Oath of Allegiance AS IT IS

By: Nimai Pandit Das
His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Prabhupada dictated the following Oath
of Allegiance to the GBC on March 27th 1975 (conversation available in Vedabase).
He ordered it to be sent to all Officers throughout his ISKCON to be signed as a yearly affidavit. This Oath of Allegiance makes it abundantly clear that all Tps and GBCs should :

1. accept Srila Prabhupada as their Guru Maharaj.
2. accept the constitution of ISKCON and its Bylaws
3. "Srila Prabhupada is the only source of authority, represented by his instructions and books and I shall follow his instructions only - of these books."

Of course, after 1977 for obvious reasons this Oath of Allegiance was also changed. Maybe someone else can post the later versions. I think there are at least 3. If the TPs and so-called GBCs of ISKCON had accepted this Oath of Allegiance AS IT IS, then no:

1. No Guru Issue as they have to sign an affidavit in front of a notary that their Guru Maharaj is Srila Prabhupada.
2. No DOM implementation problem as the constitution, bylaws etc. should have been amended to include the clauses about implementing Direction of Management given in the July 22, 1974 Topmost Urgency letter by Srila Prabhupada. This Oath of Allegiance affidavit makes it legally binding on the TPs and GBCs to obey the DOM .

"I ...enter legal name and then initiated name - date of birth, at present residing at, particular nationality (i.e. American, German etc) do hearby solemnly affirm, declare and state as under as follows:
I state I have been elected or nominated a member of the Governing Body Commission/or Temple President - under the recommendation of my Guru Maharaja His Divine Grace AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Founder, Acharya and Supreme Authority of the Krishna Consciousness Movement, under the banner of the ISKCON.

I state I have imposed all my faith, integrity and honesty in my aforesaid Guru Maharaja, with the result he is the sole responsible person and Supreme Authority of my present position and statuswhich I have gained and I am holding in the organization of ISKCON.

I, the said - enter legal and initiated name - do hear by swear in the name of Krsna that I will bear truth and allegiance to the Constitution, by laws, rules and regulations and directives which have been given, including the 4 regulative principles (listed) chanting of 16 rounds very seriously or directions given me directly by my aforesaid Guru Maharaja, His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada, or through his authorized person or persons, and I shall obey faithfully all instructions and directions, which shall be binding on me and that I will uphold the sovereignty and integrity of my Guru Maharaja, His Divine Grace AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada and the managing body commission and or any other body appointed by His Divine Grace AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada, working under the said International Society for Krishna Consciousness and I shall faithfully discharge the duty upon which I am about to enter or have already been appointed to that effect.

I further pledge that His Divine Grace AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada is the only source of authority, represented by his instructions and books and I shall follow his instructions only - of these books."