Welcome

Public Statement  1st January 2025

Dear Devotees,

Please accept our humble dandabat pranams.

As we enter the New Year of 2025, we are reminded that in 1983 Srila Sridhar Maharaj gave his permission that we could try to establish a centre in London in the name of Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math, London Chapter. This would be his centre to fulfil the service bequest of His Divine Master, Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur, to preach in London – the only centre of Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math outside of Nabadwip recognised by His Divine Grace Srila Sridhar Maharaj in his manifest lifetime. Srila Govinda Maharaj echoed this when he said in regard to the London Mission, “we do not care if it is big or small but only that it is 100% Guru Maharaj.” To preserve this ideal we have concluded that we must do, not what is easy and convenient but what is right and true. With our profound and sincere prayer to Srila Govinda Maharaj and Srila Sridhar Maharaj and all of their sincere followers we have taken the following course of action.

While we humbly and fully recognise and celebrate Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj’s position, leadership and unique contribution to the London Mission and the shared history London has with him, on Sunday 15 December 2024, the altar photo of Srila Acharya Maharaj was removed from both the West and East London temples. We would like to explain our reasons for this hereby:

1. We wish to make it clear and unquestionable that Sri Chaitanya SaraswatMath is the Mission of Srila Bhakti Rakshak Sridhar Dev Goswami Maharaj and his dearmost associate Servitor, Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev Goswami Maharaj. These two Paramahamsa Vaishnavas hold the preeminent positions and ultimate authority of our mission today and for generations to come.

2. After Srila Govinda Maharaj, a plurality of initiating Gurus in the line of SriChaitanya Saraswat Math has been established and we wish to honour them equally. No disciple should feel that their Guru is of a lower status than another. At the East London and West London centres, a picture of all the principle Acharyas of the Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math Acharya Vrinda is worshipped daily and both centres will remain as equally supporting all their followers.

The free flow of faith is encouraged and celebrated at our temples. One’s personal altar may of course include other Siksha or Diksha Gurus.

This decision is based on senior guidance, contemplation, and discussion amongstthe trustees.

We wish to assure everyone that no malice or offence to anyone is intended, and wepray we can all continue to serve as brothers and sisters in the family of Srila Govinda Maharaj in humility, tolerance and properly giving honour to all.

With respectful obeisances,

Devashis Das -UK Mission Secretary

1 We acknowledge that we did not vote amongst all the trustees before our action butwhen a trustee meeting was convened after the picture was removed, we agreed, retrospectively, on our action by majority vote. Lalita Madhava Prabhu, to whom we remain forever indebted for his invaluable contribution towards purchasing and establishing West London Math building, was not in agreement with the propriety of removing Srila Acharya Maharaj’s picture from the altar, nor with the manner inwhich the decision was taken, and resigned from the Trust Board.

London Chapter