The New Mahabharata: ISKCON Bengaluru vs ISKCON Mumbai – A Historical Analysis of the Dispute and Supreme Court's Verdict

As this modern-day Mahabharata concludes, focus now returns to spiritual mission of Prabhupada to bring Lord Krishna’s universal consciousness to the world—a mission that both organisations swear by.

By Karan Bir Singh Sidhu
Retired IAS Officer, Punjab Cadre; Former Special Chief Secretary, Government of Punjab; Policy Analyst and Commentator on Law, Religion, and Governance

The New Mahabharata: ISKCON Bengaluru vs ISKCON Mumbai

The Supreme Court's 16 May 2025 verdict declaring ISKCON Bengaluru as the rightful owner of the iconic Hare Krishna Hill temple marks the culmination of a decades-long legal battle that has divided followers of one of the world's largest Vaishnava organisations. This landmark ruling not only settles property and management rights but also addresses fundamental questions about spiritual succession and organisational autonomy within religious institutions. Given that ISKCON was undoubtedly founded in New York, USA, the emergence of such a protracted and complex legal dispute in India prompts a legitimate question: how did competing claims over spiritual authority and institutional control come to dominate the Indian landscape of a movement with its origins in the West?

The Origins of ISKCON and Its Founder

ISKCON, the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, was founded in 1966 in New York City by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. Born Abhay Charan De on 1 September 1896 in Calcutta, India, Prabhupada met his spiritual master, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, in 1922. Following his spiritual master's instruction to spread Krishna consciousness to the English-speaking world, Prabhupada arrived in New York at the age of 69 in 1965 with just seven dollars and his Sanskrit translations.

Despite tremendous odds, Prabhupada established ISKCON as a global movement dedicated to spreading Vedic knowledge and Krishna consciousness. He translated numerous sacred texts, including the Bhagavad Gita and Srimad Bhagavatam, and established over 100 temples, ashrams, and cultural centres worldwide before his passing in 1977. Under his leadership, ISKCON promoted vegetarianism, meditation, and devotional practices centred around the chanting of the Hare Krishna mantra.

Prabhupada's Legacy and Succession Crisis

The heart of the dispute between ISKCON Bengaluru and ISKCON Mumbai can be traced back to Prabhupada's passing in 1977, which precipitated a succession crisis within the organisation. Before his death, Prabhupada had established the Governing Body Commission (GBC) in 1970 to manage ISKCON's affairs and had written a "Direction of Management" outlining the purposes of the Commission.

The fundamental disagreement that would eventually lead to litigation was over spiritual succession: Who would initiate new devotees after Prabhupada's passing? According to ISKCON Bengaluru, Prabhupada had instituted a "Ritvik" (representative) system wherein he would remain the initiating guru for all future devotees, with designated representatives performing the initiation ceremonies on his behalf. ISKCON Mumbai, however, supported a system where senior disciples assumed the role of initiating gurus after Prabhupada's death.

The Formation of Two Independent Societies

ISKCON Mumbai’s Establishment

ISKCON Mumbai was formally registered on 2 January 1971 under the Societies Registration Act of 1860 and the Bombay Public Trusts Act of 1950, bearing Registration No. BOM 225/70 GBBSD4. This legal recognition established it as one of the earliest ISKCON centres in India, granting it formal status as both a society and a public trust. Notably, this was done after the establishment of the Governing Body Commission (GBC) in 1970 in the United States, but before the passing of Srila Prabhupada in 1977. From this position, ISKCON Mumbai asserted that all ISKCON centres worldwide operated under its organisational umbrella, with local centres functioning as branches of the parent body.

ISKCON Bengaluru's Independence

ISKCON Bengaluru, on the other hand, was registered as an independent society in 1978 under the Karnataka Societies Registration Act. In 1988, the Bangalore Development Authority allotted approximately six acres of land at Hare Krishna Hill in Rajajinagar to this registered society. The temple was inaugurated in May 1997 by the ninth President of India, Shankar Dayal Sharma.

Under the leadership of Madhu Pandit Dasa, ISKCON Bengaluru maintained its position as an autonomous entity dedicated to preserving what it considered Prabhupada's authentic teachings about spiritual succession. The Bengaluru organisation refused to accept the guru system, promoted by ISKCON Mumbai, that emerged after Prabhupada's death, which they viewed as unauthorised and contrary to Prabhupada's instructions.

Chronology of the Legal Dispute

The Genesis of Conflict

The theological differences between the two organisations evolved into a property dispute around 1999 when ISKCON Mumbai attempted to assert administrative control over ISKCON Bengaluru and its temple property. According to ISKCON Bengaluru, ISKCON Mumbai tried to "expel all the people who are holding this view that Srila Prabhupada is the only guru" and tried to claim the property of ISKCON Bengaluru.

Trial Court Decision (2009)

In 2001, ISKCON Bengaluru filed a civil suit seeking declaration of absolute ownership over the temple property and an injunction restraining ISKCON Mumbai from interference. On 17 April 2009, the trial court ruled in favour of ISKCON Bengaluru, recognising its legal title over the temple property and granting a permanent injunction against ISKCON Mumbai.

Karnataka High Court Reversal (2011)

ISKCON Mumbai appealed this decision to the Karnataka High Court, which overturned the trial court's ruling on 23 May 2011. The High Court held that ISKCON Bengaluru was merely a branch of ISKCON Mumbai and that all properties acquired by or in the name of ISKCON Bengaluru actually vested in ISKCON Mumbai. This effectively granted control of the Hare Krishna temple to ISKCON Mumbai.

Supreme Court Appeal and Verdict (2011–2025)

ISKCON Bengaluru promptly appealed to the Supreme Court on 2 June 2011, challenging the High Court's verdict and continued to maintain its control over the Bengaluru shrine on the strength of interim orders from the Apex Court. After a lengthy legal process spanning nearly 14 years, on 16 May 2025, the Supreme Court delivered its final judgment. The Bench comprising Justices Abhay S. Oka and Augustine George Masih ruled in favour of ISKCON Bengaluru, declaring it the lawful owner of the Sri Radha Krishna Temple at Hare Krishna Hill.

The Supreme Court set aside the Karnataka High Court's judgment and restored the trial court's 2009 order, effectively recognising ISKCON Bengaluru's autonomy and ownership rights. The Court observed that "merely because both societies profess to follow the same spiritual principles or trace their origins to a common founder does not mean that one has overriding authority over the other unless such control is statutorily or contractually established."

Organisational Structure and Governance

The Governing Body Commission (GBC)

The Governing Body Commission (GBC), established by Prabhupada in 1970, was intended to be the managerial authority of ISKCON. Initially consisting of twelve members including Satsvarupa dasa Goswami, Hansadutta Swami, and Tamala Krishna Goswami, the GBC was tasked with improving temple management, spreading Krishna consciousness, distributing literature, opening new centres, and educating devotees. Over time, the GBC grew to include 48 senior members who make decisions based on consensus.

Post-Prabhupada Leadership Challenges

After Prabhupada's death, some GBC members adopted lavish lifestyles, and several schisms tested the authority of the GBC. These challenges included scandals involving GBC members Hans Kary (Hansadutta) and James Immel (Jayatirtha), as well as leadership issues at the New Vrindaban community with Keith Ham (Kirtanananda). These developments contributed to the factionalism that eventually led to the split between ISKCON Bengaluru and ISKCON Mumbai.

Charitable Activities and Financial Overview

ISKCON Bengaluru's Social Impact

Despite the ongoing legal battle, ISKCON Bengaluru has established itself as a significant religious and charitable organisation. It has expanded to establish 25 temples across India and 8 temples abroad, with more than 1,000 full-time missionaries and a congregation exceeding 10,000 dedicated devotees.

Perhaps its most notable social contribution is The Akshaya Patra Foundation, which now feeds over 2.3 million children every school day across 17 states in India. This makes it one of the largest mid-day meal programmes in the world.

Financial Performance

Financial data from ISKCON Bengaluru, available in the public domain, shows a trend of increasing donations between 2011 and 2016. Specifically, expenditure on youth development initiatives increased from ₹1,10,72,029 in 2014–15 to ₹1,82,16,386 in 2015–16, reflecting the organisation's growing outreach.

The temple at Hare Krishna Hill also generates significant revenue through hundi (donation box) collections, which have shown consistent growth. These funds support various spiritual and charitable activities, including the distribution of prasadam (sanctified food), educational programmes, and cultural initiatives.

International Implications of the Supreme Court Verdict

Autonomy of Religious Organisations, including SGPC

The Supreme Court's ruling reinforces the principle of autonomy for legally registered spiritual organisations and their right to manage their own affairs independently of external control. This has significant implications for religious organisations worldwide, particularly those with multiple branches or centres across different jurisdictions. It is also likely to impact the claims of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), which has been attempting to assert its influence—if not direct control—over various Singh Sabha Gurdwaras across Punjab and Chandigarh, even though these are autonomous legal entities duly registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860, with their own bye-laws and articles of association.

Global and Domestic Impact on ISKCON Centres

With ISKCON centres established across numerous countries, the Supreme Court's decision may not directly influence how these centres and shrines situated outside India’s sovereign jurisdiction relate to one another legally and administratively. The Apex Court’s verdict essentially resolves the specific lis between the Mumbai and Bengaluru ISKCON entities and does not carry binding legal implications for ISKCON as an international organisation, particularly those entities founded and incorporated abroad, most notably in the United States. However, the Court’s clear affirmation that sharing spiritual ideals and a common founder does not, by itself, confer legal authority of one entity over another may carry considerable moral and persuasive weight in potential litigation or disputes abroad.

Domestically, the ruling may encourage, if not embolden, local chapters of ISKCON in India to assert their autonomy more confidently—or inspire the emergence of new societies that no longer feel the need to seek a 'royal' or 'divine' charter from ISKCON’s headquarters in Mumbai, Bengaluru, or even the United States.

Future of the Movement

The verdict opens new possibilities for reconciliation and cooperation within the broader ISKCON movement. While the legal dispute has been resolved, the theological differences regarding succession and spiritual authority remain. Nevertheless, both organisations continue to propagate Prabhupada's teachings and mission of spreading Krishna consciousness globally. In light of the Supreme Court's affirmation of organisational autonomy, there may also emerge a more pluralistic and decentralised landscape within the movement, where local ISKCON chapters feel empowered to chart their own course while remaining spiritually aligned with Prabhupada’s original vision.

Key Figures in the Dispute

Madhu Pandit Dasa

As the President of ISKCON Bengaluru, Madhu Pandit Dasa has been a central figure in defending what he considers to be Prabhupada's authentic teachings on succession. Under his leadership, ISKCON Bengaluru has grown substantially despite the legal challenges it faced.

The GBC Leadership

The GBC, as ISKCON's highest managerial authority, has played a significant role in the dispute. The expansion of the GBC to 48 members and its decision-making processes based on consensus have shaped the organisation's direction following Prabhupada's passing.

Looking Ahead: A New Chapter for ISKCON

The Supreme Court's verdict marks the end of a 25-year legal battle but perhaps the beginning of a new chapter in the history of ISKCON. While the judgment resolves the property dispute in favour of ISKCON Bengaluru, it also highlights the challenges religious organisations face in maintaining unity amid theological differences and succession issues.

Both ISKCON Bengaluru and ISKCON Mumbai continue to carry forward Prabhupada's legacy of spreading Krishna consciousness, albeit through different approaches to spiritual succession. The case serves as a reminder that even spiritual organisations must navigate complex legal and administrative realities, and that shared spiritual heritage does not necessarily translate to unified governance structures.

As this modern-day Mahabharata concludes its legal chapter, the focus now returns to the spiritual mission that inspired Prabhupada to bring Lord Krishna’s universal consciousness to the world—a mission that both organisations, or the new ones that may now spring up, despite their differences, will continue to pursue with dedication and devotion.

Karan Bir Singh Sidhu writes on the intersection of faith, law, and constitutional governance, drawing upon decades of experience in public administration and an enduring engagement with Sikh and Indic religious institutions.