Vrindavan, India - As millions of Hindus are celebrating Janmashtami today, a widow serving the ISKON Temple here, awaits justice in an alleged case of sexual exploitation by a temple priest.
Shankpani Devi Dasi, a devotee of the Vaishnava sect of the Hare Rama Hare Krishna Movement, claims that she was sexually exploited by Ramakant Das for over one-and-half-years.
In her complaint, Shankpani Devi Dasi has alleged that she had been sexually exploited by the priest on the pretext of marrying her.
Dasi moved to ISKON (International Society for Krishna Consciousness) soon after the death of her first husband and been staying in Vrindavan for the past nine years.
She got introduced to Ramakant Das in the temple premises that led to a friendly and emotional relationship between the two individuals.
But despite living for one and half years together, Ramakant has refused to marry Shankpani Devi Dasi.
"He kept assaulting me since 2005 assuring me for marriage very soon. We also visited many places like--Agra, Tundla, Hrishikesh, Haridwar and he revealed my identity as his wife to others. I stayed in Haridwar as his wife for 15 days. He kept visiting my place after coming back and kept assuring me of marrying me.
I have a son from my first marriage. He sought my son's permission to marry me. But now he is not keeping his word. So, I was forced to approach the Vice President of the Temple," said Devi Dasi.
Condemning the whole episode, other fellow members of the temple in Vrindavan said they would fight till Shankpani Devi Dasi gets justice.
"We will not allow this to happen. This is wrong and all the priests and our fellow brothers in the temple are with her. We will fight for her till she gets justice," said Acharya Rajendra, another follower of ISKON.
However, the Managing Trustee of the temple, is refusing to take any responsibility on the whole issue as the say if it is true, both the involved individuals should be held guilty as they were adults.
"If this has been going on for a year, she should have reported it earlier. She knows everybody here. I will not accept it if it is termed as harassment. Both are adults and whatever has happened has happened with their consent," said Deva Amrit Das, Managing Trsutee of the temple.
The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) was established in 1966) which later developed into a worldwide confederation of 10,000 temple devotees and 250,000 congregational devotees.
Better known as the Hare Krishna movement, ISKCON is comprised of more than 350 centres, 60 rural communities, 50 schools and 60 restaurants worldwide.