Supreme Court Upholds Srila Prabhupada’s Ritvik Order in ISKCON Bangalore Case

Rani Singh
May 23
3 min read

The Supreme Court’s decision in the ISKCON Bangalore Case supports Srila Prabhupada’s Ritvik system and confirms that ISKCON Bangalore owns the temple.

In an important ruling, the Supreme Court of India sided with ISKCON Bangalore, ending a 25-year legal dispute between ISKCON Bangalore and ISKCON Mumbai. The case was about who owns the famous Hare Krishna Hill temple and who should lead ISKCON. The Court decided that the temple and the land belong to ISKCON Bangalore, which is an independent society registered in Karnataka, not to ISKCON Mumbai.

What Is the ISKCON Bangalore Case?

The ISKCON Bangalore Case began after the founder of ISKCON, Srila Prabhupada, passed away in 1977. Before his passing (Maha Samadhi), Srila Prabhupada set up a spiritual system called the "ritvik system" for future initiations. This system let new devotees be initiated by special priests called ritviks, who acted on behalf of Srila Prabhupada.

This made Srila Prabhupada the eternal spiritual master (Acharya) for all ISKCON followers. But after he passed away, some senior leaders from ISKCON Mumbai said they were his successors and began initiating disciples themselves, ignoring the ritvik system.

ISKCON Bangalore, led by Sri Madhu Pandit Dasa, disagreed with this and insisted on following Srila Prabhupada’s original ritvik method.

Understanding the Ritvik System

The ritvik order is a spiritual initiation system that Srila Prabhupada created and directed before he passed away. In this system, initiations are done by ritvik priests who act as representatives of Srila Prabhupada. All new initiates become direct disciples of Srila Prabhupada, who remains the only Acharya (spiritual leader) of ISKCON. This system was designed to keep ISKCON pure and to stop self-appointed gurus from taking over.

The ISKCON Bangalore case revolves around the disagreement about following this ritvik order and preserving Srila Prabhupada’s original teachings.

How the Dispute Started

In 2000, ISKCON Mumbai tried to take control of the Bangalore temple, even though the land was given to ISKCON Bangalore by the Bangalore Development Authority in 1988. The temple was built using donations collected locally by ISKCON Bangalore.

The dispute turned into a legal battle when ISKCON Mumbai said that ISKCON Bangalore was only a branch and not an independent group. They claimed that all the assets and properties of ISKCON Bangalore belonged to ISKCON Mumbai.

Supreme Court's Final Verdict

After years of court hearings, the Supreme Court restored the ruling of the trial court in favor of ISKCON Bangalore. Key points of the verdict include:

ISKCON Bangalore is the legal owner of the Hare Krishna Hill temple.
ISKCON Mumbai cannot interfere in ISKCON Bangalore’s affairs.
The temple land was legally allotted to ISKCON Bangalore.
The ritvik system as followed by ISKCON Bangalore is legitimate under their spiritual and legal framework.

Statement from ISKCON Bangalore

Sri Madhu Pandit Dasa, President of ISKCON Bangalore and founder of Akshaya Patra Foundation, stated:

"This victory is not just legal but spiritual. It confirms Srila Prabhupada’s position as the eternal Acharya of ISKCON and protects thousands of devotees who follow his original teachings."

He also emphasized that ISKCON Bangalore and its supporters made the donations and efforts to build the temple.

Growth of ISKCON Bangalore

Despite the legal challenges, ISKCON Bangalore has flourished:

It has built 25 temples in India and 8 abroad.
It has over 1,000 full-time monks and 10,000 practicing devotees.
It launched the Akshaya Patra Foundation, feeding over 2.3 million children daily.

Conclusion

The Supreme Court's decision in the ISKCON Bangalore Case is a major milestone in India’s spiritual and legal history. It upholds the integrity of Srila Prabhupada’s teachings and recognizes ISKCON Bangalore's independent identity and efforts. This verdict ensures that the ritvik system will continue to guide ISKCON Bangalore, preserving the founder’s vision for future generations.