Overview of the history of the Disciple Book:

Govinda Dasi who was Srila Prabhupada's secretary beginning around the end of 1967 or beginning of 1968 told Mahamaya Devi Dasi that she made the original disciple book. This book appears to be lost but around 1973 or 1974 Sri Sakti Devi Dasi typed the names from this book into what is now considered the "original" disciple book in the Bhaktivedanta Archives. Many names were then handwritten into this book in the subsequent years up to 1977. In Mumbai in March/April of 1977, the service of typing the names in this book into a new binder was given to Mahamaya Devi Dasi and overseen by Tamal Krishna Maharaja who at that time was Srila Prabhupada's secretary. In July 1977 the ritvik era began and the ritvik gurus were supposed to send in the names of the initiates to be added to the Prabhupada book. Some were entered, but it is speculated that some were not.

The Mahamaya Devi Dasi typed book somehow made its way to the Bhaktivedanta Archives which was founded in 1978 and the book must have arrived around 1978/9. The "original" disciple book was lost for a time but surfaced around 2004 when the files of Aditi Devi Dasi who had been the temple secretary in Mumbai, were sent to the Bhaktivedanta Archives either just before or after her passing away. There were other documents and items like Surabhi's designs were also among these papers. Sakuntala Devi Dasi, the daughter of Nara-narayana Prabhu brought them from India to the Bhaktivedanta Archives.