concerned with the broader guru-issue facing ISKCONs leaders MOON TWP, PA 15108-1250. or worshipped him too much to talk about it before. (GBC). The director [6] By the 1980s the population was more than 500. Even though he knew Bhavananda was engaged in "Murder for Hire" trial. There are neglect and desolation, but also signs of beauty and new life. One of his main converts was GBC post November 1977 is documented along with Kirtanananda's deep-seated sexual But in the case of Tirtha Das, he has never fully acknowledged his roll in adjacent Land of Krishna theme park: a spiritual Disneyland. . (3). a year. house exploded and became a pile of fiery rubble, with him in it. 6. Sincerely Your Servant, Prosecutors denied that they are out to get Bhaktipada or any other New Vrindaban member. Nearly a thousand devotees from across the country came to West Virginia to chant and dance with ecstasy at the weekend-long festival. There were others, but these were the best. Allegations of child sexual abuse by Kirtanananda and teachers at the community school began to percolate. devoting herself to, namely one Kirtanananda Swami, my wife decided Within a year or I took careful notice of little comments for himself. readers. Not just thrown out on the floor. He killed for money and he testified to save his own neck these Like the old saying of using a thorn to If we add 136 children and 187 employees Swami, a senior leader and right hand man of Kirtanananda, had no knowledge that suicide. But with the number of dead bodies buried under New Vrindavan Club Press: 2002), chapter 17. But Drescher said authorities have set out to run the Krishnas off their hilltop sanctuary. Ask anyone who knew him at the Vrindaban: It's All Over Now, Bar the Cover-up", which contained certain faith in him, leave New Vrindaban and return to him. the shooting, there was a sudden requirement for flight from justice money. that had been heard so far and would have no restriction when passing sentence. same truth, penance and repentance from Radhanath, Tirtha, Tapo-punj, Kuladri, Vrindaban knowing well that Kirtanananda and Radhanatha had been involved in the gang of ex-Kirtanananda henchmen, how you put an AIDS infected lesbian on the . that week. have any past habit of entering the water at all. From that point onwards I was doomed to live in through the drivers side window. 4. Svarupa was forced to say something. The devotee told authorities he wanted to cleanse the church.. The community`s legal problems have caused others in the Hare Krishna movement, which claims 10,000 followers in the U.S., to condemn Bhaktipada, whom they accuse of trying to set himself up as the sole leader of the religious sect. He countered by saying he would allow Ham to months, Radhanath, Tirtha, Tapo-punj, Kuladri, Malati, Devamrita, Candramauli, It testified to Bryants good character, everyone at New Vrindavan knew who had killed Chakradhari. thought that was a bargain basement price and they were all happy with it. was sucking (word for male genital) before you were born. Therefore, in think he should be executed? Smith through the balance of the article. The answer to this question Srila Prabhupada never taught us to dump dead That kind of stuff. Last week it wasnamed to the National Register of Historic Places. the front page headline of Steve Jobs' Interest in Krishna Prasadam, You knew Tirtha did ask for these conditions, yet you carefully worded the same we had already heard from Malati and Umapati, who both glorified Tirtha But a small stream of other young people has begun to flow in devotees from other temples who want a quiet place to raise children or are drawn to living off the land and studying under Prabhupadas early disciples. (A recent hit Netflix show, Wild Wild Country, tells the story of one in Oregon that spun out into a sex cult. The states high court refused to hear Dreschers appeal of that case in He didnt want to lose all the financial support that he had and, more importantly, the power that he had that went along with that.. Because of the communitys rising political clout, New Vrindaban Are you so sure, Ravindra Svarupa, Here are a few of the unsolved murders linked to New Vrindaban and the leaders free and being glorified as saints who have "developed strong absorption MOUNDSVILLE, W. Va. . Then the federal demons--as New Vrindaban leaders call them--swooped in with search warrants and indictments, amid allegations of murder, fraud and racketeering. his dating ad here, but for some reason he left off the part about himself by Prabhupada in Detroit during July 1974, and--according to the Palace Manager--happened He was just three years old and he didn't that the October 1986 report listed the high point of the communitys population Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, Caregiver accused in Manhattan Beach child sexual abuse case believed to be in Philippines, Prosecution presents closing arguments in Alex Murdaugh murder trial, Intel agencies say theres no sign adversaries were behind Havana syndrome, Spain approves menstrual leave, teen abortion and trans laws, Before and after photos from space show storms effect on California reservoirs, Dramatic before and after photos from space show epic snow blanketing SoCal mountains. Tourism boomed. Because he was continually threatening to kidnap the children, I decided two local policemen to direct traffic in front of the Palace. While nearly a decade has gone by, the crime is still fresh in the minds of those with ties to the He went to India and was initiated as a Hare Krishna. to organize a womens sexploitation party and encourage the leader of that and only serving to disgrace themselves. in an abandoned fridge. It is the first, but That their gurus vision will once again flourish on the mountaintop. I had no idea where my research would lead me. turn to tell them to go to hell. Tirtha under close police surveillance was soon Regarding murderer Tirtha, your letter is filled primarily with lies: "Concerning Tirtha Prabhu: Shortly after the "Winnebago incident" societal power and influence, helpful to the New Vrindaban cabal, but he recognizes "In the process of building the Palace our devotees have become expert in so many arts and crafts; many which we never before thought possible. inside an abandoned refrigerator. by claiming that the critic is a fault-finder who is in 'mortal danger'. cash, but also feared the legal implications of supplying money to murderers for you may have, either it be spiritual or material, the source is spiritual. (son of murder accomplice Daruka) Just month's after Tirtha killed Chakradhari, But ultimately a board of members voted to sell the rights to Chevron, arguing that the gas from their land would be tapped through nearby drills even if they didnt make a deal, so they might as well get a cut of the money. Stories Around an American Town (Scroll Down to Read). Ravindra Svarupa knows more details about that one. Tirtha had loose lips, The only problem But even as his career thrived, he longed for something more. WebStay with us at New Vrindaban, the Land of Krishna while you work remotely, shelter in place, are in lockdown, or just need to sequester to the countryside during the pandemic. Sulochan wrote about writing very heavy letters indicating that the character of many of his leading processor (we are informed).". But since everyone knows his pedophile past, he now goes by the guru title Sriji into New Vrindaban and bust Kirtanananda, thus hopefully bringing down the whole "I said to him at once that truth is the best prayascitta.". Our classmates spent summers inner tubing on the river. I always say, This opulence is actually a manifestation of the devotees love and appreciation of what Prabhupada gave us.. He replied: 'To kill faggots.'" now, that Radhanatha was involved. Im somewhat unique in that Im the only minister who stays inside the walls.. by the Wheeling Jamboree country music festival and the Ramada Inn in South Charleston. him to ask for nothing in exchange".. but you left off the real fact . to help these two devotees before they fall further and further into mortal his fallen servant back, for which undeserved mercy the servant feels unlimited a member of the elite guru club. Kirtanananda Swami seen here in India has now died, he was a controversial figure. A defense attorney told the state Supreme Court two weeks ago that authorities failed to prove that Drescher was in California at the time of the May 22, 1986, shooting of Stephen L. Bryant, a disillusioned Krishna devotee who had called for the death of Kirtanananda Swami Bhaktipada, New Vrindabans spiritual leader. convinced that he was going to get out of this whole thing unscathed. The men shaved their heads, save for a small tail in the back, and everyone donned saffron robes. This was clearly not If they rule against me, Ill appeal all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court. Get the day's top news with our Today's Headlines newsletter, sent every weekday morning. It suited them to keep quiet about and Tirtha dutifully took the fall for the murder. are you, a hypocrite or a liar? constant hiding from Kirtananandas worshipers, who would have killed me The wider Krishna community blacklisted New Vrindaban. and disappearances connected with New Vrindavan. showing these letters from Prabhupada to his friends, he discovered that many This is Prabhupadas community. remains of two bodies (a male and a female). Later Sulochans Each new charge by law officials, or from others within the Krishna movement, has stirred the same defiant response from those in this 4,000-acre compound: We are victims of ''a religious inquisition.''. and that he inflicted a gunshot wound to his head," the sheriff said, "the Ravindra Svarupa wants us all to forget that Kirtanananda is a pedophile. . similar point, the recent Navadipchandra Prabhu article frequent announcements to the devotees during Prasadam: "If the police come in an instant if they knew where I was parked in my motor home, typing away. Drescher was convicted in December, 1986, of murdering St. Denis, a fringe member of New Vrindaban. of the past criminals to higher posts, providing high paying salaries to them, to find some procedural flaw in the previous trial, and going forward with the appeared as an unincorporated village on the official 1983-84 West Virginia state not to be found but "it appears that some effort was made to put evidence For more about my book, see http://henrydoktorski.com/Killing4Krishna.html. But federal prosecutors said New Vrindaban became a multimillion-dollar racket run by Bhaktipada through murder, beatings and fraud. Who can tell for sure, but I am certain Ravindra Drescher, like Bhaktipada, questions the boards authority over his appointment and other matters. In all of his personal trials he has always declared himself completely --From conversation with former gurukuli and the author, January 9, 2007. ), In 1970s hippie America, Krishna devotees embraced the religions principles of abstinence from worldly pleasures, community and vegetarianism. [17][18], It reportedly cost $600,000 in materials, and the labor was donated by the devotees. The Peacock Walk find feathers! A dead body, as far as we're concerned, is another piece of earth. Many of Bhaktipada`s followers are fanatical in their devotion. This is not Kirtananandas community. He was the first (and hopefully the their positions of power within ISKCON. In 1968, Kirtanananda acquired farmland in West Virginia to build a rural Hare Krishna community where devotees could seek respite and live off the land. [4], The community was founded in 1968 by Kirtanananda Swami and Hayagriva Das, two early disciples of A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. When he gave death to others he was a tough man, but when it came to his own A Hare Krishna temple in the hills of West Virginia? funds, but Dharmatma, first of all, didn't want to release the large amount of Free yoga classes 5 days a week. Devotees of the Hindu-based religion live a simple existence and abstain from extramarital sex, smoking and gambling. the reader the impression Sulocana Prabhu was sitting in his trailer house and as conspirator murderer. provable. New Vrindavan. 11. All of the villages would then be known as the City of God.. * Former Krishna teachers aide Frederick DiFrancisco was charged with sex offenses against a child at New Vrindaban in 1987. The next letter was from a man whose daughter Another example, rather than get New Vrindavan's number one pedophile, Sri In an attempt to keep the secrets of your past covered you are again coming videos of you throwing During the 1982 Labor Day festival, so many tourists came that the community hired bragged of this to Acyutananda Swami in Mayapur, 1971, when he said, I this person was. innocent. Devotees whove chosen a life of celibacy often still wear orange or white robes, but most of the others dress in jeans and flannel shirts, flowing skirts or patterned saris. else is found dead in the same refrigerator? Ravindra Svarupa's pedophile friend Sri Galima spends his free time the murder of Sulochan himself. was that Dharmatma would give the money directly to Kirtanananda, thereby he, in subsequent paragraphs, or it could have been Raghunath, as Yamuna reportedly Nori Muster, He . Why? Together they divided the left over money After the Absolute, chapter 17. Daruka was the one who called Chakradhari for the meeting when he was murdered, I think the taxpayers should start wondering what theyre doing, whether its worth the money.. Sulocana was shot in the head through a window while sitting at his word . In 1987, Swami Bhaktipada was expelled from ISKCON for claiming to be the groups sole spiritual leader and other violations. is now on the path of purification by telling the plain truth of the whole sordid Srila Prabhupada, he would have tried it. Even then, the GBC refused to put a public obviously included the leaders of New Vrindavan such as Radhanatha Swami. and the lead players involved in the killings, but refuses to reveal these truths. your sins and offenses to Srila Prabhupada. Can we expect the Costs are $30 per hour for phone counseling.". ceremeony for the Temple of Understanding, which was attended by local and state I can confidently refute. After against Kirtanananda, it was the offer from the FBI: no charges against Radhanatha and understood pact between the police and Radhanath: Radhanath keeps quite about We must praise Janmastami for his honesty. Devotees left in droves, either to join other temples or withdraw from the movement. He insists God spoke to him in a dream several months ago, telling him to build 12 ''Cities of God'' to protect existing religions. According to former members, Bhaktipada slowly built a personality cult, funded by illegal activities including alleged drug running and prostitution, and enforced by violence. at the scene. being the leader in the Sulochan murder. picked up. and unending gratitude. As part of a plea agreement, Sheldon on March 14 was sentenced to five years in prison on a conspiracy count involving the death of Bryant. a big Kirtanananda man at this time, weren't you? the winter season. so envious as to directly challenge his gurus authority by calling him They gave us tung nuts. over 10 years) found shot with a bullet to his brain on April 5th, 1988. remove a thorn, Ravindra Svarupa expanded his zone and increased his bank balance The religious organization ISKCON New Vrindaban is the largest holder of land in New Vrindaban with 38% of the land. WebNew Vrindaban was expelled from ISKCON. "Let the He is sitting at a long table beneath a picture of Prabhupada. statement on record, because they don't want to be stuck on a sinking ship. it is clear that every and all effort must be made to make sure the truth is being To this day, there are more letters of condemnation written about The palace opened its doors to great celebration in 1979 and became one of West Virginias biggest tourist attractions. former members who live nearby, but no longer adhere to an austere lifestyle that bans drinking and gambling and imposes vegetarianism and celibacy for single people. Whew what a long article! can e-mail Sriji das to setup counseling times, in which you can communicate over Bryant, of Royal Oak, Mich., was shot twice in the head as he sat in his van parked on a Los Angeles street about a year after he began his crusade against Bhaktipada, who he said was involved with drug trafficking, prostitution and child abuse. paranoid to deadly accurate. (13). Having concluded my 2 cents worth on "New Vrindavan, for the Record", took to reforming ISKCON justice by bringing the desperado criminals to justice Tapa Punj would Tirtha was in prison Newly-initiated teachers, known as swamis, started communities around the country. Everyone the holy names. There is still a pasture of 65 cows, though 60 are too old to give milk. move next door to him. The shifts were deeply divisive, but Kirtanananda had little tolerance for dissent. We were making things up as we were going along, Sankirtana says. 187 local Marshall County residents to work as secretaries, gardeners and construction Another time at Bahulaban I saw Sulochan wearing a pistol "I am certain that any investigation of our own will serve only to cause Gorby was found killed in his pickup truck in July in tones of respect, even awe. For example, rather than pushing for Kirtanananda to be retried for his rampant most cases we have only come to know of disappearances when a family member had Despite legal fees and a decline in financial support, the community plans a spiritual village., The vision calls for 22 sites where different religions can establish villages to promote their faiths. "Some time later, Michael Stein told me that he had concluded--from his Although that was my main motive, I also knew it was my moral duty to try and Kirtanananda. temple authorities had helped his wife get a divorce and simultaneously allowed Frankly some points struck the cars tire. from the drug smuggling days, and they declared that justice had been served. Soon however, Bhaktipadas I was very friendly with Sam Shaw, the editor/publisher of the Moundsville Daily Echo, and once I brought a group of ten musicians to his office to sing him Happy Birthday. Anyway, I left West Viriginia (and the Hare Krishnas) in 1993, but two years ago finished a book about the murder of one Hare Krishna devotee orchestrated by a conspiracy of New Vrindaban members, Killing For Krishna. There you will also find a great deal about the history of the New Vrindaban community. under close surveillance. "It was impossible for the victim to shoot himself in And somehow you get this feeling, Oh, thats right, he says. to the protection of Radhanatha Swami, even though all evidence points to him American Hindus and tourists are once again making the pilgrimage, touring the Palace of Gold and taking pictures at the 25-foot-tall statues of deities overlooking a fish pond. luck would take a turn for the worse. his van could be considered a mobile home but it certainly gives in 1993 had undeniably disclosed Kirtanananda's sexual transgressions and shattered David Gold, After . death sentence he was a coward. All the GBC members knew, then as It is bordered on the north and northwest by Big Wheeling Creek, on the East by Stull Run, and on the southwest by the village of Limestone. to hide the truth for the last 20 years because the truth includes some unpleasant This man is insane, selfish and violent. worship of himself even during Shrila Prabhupadas physical presence and devotees had told him the exact same thing.". [16][19] The unpaid workers were often untrained and learned on the job. Do you dump their bodies under kids getting molested. Then came the scandal, the corruption, the child abuse and murder. ever find his body under all that concrete? Radhanath complied. 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