INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY FOR KRISHNA CONSCIOUSNESS

Founder-Acarya: His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

Center/Place:____________________ Date:______________ Photograph

OFFICIAL RECOMMENDATION FOR GURU-ASRAYA (SHELTER)

To (Name of Diksa Guru):______________________________________

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. It is my
pleasure to recommend:
__________________________________________________________________________________
for being accepted by you for “Guru Asraya” (Shelter). I find that he/she has fulfilled the necessary qualifications
for shelter to the best of my understanding. Specifically, for the last six months or more he/she has been engaged
in favorable devotional service, has chanted sixteen rounds of japa daily, and has adhered to the four regulative
principles. He/she is sufficiently knowledgeable in the philosophy of Krsna consciousness and the structure and
purpose of ISKCON for shelter, as evidenced by passing an examination as prescribed under ISKCON Law.
Where applicable, the candidate has accepted Srila Prabhupada Ashraya for at least six months. These
qualifications have either been observed by me personally or I have heard of them from sources I know to be
reliable.
Your servant, ___________________________________(Name)______________________ (Title)
_________________________________(Place) _____________________(Date)

General and Spiritual Information

First Name: _________________________Family Name:__________________________________

Date of birth: ___ /___ /______ Male Female Age:_____ Nationality________________
Devotional services:__________________ Occupation (if working): _________________________
Present Address:___________________________________________________________
City: _____________________________ State/Province: _____________ Postal Code:__________
Country: ___________________Phone No: Home:__________ Office: __________Fax:_________

Permanent Address:_________________________________________________________
City:___________________________ State/Province: _________ Postal Code:__________
Country: ___________________Phone No: Home:__________ Office: __________Fax:_________

Marriage status: Single

Name of spouse (if applicable): ___________________ Spouse KC Status ____________________
Name of children and their birth year / age: _____________________ ________________________
Is child of ISKCON Devotee

Is
years/months.
Chants Hare Krishna japa for ___years/months & 16/___ rounds for ___Months/Years
_______________________

E-mail (COM) Internet services

E-mail (personal/contact):____________________________________________________________
 EXAMINATION TO QUALIFY FOR TAKING SHELTER OF AN INITIATING GURU

1. What are the qualifications of a bona fide spiritual master?

2. Why are you convinced to follow the orders of the spiritual master in this life,
and even life after life?

3. Why does one worship the spiritual master like God?

4. Do you believe the spiritual master speaks the absolute truth? If so, why?

5. Under what circumstances should the spiritual master be rejected?

6. What are the qualifications and responsibilities of a disciple?

7. What is the unique position of Srila Prabhupada in ISKCON?

8. Why do you accept Lord Krsna as the Supreme Personality of Godhead?

9. Why do we follow the four regulative principles?

10. Why do we chant Hare Krsna?

11. What is the position of the GBC Body?

12. Explain the difference between the body and the self.

13. What is ISKCON, and why should one remain in ISKCON?

14. Have you read the paper "Harmonizing ISKCON's Lines of Authority"? What have
you understood as the most important points of the "Harmonizing ISKCON's Lines
of Authority" paper? (Ref.
http://www.jayapatakaswamioffice.com/?page_id=3206)

15. Have you read GBC Resolution 303/2013: GBC Statement on the Position of
Srila Prabhupada?
(Ref. http://www.jayapatakaswamioffice.com/?page_id=3206)

N.B. These questions are to be answered and duly checked and marked by the local temple
president, BV/yatra leader, authorized initiation coordinator from the local ISKCON
temple. However you can also send a copy to the office for reference.

Only the first page (recommendation with biodata) is to be sent to JPS office to this
email id <[email protected]>
 Jayapataka Swami
Guru-Asraya Questionnaire
(A PRACTICAL QUESTIONNAIRE TO BE COMPLETED BY JAYAPATAKA SWAMI’S CANDIDATES
FOR TAKING SHELTER OF THE SPIRITUAL MASTER.
{Note to Temple President: This can be submitted in writing or verbally with answers written
down by someone else. Local leaders can help in explaining the points. This is to help
candidates understand the meaning of shelter and to help Jayapataka Swami understand
the candidate’s realizations and attitudes better.}
Note to Shelter Candidate: You have requested shelter from Jayapataka Swami desiring to
accept him as your Spiritual Master. Jayapataka Swami would like to know you better and thus
what help you need in your spiritual life. He also wants to insure that you are clear about what
it means to accept a Spiritual Master since it is a serious decision. For these reasons kindly
answer the following questions as best you can from your own understanding and realizations.
This is not a graded exam and is used only for reference and information.
1. Do you understand that accepting Guru-Asraya or Shelter from Srila Jayapataka Swami signifies
preparing to accept him as your Diksa (initiating) Guru and formal Siksa Guru? Were you
previously an “aspirant” or “siksa” disciple, if yes since when? Is this your own personal desire to
accept shelter and prepare for initiation? Why is this an important decision for you?
2. Does your local authority know about your decision to request shelter and given approval for your
request for shelter and to chant the guru’s pranam mantra? Were you under the shelter of another
guru prior to this? If so, have you sought his blessings for changing to Srila Jayapataka Swami?
3. Why do your desire to accept the spiritual shelter of Srila Jayapataka Swami? What inspires your
faith most to accept his guidance and to establish an eternal guru-disciple relationship?
4. Why do you believe that accepting shelter of a spiritual master and preparing to accept initiation is
an authorized process? Kindly explain why if possible giving any sadhu, sastra or guru reference.
5. What is the goal you want to achieve through devotional service and by accepting shelter of a guru?
How strong is your desire for obtaining your desired objective? How do you feel the Spiritual
Master can help you?
6. Do you accept His Divine Grace Jayapataka Swami as a bona fide representative of Srila
Prabhupada and link to Lord Sri Krishna Caitanya Mahaprabhu's disciplic succession? If yes,
explain why you personally believe this.
7. What are the Bhagavad Gita's instructions in regard to the proper manner of approaching and
dealing with a spiritual master? How do you intend to follow these instructions?
8. How often should a disciple chant the pranam mantra of the spiritual master every day? When do
you intend to chant and pray to the Spiritual Master? Do you know or have both mantras of the
pranam mantra (obeisance prayer) of His Divine Grace Srila Jayapataka Swami?
9. A disciple should worship the Spiritual Master daily and beg forgiveness for any offenses and for
blessings. Are you able and determined to do this? What arrangement do you have for this?
10.Maintaining and increasing one’s faith and devotion towards the Spiritual Master is an essential
aspect of devotional service. Yet, practically a Spiritual Master may often not be in the same
physical location as the disciple. How do you intend to maintain and increase your faith and
devotion towards your Spiritual Master and enhance your remembrance and appreciation of the
Spiritual Master when he is physically distant? How confident are you of maintaining a strong
faith in and relationship with the Spiritual Master?
11. By what means and how often do you intend to keep the spiritual master informed of your
spiritual progress, personal sadhana, well-being, activities? (In person, email, letters?)
12.Clearing away doubts is essential for spiritual advancement. Initially devotees try to clear up doubts
from senior god-brothers/god-sisters/devotees and local spiritual authorities. However, if there is a
 doubt which you cannot resolve through inquiry from your local spiritual authorities what will you
do? When would you ask the spiritual master for guidance and how will you contact him?
13.Initiated devotees and devotees who have accepted shelter of the Spiritual Master are to offer their
devotional service to Lord Krishna through the Spiritual Master and through him, the disciplic
succession. Are you prepared to do this? If yes, how do you intend to do so practically?
14.Sometimes the spiritual master directly trains a disciple, but usually basic training is given through
the Temple President, Nama Hatta leaders or another senior devotees. What is your realization
regarding this? What do you want to learn from the instructing spiritual master? Are you prepared
to be tested by the spiritual master?
15.Is it proper Vaishnava etiquette to first consult with the spiritual master and take his permission
prior to making a serious final decision in one's life (leaving or joining a temple, marriage, etc.)?
Kindly explain. If yes, do you intend to follow this?
16.Kindly explain your feelings or realizations on the importance of being dedicated to serving Srila
Prabhupada and being in His Divine Grace’s branch of the disciplic succession. Why is being a
part of ISKCON important?
17. Someone under shelter of a Spiritual Master has an important relationship with the guru. However
it is a trial and preparatory period until one decides to accept initiation which is a permanent
commitment. Are you prepared to follow the etiquette with the Spiritual Master? If something
ever negatively affects your faith in guru or Krishna are you committed to discussing this with the
Spiritual Master prior to making any decision which would affect your devotional service? Why
should one do this?
18.What is the correct attitude one should have with ISKCON’s spiritual authorities (Temple
Presidents, etc.)? Do you know the process for resolving any disagreements with the local
authorities through his superior authorities?
19.Is it important to maintain spiritual association with Krishna conscious devotees? If yes, why do
you believe this? How will you stay in association?
20.Explain when you chant your rounds of Hare Krishna maha mantra in the day? What is your
normal daily schedule of spiritual and practical activities? Do you live in the Temple or in your
house? If outside temple, do you belong to a Nama Hatta? How often do you visit the temple and
attend Nama Hatta meetings? In what ways do you intend to improve your devotional service, if
any?
21.Do you believe that one should be fully absorbed and involved in Krishna consciousness? If yes,
why is it important for you to render devotional service upto your maximum capacity? How fully
are you engaged now and kindly explain if you intend to improve your involvement in any way?
22.Is preaching Krishna consciousness an important service? If so, how can you benefit spiritually
from preaching and helping others to be Krishna conscious? What preaching do you do at present
or intend to do?
23. Krishna consciousness is a combination of Bhakti (devotion and spiritual emotion) and Vedanta
(transcendental knowledge). To what extent do you get inspiration from the Bhakti and to what
extent from the Vedanta aspects of devotional service? How satisfied are you with your Krishna
conscious experience? How hopeful do you feel for the future? What obstacles challenge you the
most?

N.B. These questions are to be answered and duly checked by the local temple
president, BV/yatra leader, authorized initiation coordinator from the local ISKCON
temple. However you can also send a copy to the office for reference.