Press Statement: WVA Condemns Hinduphobic Campaign Targeting Advisor

The World Vaishnava Association has condemned a campaign promoting religious bigotry and Hinduphobia by denigrating its senior advisor, Jagad Guru Siddhaswarupananda (Chris Butler), emphasizing that any attack on him is a direct affront to the sacred Hindu Vedic tradition.

Press Statement

November 30, 2024

To Whom It May Concern:

With our deepest regret, we note the following.

We are aware that there is a campaign to promote religious bigotry and Hinduphobia by denigrating one of the senior advisors of the World Vaishnav Association, Jagad Guru Siddhaswarupananda (Chris Butler) which we strongly object to.

The World Vaishnava Association (WVA) also registered as the Vishva Vaisnava Raj Sabha, was founded 500 years ago by Srila Jiva Goswami, a great saint and scholar in the ancient bonafide Hindu lineage known as the Brahma Madhva Gaudiya Sampradaya. The current President of the WVA-VVRS is Srila Gopananda Bon Maharaj.

The WVA recognizes Jagad Guru Siddhaswarupananda as a bonafide spiritual preceptor (Acharya) in this lineage and an important member of the WVA of equal status with any other Gaudiya Vaishnava Acharya. His innovative contributions internationally to Gaudiya Vaishnavism has been fundamentally important and outstanding.

We want it to be known that any slight against him or his mission is a direct attack to the sacred Hindu Vedic tradition. We wish all success to his endeavors to serve humanity.

Gopananda Bon Maharaj

President