[Srila Prabhupada’s words are in normal Font, My Comments are in Italic Fond & in Brackets.]
I, the undersigned, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami, disciple of Om Visnupad Paramahansa 108 Sri Srimad Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura Gosvami Maharaja Prabhupada, came in the United States in 1965 on September 18th for the purpose of starting Krishna Consciousness Movement. For one year I had no shelter. I was travelling in many parts of this country. Then in 1966, July, I incorporated the Society under the name and style the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, briefly ISKCON. The lawyer was Mr. J. Goldsmith. Gradually the Society increased, and one after another, branches were opened. Now we have thirty-four (34) branches: … (list left out not relevant; just a directory). … As we have increased our volume of activities, now I think a Governing Body Commission (hereinafter referred to as the GBC), should be established.
I am getting old, 75 years old, therefore at any time I may be out of the scene, therefore I think it is necessary to give instruction to my disciples how they shall manage the whole institution.
They are already managing individual centers represented by one president, one secretary and one treasurer, and in my opinion, they are doing nice. But we want still more improvement in the standard of Temple management, propaganda for Krishna Consciousness, distribution of books and literatures, opening of new centers and educating devotees to the right standard. Therefore, I have decided to adopt the following principles and I hope my beloved disciples will kindly accept them.
[Comment: In this paragraph Srila Prabhupada clearly specifies the reasons to write this DOM. He even “hopes” that his “beloved disciples” will “kindly accept them. In this regard, there is a heading “Was this DOM Neglected or Ignored by The GBC When Srila Prabhupada Was Still Present”, that will be discussed later. Nevertheless, the reasons that he wrote this DOM are:
- He wanted more improvement in the standard of Temple management.
- He wanted more improvement in the propaganda for Krishna Consciousness.
- He wanted more improvement in the distribution of books and literatures.
- He wanted more improvement in the opening of new centers.
- He wanted more improvement in the educating devotees to the right standard.
End of Comment].
There was a meeting in San Francisco during the Ratha Yatra festival 1970 and many presidents of the centers were present. In that meeting it was resolved that an ad hoc committee be set up to form the constitution which is taken into consideration.
[Comment: ISKCON has never, ever developed a constitution.]
My duty was to first appoint twelve (12) persons to my free choice amongst my disciples and I do it now and their names are as follows:
- Sriman Rupanuga Das Adhikary.
- Sriman Bhagavandas Adhikary.
- Sriman Syamsundar Das Adhikary.
- Sriman Satsvarupa Das Adhikary.
- Sriman Karandhar Das Adhikary.
- Sriman Hamsadutta Das Adhikary.
- Sriman Tamala Krishna Das Adhikary.
- Sriman Sudama Das Adhikary.
- Sriman Bali Mardan Das Brahmacary.
- Sriman Jagadisa Das Adhikary.
- Sriman Hayagriva Das Adhikary.
- Sriman Krishna Das Adhikary.
[Comment: Interesting is the fact that these 12 disciples were all householders at that time! However, some of them became sannaysis or left ISKCON, before Srila Prabhupada’s departure. And more interesting is that they all have fallen back to Sudra life, and some worse than Sudra; just as Srila Prabhupada said they would in in his Purport to Srimad-bhagavatam 1.13.15.
… Although Yamaraja is a GBC, but he made a little mistake. He was punished to become a sudra. So those who are GBC’s, they should be very, very careful to administer the business of ISKCON. Otherwise, they will be punished. As the post is very great, similarly, the punishment is also very great. … End of Comment]
These personalities are now considered as my direct representatives. While I am living, they will act as my zonal secretaries and after my demise they will be known as Executors