700919 - Letter to Karandhara written from Calcutta

Letters by Date, 1970

ISKCON
International Society for Krishna Consciousness Inc.
Acharya-His Divine Grace 108 Sri Srimad A.C.Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupad
3764 WATSEKA AVENUE - LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA 90034
37/1 Hindustan Road, Calcutta-29
Telephone: 213-836-0966
213-836-9286

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Sept. 19th, 1970

My Dear Karandhar,

Please accept my blessings. I am in receipt of your letter dated Sept. 13, 1970, and I congratulate you on the good news of opening the Portland center so successfully, and I am very pleased that things are going on nicely. I received your telegram, and also receipts for three deposits to the BBT at Dai Nippon; and I received your other letters, but on account of Devananda's disposition, I have not been able to reply them. Today I am taking the help of Kirtanananda. Please go on sending the reports.

On the whole I am very pleased with your management. The Ekadasi program is very nice. Krishna is giving you good sense and intelligence. Take care of your god-brothers and god-sisters very carefully.

Regarding Deity worship, Sheelavati and Yamuna Devi may be considered expert, so if some new hands come and take their help, that is a good proposition. Once established, however, Deities should not be removed. We should treat the Dieties as the Personality of Godhead, and to invite Him to come to your home you must worship regularly. You cannot remove. If there is scarcity of pujaris, then Deities should not be installed, only pictures of Guru and Gauranga should be worshipped. Irregularity in worshipping Guru and Gouranga can be tolerated, as they are always kind and forgiving, but irregularity in worshipping Lord Jagannath and Sri Sri Radha Krishna is not good.

It is very good news that library distribution is going on nicely, and I am very much pleased that Dayananda is helping you. I know he is a very sincere devotee.

Your ever well-wisher,

A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami

ACBS:ks