Dr Dilip Kumar

What System Did Śrīla Prabhupāda Want for Initiation?

We will examine the only three official documents Prabhupāda left in mid–1977:

1. May 28 Conversation (GBC asks about initiations “when you are no longer with us”)

2. June 4 Will (legal instruction, signed & witnessed)

3. July 9 Letter (signed directive to GBC/Temple Presidents)

Let’s see what these three documents collectively establish.

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1. May 28 Conversation — The Question Is About AFTER Prabhupāda’s Departure

The GBC asked:

“When you are no longer with us, how will initiations be conducted?”

This is the exact question.

Prabhupāda answers:

“I shall recommend some of you to act as officiating ācāryas.”

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: “Is that called ritvik-ācārya?”

Prabhupāda: “Ritvik, yes.”

So:

For after his departure, he designates ritvik-officiating ācāryas.

Next he says:

“In MY PRESENCE one should not become guru.”

This means:

• Ritvik system is necessary in his presence because they cannot become guru while he lives.

• Guru system comes ONLY after he gives the order.

Then he adds the condition:

“When I order, ‘You become guru,’ he becomes regular guru.”

This is the key point:

➡ Order is required

➡ No order = no guru

And there is no recorded instance of Prabhupāda ordering anyone to become guru.

Therefore, the system remaining after his departure is the one he actually established:

👉 Ritvik-officiating system

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2. June 4 Will — Legal Document Prepared by Lawyer, Signed & Witnessed

Important line:

“Successor directors must be MY initiated disciples.”

Ask a simple logical question:

Prabhupāda knew he would depart soon.

If initiations stopped after his departure, then:

• After all original disciples die,

• No new “Prabhupāda disciples” would exist,

• Then ISKCON property could never have new directors.

This is impossible — it would destroy ISKCON legally.

Therefore:

➡ Prabhupāda expected new Prabhupāda disciples to continue

➡ Only possible if ritvik initiations continue

Because only the July 9 system says:

“Newly initiated devotees are disciples of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda.”

Thus, the Will indirectly confirms the need for continuous Prabhupāda-initiated disciples.

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3. July 9 Letter — Prabhupāda’s Final Initiation Directive

This is the only signed, approved, circulated, institutional order on initiation.

It states:

• “Ritvik — representative of ācārya”

• “Temple Presidents should henceforward send recommendations to these ritviks”

• “The newly initiated devotees are disciples of Srila Prabhupada”

• “Name should be entered in Prabhupāda’s disciples’ book”

Key word:

HENCEFORWARD

Meaning:

From now on → and continuing → no ending mentioned

No:

• “Until I pass away”

• “Temporary”

• “For now only”

If a worldwide institution is given a major process change, and no ending is written, the instruction stands until replaced by another written order.

➡ No later written order exists.

Therefore:

👉 Prabhupāda’s last written order = ritvik initiation system

👉 This is the only documented initiation system he formally set up

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LOGICAL CONCLUSION

(Using only facts, not emotion)

Fact 1:

Prabhupāda said: “One must be ordered by his guru to become guru.”

Fact 2:

There is no such order recorded for anyone.

Fact 3:

The only system he ordered in writing is ritvik.

Fact 4:

His Will requires “my initiated disciples” to exist after his physical departure.

Fact 5:

The July 9 letter allows unlimited new Prabhupāda disciples.

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Therefore, Reasoning Leads to Only One System:

✅The Ritvik (officiating) system continues after Prabhupāda’s departure

until he or Kṛṣṇa directly authorizes a new ācārya.**

This is not sentiment — it is the only system supported by:

• The conversation

• The Will

• The letter

• His teachings on guru-authorization

And NO OTHER system is ordered anywhere.



Jay Srila Prabhupada.

Jai prabhupada

The Knowlege that every ISKCON devotee should know about Ritviksm.

What is Ritwik acharya.

Prabhupada meeting with GBC on 28th May 1977. (Questions regarding initiation after Him)

His Last will dated 6th June 1977.

Prabhupada letter to all GBC on 9th July 1977.

See them coming one after another and what connections are in them.

https://youtu.be/k7Z2xcQqL4g