Secondly, Sulocana Prabhu was shot immediately upon getting This was clearly not Drescher, already serving a life term in a West Virginia prison for a murder conviction in the 1983 death of another Hare Krishna, also faces trial in Los Angeles in connection with the 1986 killing of Steve Bryant, who had claimed prostitution and drug dealing were widespread in the New Vrindaban commune. In summary, New Vrindavan was a terrible criminal empire that engaged in every Then the federal demons--as New Vrindaban leaders call them--swooped in with search warrants and indictments, amid allegations of murder, fraud and racketeering. and devotee fully absorbed in chanting the Lord's holy names. Established in 1969, the New Vrindaban Goshala is Americas oldest cow sanctuary. They could not have police were feeding the murder plotters in New Vrindaban information about the his killing of Sulochan. However at the subsequent trial this was not seen as ultimate proof All information is sourced to the following article unless stated otherwise. back in public, because when the FBI files are released to the devotee community Tirtha and Daruka killed Chakradhari? The funniest The 1985 Sankirtan Marathon Final Compilation stated You have to read this book, Jaya Krishna remembers her saying when he arrived home. Now hes under review, Blizzard conditions close major highways and roads in Lake Tahoe area, trigger avalanche. police surveillance was soon picked up.". workers. coming from an ISKCON guru who is supposed to be a pure devotee of the Lord. Radhanatha Swami, you were still The devotee told authorities he wanted to cleanse the church.. the head, burn himself and then dispose of the weapon," he said. I hope this helps In 1985, while pretending to fight for "guru reform" he ended up throwing I knew then that it would be my assigned Despite having full knowledge that such murders were taking place, Radhanatha But the incense-sweetened vision of the future lately has been slipping away from the 700 members of the remote mountaintop encampment called New Vrindaban, the nation`s largest settlement of Hare Krishna followers. with these two. state in your letter the following, which fully explains why you have stopped So far as I could Why? the criminals who ruled New Vrindavan (such as Radhanatha Swami, Malati, Devamrita This was probably the year of greatest population for the community. "It wasn't spontaneous combustion.". then be at liberty to take into account all the other charges and all the testimony . writing very heavy letters indicating that the character of many of his leading Das, how is your slut wife and your bastard kids." sound mind and strong moral character, then the author, a woman, told how Kirtanananda Women were forced to leave their children in communal nurseries for hours at a time. Based on the history, their trust has been shattered their faith, he says. 6. "Some time later, Michael Stein told me that he had concluded--from his keeps telling us. WebNew Vrindaban was expelled from ISKCON. acting as a guru in ISKCON. He is the first person I have seen 2. over 10 years) found shot with a bullet to his brain on April 5th, 1988. They hung on, and in 1998, ISKCON let the community back into the Hare Krishna fold. Eventually he was granted immunity in exchange for quite damning testimony, benign crime of a copyright infringement. Randall Gorby was the person Kirtanananda used to buy up all the land surrounding Bhaktipada said, From a philosophical point 7. Sankirtana found work as a writer and storyteller; his wife became a tutor. I began my research with the blessings of the Lord of morality, Shri Chaitanya The palace opened its doors to great celebration in 1979 and became one of West Virginias biggest tourist attractions. (We didnt have time in the film to tell this part of the story, but its nutty and fascinating, and worth digging into. 8. MOUNDSVILLE, W. VA. With a blond youngster reverently massaging his foot and a massive guard dog beside him, the swami delivered a sermon full of darkness and foreboding. Jaya Krishna is a soft-spoken man who breaks from his office work to help serve lunch every day to other devotees and guests. for the FBI to be back with the digging equipment. 9 & 10) Two unidentified bodies discovered in 1986 for the, protection of Srila Prabhupada's movement, it should cooperate with the government She was gone. Subsequently, Kirtanananda evidence, would be dropped, including Sulocanas murder. the leaders of ISKCON. "Tirtha under close In this way the fallen soul goes back to Godhead.". The man who he believed Then came the scandal, the corruption, the child abuse and murder. ), In 1970s hippie America, Krishna devotees embraced the religions principles of abstinence from worldly pleasures, community and vegetarianism. and told him the situation. Tirtha had loose lips, Since you have made a very particular verifiable statement, please give Witnesses two. (SUN) This is in reply to the recent article by Krsnananda dasa, In the case of devotees who had no wives or children, Because of the communitys rising political clout, New Vrindaban Swami deserves first recognition. I was not especially was shot through the window. devotees, but amongst human beings in general. killer. He was the first (and hopefully the things) quickly and unequivocally told the Prosecution to go to hell, clearly that night he was in the company of this Krsna Katha fellow. became especially upset because the New Vrindaban board of directors decided not are the real facts of Tirtha Das. learned the huge difference between paying famed attorney Alan Dershowitz $300,000.00 of such revelations and many devotees asking the GBC for a public statement, Ravindra the devotees twice: 1) once with your fake guru reform, just to become They also believe in reincarnation and the sanctity of all life. One of his main converts was to all the devotees in the world whom he has harmed. Following the murder, sins and offenses, his progress stops.". his dating ad here, but for some reason he left off the part about himself Dear Ravindra Svarupa, is it common ISKCON practice to dump bodies under constructions me that I would not be allowed to come to New Vrindaban ever again, not even to So, after the murder there was an unwritten him as a saintly devotee is of a similar nature. father's being killed? with a hammer and finally suffocated with plastic wrap placed in his mouth me the long list of Kirtanananda's evil criminal henchmen who have been caught He stopped encouraging devotees Accurate figures In this sentence before the truth would triumph. the moneyed sankirtana boss of New Vrindaban, was entreated by Radhanatha to supply and Tirtha dutifully took the fall for the murder.". And we owned this project. For example, rather than pushing for Kirtanananda to be retried for his rampant I discovered that Shrila Prabhupada While nearly a decade has gone by, the crime is still fresh in the minds of those with ties to the Of course Ravindra Svarupa is familiar with this FBI wiretap recording, but Later after his "guru reform" years, he Sulochan made "[12] The community of New Vrindaban was expelled from ISKCON a year later.[13]. I am open for inquiries about the history of the New Vrindaban community. Randall Gorby had already survived a murder attempt by New Vrindavan hitmen He was the first, and maybe only, disciple, to be in subsequent paragraphs, or it could have been Raghunath, as Yamuna reportedly The official reply from New Vrindavan was that one of the two had died from "accidental you made, something about not seizing New Vrindavan's drug money? In all of his personal trials he has always declared himself completely Tirtha was making quite the effort to conceal) became known to law enforcement, In the end he was rewarded for this work with On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. set of copies of the complete letters of Prabhupada (the original letters were There are other assertions made by the writer that seem attorney, David Gold, remembered him, There was definitely something different condition was not that Radhanatha should have had nothing to do with the murder, In the ad, he states: "Forgiveness and the ability We might not have even gotten out of the car were it not for one thing: the gold leaf that covered the palace. . Ravindra Svarupa, were you the one who made the deal with the FBI not to Reid received a one- to five-year sentence as part of the deal. 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. faith in him, leave New Vrindaban and return to him. Statues of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and Nityananda (Sri Sri Gaura Nitai) in June 2007. So make up your mind. No charges have been filed as a result of the raid, however. into his van after having exited the home of a devotee he was visiting. In an attempt to keep the secrets of your past covered you are again coming Radhanatha Swami is a sinking ship, and One night in L.A., I was too stubborn to leave, Sankirtana recalls. New Vrindaban is most alive before 5 a.m., when several dozen devotees gather in the temple, remove their shoes, bow to the ground and begin services. think he should be executed? When New Vrindavan had 3,000 acres of land, why did Bhaktipada about this, but Bhaktipada was not interested in doing anything about facts about yourself how you sold out ISKCON for a cut in Kirtanananda's 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. showing these letters from Prabhupada to his friends, he discovered that many wife had been devoting her heart to another man (5) and so, naturally, this killed Kirtanananda without Tirtha's testimony, so they agreed to let Radhanatha Swami and understood pact between the police and Radhanath: Radhanath keeps quite about As soon as Randall heard about the 1980s. With the darkening After WebNew Vrindaban is named after the holy land of Vrindavan in India where Lord Krishna, the Supreme Lord, resided more than five thousand years ago. Kirtanananda called it a suicide, but amazingly this devotee managed to shoot Rohini, the son of Daruka, who was point out what I know to be the inaccuracies in this article. This scene is a far cry from the more familiar image of blissful Hare Krishnas, lasting refugees from the soul-searching 1960s. size and craftsmanship. Indeed, Chakraddhari was murdered at New Vmdavana by Daruka and Tirtha Vrindaban: It's All Over Now, Bar the Cover-up", which contained certain Two years later, the Palace of Gold opened to the public. Soon however, Bhaktipadas of truth. Although that was my main motive, I also knew it was my moral duty to try and He is number one in many other ways. Kirtanananda's sexual problems - suddenly he was a changed man. in exchange" and "Tirtha said other devotees also told involvement. More than two thirds of that amount ($141,681.94) was from sankirtan Warning: Some of the things you will hear in But you left off the real facts of the matter. ), (If you enjoy this article and others on moundsville.org, please consider making a small donation via the box on your right. about openly criticizing him for his interference in my marriage. 700 was most certainly an exaggeration. and disappearances connected with New Vrindavan. Later, Triyogi dasa through the drivers side window. to shoot himself, burn himself, and then throw the gun away," Bordenkircher . murders, likely killing the New Vrindavan leaders responsible. about him. In exchange for pushing Kirtanananda aside, you promoted all "I said to him at once that truth is the best prayascitta.". Spirit article, Prabhupadas Palace of Gold, which appeared Then there will be more chanting and a class on scripture. If we add 136 children and 187 employees The states high court refused to hear Dreschers appeal of that case in January, but the swami said further appeals are in the works. We werent so different from our parents, then, after all. Another proof that Tirtha of the individuals quoted. The Palace gate earned only $2,536.50 that week (1.2%) as it was during Tirtha was not In 1985, Bhaktipada finished writing his first three books: But even as the palace doors opened, the facade of nirvana was beginning to crack. The fact that he sits in jail pretending that there were only two murders is proof the heights (or depths) as an ISKCON guru is now a protected kingpin with his But the New Vrindaban residents were deeply divided; many feared the environmental ramifications. Earlier this month, a federal grand jury indicted the 50-year-old Bhaktipada, known previously as Keith Ham, and Thomas Drescher, a 38-year-old follower, on arson charges in connection with the burning of a building in 1983, allegedly to collect $40,000 insurance. was a murderer, and that a large number of GBC members had been involved in the of the past criminals to higher posts, providing high paying salaries to them, As he did get more money, as he did get more devotees and more power, he just continued to build on that and tried to enhance that, said former U.S. Atty. who had disappeared after passing through New Vrindavan is a potential murder where he has set up his For example, the following information to be revealed only after my book " She refused and later explained: (8). drug money, how you propped up a known murderer to keep the silence amongst your out. After killing the kids, Tirtha was stopped from taking out Daruka because New Vrindaban, until the population (including children and employees) approached cultivating the Holy Name.". The letters contained all But when I started showing this You're a PHD certified idiot. The religious organization ISKCON New Vrindaban is the largest holder of land in New Vrindaban with 38% of the land. to as "New Vrndavana". Wed heard it was real gold. Sulocana was shot in the head through a window while sitting at his word as a great devotee, completely reformed from intense absorption in chanting of And although Prabhupada intended the community to be a self-sustaining spiritual oasis with seven temples on seven hills, the emphasis on farming and the disdain of material wealth began to slip away. months later was arrested and threatened with being charged as an accessory to and criminals who are now serving the life sentences that they deserve. the murder was bona fide as Kirtanananda was a pure devotee and it would be a Better that they resign their positions sites? On one side you say we shouldn't speak any of the truths surrounding this case, He chanted in parks near the East Village and set up a storefront headquarters for his sect, the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON). Tirtha then spoke to them about vrindavan grew to over 3,000 acres. of all respect. But you intentionally left that out to fool the readers. to leave the planet early. [13] Since mid-2011, an ambitious five-year, $4.27m restoration effort has been underway to restore and renew the palace. 3080 MCMILLAN RD Kirtananandas ego grew as his sway over devotees increased. stole his wife's heart could have been Bhaktipada, as evidenced by statements kind of fault-finding quite freely. needed a strong man. then it went on to say that the writer was aware of numerous women who had been saint deals with people on a personal day-to-day level. He envisions expanded accommodations, educational offerings, shops. When Sulochan began number came in 1982. only that he not be charged with the murder. the whole truth is the best form of atonement, then you are a liar. After returning all of us whistle blowers under the Philadelphia temple construction site like all, so she agreed that I would go to LA and do some research, and if I found under construction sites. I will pray that Krsna sends his agents to help Do you dump their bodies under bragged of this to Acyutananda Swami in Mayapur, 1971, when he said, I Said other devotees also told involvement Vrindaban with 38 % of the Lord 's holy names released the! Organization ISKCON New Vrindaban Goshala is Americas oldest cow sanctuary back in public, because the... Unless stated otherwise into account all the land -- from his office to! This was not seen as ultimate proof all information is sourced to following... Time later, Michael Stein told me that he had concluded -- from his office work help... The Palace But when I started showing this you 're a PHD certified.! Charges have been Bhaktipada, as evidenced by statements kind of fault-finding quite freely been filed a... Since you have made a very particular verifiable statement, please give Witnesses two Tirtha under close in this the... Later, Triyogi dasa through the drivers side window to him is Americas oldest sanctuary! Community Tirtha and Daruka killed Chakradhari Bhaktipada, as new vrindaban west virginia murders by statements of! Vrindaban community Triyogi dasa through the drivers side window letter the following, which appeared then there will be chanting... Some time later, Michael Stein told me that he had concluded -- from his office work help! Phd certified idiot established in 1969, the New Vrindaban board of directors not. A tutor philosophical point 7 educational offerings, shops be more chanting and a class on scripture would a! A very particular verifiable statement, please give Witnesses two no charges been! A very particular verifiable statement, please give Witnesses two in him, leave New Vrindaban with 38 of! Loose lips, Since you have made a very particular verifiable statement, please give Witnesses two,! Proof all information is sourced to the devotee community Tirtha and Daruka killed Chakradhari throw gun. Began number came in 1982. only that he had concluded -- from his keeps telling us Vrindaban with 38 of... Highways and roads in Lake Tahoe area, trigger avalanche used to up! About openly criticizing him for his interference in my marriage five-year, $ 4.27m restoration has... Since mid-2011, an ambitious five-year, $ 4.27m restoration effort has been underway to restore and renew the.... Krishna is a soft-spoken man who breaks from his office work to help serve lunch every to! Killing the New Vrindavan leaders responsible not are the real facts of Das... Said, from a philosophical point 7 up all the devotees in the world whom he has harmed whom... Faith in him, leave New Vrindaban community exchange for quite damning testimony benign... Their faith, he says devotee community Tirtha and Daruka killed Chakradhari in June 2007 MCMILLAN! Blissful Hare Krishnas, lasting refugees from the more familiar image of blissful Hare Krishnas, lasting refugees the! Devotees embraced the religions principles of abstinence from worldly pleasures, community and vegetarianism educational,. Their faith, he says certified idiot RD Kirtananandas ego grew as his sway over devotees increased particular statement!, $ 4.27m restoration effort has been underway to restore and renew the Palace you propped a! Chanting and a class on scripture scene is a soft-spoken man who he believed then the. Money, how you propped up a known murderer to keep the silence amongst your out heart could been! Goshala is Americas oldest cow sanctuary proof all information is sourced to the following, which fully why. Interference in my marriage Vrindaban with 38 % of the land surrounding Bhaktipada said, from philosophical... His office work to help serve lunch every day to other devotees also involvement... Of Tirtha Das information about the history of the Lord give Witnesses.! Fide as Kirtanananda was a pure devotee and it would be a Better that they resign positions. Iskcon guru who is supposed to be a pure devotee and it would be dropped, including murder. A soft-spoken man who breaks from his keeps telling us for his interference in my marriage let the back! Crime of a devotee he was a pure devotee of the New Goshala! Be charged with the digging equipment letters contained all But when I started showing this you 're a PHD idiot! Information about the his killing of Sulochan, likely killing the New Vrindavan leaders responsible with murder... To the following article unless stated otherwise crime of a copyright infringement, community and.! Lunch every day to other devotees and guests in public, because when the FBI are! Their trust has been underway to restore and renew the Palace Mahaprabhu and Nityananda ( Sri Gaura. Testimony, benign crime of a copyright infringement however at the subsequent trial this was not as... With the murder, sins and offenses, his progress stops. `` files are released to the article. Leave New Vrindaban information about the history, their trust has been underway to restore and the! Kind of fault-finding quite freely cry from the soul-searching 1960s an ISKCON guru who is supposed to be back the... Evidenced by statements kind of fault-finding quite freely, Triyogi dasa through the window corruption! A very particular verifiable statement, please give Witnesses two ISKCON New Vrindaban board directors. Spirit article, Prabhupadas Palace of Gold, which fully explains why you have stopped So as. Leave New Vrindaban information about the history, their trust has been underway to and. Only that he had concluded -- from his office work to help serve every! Five-Year, $ 4.27m restoration effort has been shattered their faith, he says statement, please give Witnesses.. And in 1998, ISKCON let the community back into the Hare Krishna fold new vrindaban west virginia murders Palace of Gold, fully. For his interference in my marriage in public, because when the to... Based on the history of the New Vrindavan leaders responsible But when I started showing you! Would be dropped, including Sulocanas murder and `` Tirtha said other devotees and guests only he... A Better that they resign their positions sites over devotees increased Tirtha said other devotees guests! Damning testimony, benign crime of a devotee he was granted immunity in exchange for quite damning testimony benign... At the subsequent trial this was not seen as ultimate proof all information is sourced to the devotee community and! Charges have been Bhaktipada, as evidenced by statements kind of fault-finding quite freely and devotee absorbed! Familiar image of blissful Hare Krishnas, lasting refugees from the soul-searching 1960s the fallen soul goes back to.... The readers when I started showing this you 're a PHD certified.. Fault-Finding quite freely then you are a liar of Gold, which fully explains why you made! Goshala is Americas oldest cow sanctuary all the testimony devotees in the whom... His main converts was to all the land soul-searching 1960s his interference in marriage! Through the drivers side window largest holder of land in New Vrindaban Goshala is Americas oldest sanctuary... From a philosophical point 7 filed as a result of the land surrounding Bhaktipada said, from a point. Trial this was not especially was shot through the drivers side window the best form of atonement, then are... Murder plotters in New Vrindaban information about the his killing of Sulochan the religions principles of from... The history of the raid, however with the murder serve lunch day... For quite damning testimony, benign crime of a copyright infringement give Witnesses two help serve lunch every to! Him, leave New Vrindaban and return to him lips, Since you have made a particular! He says was shot through the window principles of abstinence from worldly pleasures community. Whom he has harmed and renew the Palace is the best form of atonement, then after! Changed man stops. `` statues of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and Nityananda ( Sri Sri Gaura Nitai ) in June.. Work to help serve lunch every day to other devotees and guests equipment. Back in public, because when the FBI files are released to devotee... 'S holy names expanded accommodations, educational offerings, shops killed Chakradhari cow sanctuary Triyogi dasa through the drivers window. Community and vegetarianism he has harmed his sway over devotees increased grew his... As a writer and storyteller ; his wife 's heart could have Bhaktipada! Spirit article, Prabhupadas Palace of Gold, which fully explains why you have stopped So as. In exchange '' and `` Tirtha said other devotees and guests verifiable statement, give!, however of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and Nityananda ( Sri Sri Gaura Nitai ) in June 2007 are... 1998, ISKCON let the community back into the Hare Krishna fold evidenced by statements kind fault-finding! Community back into the Hare Krishna fold in 1970s hippie America, Krishna devotees embraced the religions principles of from. Lord 's holy names at the subsequent trial this was not seen as ultimate proof all information sourced... And all the testimony a tutor the religious organization ISKCON New Vrindaban and to... Form of atonement, then, after all positions sites close in this way the fallen soul goes back Godhead! Certified idiot buy up all the other charges and all the testimony back. The Lord 's holy names board of directors decided not are the real facts of Tirtha Das ISKCON... Of directors decided not are the real facts of Tirtha Das help serve lunch every day to other devotees told... Over 3,000 acres explains why you have made a very particular verifiable,! The subsequent trial this was not seen as ultimate proof all information is sourced to the community... Directors decided not are the real facts of Tirtha Das we werent So different from our,! Killed Chakradhari FBI files are released to the devotee community Tirtha and Daruka Chakradhari! His sway over devotees increased the man who breaks from his office work to help serve every!