07/15/98

Reports from India indicate that in a recent meeting in Bangalore ISKCON temple presidents have announced that they will introduce the controversial ritvik system as outlined in the Final Order by Krishnakant. Some 22 of 26 ISKCON temple presidents of India are said to have passed this resolution to adopt the ritvik system of initiations in ISKCON. They are also said to have put the GBC on notice to discuss the Final Order. Many GBC members are reported to be scrambling to India to deal with the situation there.

In recent years the ritvik system has developed to be the main focus of debate and controversy in ISKCON. ISKCON management had gone as far as passing so-called "laws" banning devotees from discussing ritvik philosophy and declared its discussion and promotion grounds for expulsion from ISKCON temples.

Some ritvik proponents are celebrating a major victory and say that the ritvik system of initiations will now eventually spread from India to the rest of the ISKCON's temples worldwide, just like the Vedas have spread from India throughout the world.

With more and more senior Prabhupada disciples becoming proponents of the ritvik system and the Final Order available online on the Internet, translated into many languages - even in Russian, the spread of this concept will likely be unstoppable.