Sri Madhu Pandit Dasa, President of ISKCON Bangalore, Founder and Chairman of The Akshaya Patra Foundation, and Chairman and Mentor of the Global Hare Krishna Movement, stated:

“This internal ISKCON battle was against self-proclaimed gurus who claimed to be successors to Srila Prabhupada, the Founder-Acharya of ISKCON, without his authorization before his Maha Samadhi. Instead, he established a ritvik system whereby all devotees in ISKCON, at all times, would be direct disciples of Srila Prabhupada, the Founder-Acharya. However, the conflict escalated into a property battle when ISKCON Mumbai, managed by these self-proclaimed gurus, attempted in 2000 to expel ISKCON Bangalore devotees from ISKCON for refusing to accept their guruship. ISKCON Mumbai claimed control over ISKCON Bangalore society’s properties.

Today, the 25-year court battle has concluded with the Supreme Court’s verdict affirming that the BDA allotted the temple land to ISKCON Bangalore society in 1988—an independent ISKCON society registered in Bangalore—and that the property and funds to build the temple were raised in Bangalore. ISKCON Mumbai has been injuncted from interfering with ISKCON Bangalore’s management. They can no longer expel the thousands of devotees who accept only Srila Prabhupada as the sole Acharya of ISKCON.”

In 1977, just before Srila Prabhupada, the Founder-Acharya of ISKCON, attained Maha Samadhi, he established a system of initiation (diksha) through his representatives, called ritviks. Under this system, all future devotees would become direct disciples of Srila Prabhupada, ensuring he remained the Acharya of ISKCON.

However, shortly after his Maha Samadhi, some of his ambitious disciples in leadership positions (mostly Westerners) disregarded Srila Prabhupada’s written directives. They declared themselves successor Acharyas, began initiating disciples, and adopted lavish lifestyles—contrary to the simple life Srila Prabhupada had exemplified. These self-proclaimed Acharyas accepted ornamental seats, honorific titles, and composed songs glorifying themselves, actions that deviated from ISKCON’s foundational principles.

When ISKCON devotees worldwide opposed this self-appointed Acharya system, they faced harassment, physical abuse, expulsion from ISKCON temples, and, in one extreme case, murder (Sulochana Das, 1984). In 1999, ISKCON Bangalore devotees, led by Sri Madhu Pandit Dasa, also resisted this system, facing similar opposition from ISKCON’s international leadership through ISKCON Mumbai society. ISKCON Mumbai attempted to forcibly take over the Hare Krishna Hill temple in Bangalore, despite the land being allotted to ISKCON Bangalore society by the BDA in 1988. This led to a 25-year legal battle to uphold Srila Prabhupada’s directives within ISKCON.

The Supreme Court’s verdict on May 16, 2025, settles the matter in favor of ISKCON Bangalore, affirming its ownership of the temple and its independence. With this ruling, thousands of devotees worldwide can now practice their faith—accepting Srila Prabhupada as the sole Acharya of ISKCON—without fear of persecution.