Early disciple of A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Hare Krishna Founder-Acharya
Hansadutta became an initiated disciple of Srila Prabhupada in March, 1967[1]. Hansadutta's first wife, Himavati devi dasi, was also initiated around this time[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 USA: Boston, Berkeley; and in Asia: Turkey, Cairo, Afghanistan, Nepal, India, Sri Lanka, Philippines, Singapore and Malaysia.
He is one of the leaders in publication (printing and distribution) of Srila Prabhupada's books, particularly in European languages, heading up the sales of books in Germany and North Europe,[3] and in 1974 was appointed by Srila Prabhupada 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 Srila Prabhupada'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] Srila Prabhupada requested the exchange be included in his own publication of the title Life Comes from Life. [8]
ISKCON Guru
In July 1977, Hansadutta was one of eleven disciples selected by Srila Prabhupada to become rittvik representatives of the Acharya.[9] Shortly after the departure of Srila Prabhupada on November 14, 1977, it was announced that the eleven disciples had been designated as gurus[10], and as part of ISKCON's Zonal Acarya system, Hansadutta initiated disciples primarily within zones assigned to him, namely North America, Sri Lanka, Malaysia and Philippines.
Expelled from ISKCON
In 1980, Hansadutta was arrested[11] for possession of illegal weapons.
On July 8th, 1983, the Governing Body Commission of ISKCON passed a resolution removing Hansadutta from ISKCON[12].
In 1984, Hansadutta married his second wife, Laksmi devi dasi, by whom he has three children - Radharani, Krsna Govinda and Hansa Gopa Kumar.
In 1992 Hansadutta learnt that in fact he had never been excommunicated; ISKCON had merely removed him from his GBC role and the rosters of the society. In that very same year, ISKCON GBC sent Hansadutta a letter, "14 Guidelines for Welcoming Hansadutta Back to ISKCON", stipulating 14 terms and conditions which he must comply with in order to return to the Society. In response, Hansadutta published an exchange of letters between GBC godbrothers and himself under the title Excommunicated, Uncommunicated, Incommunicado (1993).
Rittvik representative of the Acharya
At the same time, in 1993, Hansadutta published a collection of essays, letters and articles under the title Srila Prabhupada, His Movement and You, in which he presented arguments and evidence in support of continuation of the parampara (disciplic succession) by rittvik representation of the Acharya, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami (Srila Prabhupada). At this time Hansadutta redirected all his former "disciples" to regard Srila Prabhupada as their spiritual master, and began to initiate new disciples on behalf of Srila Prabhupada, as "rittvik representative of the Acharya".[13]
In 1997, Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International, Inc. and ISKCON of California, Inc. initiated legal action against Hansadutta, seeking court declaration that Srila Prabhupada's Bhaktivedanta Book Trust (California, 1972) was not a legal entity and/or Hansadutta was not a legal trustee of the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust.[14] On November 13th, 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 Srila Prabhupada.[15]
Current Status
In 2003, Hansadutta suffered a heart attack[16]. He is living now in Cloverdale, California and continues to serve Srila Prabhupada as rittvik representative of the Acharya.
Publications
Books (printed in hard copy, weblinks below for free online versions): --
Papers, Compilations of Essays, Letters and Discussions
The following papers by Hansadutta address controversies in ISKCON, namely the rittvik controversy, Hansadutta's own alleged excommunication from ISKCON, and the influence of Narayan Maharaja of the Gaudiya Math on ISKCON members: --
^ "Complaint for Declaratory Judgment Regarding Validity of Assignment and Existence of Trust", Case No BC170617 in the Superior Court of the State of California, County of Los Angeles, p.15, May 5, 1977
A 17th century painting depicting Hanuman worshiping Lord Rama and his wife Sita. Lakshmana is also seen in this painting from Smithsonian Institution collection.
Viswaroopa Jayamangala Panchamukha Sri Anjaaneyaswamy, Panchavatee, Pondicherry, India (36 Feet Murthi)
Monkey Point, Kasauli, Himachal Pradesh India (Hanuman je stepped on this hill top to take a giant plunge to take sanjivini to rescue Lakshmana. The entire hill top is crushed in the form of a giant foot.
Sri Narasimma Swami Temple, Namakkal Anjaneyar, Namakkal, Tamil Nadu, India,(18 feet Murthi)
Sri Vishwaroopa Anchaneya Temple, Nanganallur, Chennai, Tamilnadu, India (32 Feet Murthi)
Hanuman Temple, at Hanuman Nagar, Katemanevli, Kalyan (E), build by Hanuman Pawshe, Near Prabhuram Apartment.
Karya Siddhi Hanuman Murthi (Height of 85-foot (26 m), installed at Carapichaima-Trinidad and Tobago by Avadhoota Dattapeetham Pontiff Sri Ganapathi Sachchidananda Swamiji; tallest in the western hemisphere and second tallest in the world)
Shri Hanuman Setu Mandir, University Road, Lucknow (U.P.)
Sri Hanuman faces east. He grants purity of mind and success.
The Narasimha faces south. He grants victory and fearlessness.
The west facing Garuda removes black magic and poisons.
The north facing Varaha, showers prosperity, wealth.
The Hayagriva mukha faces the Sky. But since we cannot see it, it is usually tilted and shown above Hanuman's face. Hayagriva gives Knowledge and good children.
en español 
en inglés 
en francés - en alemán
