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EDITORIAL February 11, 2000 VNN5455 Comment on this story The Mayapur Master Plan BY SWAMI B.A. PARAMADVAITI EDITORIAL, Feb 11 (VNN) — (Aparadha Incorporated) The topic of this analysis is very delicate and I want to express that my observations do not criticize or minimize the fact that ISKCON is doing a great service in Mayapur Dham.
As a matter of fact, my spiritual master Srila Prabhupada had in mind to do the most wonderful service to spread the glories of the Pancha-Tattva all over the world and to glorify his gurus and the entire Gaudiya Vaisnava Paramapara. A little history of the development of Sridham Mayapur 1. After Srila Bhaktivinode Thakur discovered the birthplace of Lord Chaitanya and constructed the Temple at Yoga-pith several other constructions developed. 2. The Srivas Angan, Advaita Angan, Gadadhar Bhavan and others were erected. 3. Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati established the Sri Chaitanya Math and The Bhaktivinode Thakur Institute. 4. After the difficulties in the Gaudiya Math due to the disappearance of Srila Prabhupada Bhaktisiddhanta the different Gaudiya Math branches sprang up independent from the original two missions.  5. Many built their branches on the famous road constructed by their Guru. 6. Some other missions started new temples on other islands of Navadvipa Dham. 7. The Gaudiya Mathas at this point are the places of pilgrimage for millions of pilgrims who come to the Dham on weekends or special festivals. 8. The preaching in different places and the donations of the visiting pilgrims help to maintain the missions in Mayapur. 9. Visitors come to the Dham, stop at the birthplace of Lord Chaitanya and also see the different missions of the tree of our Sampradaya on equal footing; each one shining in the light of their different services, architecture or resident Sadhus who serve the pilgrims who often come in search for a spiritual master, etc. ISKCON's master plan for Mayapur wants to change this situation drastically. Not many people are aware of that yet, but looking at their master plan published in the BTG magazine Nov/Dec. 1999 reveals their intentions. Objections Here are a number of objections I want to raise for careful consideration of all those interested to really preserve the wonderful traditions of Mayapur Dham and still allow room for progress and wonderful development. 1. New developments have no right to disturb traditional values. 2. ISKCON is planning to make dramatical changes into the Dham and as I heard, the Bengal Government has already approved of the following aspects: a) To make a new electric Train to Godrumadvip to make the Dham more quick accessible (a separate and important study would have to be conducted what this new train would cause to the original house of Srila Bhaktivinode Thakur). b) To construct a new bridge over the Jalangi to bring pilgrims over the river directly into the ISKCON properties. c) With aggressive purchase projects ISKCON has been buying land all over the last several years and has driven the land prices into the sky, which is already unhappy for the other missions located in the Dham. d) The road of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta is in great neglect and becomes totally unattractive if a new access appears over the Jalangi river. e) If we consider preaching a transcendental competition between different Mathas we may understand why this master plan has no consideration for the well-being of all the other Mathas. f) The condition of liquor-selling and prostitution along the Mayapur Ghat and the road all the way up to the ISKCON is a great offense in the Dham and despite the strong presence of ISKCON and their connections with the Government and the other missions as well no stop was accomplished of these irreligious practices in the holy Dham. It even appears to me and to many who as if this is tolerated with some hidden motivation by some people. g) Even though meetings amongst the different Mathas are conducted, the Master plan and its impacts on the Dham have not been revealed to the Gaudiya Mathas by ISKCON. In addition we know very well of the opinion of ISKCON leaders about the Gaudiya Mathas and consider it a great danger for ISKCON and for Mayapur if the future of the Dham is not well planned to the satisfaction of all those involved. I request all Gaudiya Vaisnavas interested in Mayapur to carefully take note of this observation and to do the needful that sectarian concerns, what to speak of offensive attitudes do not become part of the design of Mayapur. If you look carefully at the ISKCON Master plan you may note that neither the Yoga Pitha nor any other Math even appears there. The bridge over the Jalangi neither appears, as if it is not "planned" yet. Even though ISKCON may argue that this is just their personal Ashram master plan, I strongly object that the dimensions of the plan are so big that you have to take into consideration your neighbors, their needs and interests. What to speak of the impact the bridge would have and a ruined road with immoral activities in the back. Nobody would like to come to Mayapur that way anymore, changing the tradition and hurting the plan that Srila Bhaktivinode Thakur had when he established the Yoga-pitha and the later development. Practical Solutions Here I present a list of practical solutions which may solve this problem for the consideration, discussion and final resolution of the real Mayapur Master plan of our Gaudiya Math Family: 1) The Road of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati should be fixed. 2) The illegal and immoral activities should be stopped completely on the road and Mayapur Ghat. 3) A nice sign system should be developed which indicated to the visitors all the different missions and places of HISTORIC importance. 4) A big road must be made connecting the new bridge with the Mayapur Ghat and the Bhaktisiddhanta Road, so that all missions will now be more easily visited, not only ISKCON. 5) All these changes must be planned in a committee of the World Vaisnava Association with members of all the missions interested and some joint representative shall coordinate with the government when actually plans are going to be approved or actual work is on the way. 6) The Sarasvata Gaudiya Vaisnava Association may participate or coordinate those activities, but the equal power of decision making has to be shared by all interested parties. 7) That would be more intelligent than later fighting more court cases over these issues or increasing the feelings of distance and noncooperation between different Vaisnava Missions which will only lead us to the only too well know Elephant offense of Vaisnava Aparadha. I do not mean to offend anyone with these observations. I also have a little mission on the road of Bhaktisidhanta at the Mayapur Ghat and I am very concerned about the glory of our Sampradaya and Vaisnavism as a World Religion. Petty sectarian fighting in the holy Dham is the last we wish to show to the world. Thank you very much for you time and attention to this case. Your fallen servant, Swami B.A. Paramadvaiti About the Author  Other Stories by this AuthorComment on this story Contact VNN about this storySend this story to a friend
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