Narasimha das | The Hare Krishna Movement

Ritvik Defined — By Narasimha Das
November 13, 1998 VNN2498

Srila Prabhupada never created any special status for “officiating acaryas.” Their function as ritivks is to assure that Srila Prabhupada requirements are met before a student is formally accepted for initiation in ISKCON. Like all senior initiated disciples, they are meant to be teachers by their practical example. They have accepted an added responsibility, an added burden on behalf of Srila Prabhupada. Their burden is to assure that Srila Prabhupada’s standards for initiation are preserved in ISKCON. (Srila Prabhupada’s July 9th directive sent to every leader in ISKCON mentions three times that all devotees are Srila Prabhupada’s disciples and that the deputed ritviks offer initiation on behalf of Srila Prabhupada. This same instruction was repeated by Srila Prabhupada several times additionally after July 9th in letters, documents, and instructions.) Ritviks are the priests authorized by the spiritual master or his institution to accept students on behalf of ISKCON and Srila Prabhupada. Srila Prabhupada made this perfectly clear. This understanding of the procedure Prabhupada prescribed is consistent with references to ritviks mentioned in Srila Prabhupada’s books.

EDITORIAL, Nov 13 (VNN) — Currently the term “ritvik” is used to refer to 1.) devotees of a particular camp, 2.) the ideas and convictions of “ritvik” devotees, and 3.) the “officiating acarya” who initiates on behalf of the spiritual master. I will try to offer guidelines for understanding the word “ritvik” according to Srila Prabhupada and the current usage among devotees.

“Hear, Sing and Accept Prabhupada’s Approved Editions”

BY: NARASIMHA DAS
Dec 28, 2010 — USA (SUN)

Srila Sukadeva Gosvami has answered our questions and concerns regarding the status of those who support the idea of changing Srila Prabhupada’s books. Srila Sukadeva Gosvami specifically predicted Srila Prabhupada’s original books from India — books “meant to bring about a revolution in the impious life of a misdirected civilization.”

As predicted, these editions exhibited some “irregularities” in composition due to Srila Prabhupada’s letting a sincere yet unqualified editor finish his proofs in New Delhi. This was His causeless mercy on one sincere soul and the fulfillment of Sukadeva Gosvami’s prediction. Srila Sukadeva Gosvami predicted that these books would be “heard, sung, and accepted by purified men who are thoroughly honest.” (Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.5.11). In fact, these editions were all we had in the early days when the genuine Krishna consciousness movement was spreading like wild fire all over the world. Sincere devotees relish these unique editions even today, never complaining about apparent “irregularities”.