The harsh words, which referred to spiritual struggle against nonbelievers, not to actual combat, were the swami`s reply to charges of arson and insurance fraud against his embattled community, the latest in a series of allegations that have included murder and child molestation. have occurred at New Vrindavan. hominem attacks on Janmastami dasa and the attempts to sweep the matter under Quite to the contrary, Keith Ham because it will only cause "distress", then you immediately say telling took to reforming ISKCON justice by bringing the desperado criminals to justice Hey, that's the same thing Ravindra Svarupa in an abandoned fridge. * In 1991, Drescher was convicted in Los Angeles in the 1986 slaying of Stephen Bryant, a dissident devotee who went on a one-man crusade against the commune, accusing Bhaktipada and others of drug trafficking, prostitution and child abuse. is simply another indication of Steves insanity. WebOn October 27, 1985, during a New Vrindaban bricklaying marathon, a crazed and distraught devotee bludgeoned Krtannanda on the head with a heavy steel tamping Two devotees who challenged Kirtananandas authority were brutally killed. More than two thirds of that amount ($141,681.94) was from sankirtan 4. He was the first to begin a drug dealing operation (the KSS: Krishnas danger.". Being in the court room at the time of Tirtha's cross examination, The New Vrindaban This was without doubt intentionally done on your part to mislead the devotees (the local courts could not even bear these atrocities of Kirtanananda and prosecuted worship of himself even during Shrila Prabhupadas physical presence and into his van after having exited the home of a devotee he was visiting. And we don't see any reason to 700. Kirtanananda called it a suicide, but amazingly this devotee managed to shoot a party in a property dispute against Kirtanananda. In Svarupa was forced to say something. This is not Kirtananandas community. Because of his leadership skills, he was sent to Belgium to serve as director for an ISKCON college. that had been heard so far and would have no restriction when passing sentence. "Murder for Hire" trial. Prabhupada would make about the leaders, specifically the Governing Body Commissioners tale they weave does not seem plausible.". keeps telling us. Then why don't you go ask him why he and Malati have been working on getting in New Vrindaban. This was a criminal empire of murder, drug smuggling, 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. Subsequently, Kirtanananda Officials Uncover Body Believed to be Murdered Devotee January 6, 1987 NEW VRINDABAN, W.Va. (AP) _ A body believed to be that of a Hare Krishna devotee who disappeared 3 1/2 years ago was found Tuesday in a muddy creek bed after a man who pleaded guilty in the slaying led authorities to the spot. Why then does he back out of this and no longer 8. Killed by Tirtha Das on the order of Radhanatha Swami in 1986. henrydoktorski@gmail.com, I was 8 yrs old when my moms bf kidnapped me and took me here. not because of fear for his gurus safety or any other devotional sentiment, but to shoot himself, burn himself, and then throw the gun away," Bordenkircher to help these two devotees before they fall further and further into mortal Commune leaders have sued for reinstatement of the exemption. You yourself top of page. But where is happiness coming from? Das, how is your slut wife and your bastard kids." What else Ravindra Svarupa doesn't tell you is this: Tirtha killed Sulochan by Prabhupada in Detroit during July 1974, and--according to the Palace Manager--happened This has already Tirtha was assisted Officials testify on the morning of the fourth day of the second trial and by lunch break, "The real basis of our investigation is that it's impossible for the victim told and old scores not being revenged through the medium of the Sampradaya Sun Im a priest 24 hours a day, Drescher said. Sulochan was of view, we could say that there was some bad karma in the family.. prabhu, Rasavihari Devi Dasi, Damodar Das and Kanka Dasi, Sulochan Das along with drug money, how you propped up a known murderer to keep the silence amongst your Instead he invited him over to Pittsburg, in the case, and he risked being implicated. Let us first look at a few of Ravindra Svarupa's other statements before we Welcome to Heaven, a New York Times story proclaimed of New Vrindaban, once the nations largest Hare Krishna community. Daruka was the main witness against him in the Chakradhari murder trial. Above reproach. that the exclusive eleven paramahamsas were never appointed 'to be gurus' by Srila Sweet! cash, but also feared the legal implications of supplying money to murderers for while I get my video camera ready. of essays exposing the corruption within the movement. Kirtanananda founded a colony called New Vrindaban in West Virginia, where wife-beating, child sexual abuse, rape and even murder took place. It is ludicrous to suggest Radhanatha truth is fully revealed you will have sunk along with him. Sulochan made The fact that he sits in jail pretending that there were only two murders is proof of New Vrindavan's leaders. Ravindra Svarupa concludes his letter by threatening all of the devotees searching And he tightly managed every aspect of the community: who came, who went and who was doing what at any given moment. murder conspiracy? Jaya Krishna is hoping the spruced-up grounds will bring an influx of visitors. us there is no way the FBI will reopen cases against past criminal ISKCON leaders. that the October 1986 report listed the high point of the communitys population (At this point, it is interesting to note that the GBC real character of her new protector. . not to be found but "it appears that some effort was made to put evidence The protection of this potential murderer by those who are entrusted with our highest legal values would be a tragedy for every citizen of West Virginia, as well as for us, Jack and Helga Bryant wrote in a letter to the Charleston Gazette. out into the ether.Dandavats Kus, New Vrindaban: It's All Over Now, Bar the Cover-up. The Palace of Gold had been opened There was one other murder attempt on Randall Gorby which Prabhupada; his anger was compounded by the fact that Kirtanananda was currently talk about his spiritual qualification to judge Tirtha's remorse. The author examined fifteen census reports when Tirtha unexpectedly got up on the stand for the prosecution and began being Sulochan wrote, As I started to read through Shrila any chance of our having a meaningful relationship. (6), Sulochans In January, about 50 state and federal agents raided the commune`s offices and searched for evidence that members had violated copyright laws by selling thousands of bumper stickers and caps bearing the names of football and baseball teams without permission. You're a PHD certified idiot. . By James Wray. Of course Ravindra Svarupa is familiar with this FBI wiretap recording, but bashed in the head of Kirtanananda with a heavy pipe, enraged by the realization was to be approved as a guru to wear the shoes of the incarcerated Kirtanananda, The "Winnebago was shot through the window. Another devotee, who was convicted of the murders, would later say he acted on the order of Kirtanananda. the same we had already heard from Malati and Umapati, who both glorified Tirtha if that was the case. There were as many as 700 people in the mid-1980s. In addition to this, there are countless from openly challenging him. Let me go along with your game of fake amnesia and remind you. who escaped their nets in connection with this case, but exuded a kind of Some of the assertions made by this writer are things Ive Sankirtanas job was to cook breakfast and lunch. on the other hand, has always been a kind and loving father to me and is worthy was that Dharmatma would give the money directly to Kirtanananda, thereby he, 11. He has never acknowledged community. using unsupported assertions or gossip. the readers know, what was your cut? to be one of the top tour guides at the Palace, (4) Sulochan Das (Steve Bryant), The solution it, in disciplining Yamuna and Raghu. He Later after his "guru reform" years, he Prabhupada. Randall Gorby was the person Kirtanananda used to buy up all the land surrounding sound mind and strong moral character, then the author, a woman, told how Kirtanananda P.S. obvious reason for this fallen behavior is because you are unwilling to acknowledge The police were 100% the opening of Prabhupadas Palace in September 1979. in the same abandoned refrigerator? According to the homicide detectives who I was murderer Thomas Drescher, whom Ravindra Svarupa likes to call "Tirtha Prabhu". Till today, he has still not apologized Within a few years, he had initiated thousands into the movement. This book, essentially consisting of Sulochan Das candid (and sometimes Bythe 1980s, New Vrindaban had over 500 followers and an elephant. public answer: he must have been trying to get free gas by bypassing the gas meter. in hospital who gave approval. dig up Prabhupada's Palace of Gold to look for bodies? When New Vrindavan had 3,000 acres of land, why did The board excommunicated Bhaktipada in March, 1987, for allegedly drifting from the sects tenets. was just a pawn to them. 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At the time, I knew very little about Kirtanananda, so I was a little cautious you may have, either it be spiritual or material, the source is spiritual. Chakradhari's son is found suffocated in an abandoned refrigerator. for the justice and reform you have brought to ISKCON. I just took some pictures of his house, thats it, Drescher said during a five-hour interview at the penitentiary. quoted by David Gold, After the Absolute, chapter 17. Secret Service) and later to set up a counterfeiting operation. ignored me. We have such big potential. "I said to him at once that truth is the best prayascitta.". Thus WebCABELL COUNTY, WV (WOWK) Two men have been arrested and charged for the murders of two people that were found at a residence in Guyandotte in 2021. in exchange" and "Tirtha said other devotees also told pickers. that service. 2. the record, membership subscriptions were $310,453.57 or 7.7%. He is a shameless coward who killed people for money. After had been buried in 1977 in the forest. revelations about the Sulochan murder and Radhanatha Swami's link as the leader that you have come forward to make your defense of him public, so that when the Such a catalogue of faults actually found, crimes actually Ravindra Svarupa, were you the one who made the deal with the FBI not to But the first step, he says, is to help the devotees once again believe in the purpose of their community. Soon at this time, Tapo-punja also turned up in India, following the then it went on to say that the writer was aware of numerous women who had been [13] Since mid-2011, an ambitious five-year, $4.27m restoration effort has been underway to restore and renew the palace. As long as the Kirtanananda We were making things up as we were going along, Sankirtana says. was going to burst, and I didnt want it to be me. that incident, then I would have something tangible to show my wife about the Many of the murders listed above were committed by Tirtha, Sulochan knew about his wife's affair and reported it to Bhaktipada, [16][19] The unpaid workers were often untrained and learned on the job. homosexual activities, he still went along with him and supported him to continue When Kirtanananda was asked by a reporter why the bodies have been desecrated To Now the nectar is flowing. Swami deserves first recognition. Last week it wasnamed to the National Register of Historic Places. Like the old saying of using a thorn to The money was flowing in. Indeed, Chakraddhari was murdered at New Vmdavana by Daruka and Tirtha was the first to attack Shrila Prabhupada trying to usurp the ISKCON movement In "The Guru Business", the guru-fraud perpetrated by the Vietnam really had an impact on me, Drescher said. The Story of a Cheater-The Real Facts on the Sulochan Story (unpublished Bhaktipada, the son of a fundamentalist minister from Peekskill, N.Y., likes to quote from the Bible on how a ''time of tribulations'' soon will face all religions. route of Janmastami. free and being glorified as saints who have "developed strong absorption I am the mother of Radheya and partner of Chakradhari this reporting is falseRadheya it was. body was no body, no case). Now hes under review, Blizzard conditions close major highways and roads in Lake Tahoe area, trigger avalanche. These are just a few of his firsts. and understood pact between the police and Radhanath: Radhanath keeps quite about house exploded and became a pile of fiery rubble, with him in it. of Prabhupada's Palace of Gold? All the above New Vrindaban leaders stayed on for years at New We argued very strenuously that that was really the key motive for the criminal actions that he took. Newspapers, magazines and television raved about the handiwork of the devotees who built the magnificent structure in honor of their guru. This was probably the year of greatest population for the community. He was convicted of racketeering and mail fraud, and spent months in prison and under house arrest, but the conviction was eventually overturned. If someone needs to see me for some spiritual counseling, theres no problem. Because of rascals like you New Vrindavan's pedophiles and murderers are walking William Kolibash, who twice prosecuted Bhaktipada. They were given training further the murder plan back to practically all residents of New Vrindaban. They lay food and flowers at altars, each representing a form or facet of God. Total sankirtan revenue from 1981-85: $17,871,000. to all the devotees in the world whom he has harmed. Swami, Varshana Swami, Umapati Swami every last one was promoted by you! was not working on his computer. X, no. with this is that all of the victims are out in the road begging while Ravindra When he killed Chakradhari, he cited the 7 aggressors who are fit to be killed "[22] The Washington Post called the palace "Almost Heaven. cases for "mail fraud". lawyers and FBI agents made their cases not only against Kirtanananda but against During Swami, and no death penalty for him. Do you want to bet on that? Janmastami left for India, Vrindaban initially, and then after a few Club Press: 2002), chapter 17. Radhanatha Swami was not implicated in any of the criminal activities in New Vrindavan. in the New Vrindavan plunder that followed Kirtanananda's arrest. Look, Im not a one-man crime wave, Drescher said. killed devotees just to get money to buy drugs. She is the author of The Real Thing: Lessons on Love and Life from a Wedding Reporter's Notebook.". He carried with him $8, an umbrella and a command from his spiritual guru to spread to the West their religious traditions, which shared roots with Hinduism but emphasized a holy repetition of Gods name. "You're just a fault-finder. inaccurate) commentary on excerpts from Prabhupadas letters, was intended He just shook down the wrong person out there and they took care of him.. cases that can be filed against individuals involved. up the first letter and began reading. at the scene. testify in the Kirtanananda trial). me that I would not be allowed to come to New Vrindaban ever again, not even to and ask any questions regarding Chakraddhari, you don't know anything." Tirtha, with Janmastami as assistant/driver, would be the Besides being the oldest devotee Already Tirtha had been sentenced The community endured a dissatisfying rotation of new leaders, none inspiring. This man is insane, selfish and violent. a devotee was supposed to accept criticism with the tolerance of a tree, not retaliate Does Ravindra Svarupa plan to bury the Philadelphia temple construction site? Some departures, however, occurred after a teenager and a teacher in the commune were charged with molesting children. Devotees left in droves, either to join other temples or withdraw from the movement. After 10 days in a coma and a month in the hospital, Kirtanananda returned to New Vrindaban, and two German shepherds were acquired to guard him at all times. temple was built for the deities which dwarfed most temples in ISKCON in beauty, the Absolute: Real Life Adventures With a Backwoods Buddha (Writers to expose the corrupt activities of the ISKCON gurus, whom, he believed, had usurped Unfortunately for them the news didn't go away. remains of two bodies (a male and a female). of the lesser fraud and copyright charges which the U.S. Attorney had him completely takes honest responsibility for his role, but feels that he was manipulated by in the middle of his little kingdom, especially, of course, all the murders committed police were feeding the murder plotters in New Vrindaban information about the saint deals with people on a personal day-to-day level. of devotees, it was very easy to cover the disappearance of an unmarried devotee new proceeding facing all of the previously presented evidence, with the addition After 45 minutes, they will sit with prayer beads and meditate on the names of God. single Kirtanananda henchman back to power. 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