MILWAUKEE - Local temple authorities have announced that well-known husband and father, Parampati das, will be renouncing his married life and assuming the status of “retired grhasta.”
In a move that could be seen as controversial, the Grhasta Bargaining Committee has suggested that, rather than divorce, which is fit only for sudras, Parampati simply retires from the grhasta ashrama and will no longer present himself as a grhasta.
“For many years, our Parampati prabhu has struggled with his grhasta vows,” said temple spokesperson Shankar Mondal. “We are very fortunate to see that this will no longer be such an issue.”
With the drastic rise of divorce within ISKCON, this new precedent could greatly decrease those embarrassing numbers. “Many of our best grhastas are cheating on their wives, which is causing big, big divorce,” reports a Grhasata Bargaining Committee member. “This grhasta retirement practically ensures that scholars and the general public will once again take our movement seriously.”
Since his retirement, Parampati no longer presents himself as a married devotee, adding “my wife and children should simply take shelter of senior vaisnavas.”
Parampati still plans to attend temple programs regularly. In addition, according to temple authorities, he has recently been seen preaching to the karmis at various bars and pubs throughout the city.
“My life hasn’t really changed all that much,” Parampati says of his new status. “I am still preaching very nicely and traveling extensively.” Though, he admits that not everything is as it seems. “I find myself listening to a lot more REO Speedwagon that I previously did.” Adding, “A lot more.”
The Grhasta Bargaining Committee has formed a probation team, made up of other devotee husbands, to monitor Parampati’s progress and to see that he complies with an “open door policy on fun.” The probation team will accompany Parampati on his preaching tour traveling with Ozzfest 2008. “We believe that the reunion of the original members of Black Sabbath will provide fertile ground for preaching to the fallen, conditioned souls.”
Parampati plans to maintain the status of “retired grhasta” for as long as possible. Though in his later years, he hopes to take retired sannyasa initiation from a retired sannyasa guru.
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5 responses so far ↓
1 Rati // Mar 28, 2008 at 10:15 am
Hahahhahaha!!! Great as always.
I particularly like the GBC-grihasta BARGAINING committee.
I’ve seen some other great names for things. Like here in NV we have the oversight board (GBC). We know there are a lot of oversights, but to put it right in the name?
Or the Office of Community Development, we’d get e-mails from ocd@newvrindaban.com. Even better was when the subject line would read “this months BS” (brijabasi spirit).
Thanks for another great article!
2 Carana Renu dasi // Mar 28, 2008 at 3:05 pm
Please send me more information about how to sign up for the Black Sabbath reunion preaching program. I would like to join. Thank you.
3 Dwija // Mar 28, 2008 at 9:23 pm
Great piece and a hilarious photo.
4 scott // Apr 2, 2008 at 12:08 pm
LOL…I’ve been a “retired grihastha” for many years!
5 Lovesprout // May 12, 2008 at 9:43 pm
My favorite part is his plans to take “retired sannyasa initiation from a retired sannyasa guru”!
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