So Madhudvisha Maharaja is senior to you both in age and in sannyasa. So you work cooperatively together and take good instruction from him.
About mid-day, as Prabhupada took his massage on the roof, Siddha Svarupananda Maharaja came to see him with a nice poem he had written. He was upset and crying as he read it out by way of apology for his defensive manner during the earlier conversation.
After talking sympathetically with him for a few minutes, Prabhupada had me find Madhudvisha Swami. As the two sat before him, they discussed the dispute, now in a much more relaxed mood.
Prabhupada urged them to settle their differences. He gave them indications of what he did and did not approve.
Siddha Svarupa and his followers are not inclined to worship Deities in a large temple setting, yet some of them have recently asked for brahminical initiation in order to worship Deities in their own homes.
Prabhupada told Siddha Svarupa that Deity worship is not to be introduced in private homes until his men have been trained up to the proper standard found in ISKCON temples. However, he gave full endorsement for their kirtana and prasadam-distribution programs.
Siddha Svarupa has also been criticized for not strictly adhering to the fundamental practices like attending mangala-arati, worshiping the Deity, and wearing the attire of a sannyasi, so Prabhupada requested him to travel with him for a while so as to become more fixed up in the regulations of sannyasa life. However, Siddha Svarupa was not keen on this idea and declined Prabhupada's offer. He said that he preferred to preach on his own, "As I know how."
Prabhupada didn't push the point, and he said that as long as the Bhagavad-gita is distributed there is no fault. But he did ask him to shave his head.
When matters appeared settled, Prabhupada asked each of them how old he was. Madhudvisha Swami was the elder by one year. Turning to Siddha Svarupa, Prabhupada said, "So Madhudvisha Maharaja is senior to you both in age and in sannyasa. So you work cooperatively together and take good instruction from him."
Outside Srila Prabhupada's room they offered their obeisances to each other and embraced. So to some extent, relations were improved by the medication of Srila Prabhupada's touch and he seems to be healing the rift.
After they had gone, I questioned Srila Prabhupada again on the criticism that Siddha Svarupa's men are more attached to him than to Prabhupada.
Prabhupada shrugged it off, saying it is all right, it is not harmful. He said that each of us has to become a guru and accept many disciples. But as a matter of etiquette, one should wait until his own spiritual master has departed before doing so.
After lunch, I questioned him further. He told me that having a following is not such a serious offense. But if someone thinks that he is qualified, and accepts disciples in the presence of his own spiritual master, that in itself would be his disqualification.
Replying to my question whether one has to be a pure devotee to make disciples, he said that one has to be strictly following the principles. That is the requirement. Then he can be considered to be on a pure platform.
Reference: Transcendental Diary Volume 1 by Hari Sauri Dasa
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