Members of new Trust register their claims of “conspiracy” 

Expulsion of Cove and John Swami

Swami Shivashankarananda and several lay members of the Guyana Bharatiya Sevashram Sangha on Saturday

met with Guyana Times to speak on the recent controversy where the executive members of the Ashram accused the Swami of being abusive and inexperienced in his appointed position. However, they did not address the expulsion of the Swami from the monastic order by three senior swamis of the Bharatiya Sevashram Sangha – from India/Los Angeles, New York, and Canada.

At the gathering with Shivashankarananda, and the executives of the Sangha, it was expressed that for unfavourable allegations to befall the Swami, it can prove to be detrimental to the image of the Ashram. They highlighted that their intention was not to defend the swami, since they do not have the authority to pronounce on monastic matters, but they aim to protect the Ashram from being painted unkindly.

According to the members, the head office for all ashrams is the Bharratiya Sevashram Sangha in India. They explained that the Guyana Sevashram Sangha was established by the Statute Ordinance No 21 of 1956 at the instance of the founder of the ashram, Swami Purnananda and it was under this statute that the Ashram incorporated a Board of Trustees.

These original trustees, Guyana Times had been informed, were all deceased and did not, in accordance to the bylaws, appoint successor trustees, as such the original trusteeship lapsed.

The members asserted that the ashram is governed by a board of trustees as in accordance with the Legal Document of the Registered Trust Deed 90/2016 in keeping with Ordinance 21 of 56.

However, as is evident by the date above, this trust deed was only registered this year. The senior swamis who expelled Shivashankarananda by authority of the Bharitita Sevashram Sangha in India, registered the Guyana Ashram under the friendly societies act which complied with all legal requirements. The individuals who registered trust deed 90/2016 have no authority from the parent body in India.

It was claimed by the members that Swami Vidyananda, before his demise, appointed Swami Shivashankarananda his position as President and Spiritual Leader by virtue of the Trust Deed, after the Executive Members Swami Bhajanananda of Canada and Swami Shiveshwarananda of the United States of America failed to respond to the plea by Swami Vidyananda and countless devotees of the ashram to return and serve in Guyana.

“Swami Vidyananda said he made an offer to both of them, and they refused. Because the two of them are senior to Swami Shivashankarananda, it was only fair that he offer them the position first. They refused. But when Swami Shivashankarananda was asked, he gave up everything he was doing in America and came to serve. He gave up the opportunity of a green card and citizenship, of which the Swami in America, he did not. He was here, waiting for the green card and even after he got the green card, he failed to come back to Guyana.”

According to the members, the intention of the two senior Swamis was to take over the Ashram since they, along with other persons, some of whom they claim are strangers, have registered with the ashram through the Friendly Society’s Act, without their knowledge and approval.

They relayed that all allegations of the Swami being inexperienced, and “running down the Ashram” is untrue highlighting that since Swami Shivashankarananda have been appointed his position, the Hindu College was reopened and has become even more recognised and the Ashram has developed to such a stage that in 2015, during Shivratree, it saw an attendance of close to 20,000 devotees for the first time since it has been in existence.

“During Swami Shivashankarananda’s tenure, we have seen the Hindu College was reopened and in a few short years, the Hindu College has been able to make its name heard around the country in terms of performance, not only the academic success but of course the discipline and everything else. With the many successful outreach programmes, some are covered in the media, some are not. Many charitable undertakings, exchange visits to organisations, building relationships and generally reaching out to the masses particularly to people who are in need. He negotiated a steady supply of food items and whatever else in the Ashram, from donors and whatever. He single-handedly managed the preparation, he guided the devotees of the ashram, for Maha Shivratree,” said one of the trustees.

This publication was told that in regards to accusations that the Swami has been abusive to children within the Hindu College, this was untrue since nothing pertaining to this has ever surfaced. This was not claimed by the senior monks.

The members highlighted that much is left to be answered pertaining to the knowledge of the happenings around the Ashram since the persons that have been making the accusations against Swami Shivashankarananda are not members of the Ashram. One of which, they voiced, has a year of serving in the capacity and was subsequently relieved of his duties, being replaced by Swami Shivashankarananda and so his presence at the Ashram has been non-existent except on rare occasions.

They also noted that Swami Shivashankarananda’s letter which he received on 6 June, 2016 at 16:15h requesting that he travel to Los Angeles for training was dated 27 May, 2016. Upon receipt of the letter, Swami requested 24 hours to make his decision. However at 08:05h he received an email informing him of his expulsion from the post he held.

The trustees indicated scepticism about the authenticity of the expulsion letter which was sent by the Head Office, since it is considered strange that the Bharratiya Sevashram Sangha would issue an expulsion without giving Swami a chance to defend himself.

The senior swamis had indicated that their offer to Shivashankarananda to spend some time in Los Angeles or in India for counselling was still open.