Wikipedia

Hansadutta Swami

Hansadutta Das (IAST: Haṁsadūta dāsa), formerly Hansadutta Swami (Haṁsadūta Svāmī), born 27 May 1941 in Braunschweig, Germany, died 25 April 2020 in California, was a Gaudiya Vaishnava spiritual leader. An early member of, and later guru in, the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), he was one of the senior disciples of ISKCON founder A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.

His Grace
Hansadutta Das
Hansadutta in 1996
Personal
Born
Hans Jürgen Kary

27 May 1941
Brunswick, Germany
Died25 April 2020
California
ReligionHinduism
NationalityAmerican
LineageBrahma-Madhva-Gauḍīya Sampradāya
SectGauḍīya Vaiṣṇavavāda
Monastic nameHamsaduta Svāmī
Organization
PhilosophyAchintya Bheda Abheda
Religious career
TeacherBhaktivedānta Swāmī
Period in office1977–83
PredecessorBhaktivedānta Swāmī
InitiationGauḍīya Vaiṣṇava Dikṣa
US
by Bhaktivedānta Swāmī
OrdinationGauḍīya Sannyāsa, by Bhaktivedānta Swāmī
PostISKCON Sannyasin, ISKCON Guru-Ācārya, ISKCON Governing Body Commissioner

He was born Hans Jürgen Kary and also known by the alias Jack London.[1]

Early disciple of A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami

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Hansadutta became an initiated disciple of A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami aka Srila Prabhupada in March 1967.[2]

He assisted with the pioneering of the Hare Krishna movement, opening centers and preaching in Canada: Montreal and Vancouver; Europe: Germany, Switzerland, Sweden, Denmark, Russia; in US: Boston, Berkeley; and in Asia: Turkey, Cairo, Afghanistan, Nepal, India, Sri Lanka, Philippines, Singapore and Malaysia.

He was one of the leaders in publication (printing and distribution) of A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami's books, particularly in European languages, heading up the sales of books in Germany and North Europe,[3] and in 1974 was appointed by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami to serve as lifetime trustee of the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust.[4] He was also appointed as a member of ISKCON's Governing Body Commission,[5] and took turns serving as A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami's personal secretary. In 1976 Hansadutta took up the order of sannyasa.[6]

While preaching in Sri Lanka in the year 1977, Hansadutta created a public sensation with his answer to a challenge by Dr. Abraham T. Kovoor, president of the Sri Lanka branch of the Rationalist Association, which exchange was published in the Colombo (Sri Lanka) Sunday Times.[7] A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami approved Hansadutta's proposal to print the exchange[8] and instructed that it should be included in his own publication titled "Life Comes from Life".

ISKCON Guru

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In July 1977, Hansadutta was one of eleven disciples named by Bhaktivedanta Swami to act as "ritviks", or "initiating acaryas".[9] in the matter of initiating new disciples.[10] Four months after His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada left the planet on 14 November 1977, and as part of ISKCON's Zonal Acharya system, Hansadutta initiated disciples primarily within zones assigned to him, namely North America, Sri Lanka, Malaysia and Philippines.

Expelled from ISKCON

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In 1980, Hansadutta was arrested[11] for possession of illegal weapons. On 8 July 1983, the Governing Body Commission of ISKCON passed a resolution demoting Hansadutta from sannyasa and taking away his responsibilities in ISKCON.[12]

Ritvik representative of the Acharya

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In 1993, Hansadutta published a collection of essays, letters and articles under the title Srila Prabhupada, His Movement and You,[13] in which he presented arguments and evidence in support of continuation of the parampara (disciplic succession) as a "ritvik",[14] or representative, of Bhaktivedanta Swami. At this time Hansadutta redirected all his former "disciples" to regard Bhaktivedanta Swami as their spiritual master, and began to initiate new disciples on behalf of Bhaktivedanta Swami, as "ritvik representative of the Acharya".[15]

BBT court case

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In 1997, Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International, Inc. and ISKCON of California, Inc. initiated legal action against Hansadutta, seeking court declaration that Bhaktivedanta Swami's Bhaktivedanta Book Trust (California, 1972) was not a legal entity and/or Hansadutta was not a legal trustee of the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust.[16] On 13 November 1998, Hansadutta agreed to a stipulated court settlement that effectively terminated any claims he might have had to being a trustee of the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust conditional upon receipt of an undisclosed cash settlement and license to publish the original, unrevised books of Bhaktivedanta Swami.[17]

Personal life

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Hansadutta's parents immigrated from Germany to the United States when he was nine or ten years old. Hansadutta was raised in New York City. At the age of 17, he joined the Navy, where he served from 1957 to 1961. In the early 1960s he and his first wife, Himavati devi dasi, were aspiring artists living in Hoboken, New Jersey, when they met Hare Krishna devotees at 26, Second Avenue in the lower East Side of Manhattan. In March, 1967 Hansadutta and Himavati moved to Montreal to assist with establishing the Hare Krishna center, and in May of the same year they were initiated by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, ISKCON Founder-Acharya, in New York. In 1976 Hansadutta took the order of sannyasa, and Himavati remarried a few years later. In 1984, Hansadutta married Lakshmi Kary, with whom he had three children. They later divorced.[18] In 2003, Hansadutta suffered a heart attack.[19] On 25 April 2020, Hansadutta died from pancreatic cancer.[18]

Publications

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Books: --

  • 1983 - The Hammer for Smashing Illusion, based on a translation of "Moha-Mudgara Stotra", more popularly known as "Bhaja Govinda" by Shankaracharya.
  • 1984 - Kirtan: Ancient Medicine for Modern Man.
  • 1985 - Fool's Paradise, ISBN 0-933593-05-8-(pbk).
  • 1985 - The Book: What the Black Sheep Said, ISBN 0-933593-03-1-(pbk).

Papers, Compilations of Essays, Letters and Discussions: The following papers by Hansadutta address controversies in ISKCON, namely the ritvik controversy, Hansadutta's own alleged excommunication from ISKCON, and the influence of Narayan Maharaja of the Gaudiya Math on ISKCON members: --

  • 1993 - Srila Prabhupada, His Movement and You[20]
  • 1993 - Excommunicated, Uncommunicated, Incommunicado[21]
  • 1994 - Gopimania[22]

Discography

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Hansadutta recorded and produced a number of LPs and singles featuring Hare Krishna songs while in Germany, c. 1974, including the album "KRSNA Meditation" with vocals by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami, which was recorded in a makeshift studio at Schloss Rettershof near Frankfurt, Germany. Later, in 1978 he produced an LP cover "Nothing to Lose But All To Gain".[23] The LP cover "Nice but Dead" followed some time in 1981. The title seems to be a reference to the body, described[24] as "nice but dead": according to Krishna teachings, notably Bhagavad Gita As It Is,[25] only the soul is alive, while the body is at best "nice but dead". Production reportedly cost $35,000. The cover has been described as "a collection of guitar accompanied potshots at other gurus".[26] In or around 1982, Hansadutta recorded and produced the LP cover "The Vision".[27][28] The tracks are listed as:

  • A1 The Vision 4:15
  • A2 Protoplasmic Crud 3:22
  • A3 Judas Goat 3:45
  • A4 Oh Saragrati Vaisnava Soul 6:42
  • B1 You're So Wise 4:17
  • B2 Deluding Maya 3:54
  • B3 Think Before You Drink 4:40
  • B4 Srila Praphupada Is Your Name[29]

These three covers generally fall into the category of country rock, funk, and folk and were of limited release.[30]

References

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  1. ^ "1998 annual Mayapur meeting minutes". ISKCON Governing Body Commission. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
  2. ^ "Hansadutta". www.hansadutta.com. Archived from the original on 26 May 2012. Retrieved 2 February 2022.
  3. ^ Vedavyasa das, "A Time of Expansion", Srila Prabhupada and His Disciples in Germany, published by Mandir Media Group, 1996 ISBN 84-86883-14-8
  4. ^ "Letter to: Resolution - Vrindaban 15 September, 1974". Prabhupadaletters.com. Archived from the original on 25 August 2011. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
  5. ^ "LD 1: Direction of Management, July 28, 1970". Prabhupadabooks.com. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
  6. ^ Hari Sauri das, A Transcendental Diary - Vol 1, 16 March 1976
  7. ^ "Back To Godhead | Prove It! | Back To Godhead". Backtogodhead.in. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
  8. ^ Letter to: Hamsaduta, London, 10 September 1977, Bhaktivedanta VedaBase Ref SL_771010_C1
  9. ^ "Srila Prabhupada's Ritvik Order on Initiation". iskcon-truth.com.
  10. ^ Letter to: All GBC, All Temple Presidents, 9 July 1977, VedaBase Ref 77-07-09 or otherwise known as the Letter of 9 July 1977,
  11. ^ Problem of Violence - Hansadutta Arrested Archived 28 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  12. ^ "GBC Resolutions '98". iskcon.org. Archived from the original on 20 October 2014. Retrieved 6 May 2015.
  13. ^ "Srila Prabhupada, His Movement & You | Inside Namhatta". Hansadutta.com. 17 June 2011. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
  14. ^ Vishoka das. "Srila Prabhupada's usage of the term "ritvik"". Hansadutta.com. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
  15. ^ "Srila Prabhupada, His Movement & You | Inside Namhatta". Hansadutta.com. 17 June 2011. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
  16. ^ "Complaint for Declaratory Judgment Regarding Validity of Assignment and Existence of Trust", Case No BC170617, p.15" (PDF). Superior Court of the State of California, County of Los Angeles. 5 May 1977.
  17. ^ "BBT Legal Case Ends, Joint Announcement". vnn.org. Archived from the original on 8 March 2004.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  18. ^ a b "Hansadutta Prabhu Leaves His Body". krishna.org. 26 April 2020. Archived from the original on 11 May 2020. Retrieved 3 May 2020.
  19. ^ "Heart Attack Report". krishna.org. Archived from the original on 18 January 2007.
  20. ^ "Srila Prabhupada, His Movement & You | Inside Namhatta". Bhaktivedantas.com. 17 June 2011. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
  21. ^ "Hansadutta Excommunication A Myth Iskcon GBC". Harekrsna.org. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
  22. ^ "Gopimania | Inside Namhatta". www.bhaktivedantas.com. Archived from the original on 17 January 2013. Retrieved 2 February 2022.
  23. ^ "Nothing to lose but all to gain". InkMathematics.com.
  24. ^ Hansadutta. "The Hammer - 4". Hansadutta.com. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
  25. ^ "Bhagavad Gita As It Is Hardcover". Krishnastore.com. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
  26. ^ "NOT WHAT KRISHNA HAD IN MIND". The New York Times. 20 November 1988.
  27. ^ "What We Do is Secret: Hansadutta Swami Vision LP Krishna Rock Part 5". Hogspeak.blogspot.com. 24 February 2007. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
  28. ^ "Hansadutta Swami – The Vision". Waxidermy.com. 29 January 2006. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
  29. ^ "Hansadutta Swami - The Vision (Vinyl, LP)". Discogs.com. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
  30. ^ "Swami Records, LPs, Vinyl and CDs". MusicStack.com. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
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