| Deccan Herald discount hotels in GranadaNEW DELHI, Nov 1 (UNI) Deccan Herald Monday, November 2, 1998 The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (Iskcon) is faced with arevolt by its devotees over a series of "sex scandals" involvingits high-flying gurus. Leading the revolt is long-time devotee Vineet Narain who has set up theIskcon Reform Group (IRG) which has branches in Australia, France,Germany, UK and Canada. "This revolt is taking place not only in India but also around the world,"Mr Narain said today pointing to the recent rejection of Guru Loknath Swamiby his former disciples on learning that he had molested a teenaged girl in the US. Devotees from China rejected Tamal Krishna Goswami for the "lie he spokeabout his spiritual position," and for failing to provide the philosophicalbasis for his assumption of the title of guru. Earlier several self-proclaimed gurus fell from grace following seriouscharges of child abuse and homosexuality levelled at them and these includedBhavanand Swamy Nad Swami Kriti Anand who is currently serving a term in a US prison. Anand Swami, an Italian member of Iskcon recently ran away with the daughterof an Indian diplomat presently living in Noida while Hansduta Swami married his own disciple. ERROR MSGEven more reprehensible is the case of Iskcon Chairman Harikeshaswami whoran away with a sex-worker leaving thousands of his disciples in a state of emotional shock. Fruhstuck Stavanger Pension"Such acts have completely shaken the faith of disciples in their gurus andthe IRG is now demanding an entire review of the guru system," Mr Narain said. Iskcon which has assets worth billions of dollars in over 500 centres aroundthe world is manned by senior and highly qualified disciples who left theirprofessions to become full-time devotees and follow the path of"spirituality." Many of these devotees are upset and angry but have become so dependent onIskcon for their survival that they are afraid to speak up, a member of the IRG said. Sigulda hotelsIn the past, Iskcon was accused of being involved with the US CentralInvestigative Agency (CIA) and treated with suspicion in India but in recenttimes they have enjoyed a better profile in this country especially afterthe opening of multi-million dollar centre here earlier this year by Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee. According to Mr Adridharan Das, president of the Iskcon in Calcutta, the"bogus gurus" were operating even though its late founder, Prabhupada was against any guru system.Prabhupada said Mr Das had merely initiated some of his disciples tofunction as priests and not as gurus who in Hinduism have spiritual powerover the life and death of their followers. Mr Narain said a gang of touts now hang around Iskcon temples offering totake newcomers to self- styled gurus. © Copyright, 1998 The Printers (Mysore) Ltd. |