMENT DRAFT FOR FARM LAND SENT TO YOU PLEASE SANCTION RS 30,000 URGENT TRANSFER TO PREPARE FOR UTILIZING THIS MONSOON—MAHAMSA SWAMI. So, they have agreed to our terms and made a draft agreement form which I have not yet seen. Anyway, as stipulated before, that you will come back to India after setting things up there in London and Frankfurt, the monsoon begins by the latest, July in that part of India, so you have to come back sometime in the month of June.
Letter to Tapana Misra -- Honolulu 26 May, 1975:
Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated May 6, 1975 and have noted the contents. Thank you for your kind donation of $50. Regarding your business, if Jayatirtha and the others give their sanction, then I have no objection. The most important thing is that you must follow all of the rules and regulations very strictly. Then everything will be very nice.
Letter to Ramesvara -- Evanston, Illinois 4 July, 1975:
Please accept my blessings. I may inform you that in Bombay they have received the sanction for constructing the temple in Juhu. Until further order whatever money you collect should be sent to Bombay. You should print books as far as possible, and whatever money you collect should be sent to Bombay.
Gurukrpa has informed by telephone that he is sending you almost $75,000.00. This should be sent to Bombay.
Letter to Giriraja -- Philadelphia 14 July, 1975:
You now have to make a program for building on all the vacant land. Every inch of available land will be built up. In the back side of my apartment the single story tenants should be induced to occupy temporarily the rooftop flats, and we shall construct a three or four story building where their houses are on their plot and shall then give them the same area to live in the new building. Now make this plan. Every drop of land must be filled with buildings. We cannot spare any land for any other purpose. Take sanction and make plans for these buildings. If the tenants become devotees and follow our principles, arising early like the others, then we can forgo their rent, but no nonsense concessions of sitting room. This is all rubbish things. So make plans for all vacant lands for buildings. We actually do not want anyone to live there who is not a devotee. Note this policy and do the needful.
Letter to Cyavana -- Vrindaban 4 September, 1975:
emples pay the BBT 50% and when you require money for construction, then we shall see.
I understand you want to print Swahili literature with Dai Nippon and it will cost U.S. 8,000. So Dai Nippon gives BBT-L.A. credit, so let them order, and you pay L.A., even if you can transfer funds yearly. It doesn't matter. This publishing work is very important. I approve for you to get books from BBT-L.A. at reduced prices, at the cost price, the same as India is getting. You can inform Ramesvara that I give my sanction.
Regarding my coming there, I want to come, especially your Mauritius program is attractive, but my present state of heath will not allow me to travel outside of India. I am not having any appetite so I am eating less. By eating less where is the energy for travelling?
Letter to Nitai -- Johannesburg 20 October, 1975:
Please accept my blessings. Herewith please find the copy of one letter received from Karunasindhu in the matter of asking my permission to allow Purusottama das Brahmacari to scrutinize final printing. The letter has come from Karunasindhu suggested by Kirtiraja. Did you suggest this proposal to Kirtiraja? If not, then please enquire who suggested this proposal to Kirtiraja. I do not like that anyone should scrutinize our publications without my sanction. Kindly enquire into the matter and let me know the report to Bombay address. Also, send me a general report of Vrindaban affairs.
Letter to Ramesvara -- Bombay 7 November, 1975:
Please accept my blessings. I have received your report on the telephone to Harikesa. This is very funny thinking in our society that you want to spend for this boat, and that Tulsi das wants to take sannyasa because he is feeling sex agitation. First of all there is no sanction to purchase this boat from the BBT. We are not interested.
Letter to Punjab National Bank -- Ahmedabad 27 December, 1975:
ar Sir,
With reference to our conversation regarding opening a branch in our temple. The amount of 5 laks of Rs. to be deposited is already secured. As soon as you open the branch your Bombay head office will immediately transfer the money. The other bank was very much eager to open a branch in our temple, but because our negotiations with you were already completed we did not accept. I hope by this time you have your sanction from the head office and do the needful as soon as possible.
1976 Correspondence
Letter to Manager of Punjab National Bank -- Mayapur 23 February, 1976:
REG.: The opening of your bank's office at the Krishna-Balarama Mandir, Raman Reti, Vrindaban, U.P.
Please accept my greetings. I am in due receipt of your both letters dated 7th and 14th February, 1976. I am very glad to know you have gotten sanction for the branch office at our Krishna-Balarama Temple. I thank you very much for your appreciation. So far as going to Vrindaban, I am engaged here until 17th March. Therefore the earliest that I can reach there by the 18th to 20th March, 1976, if you think you can wait up to that date. But if your order is to open immediately, I have no objection. I have all my blessings upon you all and you can do that. In case you open the branch earlier then let me know the exact date. On or before that time I shall dispatch five (5) laks of rupees as desired by you. But if you think you can wait until my arrival by the 18th to 20th March, then I shall personally deposit the money on that date while opening the ceremony.
Letter to Hamsaduta -- Vrindaban 2 April, 1976:
Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letters dated March 29 and March 30, 1976 and I have noted the contents with care. Concerning your need for some competent Hindi speaking devotees to assist the village program, I am authorizing that Lokanatha Swami can go with the buses. Also, I am aware of the shortage of manpower at Mayapur and I am sanctioning Bhavananda Maharaja to do the needful and also for some men to go from here, but whether they actually are being sent?
Letter to Puranjana -- Melbourne 21 April, 1976:
Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated 8 April, 1976 and I have noted the contents with care. Concerning the alternatives, it sounds like the printing cost of $1.25 is best as this will keep the price down and will also allow the full purport to be there. The general practice in deciding such matters shall be to have the BBT trustees discuss amongst themselves, and then they can submit their plan to me for final sanction.
I have noticed how you are producing so many of our books now in the Spanish and Portuguese language. This is very good. I shall be in Fiji by the 28th April, and shortly thereafter in Hawaii.
Letter to Trivikrama -- Honolulu 16 May, 1976:
He suggested one island called Okinawa where you could go for the time being, and if that is not possible then you should come here to me in Hawaii. In any case, for whatever reasons Gurukrpa Maharaja has requested like this and he is delegated GBC by me, so follow this course of action for the time being so that things can go on peacefully in Japan, as you know it is a very touchy situation with the government, and being GBC, Gurukrpa Swami is given sanction by me to develop the program along guidelines which he can choose.
Letter to Abhirama -- Los Angeles 7 June, 1976:
So try for the sanctioning by all means. Somehow or other, by flattery or whatever, get it sanctioned. It is very important. Convince them it is beautifying the park. And we shall please the corporation, the municipality, in every respect. It is a cultural presentation, not a temple, and it will attract many visitors. Convince them on this point.
Letter to Ramesvara -- New Vrindaban 24 June, 1976:
Please accept my blessings. I am in receipt of one letter from Srivatsa Goswami, 45 Dumrao Bagh Colony, Assi, Varanasi 221 005, India. He has written that Santosa das met him at his residence in Vrindaban and proposed to give Srivatsa Goswami all of my books in exchange for a set of "Goswami literature" edited by Sri Puridasa; all this was done without my sanction. Why has Santosa asked him for this? No one told him to do so. Write to him and ask him who gave him permission to do this!
Letter to Srivatsa Goswami -- New Vrindaban 24 June, 1976:
Please accept my greetings. With reference to your letter of June 5, 1976, I regret to inform you that this transaction has taken place without my sanction. We are not interested in book exchange. If you want our books you should purchase them from our Bombay centre:
Bhaktivedanta Book Trust,
Hare Krishna Land,
Juhu Rd., Juhu,
Bombay 400-054, India
Our Los Angeles office has been notified to return all your volumes to you. I hope that you have not been too much inconvenienced.
Letter to Gopala Krsna -- New Vrindaban 26 June, 1976:
If the Maharastra govt. has given "No Objection Certificate" on the import of our books, then what is the need for the central govt. to approve also? What is the situation? If one government has already sanctioned, then what is the need for another government to sanction?
Concerning the clinic idea in Bombay, that we shall have to consider. When I go there then I shall see to it.
I hope that this meets you in good health.
Letter to Satsvarupa Goswami -- New Vrndavana 30 June, 1976:
We are concerned with service. What is the meaning of the post, that is, president, secretary, etc., etc. I am glad to see that Govardhana is doing nicely. I have confidence that things will go on nicely there, but he should be encouraged to faithfully follow the rules and regulations and chant 16 rounds daily.
Why was Gaura-Nitai and Radha-Krsna Deities put on the Ratha cart in Chicago? Who has sanctioned this? This is not authorized. It does not mean that we shall make Rathayatra a conglomeration. Everything should be done by proper sanction.
Letter to Karandhara -- Vrindaban 26 September, 1976:
Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated 18th inst. and have noted the contents. Regarding the skyscraper scheme, yes, that I have already sanctioned since the idea was given to me by you.
If you make 2500 mrdangas per year, that is very good, then distribute to the whole of American people.
Letter to Brahmananda -- Vrindaban 5 October, 1976:
Regarding land, yes, contact Ambarisa immediately and remind him that he wanted to invest some money. If he does that, that will be very nice, and I will give my sanction if he wants. You can purchase—that place is nice where Damji lives. (Ambarisa can be contacted through the Boston temple.) Mortgage is not to be done as the interest will be too high.
Letter to Jayapataka -- Vrindaban 23 October, 1976:
Regarding the concessional paper, we are already getting government paper. If you want we can get as much as you require. It is already sanctioned. However many tons you require just tell Gopala Krsna and he'll do the needful.
Letter to Giriraja -- Vrindaban 6 November, 1976:
It is good that our friends are coming forward to help in Bombay. Let them present a statement that it is a genuine movement. All Indians are interested in spreading this movement. Krsna is accepted as the Supreme Lord by all Indians. His birthday ceremony, Janmastami, is observed by all Indians. In Bombay there is an embassy branch. Our Bombay friends should go there to express their protest.
Encourage Dr. Jhawer, I know he is very enthusiastic. Mohata can give lots of help. One thing, is the sanction there for our Gurukula construction?
That newspaper article is very nice.
1977 Correspondence
Letter to Gopala Krsna -- Bhuvanesvara 28 January, 1977:
I approve of the arrangement for the writing on the "Bhaktivedanta Swami Gate". Your dealing with the municipality men and hosting them at the temple shows you have done these things very nicely.
I have already sanctioned the expenditures for Gurukula, estimated at Rs. 1,800,000 which will include the Vrindaban gates and drainage.
Letter to Ramesvara -- Bombay 2 April, 1977:
He is returning to America for preparing some publications and when these are completed I have asked him to tour vigorously throughout the world lecturing with his other colleagues at all major institutions and universities. He has drawn up a budget of immediate needs, a copy of which is enclosed and I immediately sanction this amount. Whatever expenditure he requires supply him immediately from the BBT. I am prepared to give $10,000 or more monthly if required to finance this most important preaching program. So whatever money Svarupa Damodara needs must be supplied monthly and he will send you accounts.
| Page Title: | Sanction (Letters) |
| Compiler: | Visnu Murti, Mayapur |
| Created: | 06 of Dec, 2010 |
| Totals by Section: | BG=0, SB=0, CC=0, OB=0, Lec=0, Con=0, Let=160 |
| No. of Quotes: | 160 |