760607 - Letter to Gopal Krishna and Aksayananda from Pusta Krsna

June 7, 1976

From: Pusta Krishna

Vrndavana

Dear Gopal Krishna dasa and Aksayananda Maharaj,

Please accept my humble obeisances at your feet. Srila Prabhupada has repeatedly expressed his concern over the present situation at the Vrndavana Guesthouse. It has become a “pandemonium” to quote Srila Prabhupada. Due to the numbers of women and children presently staying in the Guesthouse, especially children, guests are shying away from our facilities, or in some cases are being refused accommodations because the building is completely filled up by the unnecessary women and children. These reports have come from several reliable sources, and His Divine Grace has requested the G.B.C. to rectify the situation. Srila Prabhupada has originally suggested that all the women and children be moved to the newly acquired Taparia house, and then after the completion of the Gurukula, the children and some of the householders could stay in the new Gurukula building. In reply to this, Gopal Krishna das replied that “it is not at all possible” to move the women and children to the Taparia house because of insufficient arrangement at the Taparia house, but rather that the mukut workers were being moved to the Taparia house. Even if the mukut workers are moved to the Taparia house, still the situation in the guesthouse will not be inviting to prospective visitors because of the children’s commotion there. Therefore, it has been decided that until the Gurukula is completed, the best course of action is to send all the children to Mayapur where there are adequate facilities, and also there is Gurukula going on nicely. After the completion of the Vrndavana Gurukula building, the situation can be re-adjusted.

Furthermore, it is much too costly to maintain a program at Vrndavana at Rs. 20,000 per month, as is presently the budget. At least some substantial portion of this must be attributed to the fact that there are so many unnecessary devotees living in the Guesthouse. The numbers of devotees in Vrndavana should therefore be trimmed so that the unnecessary devotees do not make the temple maintenance too extravagant. As you know, Vrndavana is like a showplace for all religiously minded people in India. People come from throughout India to stay in the holy Dhama and benefit by the inspiring atmosphere there. However, if we do not present our Guesthouse in an inviting manner, people will not be inclined to stay there and the whole purpose will be defeated. We trust that you will rectify the situation according to these guidelines as soon as possible for the glory of our beloved Spiritual Master, Srila Prabhupada.

I hope that this meets you in good health.

Your servants,

Pusta Krishna Swami

G.B.C. Personal Secretary

Approved:

Jagadhisa dasa

Hridayananda Das Goswami

Ramesvara Swami

Tamal Krishna Goswami

cc: Mayapur